How Israel Can Return to the Lord
1 The Lord said:
Israel, if you really want
to come back to me, get rid
of those disgusting idols.
2 Make promises only in my name,
and do what you promise!
Then all nations will praise me,
and I will bless them.
3 People of Jerusalem and Judah,
don't be so stubborn!
Your hearts have become hard,
like unplowed ground
where thornbushes grow.
4 With all your hearts,
keep the agreement
I made with you.
But if you are stubborn
and keep on sinning,
my anger will burn like a fire
that cannot be put out.
Disaster Is Coming
The Lord said:
* 5 “Sound the trumpets, my people.
Warn the people of Judah,
‘Run for your lives!
6 Head for Jerusalem
or another walled town!’
“Jeremiah, tell them I'm sending
disaster from the north.
7 An army will come out,
like a lion from its den.
It will destroy nations
and leave your towns empty
and in ruins.”
8 Then I told the people
of Israel,
“Put on sackcloth!
Mourn and cry out,
‘The Lord is still angry
with us.’ ”
9 The Lord said,
“When all this happens,
the king and his officials,
the prophets and the priests
will be shocked and terrified.”
10 I said, “You are the Lord God. So why have you fooled everyone, especially the people of Jerusalem? Why did you promise peace, when a knife is at our throats?”
The Coming Disaster
11-12 When disaster comes, the Lord will tell you people of Jerusalem,
“I am sending a windstorm
from the desert—
not a welcome breeze.
And it will sweep you away
as punishment for your sins.
13 Look! The enemy army
swoops down like an eagle;
their cavalry and chariots
race faster than storm clouds
blown by the wind.”
Then you will answer,
“We are doomed!”
14 But Jerusalem, there is still time
for you to be saved.
Wash the evil from your hearts
and stop making sinful plans,
15 before a message of disaster
arrives from the hills of Ephraim
and the town of Dan.
16-17 The Lord said,
“Tell the nations that my people
have rebelled against me.
And so an army will come
from far away
to surround Jerusalem
and the towns of Judah.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
18 “People of Judah,
your hearts will be in pain,
but it's your own fault
that you will be punished.”
Jeremiah's Vision of the Coming Punishment
19 I can't stand the pain!
My heart pounds,
as I twist and turn in agony.
I hear the signal trumpet
and the battle cry of the enemy,
and I cannot be silent.
20 I see the enemy defeating us
time after time,
leaving everything in ruins.
Even my own home
is destroyed in a moment.
21 How long will I see enemy flags
and hear their trumpets?
22 I heard the Lord say,
“My people ignore me.
They are foolish children
who do not understand
that they will be punished.
All they know is how to sin.”
23 After this, I looked around.
The earth was barren,
with no form of life.
The sun, moon, and stars
had disappeared.
24 The mountains were shaking;
25 no people could be seen,
and all the birds
had flown away.
26 Farmland had become a desert,
and towns were in ruins.
The Lord's fierce anger
had done all of this.
The Death of Jerusalem
27-28 The Lord said:
I have made my decision,
and I won't change my mind.
This land will be destroyed,
although not completely.
The sky will turn dark,
and the earth will mourn.
29 Enemy cavalry and archers
shout their battle cry.
People run for their lives
and try to find safety
among trees and rocks.
Every town is empty.
30 Jerusalem, your land
has been wiped out.
But you act like a prostitute
and try to win back your lovers,
who now hate you.
You can put on a red dress,
gold jewelry, and eye shadow,
but it's no use—
your lovers are out to kill you!
31 I heard groaning and crying.
Was it a woman giving birth
to her first child?
No, it was Jerusalem,
gasping for breath
and begging for help.
“I'm dying!” she said.
“They have murdered me.”
Izpostīšanas draudi
1 “Israēl! Ja gribi nākt atpakaļ,”
saka Kungs,
“nāc pie manis!
Un, ja tu novāksi savus dievekļus
prom no manis,
tev nebūs jābēguļo!
2 Ja tu zvērēsi:
dzīvs Kungs! –
ar patiesību,
ar tiesu,
ar taisnību,
tad viņš būs svētība tautām
un viņš būs to slava!”
3 Jo tā saka Kungs Jūdas vīriem un Jeruzālemei:
“Uzplēsiet jaunu atmatu
un nesējiet ērkšķos!
4 Jūdas vīri un Jeruzālemē mītošie,
apgraizieties Kungam!
Nost jūsu sirds priekšādu!
Kamēr neizlaužas
manas dusmas kā uguns,
kā degsme, ko nenodzēst, –
jūsu ļauno darbu dēļ.”
5 Stāstiet Jūdā un sakiet,
lai sadzird Jeruzālemē,
pūtiet ragu pār visu zemi,
sauciet jo skaļi un sakiet:
“Pulcējamies un ejam
uz nocietinātām pilsētām!”
6 Paceliet Ciānā karogu!
Tverieties, nestāviet!
Jo es nesu no ziemeļiem ļaunumu
un lielu postu!
7 Lauva no biezokņa iznācis,
tautu nīdētājs devies karā,
iznācis no savas vietas,
lai izdeldētu tavu zemi,
tavas pilsētas nopostītu,
ka neviens tur vairs nedzīvo.
8 Tādēļ jozieties maisu,
vaimanājiet un kauciet,
jo mums neiet secen
Kunga dusmu kvēle.
9 “Tajā dienā būs tā,”
saka Kungs,
“nodrebēs ķēniņa sirds
un augstmaņu sirdis,
priesteri apstulbs
un pravieši paliks mēmi!”
10 Un es teicu:
“Ak, Kungs Dievs!
Tiešām tu esi viltin vīlis
šo tautu un Jeruzālemi,
sacīdams: jums būs miers! –
Bet zobens jau dzīvību skar!”
11 Tajā laikā teiks
šai tautai un Jeruzālemei:
“Svelošs pakalnu vējš
manai tautmeitai tuksnesī pretī –
ne sijāt, ne vētīt.
12 Pārlieku liels vējš
nāk pār mani, –
nu gan es runāšu
tiesā pret viņiem!”
13 Redzi, viņš kā mākonis ceļas,
kā viesulis viņa rati,
viņa zirgi par ērgļiem ātrāki!
Vai! mums – mēs pagalam!
14 Jeruzāleme,
mazgā no ļaunuma savu sirdi,
ka tu tiktu glābta!
Cik ilgi vēl tu turēsies
pie savām grēka domām?
15 Jo balss vēstī no Dāna,
sauc par nelaimi no Efraima kalna.
16 Brīdini tautas: “Redzi!
Lai dzird Jeruzālemē:
no tālas zemes nāk lencēji,
tie ceļ savu balsi pret Jūdas pilsētām!
17 Kā lauka sargi viņi tai apkārt,
jo pret mani tā spītējās,
saka Kungs,
18 to tev nodara tas,
ko tu dari un kur tu staigā,
tas ir tavs ļaunums –
jo rūgts,
jo sniedz tev līdz sirdij.”
Sēras par izpostīto zemi
19 Iekšas man, iekšas man ļogās –
manas sirds mūri!
Sitas man sirds,
nevaru klusēt,
jo mana dvēsele dzird
raga skaņu
un kaujas kliedzienus.
20 Posts nāk pār postu,
jo dēd visa zeme!
Pēkšņi noplēstas manas teltis,
mirklī – manas telts aizkari!
21 Cik ilgi vēl jāredz man karogs
un jāklausās raga skaņās? –
22 Jo mana tauta ir muļķe,
mani tā nepazīst,
mani dēli ir stulbi,
tie nesaprot,
viņi ir gudri uz ļaunu,
bet labu tie nezina. –
23 Es paraudzījos uz zemi, un redzi –
viss sajucis!
Un uz debesīm –
tās bez gaismas!
24 Es paraudzījos kalnos, un redzi –
tie grīļojās!
Trīcēja visi pakalni!
25 Es paraudzījos, un redzi –
ne cilvēka!
Un visi debesu putni aizlaidušies!
26 Es paraudzījos, un redzi –
leknā zeme jau tuksnesis!
Un visas pilsētas noārdītas!
Tāds savā dusmu kvēlē Kungs!
27 Jo tā saka Kungs:
“Izpostījums būs pār visu zemi,
bet pavisam to nepiebeigšu!
28 Tādēļ lai sēro zeme
un melnē debesis augšā,
jo es esmu teicis un nodomājis,
man nebūs žēl, un es neatkāpšos!”
29 No jātnieku un loka šāvēju dunas
bēg visa pilsēta,
tie mūk mežā un klintīs rāpjas –
pamesta visa pilsēta,
neviens tur vairs nedzīvo.
30 Ko tu dari, izdeldētā?
Kaut purpurā tērpies,
kaut rotājies zelta rotām,
kaut izkrāšļo acis, –
velti tu taisies skaista! –
tavi mīlnieki nicina tevi
un pēc tavas dzīvības lūko!
31 Es dzirdēju dzemdētājas balsi,
kas pirmoreiz radību sāpēs, –
tur sten Ciānas meita
un stiepj savas rokas.
Vai man!
Mana dvēsele gurst
slepkavu priekšā.
