Jeremiæ 13
1 Hæc dicit Dominus ad me: Vade, et posside tibi lumbare lineum, et pones illud super lumbos tuos, et in aquam non inferes illud.
Yahweh said to me, “Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water.”
2 Et possedi lumbare iuxta verbum Domini, et posui circa lumbos meos.
So I bought a belt according to Yahweh’s word, and put it on my waist.
3 Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, secundo, dicens:
Yahweh’s word came to me the second time, saying,
4 Tolle lumbare, quod possedisti, quod est circa lumbos tuos, et surgens vade ad Euphraten, et absconde ibi illud in foramine petræ.
“Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.”
5 Et abii, et abscondi illud in Euphrate, sicut præceperat mihi Dominus.
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as Yahweh commanded me.
6 Et factum est post dies plurimos, dixit Dominus ad me: Surge, vade ad Euphraten: et tolle inde lumbare, quod præcepi tibi ut absconderes illud ibi.
After many days, Yahweh said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there.”
7 Et abii ad Euphraten, et fodi, et tuli lumbare de loco, ubi absconderam illud: et ecce computruerat lumbare, ita ut nulli usui aptum esset.
Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was ruined. It was profitable for nothing.
8 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
9 Hæc dicit Dominus: Sic putrescere faciam superbiam Iuda, et superbiam Ierusalem multam.
“Yahweh says, ‘In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 Populum istum pessimum, qui nolunt audire verba mea, et ambulant in pravitate cordis sui: abieruntque post deos alienos ut servirent eis, et adorarent eos: et erunt sicut lumbare istud, quod nulli usui aptum est.
This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods to serve them and to worship them, will even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing.
11 Sicut enim adhæret lumbare ad lumbos viri, sic agglutinavi mihi omnem domum Israel, et omnem domum Iuda, dicit Dominus: ut essent mihi in populum, et in nomen, et in laudem, et in gloriam: et non audierunt.
For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to me,’ says Yahweh; ‘that they may be to me for a people, for a name, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’
12 Dices ergo ad eos sermonem istum: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Omnis laguncula implebitur vino. Et dicent ad te: Numquid ignoramus quia omnis laguncula implebitur vino?
“Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Every container should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every container should be filled with wine?’
13 Et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego implebo omnes habitatores terræ huius, et reges qui sedent de stirpe David super thronum eius, et sacerdotes, et prophetas, et omnes habitatores Ierusalem, ebrietate:
Then tell them, ‘Yahweh says, “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 et dispergam eos virum a fratre suo, et patres et filios pariter, ait Dominus: non parcam, et non concedam: neque miserebor ut non disperdam eos.
I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says Yahweh: “I will not pity, spare, or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.”’”
15 Audite, et auribus percipite. Nolite elevari, quia Dominus locutus est.
Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud, for Yahweh has spoken.
16 Date Domino Deo vestro gloriam antequam contenebrescat, et antequam offendant pedes vestri ad montes caliginosos: expectabitis lucem, et ponet eam in umbram mortis, et in caliginem.
Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.
17 Quod si hoc non audieritis, in abscondito plorabit anima mea a facie superbiæ: plorans plorabit, et deducet oculus meus lacrymam, quia captus est grex Domini.
But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock has been taken captive.
18 Dic regi, et dominatrici: Humiliamini, sedete: quoniam descendit de capite vestro corona gloriæ vestræ.
Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves. Sit down, for your crowns have come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 Civitates Austri clausæ sunt, et non est qui aperiat: translata est omnis Iuda transmigratione perfecta.
The cities of the South are shut up, and there is no one to open them. Judah is carried away captive: all of them. They are wholly carried away captive.
20 Levate oculos vestros, et videte qui venitis ab Aquilone: ubi est grex, qui datus est tibi, pecus inclytum tuum?
Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
21 Quid dices cum visitaverit te? tu enim docuisti eos adversum te, et erudisti in caput tuum: numquid non dolores apprehendent te, quasi mulierem parturientem?
What will you say when he sets over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? Won’t sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 Quod si dixeris in corde tuo: Quare venerunt mihi hæc? Propter multitudinem iniquitatis tuæ revelata sunt verecundiora tua, pollutæ sunt plantæ tuæ.
If you say in your heart, “Why have these things come on me?” Your skirts are uncovered because of the greatness of your iniquity, and your heels suffer violence.
23 Si mutare potest æthiops pellem suam, aut pardus varietates suas: et vos poteritis benefacere, cum didiceritis malum.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24 Et disseminabo eos quasi stipulam, quæ vento raptatur in deserto.
“Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 Hæc sors tua, parsque mensuræ tuæ a me, dicit Dominus, quia oblita es mei, et confisa es in mendacio.
This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me,” says Yahweh, “because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.”
26 unde et ego nudavi femora tua contra faciem tuam, et apparuit ignominia tua,
Therefore I will also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame will appear.
27 adulteria tua, et hinnitus tuus scelus fornicationis tuæ: super colles in agro vidi abominationes tuas. Væ tibi Ierusalem, non mundaberis post me: usquequo adhuc?
I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean. How long will it yet be?”
