Jeremiæ 21

1 Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, quando misit ad eum rex Sedecias Phassur filium Melchiæ, et Sophoniam filium Maasiæ sacerdotem, dicens:

The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest to him, and they said,

2 Interroga pro nobis Dominum, quia Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis præliatur adversum nos: si forte faciat Dominus nobiscum secundum omnia mirabilia sua, et recedat a nobis.

“Seek advice from Yahweh on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war on us. Perhaps Yahweh will do miracles for us, as in times past, and will make him withdraw from us.”

3 Et dixit Ieremias ad eos: Sic dicetis Sedeciæ:

So Jeremiah said to them, “This is what you must say to Zedekiah,

4 Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Ecce ego convertam vasa belli, quæ in manibus vestris sunt, et quibus vos pugnatis adversum regem Babylonis, et Chaldæos, qui obsident vos in circuitu murorum: et congregabo ea in medio civitatis huius.

'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: See, I am about to turn back the instruments of war that are in your hand, with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are closing you in from outside the walls! For I will gather them in the middle of this city.

5 Et debellabo ego vos in manu extenta, et in brachio forti, et in furore, et in indignatione, et in ira grandi.

Then I myself will fight against you with a raised hand and a strong arm, and with wrath, fury, and great anger.

6 Et percutiam habitatores civitatis huius, homines et bestiæ pestilentia magna morientur.

For I will attack the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a severe plague.

7 Et post hæc ait Dominus: dabo Sedeciam regem Iuda, et servos eius, et populum eius, et qui derelicti sunt in civitate hac a peste et gladio, et fame, in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, et in manu inimicorum eorum, et in manu quærentium animam eorum, et percutiet eos in ore gladii, et non flectetur, neque parcet, nec miserebitur.

After this—this is Yahweh's declaration—Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, the people, and whoever remains in this city after the plague, the sword, and the famine, I will give them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their life. Then he will kill them with the edge of the sword. He will not pity them, spare them, or have compassion.'

8 Et ad populum hunc dices: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitæ, et viam mortis.

Then to this people you must say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to place before you the way of life and the way of death.

9 Qui habitaverit in urbe hac, morietur gladio, et fame, et peste: qui autem egressus fuerit, et transfugerit ad Chaldæos, qui obsident vos, vivet, et erit ei anima sua, quasi spolium.

Anyone staying in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague; but anyone going out and falling on his knees before the Chaldeans who have closed in against you will live. He will escape with his life.

10 Posui enim faciem meam super civitatem hanc in malum, et non in bonum, ait Dominus: in manu regis Babylonis dabitur, et exuret eam igni.

For I have set my face against this city in order to bring disaster and not to bring good—this is Yahweh's declaration. It has been given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it.'

11 Et domui regis Iuda: Audite verba Domini,

Concerning the house of the king of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh.

12 domus David, hæc dicit Dominus: Iudicate mane iudicium, et eruite vi oppressum de manu calumniantis: ne forte egrediatur ut ignis indignatio mea, et succendatur, et non sit qui extinguat propter malitiam studiorum vestrorum.

House of David, Yahweh says, 'Bring about justice in the morning. Rescue the one who has been robbed by the hand of the oppressor, or my fury will go out like fire and burn, and there is no one who can quench it, because of your evil deeds.

13 Ecce ego ad te habitatricem vallis solidæ atque campestris, ait Dominus: qui dicitis: Quis percutiet nos? Et quis ingredietur domos nostras?

See, inhabitant of the valley! I am against you, rock of the plain—this is Yahweh's declaration— I am against anyone who is saying, “Who will come down to attack us?” or “Who will enter our houses?”

14 Et visitabo super vos iuxta fructum studiorum vestrorum, dicit Dominus: et succendam ignem in saltu eius: et devorabit omnia in circuitu eius.

I have assigned the fruit of your practices to come against you—this is Yahweh's declaration— and I will light a fire in the thickets, and it will consume everything around it.'”