– Если[a] муж разведется с женой,
    и она от него уйдет и станет женой другому,
то разве первый муж примет ее назад?
    Разве этим не осквернится земля?
Ты жила как блудница со многими,
    а теперь хочешь вернуться ко Мне?[b] –
            возвещает Господь. –
Подними взгляд на голые вершины и посмотри:
    есть ли место, где бы с тобою не блудили?
Ты сидела у обочины, высматривая любовников,
    как араб в пустыне, высматривающий кого бы ограбить.
Ты осквернила землю
    своим блудом и злодействами.
Поэтому удержаны были дожди,
    не пролился весенний ливень.
А у тебя был вид блудницы,
    ты забыла про стыд.
Разве ты до этого не взывала ко Мне:
    «Отец мой, Ты друг моей юности,
всегда ли Ты будешь гневаться?
    Вечно ли будет длиться Твоя ярость?»
Вот, как ты говоришь,
    но делаешь зло, как только можешь.

Неверные Иудея и Израиль

Во время правления царя Иосии Господь сказал мне:

– Видел ли ты, что сделала эта изменница – Израиль? Она распутствовала на каждой высокой горе и под каждым тенистым деревом. Я думал, что после того, как она сделала все это, она вернется ко Мне, но она не вернулась, а ее вероломная сестра Иудея видела это. Я дал изменнице Израилю разводное письмо и отослал ее за то, что она распутствовала. Но Я видел, что ее вероломная сестра Иудея не испугалась, а сама стала блудить. Блуд Израиля для нее ничего не значил, и она осквернила землю, предаваясь распутству с камнем и деревом[c]. 10 Несмотря на все это, Иудея, вероломная сестра Израиля, вернулась ко Мне не от всего сердца, а лишь притворяясь, – возвещает Господь.

11 Господь сказал мне:

– Изменница Израиль праведнее, чем вероломная Иудея. 12 Иди и возвести на севере[d] такие слова:

Вернись, изменница Израиль, –
    возвещает Господь. –
Я больше не буду гневаться на тебя,
    потому что Я милостив, –
возвещает Господь. –
    Не вечно Я буду гневаться.
13 Признай лишь свою вину –
    ты восстала против Господа, твоего Бога,
расточала свои ласки чужим богам
    под каждым тенистым деревом,
а Меня ты не слушалась, –
            возвещает Господь.

14 – Вернись, неверный народ, – возвещает Господь, – потому что Я твой супруг. Я возьму вас – по одному из города, по двое из клана – и приведу вас на Сион. 15 Я дам вам пастухов, которые Мне по душе, и они будут водить вас со знанием и пониманием. 16 В те дни, когда вы сильно умножитесь числом в этой стране, – возвещает Господь, – уже не будут больше говорить: «Ковчег Господнего завета»[e]. Не будут о нем больше думать, не будут его вспоминать; не будут больше тосковать о нем и другого ковчега не сделают. 17 В то время назовут Иерусалим Господним престолом, и все народы соберутся в Иерусалиме, чтобы почтить имя Господа. Они больше не будут поступать по упрямству своих злых сердец. 18 В те дни дом Иуды соберется с домом Израиля, и вместе они уйдут из северных земель в ту землю, которую Я дал их отцам.

19 – Я думал: с какой радостью Я принял бы вас,
    как Своих детей,
и дал вам желанную землю,
    прекраснейшее наследие всех народов!
Я думал, ты назовешь Меня Отцом
    и не отступишь от Меня.
20 Но как жена изменяет мужу,
    так изменил Мне ты, дом Израиля, –
            возвещает Господь.

21 Слышен на голых вершинах крик,
    плач и мольбы народа Израиля:
они извратили свои пути
    и забыли Господа, своего Бога.

22 – Вернись, неверный народ,
    Я исцелю тебя от отступничества.

– Да, мы придем к Тебе;
    Ты же Господь, наш Бог.
23 Поистине, поклонение идолам на холмах
    и сборища на горах являются обманом.
Поистине, лишь в Господе, нашем Боге,
    спасение для Израиля.
24 С юных лет наших пожирала эта мерзость[f]
    труды наших отцов,
их мелкий и крупный скот,
    их сыновей и дочерей.
25 В своих мерзостях мы погрязли,
    покрыты позором.
Мы грешили перед Господом, нашим Богом, –
    и мы, и наши отцы;
с юных лет наших до этого дня
    мы не слушались Господа, нашего Бога.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Так в некоторых рукописях еврейского текста и в древних переводах; в нормативном еврейском тексте: «Говоря: „Если … “».
  2. 3:1 Или: «но все же вернись ко Мне».
  3. 3:9 То есть с языческими идолами.
  4. 3:12 На севере – т. е. тем, кто уже пребывает в ассирийском плену.
  5. 3:16 См. Исх. 25:10-22.
  6. 3:24 Евр.: «бошет»; здесь подразумевается Баал, также в ст. 11:13 и в Ос. 9:10.

Necredincioasa Israel

Dacă un bărbat se desparte de soţia lui,
    şi ea, plecând de la el, se mărită cu un altul,
se va mai întoarce bărbatul acesta la ea?
    N-ar fi chiar şi ţara aceea pângărită?
Şi tu, care te-ai prostituat cu mulţi amanţi,
    să te întorci acum la Mine? zice Domnul.
Ridică-ţi ochii spre înălţimi şi priveşte:
    este vreun loc unde nu te-ai prostituat?
Stăteai pe drumuri pentru ei,
    precum arabul în pustie.
Ai pângărit ţara
    prin necurăţiile tale şi cu răutatea ta.
Chiar dacă ploile au fost oprite
    şi ploaia târzie[a] a lipsit,
totuşi ţi-ai păstrat înfăţişarea de prostituată
    şi ai refuzat să te ruşinezi.
Acum, nu-i aşa, strigi la Mine:
    ‘Tatăl meu! Tu eşti prietenul tinereţii mele!
Îşi va ţine El mânia pe vecie?
    O va păstra El pentru totdeauna?’
Iată, aşa ai vorbit,
    dar tot sporeşti în a săvârşi răul.»“

Pe vremea regelui Iosia, Domnul mi-a zis: „Ai văzut ce a făcut răzvrătita Israel? S-a dus pe orice munte înalt şi sub orice copac verde şi s-a prostituat acolo. Eu Îmi ziceam că, după ce a făcut toate aceste lucruri, se va întoarce la Mine, dar nu s-a întors, iar sora ei, necredincioasa Iuda, a văzut lucrul acesta. Când am văzut toate lucrurile prin care răzvrătita Israel se prostitua, am izgonit-o şi i-am dat cartea ei de despărţire. Totuşi sora ei, necredincioasa Iuda, nu s-a temut, ci s-a dus ea însăşi să se prostitueze la fel. Astfel, prin necurăţia ei strigătoare la cer, Israel a pângărit ţara, prostituându-se cu piatra şi cu lemnul. 10 Cu toate acestea, sora ei, necredincioasa Iuda, nu s-a întors la Mine din toată inima, ci cu prefăcătorie, zice Domnul.“

Chemare la pocăinţă

11 Domnul mi-a zis: „Răzvrătita Israel pare nevinovată în comparaţie cu necredincioasa Iuda. 12 Du-te, strigă aceste cuvinte înspre nord şi spune:

«Întoarce-te, răzvrătită Israel, zice Domnul.
    Nu mă voi mai uita încruntat la voi,
căci Eu sunt milostiv, zice Domnul,
    şi nu ţin mânie pe vecie.
13 Numai recunoaşte-ţi vina,
    recunoaşte că ai păcătuit împotriva Domnului, Dumnezeul tău,
că ţi-ai irosit timpul cu dumnezeii străini
    sub orice copac verde
        şi nu ai ascultat de glasul Meu, zice Domnul.

14 Întoarceţi-vă, copii răzvrătiţi, zice Domnul, căci Eu sunt Stăpânul vostru. Eu vă voi lua, pe unul dintr-o cetate, pe doi dintr-o familie, şi vă voi conduce în Sion. 15 Vă voi da păstori după inima Mea; ei vă vor păstori cu pricepere şi chibzuinţă. 16 În zilele acelea, când vă veţi înmulţi şi veţi rodi în ţară, zice Domnul, nu veţi mai vorbi de Chivotul Legământului cu Domnul. Nimeni nu se va mai gândi la el, nimeni nu-şi va mai aminti de el, nimănui nu-i va lipsi şi nici nu vor face un altul. 17 În vremea aceea, Ierusalimul va fi numit Tronul Domnului. Toate neamurile se vor aduna la Ierusalim în Numele Domnului şi nu-şi vor mai urma încăpăţânarea inimilor lor rele.

18 În zilele acelea, Casa lui Iuda se va întovărăşi cu Casa lui Israel şi vor veni împreună din ţara de nord, în ţara pe care am dat-o drept moştenire strămoşilor lor. 19 Îmi spuneam:

‘O, cum te voi pune[b] în numărul fiilor Mei
    şi-ţi voi da drept moştenire o ţară plăcută,
        cea mai frumoasă moştenire dintre neamuri!’
Mă gândeam că Mă vei numi Tată
    şi nu te vei mai abate de la a Mă urma.
20 Însă, aşa cum o femeie este necredincioasă soţului ei,
    tot aşa Mi-ai fost şi tu necredincioasă, casă a lui Israel, zice Domnul.»“

21 „Un vuiet se aude pe înălţimi:
    sunt plânsetele şi rugăminţile de iertare ale israeliţilor,
din cauză că şi-au pervertit căile
    şi L-au uitat pe Domnul, Dumnezeul lor.“

22 „Întoarceţi-vă, copii răzvrătiţi,
    şi vă voi vindeca de răzvrătire!“

„Iată-ne, venim la Tine,
    căci Tu eşti Domnul, Dumnezeul nostru!
23 Într-adevăr, altarele de pe dealuri
    şi idolii de pe munţii cei mulţi
        sunt o minciună!
Într-adevăr, numai în Domnul, Dumnezeul nostru,
    este mântuirea lui Israel!
24 Din tinereţea noastră, idolii care aduc ruşine au mâncat
    rodul muncii strămoşilor noştri (
turmele şi cirezile lor,
    fiii şi fiicele lor.
25 Să ne culcăm în ruşinea noastră
    şi să ne acoperim cu umilirea noastră,
căci am păcătuit împotriva Domnului, Dumnezeul nostru,
    atât noi, cât şi strămoşii noştri;
din tinereţea noastră până în ziua de azi
    nu am ascultat de glasul Domnului, Dumnezeul nostru.“

Footnotes

  1. Ieremia 3:3 Sau: de primăvară, ploile din martie şi aprilie, vitale recoltei în Canaan
  2. Ieremia 3:19 Sau: Cum să te pun în numărul fiilor Mei, / să-ţi dau drept moştenire o ţară plăcută, / cea mai frumoasă moştenire dintre naţiuni?

“If a man divorces(A) his wife
    and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
    Would not the land be completely defiled?(B)
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers(C)
    would you now return to me?”(D)
declares the Lord.
“Look up to the barren heights(E) and see.
    Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
By the roadside(F) you sat waiting for lovers,
    sat like a nomad in the desert.
You have defiled the land(G)
    with your prostitution(H) and wickedness.
Therefore the showers have been withheld,(I)
    and no spring rains(J) have fallen.
Yet you have the brazen(K) look of a prostitute;
    you refuse to blush with shame.(L)
Have you not just called to me:
    ‘My Father,(M) my friend from my youth,(N)
will you always be angry?(O)
    Will your wrath continue forever?’
This is how you talk,
    but you do all the evil you can.”

Unfaithful Israel

During the reign of King Josiah,(P) the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless(Q) Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree(R) and has committed adultery(S) there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister(T) Judah saw it.(U) I gave faithless Israel(V) her certificate of divorce(W) and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear;(X) she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land(Y) and committed adultery(Z) with stone(AA) and wood.(AB) 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return(AC) to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,(AD)” declares the Lord.(AE)

11 The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous(AF) than unfaithful(AG) Judah.(AH) 12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north:(AI)

“‘Return,(AJ) faithless(AK) Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’(AL) declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry(AM) forever.
13 Only acknowledge(AN) your guilt—
    you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods(AO)
    under every spreading tree,(AP)
    and have not obeyed(AQ) me,’”
declares the Lord.

14 “Return,(AR) faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband.(AS) I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds(AT) after my own heart,(AU) who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark(AV) of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered;(AW) it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne(AX) of the Lord, and all nations(AY) will gather in Jerusalem to honor(AZ) the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.(BA) 18 In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel,(BB) and together(BC) they will come from a northern(BD) land to the land(BE) I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

19 “I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,(BF)
    the most beautiful inheritance(BG) of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’(BH)
    and not turn away from following me.
20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
    so you, Israel, have been unfaithful(BI) to me,”
declares the Lord.

21 A cry is heard on the barren heights,(BJ)
    the weeping(BK) and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
    and have forgotten(BL) the Lord their God.

22 “Return,(BM) faithless people;
    I will cure(BN) you of backsliding.”(BO)

“Yes, we will come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.
23 Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills(BP)
    and mountains is a deception;
surely in the Lord our God
    is the salvation(BQ) of Israel.
24 From our youth shameful(BR) gods have consumed
    the fruits of our ancestors’ labor—
their flocks and herds,
    their sons and daughters.
25 Let us lie down in our shame,(BS)
    and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned(BT) against the Lord our God,
    both we and our ancestors;(BU)
from our youth(BV) till this day
    we have not obeyed(BW) the Lord our God.”

They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.

Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.

13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.

14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

19 But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.

23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.

Israel Is Shameless

“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife,
And she goes from him
And becomes another man’s,
(A)May he return to her again?’
Would not that (B)land be greatly polluted?
But you have (C)played the harlot with many lovers;
(D)Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.

“Lift up your eyes to (E)the desolate heights and see:
Where have you not [a]lain with men?
(F)By the road you have sat for them
Like an Arabian in the wilderness;
(G)And you have polluted the land
With your harlotries and your wickedness.
Therefore the (H)showers have been withheld,
And there has been no latter rain.
You have had a (I)harlot’s forehead;
You refuse to be ashamed.
Will you not from this time cry to Me,
‘My Father, You are (J)the guide of (K)my youth?
(L)Will He remain angry forever?
Will He keep it to the end?’
Behold, you have spoken and done evil things,
As you were able.”

A Call to Repentance

The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what (M)backsliding Israel has done? She has (N)gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. (O)And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous (P)sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that (Q)for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had (R)put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; (S)yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she (T)defiled the land and committed adultery with (U)stones and trees. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me (V)with her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord.

11 Then the Lord said to me, (W)“Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward (X)the north, and say:

‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am (Y)merciful,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not remain angry forever.
13 (Z)Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God,
And have (AA)scattered your [b]charms
To (AB)alien deities (AC)under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; (AD)“for I am married to you. I will take you, (AE)one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to (AF)Zion. 15 And I will give you (AG)shepherds according to My heart, who will (AH)feed you with knowledge and understanding.

16 “Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and (AI)increased in the land in those days,” says the Lord, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ (AJ)It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.

17 “At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, (AK)to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they (AL)follow[c] the dictates of their evil hearts.

18 “In those days (AM)the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of (AN)the north to (AO)the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.

19 “But I said:

‘How can I put you among the children
And give you (AP)a pleasant land,
A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?’

“And I said:

‘You shall call Me, (AQ)“My Father,”
And not turn away from Me.’
20 Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her [d]husband,
So (AR)have you dealt treacherously with Me,
O house of Israel,” says the Lord.

21 A voice was heard on (AS)the desolate heights,
Weeping and supplications of the children of Israel.
For they have perverted their way;
They have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 “Return, you backsliding children,
And I will (AT)heal your backslidings.”

“Indeed we do come to You,
For You are the Lord our God.
23 (AU)Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,
And from the multitude of mountains;
(AV)Truly, in the Lord our God
Is the salvation of Israel.
24 (AW)For shame has devoured
The labor of our fathers from our youth—
Their flocks and their herds,
Their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame,
And our [e]reproach covers us.
(AX)For we have sinned against the Lord our God,
We and our fathers,
From our youth even to this day,
And (AY)have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 3:2 Kt. been violated
  2. Jeremiah 3:13 Lit. ways
  3. Jeremiah 3:17 walk after the stubbornness or imagination
  4. Jeremiah 3:20 Lit. companion
  5. Jeremiah 3:25 disgrace