1 The word that was made to Jeremy from our Lord, saying:
1 The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying:
2 Arise and go down into the potter's house, and there thou shalt hear my words.
2 Arise, and go down into the potter’s house, and there thou shalt hear my words.
3 And I went down into the potter's house, and behold he made a work upon the wheel.
3 And I went down into the potter’s house, and behold he was doing a work on the wheel.
4 And the vessel was broken which he made of clay with his hands: and turning he made it another vessel, as it pleased in his eyes to make it.
4 And the vessel was broken which he was making of clay with his hands: and turning he made another vessel, as it seemed good in his eyes to make it.
5 And the word of our Lord was made to me, saying:
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
6 Why, shall I not be able to do unto you, as this potter, o house of Israel? Behold, saith our Lord, as clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, o house of Israel.
6 ¹Cannot I do with you, as this potter, O house of Israel, saith the Lord? Behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
7 I will suddenly speak against nation, and against kingdom, to root out, and destroy, and waste it.
7 I will suddenly speak against a nation, and against a kingdom, ²to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy it.
8 If that nation shall repent them of their evil, against whom I have spoken: I also will repent me of the evil, that I have thought to do to it.
8 If that nation against which I have spoken, shall repent of their evil, I also will repent of the evil that I have thought to do to them.
9 And I will suddenly speak of nation and of kingdom, to build and plant it.
9 And I will suddenly speak of a nation and of a kingdom, to build up and plant it.
10 If it shall do evil in mine eyes, that it hear not my voice: I will repent me of the good that I have spoken to do unto it.
10 If it shall do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice: I will repent of the good that I have spoken to do unto it.
11 Now therefore tell the man of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith our Lord: Behold I forge evil against you, and devise a device against you: let every man return from his evil way, and direct ye your ways and your studies.
11 Now therefore tell the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: ³let every man of you return from his evil way, and make ye your ways and your doings good.
12 Who said: We are desperate: for we will go after our cogitations, and we will do every one the perversity of his evil heart.
12 And they said; We have no hopes: for we will go after our own thoughts, and we will do everyone according to the perverseness of his evil heart.
13 Therefore thus saith our Lord: Ask the Nations: Who hath heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done exceedingly?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ask among the nations: Who hath heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done to excess?
14 Why shall the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? Or can the cold waters gushing forth and running down, be drawn out?
14 Shall the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? Or can the cold waters that gush out and run down, be taken away?
15 Because my people hath forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and stumbling in their ways, in the paths of the world, that they might walk by them in a way not trodden:
15 Because my people have forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and stumbling in their ways, in ancient paths, to walk by them in a way not trodden:
16 that their land might be made into desolation, and into an everlasting hiss: every one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, & wag his head.
16 ⁴That their land might be given up to desolation, and to a perpetual hissing: everyone that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and wag his head.
17 As the burning wind will I disperse them before the enemy: the back, and not the face will I shew them in the day of their perdition.
17 As a burning wind will I scatter them before the enemy: I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction.
18 And they said: Come, and let us find devices against Jeremy: for the law shall not perish from the Priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the Prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, & let us not attend to all his words.
18 And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.
19 Attend o Lord unto me, and hear the voice of mine adversaries.
19 Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries.
20 Why, is evil rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in the sight, to speak good for them, and to return away their indignation from them.
20 Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for them, and to turn away thy indignation from them.
21 Therefore give their children into famine, and lead them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be made without children, and widows: and let the husbands be killed by death: let their young men be pierced through with the sword in battle.
21 Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children: and widows let their husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle.
22 Let a cry be heard out of their houses, for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my feet.
22 Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my feet.
23 But thou o Lord knowest all their counsel against me unto death: be not propitious to their iniquity, and let not their sin be clean put out from thy face: let them be made falling in thy sight, in the time of thy fury deal with them.
23 But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy wrath do thou destroy them.