Jérémie 50
Louis Segond
50 La parole que l'Éternel prononça sur Babylone, sur le pays des Chaldéens, par Jérémie, le prophète:
2 Annoncez-le parmi les nations, publiez-le, élevez une bannière! Publiez-le, ne cachez rien! Dites: Babylone est prise! Bel est confondu, Merodac est brisé! Ses idoles sont confondues, ses idoles sont brisées!
3 Car une nation monte contre elle du septentrion, Elle réduira son pays en désert, Il n'y aura plus d'habitants; Hommes et bêtes fuient, s'en vont.
4 En ces jours, en ce temps-là, dit l'Éternel, Les enfants d'Israël et les enfants de Juda reviendront ensemble; Ils marcheront en pleurant, Et ils chercheront l'Éternel, leur Dieu.
5 Ils s'informeront du chemin de Sion, Ils tourneront vers elle leurs regards: Venez, attachez-vous à l'Éternel, Par une alliance éternelle qui ne soit jamais oubliée!
6 Mon peuple était un troupeau de brebis perdues; Leurs bergers les égaraient, les faisaient errer par les montagnes; Elles allaient des montagnes sur les collines, Oubliant leur bercail.
7 Tous ceux qui les trouvaient les dévoraient, Et leurs ennemis disaient: Nous ne sommes point coupables, Puisqu'ils ont péché contre l'Éternel, la demeure de la justice, Contre l'Éternel, l'espérance de leurs pères.
8 Fuyez de Babylone, sortez du pays des Chaldéens, Et soyez comme des boucs à la tête du troupeau!
9 Car voici, je vais susciter et faire monter contre Babylone Une multitude de grandes nations du pays du septentrion; Elles se rangeront en bataille contre elle, et s'en empareront; Leurs flèches sont comme un habile guerrier, Qui ne revient pas à vide.
10 Et la Chaldée sera livrée au pillage; Tous ceux qui la pilleront seront rassasiés, dit l'Éternel.
11 Oui, soyez dans la joie, dans l'allégresse, Vous qui avez pillé mon héritage! Oui, bondissez comme une génisse dans l'herbe, Hennissez comme des chevaux fougueux!
12 Votre mère est couverte de confusion, Celle qui vous a enfantés rougit de honte; Voici, elle est la dernière des nations, C'est un désert, une terre sèche et aride.
13 A cause de la colère de l'Éternel, elle ne sera plus habitée, Elle ne sera plus qu'une solitude. Tous ceux qui passeront près de Babylone Seront dans l'étonnement et siffleront sur toutes ses plaies.
14 Rangez-vous en bataille autour de Babylone, vous tous, archers! Tirez contre elle, n'épargnez pas les flèches! Car elle a péché contre l'Éternel.
15 Poussez de tous côtés contre elle un cri de guerre! Elle tend les mains; Ses fondements s'écroulent; Ses murs sont renversés. Car c'est la vengeance de l'Éternel. Vengez-vous sur elle! Faites-lui comme elle a fait!
16 Exterminez de Babylone celui qui sème, Et celui qui manie la faucille au temps de la moisson! Devant le glaive destructeur, Que chacun se tourne vers son peuple, Que chacun fuie vers son pays.
17 Israël est une brebis égarée, que les lions ont chassée; Le roi d'Assyrie l'a dévorée le premier; Et ce dernier lui a brisé les os, Nebucadnetsar, roi de Babylone.
18 C'est pourquoi ainsi parle l'Éternel des armées, le Dieu d'Israël: Voici, je châtierai le roi de Babylone et son pays, Comme j'ai châtié le roi d'Assyrie.
19 Je ramènerai Israël dans sa demeure; Il aura ses pâturages du Carmel et du Basan, Et son âme se rassasiera sur la montagne d'Éphraïm et dans Galaad.
20 En ces jours, en ce temps-là, dit l'Éternel, On cherchera l'iniquité d'Israël, et elle n'existera plus, Le péché de Juda, et il ne se trouvera plus; Car je pardonnerai au reste que j'aurai laissé.
21 Monte contre le pays doublement rebelle, Contre ses habitants, et châtie-les! Poursuis, massacre, extermine-les! dit l'Éternel, Exécute entièrement mes ordres!
22 Des cris de guerre retentissent dans le pays, Et le désastre est grand.
23 Eh quoi! il est rompu, brisé, le marteau de toute la terre! Babylone est détruite au milieu des nations!
24 Je t'ai tendu un piège, et tu as été prise, Babylone, A l'improviste; Tu as été atteinte, saisie, Parce que tu as lutté contre l'Éternel.
25 L'Éternel a ouvert son arsenal, Et il en a tiré les armes de sa colère; Car c'est là une oeuvre du Seigneur, de l'Éternel des armées, Dans le pays des Chaldéens.
26 Pénétrez de toutes parts dans Babylone, ouvrez ses greniers, Faites-y des monceaux comme des tas de gerbes, Et détruisez-la! Qu'il ne reste plus rien d'elle!
27 Tuez tous ses taureaux, qu'on les égorge! Malheur à eux! car leur jour est arrivé, Le temps de leur châtiment.
28 Écoutez les cris des fuyards, de ceux qui se sauvent du pays de Babylone Pour annoncer dans Sion la vengeance de l'Éternel, notre Dieu, La vengeance de son temple!
29 Appelez contre Babylone les archers, vous tous qui maniez l'arc! Campez autour d'elle, que personne n'échappe, Rendez-lui selon ses oeuvres, Faites-lui entièrement comme elle a fait! Car elle s'est élevée avec fierté contre l'Éternel, Contre le Saint d'Israël.
30 C'est pourquoi ses jeunes gens tomberont dans les rues, Et tous ses hommes de guerre périront en ce jour, Dit l'Éternel.
31 Voici, j'en veux à toi, orgueilleuse! Dit le Seigneur, l'Éternel des armées; Car ton jour est arrivé, Le temps de ton châtiment.
32 L'orgueilleuse chancellera et tombera, Et personne ne la relèvera; Je mettrai le feu à ses villes, Et il en dévorera tous les alentours.
33 Ainsi parle l'Éternel des armées: Les enfants d'Israël et les enfants de Juda sont ensemble opprimés; Tous ceux qui les ont emmenés captifs les retiennent, Et refusent de les relâcher.
34 Mais leur vengeur est puissant, Lui dont l'Éternel des armées est le nom; Il défendra leur cause, Afin de donner le repos au pays, Et de faire trembler les habitants de Babylone.
35 L'épée contre les Chaldéens! dit l'Éternel, Contre les habitants de Babylone, ses chefs et ses sages!
36 L'épée contre les prophètes de mensonge! qu'ils soient comme des insensés! L'épée contre ses vaillants hommes! qu'ils soient consternés!
37 L'épée contre ses chevaux et ses chars! Contre les gens de toute espèce qui sont au milieu d'elle! Qu'ils deviennent semblables à des femmes! L'épée contre ses trésors! qu'ils soient pillés!
38 La sécheresse contre ses eaux! qu'elles tarissent! Car c'est un pays d'idoles; Ils sont fous de leurs idoles.
39 C'est pourquoi les animaux du désert s'y établiront avec les chacals, Et les autruches y feront leur demeure; Elle ne sera plus jamais habitée, Elle ne sera plus jamais peuplée.
40 Comme Sodome et Gomorrhe, et les villes voisines, que Dieu détruisit, Dit l'Éternel, Elle ne sera plus habitée, Elle ne sera le séjour d'aucun homme.
41 Voici, un peuple vient du septentrion, Une grande nation et des rois puissants Se lèvent des extrémités de la terre.
42 Ils portent l'arc et le javelot; Ils sont cruels, sans miséricorde; Leur voix mugit comme la mer; Ils sont montés sur des chevaux, Prêts à combattre comme un seul homme, Contre toi, fille de Babylone!
43 Le roi de Babylone apprend la nouvelle, Et ses mains s'affaiblissent, L'angoisse le saisit, Comme la douleur d'une femme qui accouche...
44 Voici, tel qu'un lion, il monte des rives orgueilleuses du Jourdain Contre la demeure forte; Soudain je les en chasserai, Et j'établirai sur elle celui que j'ai choisi. Car qui est semblable à moi? qui me donnera des ordres? Et quel est le chef qui me résistera?
45 C'est pourquoi écoutez la résolution que l'Éternel a prise contre Babylone, Et les desseins qu'il a conçus contre le pays des Chaldéens! Certainement on les traînera comme de faibles brebis, Certainement on ravagera leur demeure.
46 Au bruit de la prise de Babylone la terre tremble, Et un cri se fait entendre parmi les nations.
Jeremiah 50
Good News Translation
Babylon's Capture
50 (A)This is the message that the Lord gave me about the city of Babylon and its people:
2 “Tell the news to the nations! Proclaim it!
Give the signal and announce the news!
Do not keep it a secret!
Babylon has fallen!
Her god Marduk has been shattered!
Babylon's idols are put to shame;
her disgusting images are crushed!
3 “A nation from the north has come to attack Babylonia and will make it a desert. People and animals will run away, and no one will live there.”
Israel's Return
4 The Lord says, “When that time comes, the people of both Israel and Judah will come weeping, looking for me, their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and then go in that direction. They will make an eternal covenant with me and never break it.
6 “My people are like sheep whose shepherds have let them get lost in the mountains. They have wandered like sheep from one mountain to another, and they have forgotten where their home is. 7 They are attacked by all who find them. Their enemies say, ‘They sinned against the Lord, and so what we have done is not wrong. Their ancestors trusted in the Lord, and they themselves should have remained faithful to him.’
8 (B)“People of Israel, run away from Babylonia! Leave the country! Be the first to leave! 9 I am going to stir up a group of strong nations in the north and make them attack Babylonia. They will line up in battle against the country and conquer it. They are skillful hunters, shooting arrows that never miss the mark. 10 Babylonia will be looted, and those who loot it will take everything they want. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Babylon's Fall
11 The Lord says, “People of Babylonia, you plundered my nation. You are happy and glad, going about like a cow threshing grain or like a neighing horse, 12 but your own great city will be humiliated and disgraced. Babylonia will be the least important nation of all; it will become a dry and waterless desert. 13 Because of my anger no one will live in Babylon; it will be left in ruins, and all who pass by will be shocked and amazed.
14 “Archers, line up for battle against Babylon and surround it. Shoot all your arrows at Babylon, because it has sinned against me, the Lord. 15 Raise the war cry all around the city! Now Babylon has surrendered. Its walls have been broken through and torn down.[a] I am taking my revenge on the Babylonians. So take your revenge on them, and treat them as they have treated others. 16 Do not let seeds be planted in that country nor let a harvest be gathered. Every foreigner living there will be afraid of the attacking army and will go back home.”
Israel's Return
17 The Lord says, “The people of Israel are like sheep, chased and scattered by lions. First, they were attacked by the emperor of Assyria, and then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia gnawed on their bones. 18 Because of this, I, the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, will punish King Nebuchadnezzar and his country, just as I punished the emperor of Assyria. 19 I will restore the people of Israel to their land. They will eat the food that grows on Mount Carmel and in the region of Bashan, and they will eat all they want of the crops that grow in the territories of Ephraim and Gilead. 20 When that time comes, no sin will be found in Israel and no wickedness in Judah, because I will forgive those people whose lives I have spared. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God's Judgment on Babylonia
21 The Lord says, “Attack the people of Merathaim and of Pekod. Kill and destroy them.[b] Do everything I command you. I, the Lord, have spoken. 22 The noise of battle is heard in the land, and there is great destruction. 23 Babylonia hammered the whole world to pieces, and now that hammer is shattered! All the nations are shocked at what has happened to that country. 24 Babylonia, you fought against me, and you have been caught in the trap I set for you, even though you did not know it. 25 I have opened the place where my weapons are stored, and in my anger I have taken them out, because I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have work to do in Babylonia. 26 Attack it from every side and break open the places where its grain is stored! Pile up the loot like piles of grain! Destroy the country! Leave nothing at all! 27 Kill all their soldiers! Slaughter them! The people of Babylonia are doomed! The time has come for them to be punished!”
(28 Refugees escape from Babylonia and come to Jerusalem, and they tell how the Lord our God took revenge for what the Babylonians had done to his Temple.)
29 (C)“Tell the archers to attack Babylon. Send out everyone who knows how to use the bow and arrow. Surround the city and don't let anyone escape. Pay it back for all it has done, and treat it as it has treated others, because it acted with pride against me, the Holy One of Israel. 30 So its young men will be killed in the city streets, and all its soldiers will be destroyed on that day. I, the Lord, have spoken.
31 “Babylonia, you are filled with pride, so I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, am against you! The time has come for me to punish you. 32 Your proud nation will stumble and fall, and no one will help you up. I will set your cities on fire, and everything around will be destroyed.”
33 The Lord Almighty says, “The people of Israel and of Judah are oppressed. All who captured them are guarding them closely and will not let them go. 34 But the one who will rescue them is strong—his name is the Lord Almighty. He himself will take up their cause and will bring peace to the earth, but trouble to the people of Babylonia.”
35 The Lord says,
“Death to Babylonia!
Death to its people,
to its rulers, to its people of wisdom.
36 Death to its lying prophets—
what fools they are!
Death to its soldiers—
how terrified they are!
37 Destroy its horses and chariots!
Death to its hired soldiers—
how weak they are!
Destroy its treasures;
plunder and loot.
38 Bring a drought on its land
and dry up its rivers.
Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols
that have made fools of the people.
39 (D)“And so Babylon will be haunted by demons and evil spirits,[c] and by unclean birds. Never again will people live there, not for all time to come. 40 (E)The same thing will happen to Babylon that happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, when I destroyed them and the nearby towns. No one will ever live there again. I, the Lord, have spoken.
41 “People are coming from a country in the north,
a mighty nation far away;
many kings are preparing for war.
42 They have taken their bows and swords;
they are cruel and merciless.
They sound like the roaring sea,
as they ride their horses.
They are ready for battle against Babylonia.
43 The king of Babylonia hears the news,
and his hands hang limp.
He is seized by anguish,
by pain like a woman in labor.
44 “Like a lion coming out of the thick woods along the Jordan up to the green pasture land, I, the Lord, will come and make the Babylonians run away suddenly from their city. Then the leader I choose will rule the nation. Who can be compared to me? Who would dare challenge me? What ruler could oppose me? 45 So listen to the plan that I have made against the city of Babylon and to what I intend to do to its people. Even their children will be dragged off, and everyone will be horrified. 46 When Babylon falls, there will be such a noise that the entire earth will shake, and the cries of alarm will be heard by the other nations.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 50:15 Hebrew has an additional word, the meaning of which is unclear.
- Jeremiah 50:21 One ancient translation them; Hebrew after them.
- Jeremiah 50:39 demons and evil spirits; or wildcats and jackals.
Jeremiah 50
New King James Version
Judgment on Babylon and Babylonia
50 The word that the Lord spoke (A)against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 “Declare among the nations,
Proclaim, and [a]set up a standard;
Proclaim—do not conceal it—
Say, ‘Babylon is (B)taken, (C)Bel is shamed.
[b]Merodach is broken in pieces;
(D)Her idols are humiliated,
Her images are broken in pieces.’
3 (E)For out of the north (F)a nation comes up against her,
Which shall make her land desolate,
And no one shall dwell therein.
They shall [c]move, they shall depart,
Both man and beast.
4 “In those days and in that time,” says the Lord,
“The children of Israel shall come,
(G)They and the children of Judah together;
(H)With continual weeping they shall come,
(I)And seek the Lord their God.
5 They shall ask the way to Zion,
With their faces toward it, saying,
‘Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord
In (J)a perpetual covenant
That will not be forgotten.’
6 “My people have been (K)lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them (L)astray;
They have turned them away on (M)the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
7 All who found them have (N)devoured them;
And (O)their adversaries said, (P)‘We have not offended,
Because they have sinned against the Lord, (Q)the habitation of justice,
The Lord, (R)the hope of their fathers.’
8 “Move(S) from the midst of Babylon,
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans;
And be like the [d]rams before the flocks.
9 (T)For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of [e]an expert warrior;
(U)None shall return in vain.
10 And Chaldea shall become plunder;
(V)All who plunder her shall be satisfied,” says the Lord.
11 “Because(W) you were glad, because you rejoiced,
You destroyers of My heritage,
Because you have grown fat (X)like a heifer threshing grain,
And you [f]bellow like bulls,
12 Your mother shall be deeply ashamed;
She who bore you shall be ashamed.
Behold, the least of the nations shall be a (Y)wilderness,
A dry land and a desert.
13 Because of the wrath of the Lord
She shall not be inhabited,
(Z)But she shall be wholly desolate.
(AA)Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified
And hiss at all her plagues.
14 “Put(AB) yourselves in array against Babylon all around,
All you who bend the bow;
Shoot at her, spare no arrows,
For she has sinned against the Lord.
15 Shout against her all around;
She has (AC)given her hand,
Her foundations have fallen,
(AD)Her walls are thrown down;
For (AE)it is the vengeance of the Lord.
Take vengeance on her.
As she has done, so do to her.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon,
And him who handles the sickle at harvest time.
For fear of the oppressing sword
(AF)Everyone shall turn to his own people,
And everyone shall flee to his own land.
17 “Israel is like (AG)scattered sheep;
(AH)The lions have driven him away.
First (AI)the king of Assyria devoured him;
Now at last this (AJ)Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
18 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel:
“Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
As I have punished the king of (AK)Assyria.
19 (AL)But I will bring back Israel to his home,
And he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan;
His soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days and in that time,” says the Lord,
(AM)“The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none;
And the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found;
For I will pardon those (AN)whom I preserve.
21 “Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it,
And against the inhabitants of (AO)Pekod.
[g]Waste and utterly destroy them,” says the Lord,
“And do (AP)according to all that I have commanded you.
22 (AQ)A sound of battle is in the land,
And of great destruction.
23 How (AR)the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken!
How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
24 I have laid a snare for you;
You have indeed been (AS)trapped, O Babylon,
And you were not aware;
You have been found and also caught,
Because you have (AT)contended against the Lord.
25 The Lord has opened His armory,
And has brought out (AU)the weapons of His indignation;
For this is the work of the Lord God of hosts
In the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Come against her from the farthest border;
Open her storehouses;
Cast her up as heaps of ruins,
And destroy her utterly;
Let nothing of her be left.
27 Slay all her (AV)bulls,
Let them go down to the slaughter.
Woe to them!
For their day has come, the time of (AW)their punishment.
28 The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon
(AX)Declares in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God,
The vengeance of His temple.
29 “Call together the archers against Babylon.
All you who bend the bow, encamp against it all around;
Let none of them [h]escape.
(AY)Repay her according to her work;
According to all she has done, do to her;
(AZ)For she has been proud against the Lord,
Against the Holy One of Israel.
30 (BA)Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets,
And all her men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord.
31 “Behold, I am against you,
O most haughty one!” says the Lord God of hosts;
“For your day has come,
[i]The time that I will punish you.
32 The most (BB)proud shall stumble and fall,
And no one will raise him up;
(BC)I will kindle a fire in his cities,
And it will devour all around him.”
33 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“The children of Israel were oppressed,
Along with the children of Judah;
All who took them captive have held them fast;
They have refused to let them go.
34 (BD)Their Redeemer is strong;
(BE)The Lord of hosts is His name.
He will thoroughly plead their (BF)case,
That He may give rest to the land,
And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 “A sword is against the Chaldeans,” says the Lord,
“Against the inhabitants of Babylon,
And (BG)against her princes and (BH)her wise men.
36 A sword is (BI)against the soothsayers, and they will be fools.
A sword is against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
37 A sword is against their horses,
Against their chariots,
And against all (BJ)the mixed peoples who are in her midst;
And (BK)they will become like women.
A sword is against her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 (BL)A [j]drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up.
For it is the land of carved images,
And they are insane with their idols.
39 “Therefore(BM) the wild desert beasts shall dwell there with the jackals,
And the ostriches shall dwell in it.
(BN)It shall be inhabited no more forever,
Nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 (BO)As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
And their neighbors,” says the Lord,
“So no one shall reside there,
Nor son of man (BP)dwell in it.
41 “Behold,(BQ) a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 (BR)They shall hold the bow and the lance;
(BS)They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
(BT)Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
43 “The king of Babylon has (BU)heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in (BV)childbirth.
44 “Behold,(BW) he shall come up like a lion from the [k]floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will make them suddenly run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?
For who is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And (BX)who is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?”
45 Therefore hear (BY)the counsel of the Lord that He has taken against Babylon,
And His (BZ)purposes that He has proposed against the land of the Chaldeans:
(CA)Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out;
Surely He will make their dwelling place desolate with them.
46 (CB)At the noise of the taking of Babylon
The earth trembles,
And the cry is heard among the nations.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 50:2 lift
- Jeremiah 50:2 Or Marduk; a Babylonian god
- Jeremiah 50:3 Or wander
- Jeremiah 50:8 male goats
- Jeremiah 50:9 So with some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr.; MT, Tg., Vg. a warrior who makes childless
- Jeremiah 50:11 Or neigh like steeds
- Jeremiah 50:21 Or Attack with the sword
- Jeremiah 50:29 Qr., some Heb. mss., LXX, Tg. add to her
- Jeremiah 50:31 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. The time of your punishment
- Jeremiah 50:38 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; Syr. sword; LXX omits A drought is
- Jeremiah 50:44 Or thicket
Ieremia 50
Nouă Traducere În Limba Română
Profeţie împotriva Babilonului
50 Acesta este cuvântul rostit de Domnul prin profetul Ieremia, cu privire la Babilon şi la ţara caldeenilor[a]:
2 „Daţi de ştire şi vestiţi printre neamuri!
Înălţaţi un steag şi vestiţi!
Nu ascundeţi nimic, ci spuneţi
că Babilonul va fi cucerit,
Bel va fi dat de ruşine
şi Marduk[b] va fi umplut de spaimă!
Imaginile lui cioplite vor fi date de ruşine
şi idolii lui vor fi umpluţi de spaimă!
3 Un neam din nord îi va ataca
şi le va preface ţara într-un pustiu.
Nimeni nu va mai locui în ea!
Atât oamenii, cât şi animalele vor fugi din ea.
4 În zilele acelea şi în vremea aceea, zice Domnul,
israeliţii împreună cu cei din Iuda
vor veni şi vor umbla plângând
şi-L vor căuta pe Domnul, Dumnezeul lor.
5 Vor întreba care este drumul Sionului
şi îşi vor întoarce privirile spre el.
Vor veni şi se vor alipi de Domnul
printr-un legământ veşnic,
care nu va fi uitat niciodată!
6 Poporul Meu era ca o turmă de oi pierdute,
pe care păstorii lor le abăteau din cale
şi le făceau să rătăcească prin munţi.
Treceau de pe munţi pe dealuri
şi îşi uitaseră locul de odihnă.
7 Toţi cei ce le găseau le mâncau.
Duşmanii lor ziceau: «Noi nu suntem vinovaţi,
căci ele au păcătuit împotriva Domnului, staulul dreptăţii,
împotriva Domnului, nădejdea strămoşilor lor.»
8 Fugiţi din Babilon,
ieşiţi din ţara caldeenilor
şi fiţi ca ţapii care conduc turma,
9 căci, iată, voi stârni şi voi aduce împotriva Babilonului
o mulţime de neamuri mari din ţara de nord.
Ele se vor înşira la luptă împotriva lui
şi îl vor cuceri.
Săgeţile lor sunt ca ale unui viteaz priceput
care nu se întoarce cu mâna goală.
10 Astfel, Caldeea va fi prada lor
şi toţi jefuitorii ei se vor sătura, zice Domnul.
11 Pentru că v-aţi bucurat şi v-aţi veselit
când aţi jefuit moştenirea Mea,
pentru că aţi sărit ca o viţea pe păşune
şi aţi nechezat ca armăsarii,
12 mama voastră va fi într-o mare ruşine;
cea care v-a născut va fi făcută de ruşine.
Iată, ea va fi cea mai de pe urmă dintre neamuri –
un pustiu, un pământ uscat şi fără apă.
13 Din pricina mâniei Domnului, ea nu va mai fi locuită,
ci va deveni un pustiu.
Toţi cei ce vor trece prin Babilon se vor îngrozi şi vor fluiera
din cauza tuturor rănilor lui.
14 Aşezaţi-vă în linie de luptă împrejurul Babilonului,
voi toţi cei ce întindeţi arcul!
Trageţi împotriva lui, nu vă cruţaţi săgeţile,
căci a păcătuit împotriva Domnului.
15 Strigaţi împotriva lui din toate părţile!
El se predă, întăriturile îi cad
şi zidurile îi sunt dărâmate.
De vreme ce este răzbunarea Domnului,
răzbunaţi-vă pe el
şi faceţi-i cum a făcut şi el!
16 Nimiciţi din Babilon pe semănător
şi pe cel ce mânuieşte secera la vremea secerişului!
Din cauza sabiei pustiitorului,
fiecare să se întoarcă la poporul său,
fiecare să fugă în ţara sa!“
17 „Israel este o oaie rătăcită
pe care au vânat-o leii.
Primul care a mâncat-o
a fost împăratul Asiriei,
iar ultimul care i-a sfărâmat oasele
a fost Nebucadneţar, împăratul Babilonului.“
18 „De aceea, aşa vorbeşte Domnul Oştirilor, Dumnezeul lui Israel:
«Îl voi pedepsi pe împăratul Babilonului şi ţara lui,
aşa cum l-am pedepsit şi pe împăratul Asiriei.
19 Pe Israel însă îl voi aduce înapoi la păşunea lui;
el va paşte pe Carmel şi pe Başan;
îşi va potoli foamea
pe dealurile Efraimului şi Ghiladului.
20 În zilele acelea şi în vremea aceea, zice Domnul,
se va căuta nelegiuirea lui Israel, dar aceasta nu va mai fi,
se va căuta păcatul lui Iuda, dar el nu se va mai găsi,
căci voi ierta rămăşiţa pe care am cruţat-o.
21 Înaintaţi împotriva ţării Meratayim[c]
şi împotriva celor ce locuiesc în Pekod[d].
Urmăriţi-i, ucideţi-i şi distrugeţi-i cu desăvârşire[e], zice Domnul!
Faceţi-le tot ceea ce v-am poruncit!
22 Zgomotul războiului răsună în ţară,
zgomotul unui mare prăpăd.
23 Cum s-a rupt şi s-a sfărâmat
ciocanul întregului pământ!
Cum a ajuns Babilonul o pricină de groază
printre neamuri!
24 Ţi-am întins o cursă, Babilonule,
şi ai fost prins fără să te aştepţi!
Ai fost găsit şi cucerit,
căci te-ai împotrivit Domnului.
25 Domnul Şi-a deschis odaia cu arme
şi a scos armele mâniei Lui,
căci Stăpânul, Domnul Oştirilor, are de lucru
în ţara caldeenilor.
26 Veniţi împotriva ei de departe,
deschideţi-i grânarele,
ridicaţi-o ca pe nişte snopi.
Distrugeţi-o cu desăvârşire
şi nu lăsaţi nici un supravieţuitor în ea.
27 Ucideţi-i toţi tăuraşii!
Să se ducă la înjunghiere!
Vai de ei, căci le-a venit ziua!
Le-a sosit vremea să fie pedepsiţi!
28 ‘Ascultaţi! Se aude glasul fugarilor şi al celor ce scapă din ţara Babilonului
ca să proclame în Sion
răzbunarea Domnului, Dumnezeul nostru,
răzbunarea pentru Templul Său.’
29 Chemaţi arcaşii împotriva Babilonului,
chemaţi-i pe toţi cei ce întind arcul.
Ridicaţi-vă tabăra de jur împrejurul lui;
nu lăsaţi pe nimeni să scape!
Răsplătiţi-i după faptele lui;
faceţi-i potrivit cu tot ce a făcut şi el,
căci s-a îngâmfat faţă de Domnul,
faţă de Sfântul lui Israel.
30 De aceea, tinerii lor vor cădea în pieţe;
toţi ostaşii lor vor fi reduşi la tăcere în ziua aceea, zice Domnul.
31 Iată, Eu sunt împotriva ta, trufaşule,
zice Stăpânul, Domnul Oştirilor,
căci ţi-a sosit ziua,
ţi-a venit vremea să fii pedepsit!
32 Trufaşul acela se va împiedica şi va cădea
şi nimeni nu-l va ajuta să se ridice.
Voi aprinde un foc în cetăţile lui,
care îi va mistui toate împrejurimile.»“
33 „Aşa vorbeşte Domnul Oştirilor:
«Israeliţii sunt asupriţi
şi cei din Iuda la fel.
Toţi cei care i-au luat captivi îi ţin strâns
şi refuză să le dea drumul.
34 Dar Răscumpărătorul lor este puternic,
Domnul Oştirilor este Numele Lui.
El le va apăra cauza
ca să aducă odihnă ţării lor
şi să facă pe locuitorii Babilonului să se agite.
35 Sabie împotriva caldeenilor! zice Domnul –
împotriva celor ce locuiesc în Babilon,
împotriva conducătorilor şi înţelepţilor lor.
36 Sabie împotriva profeţilor mincinoşi!
Ei vor deveni nebuni.
Sabie împotriva vitejilor lor!
Ei vor fi umpluţi de spaimă.
37 Sabie împotriva cailor şi carelor lor
şi împotriva tuturor străinilor care sunt în mijlocul lor!
Ei se vor înfricoşa ca nişte femei.
Sabie împotriva comorilor lor!
Ele vor fi prădate.
38 Uscăciune[f] peste apele lor!
Ele vor seca.
Căci este o ţară de idoli,
au înnebunit cu idolii lor de care se tem[g].
39 De aceea, doar fiarele pustiei şi hienele vor locui acolo,
precum şi bufniţa de noapte.
Nu va mai fi locuit vreodată,
ci va rămâne nelocuit din generaţie în generaţie.
40 Aşa cum a distrus Dumnezeu Sodoma şi Gomora
şi cetăţile vecine, zice Domnul,
tot astfel nici un om nu va mai locui acolo
şi nici un muritor nu se va mai stabili în el.
41 Iată, un popor vine din nord!
Un mare neam şi regi mulţi
au fost stârniţi de la marginile pământului.
42 Ei sunt înarmaţi cu arcuri şi cu lănci;
sunt cruzi şi fără milă.
Vuietul lor este ca marea învolburată
când vin călare pe cai;
sunt pregătiţi de luptă
împotriva ta, fiică a Babilonului!
43 Împăratul Babilonului a auzit vestea
şi mâinile i-au slăbit.
L-a cuprins neputinţa,
durerea ca pe o femeie care naşte.
44 Iată, ca un leu care vine din desişul Iordanului
împotriva unui staul trainic,
aşa Mă voi repezi şi-l voi pune pe fugă din locul unde este.
Cine este cel ales de Mine ca să facă aceasta?
Cine este ca Mine şi cine Mă va înfrunta?
Ce păstor Îmi poate sta împotrivă?
45 De aceea, ascultaţi hotărârea pe care a luat-o Domnul împotriva Babilonului
şi planurile pe care le-a făcut împotriva Caldeii:
Cu siguranţă vor fi târâţi ca nişte oi plăpânde;
cu siguranţă El le va distruge staulul.
46 La sunetul cuceririi Babilonului pământul se cutremură
şi un strigăt se aude printre neamuri.»“
Footnotes
- Ieremia 50:1 Caldeea (Babilonia); peste tot în carte
- Ieremia 50:2 Cunoscut şi sub numele simplu de Bel, era zeul suprem al Babilonului
- Ieremia 50:21 Ebr.: de două ori rebelă, nume simbolic pentru Babilon; joc de cuvinte cu mat marrati (Ţara Râului Sălciu), denumire antică a sudului Babiloniei
- Ieremia 50:21 Ebr.: Pedeapsă; joc de cuvinte cu Pukdu, trib arameu din S-E Babiloniei (vezi Eze. 23:23)
- Ieremia 50:21 Termenul ebraic se referă la un lucru sau o persoană dedicate irevocabil Domnului, fie ca dar, fie printr-o distrugere completă
- Ieremia 50:38 Sau: sabie
- Ieremia 50:38 Sau: idoli, / sunt înnebuniţi după idolii lor; sau: idoli, / idoli care au înnebunit de teroare.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Nouă Traducere În Limba Română (Holy Bible, New Romanian Translation) Copyright © 2006 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.