1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

1 Verbum quod factum est ad Jeremiam a Domino, dicens:

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

2 Surge, et descende in domum figuli, et ibi audies verba mea.

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

3 Et descendi in domum figuli, et ecce ipse faciebat opus super rotam.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

4 Et dissipatum est vas quod ipse faciebat e luto manibus suis: conversusque fecit illud vas alterum, sicut placuerat in oculis ejus ut faceret.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

5 Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

6 ¶ Numquid sicut figulus iste,
non potero vobis facere, domus Israël? ait Dominus:
ecce sicut lutum in manu figuli,
sic vos in manu mea, domus Israël.

7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

7 Repente loquar adversum gentem et adversus regnum,
ut eradicem, et destruam, et disperdam illud:

8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

8 si pœnitentiam egerit gens illa a malo suo
quod locutus sum adversus eam,
agam et ego pœnitentiam super malo
quod cogitavi ut facerem ei.

9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

9 Et subito loquar de gente et de regno,
ut ædificem et plantem illud.

10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

10 Si fecerit malum in oculis meis,
ut non audiat vocem meam,
pœnitentiam agam super bono quod locutus sum ut facerem ei.

11 ¶ Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

11 Nunc ergo dic viro Juda, et habitatoribus Jerusalem, dicens:
Hæc dicit Dominus:
Ecce ego fingo contra vos malum,
et cogito contra vos cogitationem:
revertatur unusquisque a via sua mala,
et dirigite vias vestras et studia vestra.

12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

12 Qui dixerunt: Desperavimus:
post cogitationes enim nostras ibimus,
et unusquisque pravitatem cordis sui mali faciemus.

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.

13 Ideo hæc dicit Dominus:
Interrogate gentes:
Quis audivit talia horribilia,
quæ fecit nimis virgo Israël?

14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

14 Numquid deficiet de petra agri nix Libani?
aut evelli possunt aquæ erumpentes frigidæ, et defluentes?

15 Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;

15 Quia oblitus est mei populus meus,
frustra libantes,
et impingentes in viis suis,
in semitis sæculi,
ut ambularent per eas in itinere non trito,

16 To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.

16 ut fieret terra eorum in desolationem,
et in sibilum sempiternum:
omnis qui præterierit per eam obstupescet,
et movebit caput suum.

17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

17 Sicut ventus urens dispergam eos coram inimico:
dorsum, et non faciem, ostendam eis in die perditionis eorum.

18 ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

18 ¶ Et dixerunt: Venite, et cogitemus contra Jeremiam cogitationes:
non enim peribit lex a sacerdote,
neque consilium a sapiente,
nec sermo a propheta:
venite, et percutiamus eum lingua,
et non attendamus ad universos sermones ejus.

19 Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

19 ¶ Attende, Domine, ad me,
et audi vocem adversariorum meorum.

20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

20 Numquid redditur pro bono malum,
quia foderunt foveam animæ meæ?
Recordare quod steterim in conspectu tuo
ut loquerer pro eis bonum,
et averterem indignationem tuam ab eis.

21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

21 Propterea da filios eorum in famem,
et deduc eos in manus gladii:
fiant uxores eorum absque liberis, et viduæ:
et viri earum interficiantur morte:
juvenes eorum confodiantur gladio in prælio:

22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

22 audiatur clamor de domibus eorum:
adduces enim super eos latronem repente,
quia foderunt foveam ut caperent me,
et laqueos absconderunt pedibus meis.

23 Yet, Lord, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

23 Tu autem, Domine, scis omne consilium eorum
adversum me in mortem:
ne propitieris iniquitati eorum,
et peccatum eorum a facie tua non deleatur:
fiant corruentes in conspectu tuo;
in tempore furoris tui abutere eis.