The People of Judah Will Die
1 The Lord said to me:
Even if Moses and Samuel were here, praying with you, I wouldn't change my mind. So send the people of Judah away. 2 And when they ask where they are going, tell them that I, the Lord, have said:
Some of you are going to die
of horrible diseases.
Others are going to die in war
or from starvation.
The rest will be led away
to a foreign country.
3 I will punish you
in four different ways:
You will be killed in war
and your bodies dragged off
by dogs,
your flesh will be eaten by birds,
and your bones will be chewed on
by wild animals.
4 This punishment will happen
because of the horrible things
your King Manasseh did.
And you will be disgusting
to all nations on earth.
5 People of Jerusalem,
who will feel sorry for you?
Will anyone bother
to ask if you are well?
6 My people, you abandoned me
and walked away.
I am tired of showing mercy;
that's why I'll destroy you
7 by scattering you like straw
blown by the wind.
I will punish you with sorrow
and death,
because you refuse
to change your ways.
8 There will be more widows
in Judah
than grains of sand on a beach.
A surprise attack at noon!
And the mothers in Jerusalem
mourn for their children.
9 A mother is in deep despair
and struggles for breath.
Her daylight has turned
to darkness—
she has suffered the loss
of her seven sons.
I will kill anyone who survives.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
Jeremiah Complains
10 I wish I had never been born!
I'm always in trouble
with everyone in Judah.
I never lend or borrow money,
but everyone curses me
just the same.
11 Then the Lord replied,
“I promise to protect you,
and when disaster comes,
even your enemies
will beg you for help.”
The Enemy Cannot Be Defeated
The Lord told me to say:
12 People of Judah,
just as you can't break iron
mixed with bronze,
you can't defeat the enemies
that will attack
from the north.
13 I will give them
everything you own,
because you have sinned
everywhere in your country.
14 My anger is a fire
that cannot be put out,
so I will make you slaves
of your enemies
in a foreign land.
Jeremiah Complains Again
15 You can see how I suffer
insult after insult,
all because of you, Lord.
Don't be so patient
with my enemies;
take revenge on them
before they kill me.
16 When you spoke to me,
I was glad to obey,
because I belong to you,
the Lord All-Powerful.
17 I don't go to parties
and have a good time.
Instead, I keep to myself,
because you have filled me
with your anger.
18 I am badly injured
and in constant pain.
Are you going to disappoint me,
like a stream that goes dry
in the heat of summer?
The Lord Replies
19 Then the Lord told me:
Stop talking like a fool!
If you turn back to me
and speak my message,
I will let you be my prophet
once again.
I hope the people of Judah
will accept what you say.
But you can ignore their threats,
* 20 because I am making you strong,
like a bronze wall.
They are evil and violent,
but when they attack,
21 I will be there to rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
Sods ir nenovēršams
1 Kungs man teica: “Pat ja manā priekšā stāvētu Mozus un Samuēls, mana dvēsele nav pie šīs tautas, – sūti tos projām no manis, lai tie iet prom! 2 Un, kad tie tev teiks: kurp mums jāiet? – tad saki tiem: tā saka Kungs:
kuri nāvei, tie nāvei,
kuri zobenam, tie zobenam,
kuri badam, tie badam,
kuri gūstam, tie gūstam!
3 Un es piemeklēšu tos ar četrām sērgām, saka Kungs, ar zobenu, lai kauj, ar suņiem, lai plēš, ar debesu putniem un zemes zvēriem, lai rij un lai posta! 4 Es darīšu tos par briesmu tēlu visām zemes valstībām – tā dēļ, ko Jeruzālemē darīja Jūdas ķēniņš Manase, Jehizkijāhu dēls.
5 Kas apžēlosies par tevi, Jeruzāleme,
kas jutīs tev līdzi,
kas vērsīsies pie tevis,
lai pajautātu:
vai tev klājas labi?
6 Tu atmeti mani,
saka Kungs,
gāji atmuguriski,
un es pastiepu savu roku
un tevi nopostīju!
Velti es nopūlos,
tevi mierinādams.
7 Ar vētījamo lāpstu
es tos izvētīju zemes vārtos,
savu tautu bez bērniem atstāju un izdeldēju,
jo no sava ceļa tie novērsās!
8 Darīju, ka viņu atraitņu
ir vairāk nekā jūrā smilšu,
viņu jaunekļu mātēm es uzsūtīju nīdētāju
ap pusdienas laiku,
es liku, lai piepeši
tiem uzkrīt bailes un šausmas.
9 Novīta tā, kas bija septiņus dzemdējusi,
nonīka viņas dvēsele,
viņas saule pa dienu norietēja,
viņa tika apkaunota un pievilta.
Un, kas tiem atlicis,
to es atdošu zobenam
viņu naidnieku priekšā,”
saka Kungs.
Jeremijas žēlabas un Kunga mierinājums
10 Vai manu, māt,
ka tu mani dzemdēji! –
strīdnieku un ķildnieku
pret visu zemi –
es neesmu palienējis
un no manis nav aizlienējuši,
bet lād mani visi!
11 Kungs teica:
“Es tevi atbrīvošu ar labu,
es darīšu, ka naidnieks vēl nolūgsies tevi
ļaunā un nelaimes laikā!
12 Vai ar dzelzi var pārsist
ziemeļu dzelzi un varu?
13 Tavus labumus un dārgumus
es par velti atdošu laupīt –
par visiem taviem grēkiem
visās tavās robežās.
14 Es likšu, lai tu kalpo
saviem naidniekiem zemē, ko nepazīsti,
jo manās dusmās iedegās uguns,
mūžam tā degs!”
15 Kungs, tu zini!
Atceries mani, piemeklē mani,
atrieb mani maniem vajātājiem!
Pacieties, nepaņem mani!
Zini – tevis dēļ mani izsmej!
16 Tavi vārdi atradās,
un es tos apēdu,
un tavi vārdi
bija man sirds prieks un līksme,
jo es esmu saukts tavā vārdā,
Kungs, Pulku Dievs!
17 Smējēju pulkā es nesēdēju un nelīksmoju,
es sēdēju viens tava spēka dēļ:
es sēdēju, jo ar dusmām tu mani pildīji!
18 Kādēļ manas sāpes ilgst mūžam
un sirguļo mana brūce,
liedzas dziedējama?
Vai tu mānīsi mani
kā strauts, kas vasarā izsīkst?
19 Tādēļ tā saka Kungs:
“Ja tu atgriezīsies,
es tevi ņemšu pie sevis
un tu stāvēsi manā priekšā,
un, ja tu atšķirsi cēlo no nevērtīgā,
tu būsi kā mana mute!
Viņi atgriezīsies pie tevis,
bet tu pie tiem neatgriezies!
20 Es likšu tevi šai tautai
par nepieejamu vara mūri,
un viņi karos pret tevi,
bet tevi nepievārēs,
jo es esmu ar tevi,
lai tevi glābtu un pestītu,”
saka Kungs.
21 “Es tevi izpestīšu no ļauno rokas
un izpirkšu tevi no varmāku nagiem!”
