Jeremiah 12

Jeremiah 12, Catholic Public Domain Version

1. Certainly, O Lord, you are just. But if I may contend with you, while still speaking what is just to you: Why does the way of the impious prosper? Why is it well with all those who transgress and act unfairly?

   Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum: verumtamen justa loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum prosperatur; bene est omnibus qui prævaricantur et inique agunt?

2. 2

   You planted them, and they took root. They are prospering and bearing fruit. You are near to their mouths, but far from their hearts.

   Plantasti eos, et radicem miserunt: proficiunt, et faciunt fructum: prope es tu ori eorum, et longe a renibus eorum.

3. 3

   And you, O Lord, have known me well. You have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice and sanctify them for the day of slaughter.

   Et tu, Domine, nosti me, vidisti me, et probasti cor meum tecum. Congrega eos quasi gregem ad victimam, et sanctifica eos in die occisionis.

4. 4

   How long shall the earth mourn? And how long shall the plants of every field whither because of the wickedness of the inhabitants within them? It has consumed the wild animals and the birds. For they said: “He will not see our very end.”

   Usquequo lugebit terra, et herba omnis regionis siccabitur, propter malitiam habitantium in ea? Consumptum est animal, et volucre, quoniam dixerunt: Non videbit novissima nostra.

5. 5

   “If you have struggled to run on foot, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you have been secure in a land of peace, what will you do about the arrogance of the Jordan?

   Si cum peditibus currens laborasti, quomodo contendere poteris cum equis? cum autem in terra pacis securus fueris, quid facies in superbia Jordanis?

6. 6

   For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even these have fought against you. And they have cried out after you with loud voice: ‘You should not believe them, when they speak good things to you.’”

   Nam et fratres tui, et domus patris tui, etiam ipsi pugnaverunt adversum te, et clamaverunt post te plena voce: ne credas eis, cum locuti fuerint tibi bona.

7. 7

   “I have abandoned my house. I have disowned my inheritance. I have given my beloved soul into the hand of its enemies.

   Reliqui domum meam; dimisi hæreditatem meam: dedi dilectam animam meam in manu inimicorum ejus.

8. 8

   My inheritance has become for me like a lion in the forest. It has uttered a voice against me, therefore, I have hated it.

   Facta est mihi hæreditas mea quasi leo in silva: dedit contra me vocem, ideo odivi eam.

9. 9

   Is my inheritance to me like a discolored bird? Is it like a bird that has entirely changed color? Approach and assemble, all beasts of the earth! Hurry, so that you may devour!

   Numquid avis discolor hæreditas mea mihi? numquid avis tincta per totum? Venite, congregamini, omnes bestiæ terræ: properate ad devorandum.

10. 10

    Many pastors have demolished my vineyard. They have trampled my portion. They have made my desirable portion into a desert of solitude.

    Pastores multi demoliti sunt vineam meam, conculcaverunt partem meam, dederunt portionem meam desiderabilem in desertum solitudinis.

11. 11

    They have squandered it, and it has grieved concerning me. The entire earth has become utterly desolate, because there is no one who understands with the heart.”

    Posuerunt eam in dissipationem, luxitque super me: desolatione desolata est omnis terra, quia nullus est qui recogitet corde.

12. 12

    The devastators have arrived, over all the ways of the wilderness. For the sword of the Lord will devour, from one end of the earth even to its furthest limits. There is no peace for all that is flesh.

    Super omnes vias deserti venerunt vastatores, quia gladius Domini devorabit: ab extremo terræ usque ad extremum ejus, non est pax universæ carni.

13. 13

    They sowed wheat, but they reaped thorns. They received an inheritance, but it will not benefit them. You will be confounded by your own fruits, because of the wrath of the fury of the Lord.

    Seminaverunt triticum, et spinas messuerunt: hæreditatem acceperunt, et non eis proderit. Confundemini a fructibus vestris propter iram furoris Domini.

14. 14

    Thus says the Lord against all my wicked neighbors, who touch the inheritance that I have distributed to my people Israel: “Behold, I will root them out of their own land, and I will root the house of Judah out of their midst.

    Hæc dicit Dominus adversum omnes vicinos meos pessimos, qui tangunt hæreditatem quam distribui populo meo Israël: Ecce ego evellam eos de terra sua, et domum Juda evellam de medio eorum.

15. 15

    And when I have rooted them out, I will turn back and take pity on them. And I will lead them back, one man to his inheritance, and another man to his land.

    Et cum evulsero eos, convertar, et miserebor eorum, et reducam eos: virum ad hæreditatem suam, et virum in terram suam.

16. 16

    And this shall be: if they are taught and they learn the ways of my people, so that they swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they had taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people.

    Et erit: si eruditi didicerint vias populi mei, ut jurent in nomine meo: Vivit Dominus! sicut docuerunt populum meum jurare in Baal, ædificabuntur in medio populi mei.

17. 17

    But if they will not listen, I will uproot that nation unto utter destruction and perdition, says the Lord.”

    Quod si non audierint, evellam gentem illam evulsione et perditione, ait Dominus.

Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain · Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592)