Baruc 6 Vulgata Clementina
1 Propter peccata quæ peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi a Nabuchodonosor rege Babylonis.
1 A copy of a letter that Jeremy sent to those who were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God commanded him.
2 Ingressi itaque in Babylonem, eritis ibi annis plurimis, et temporibus longis, usque ad generationes septem: post hoc autem educam vos inde cum pace.
2 Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be led away captives to Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.
3 Nunc autem videbitis in Babylonia deos aureos et argenteos, et lapideos et ligneos, in humeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.
3 So when you come to Babylon, you will remain there many years, and for a long season, even for seven generations. After that, I will bring you out peacefully from there.
4 Videte ergo ne et vos similes efficiamini factis alienis, et metuatis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.
4 But now you will see in Babylon gods of silver, gold, and wood carried on shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.
5 Visa itaque turba de retro et ab ante, adorantes dicite in cordibus vestris: Te oportet adorari, Domine.
5 Beware therefore that you in no way become like these foreigners. Don’t let fear take hold of you because of them when you see the multitude before them and behind them, worshiping them.
6 Angelus enim meus vobiscum est: ipse autem exquiram animas vestras.
6 But say in your hearts, “O Lord, we must worship you.”
7 Nam lingua ipsorum polita a fabro; ipsa etiam inaurata et inargentata: falsa sunt, et non possunt loqui.
7 For my angel is with you, and I myself care for your souls.
8 Et sicut virgini amanti ornamenta, ita accepto auro fabricati sunt.
8 For their tongue is polished by the workman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver; yet they are only fake, and can’t speak.
9 Coronas certe aureas habent super capita sua dii illorum: unde subtrahunt sacerdotes ab eis aurum et argentum, et erogant illud in semetipsos.
9 And taking gold, as if it were for a virgin who loves to be happy, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
10 Dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis, et meretrices ornant: et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus, ornant deos suos.
10 Sometimes also the priests take gold and silver from their gods, and spend it on themselves.
11 Hi autem non liberantur ab ærugine et tinea.
11 They will even give some of it to the common prostitutes. They dress them like men with garments, even the gods of silver, gods of gold, and gods of wood.
12 Opertis autem illis veste purpurea, extergunt faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos.
12 Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments.
13 Sceptrum autem habet ut homo, sicut judex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficit.
13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick upon them.
14 Habet etiam in manu gladium et securim, se autem de bello et a latronibus non liberat. Unde vobis notum sit quia non sunt dii:
14 And he who can’t put to death one who offends against him holds a sceptre, as though he were judge of a country.
15 non ergo timueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur, tales sunt et dii illorum.
15 He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an axe, but can’t deliver himself from war and robbers.
16 Constitutis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere a pedibus introëuntium.
16 By this they are known not to be gods. Therefore don’t fear them.
17 Et sicut alicui qui regem offendit circumseptæ sunt januæ, aut sicut ad sepulchrum adductum mortuum: ita tutantur sacerdotes ostia clausuris et seris, ne a latronibus expolientur.
17 For like a vessel that a man uses is worth nothing when it is broken, even so it is with their gods. When they are set up in the temples, their eyes are full of dust through the feet of those who come in.
18 Lucernas accendunt illis, et quidem multas, ex quibus nullam videre possunt: sunt autem sicut trabes in domo.
18 As the courts are secured on every side upon him who offends the king, as being committed to suffer death, even so the priests secure their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest they be carried off by robbers.
19 Corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt, dum comedunt eos, et vestimentum ipsorum, et non sentiunt.
19 They light candles for them, yes, more than for themselves, even though they can’t see one.
20 Nigræ fiunt facies eorum a fumo qui in domo fit.
20 They are like one of the beams of the temple. Men say their hearts are eaten out when things creeping out of the earth devour both them and their clothing. They don’t feel it
21 Supra corpus eorum et supra caput eorum volant noctuæ, et hirundines, et aves etiam, similiter et cattæ.
21 when their faces are blackened through the smoke that comes out of the temple.
22 Unde sciatis quia non sunt dii: ne ergo timueritis eos.
22 Bats, swallows, and birds land on their bodies and heads. So do the cats.
23 Aurum etiam quod habent ad speciem est: nisi aliquis exterserit æruginem, non fulgebunt: neque enim dum conflarentur, sentiebant.
23 By this you may know that they are no gods. Therefore don’t fear them.
24 Ex omni pretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non inest ipsis.
24 Notwithstanding the gold with which they are covered to make them beautiful, unless someone wipes off the tarnish, they won’t shine; for they didn’t even feel it when they were molten.
25 Sine pedibus, in humeris portantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus: confundantur etiam qui colunt ea.
25 Things in which there is no breath are bought at any cost.
26 Propterea si ceciderint in terram, a semetipsis non consurgunt: neque si quis eum statuerit rectum, per semetipsum stabit: sed sicut mortuis munera eorum illis apponentur.
26 Having no feet, they are carried upon shoulders. By this, they declare to men that they are worth nothing.
27 Hostias illorum vendunt sacerdotes ipsorum, et abutuntur: similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes, neque infirmo, neque mendicanti, aliquid impertiunt.
27 Those who serve them are also ashamed, for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again by themselves. If they are bowed down, they can’t make themselves straight; but the offerings are set before them, as if they were dead men.
28 De sacrificiis eorum fœtæ et menstruatæ contingunt. Sciens itaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timeatis eos.
28 And the things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and spend. In like manner, their wives also lay up part of it in salt; but to the poor and to the impotent they give none of it.
29 Unde enim vocantur dii? quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis, et aureis, et ligneis:
29 The menstruous woman and the woman in childbed touch their sacrifices, knowing therefore by these things that they are no gods. Don’t fear them.
30 et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas, et capita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.
30 For how can they be called gods? Because women set food before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.
31 Rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cœna mortui.
31 And in their temples the priests sit on seats, having their clothes torn and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.
32 Vestimenta eorum auferunt sacerdotes, et vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.
32 They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
33 Neque si quid mali patiuntur ab aliquo, neque si quid boni, poterunt retribuere: neque regem constituere possunt, neque auferre.
33 The priests also take off garments from them and clothe their wives and children with them.
34 Similiter neque dare divitias possunt, neque malum retribuere. Si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit, neque hoc requirunt.
34 Whether it is evil or good what one does to them, they are not able to repay it. They can’t set up a king or put him down.
35 Hominem a morte non liberant, neque infirmum a potentiori eripiunt.
35 In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money. Though a man make a vow to them and doesn’t keep it, they will never exact it.
36 Hominem cæcum ad visum non restituunt; de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.
36 They can save no man from death. They can’t deliver the weak from the mighty.
37 Viduæ non miserebuntur, neque orphanis benefacient.
37 They can’t restore a blind man to his sight, or deliver anyone who is in distress.
38 Lapidibus de monte similes sunt dii illorum, lignei, et lapidei, et aurei, et argentei: qui autem colunt ea, confundentur.
38 They can show no mercy to the widow, or do good to the fatherless.
39 Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut dicendum illos esse deos?
39 They are like the stones that are cut out of the mountain, these gods of wood that are overlaid with gold and with silver. Those who minister to them will be confounded.
40 Adhuc enim ipsis Chaldæis non honorantibus ea: qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui, offerunt illud ad Bel, postulantes ab eo loqui:
40 How could a man then think or say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them?
41 quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum ! Et ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquent ea: sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum.
41 If they shall see one mute who can’t speak, they bring him and ask him to call upon Bel, as though he were able to understand.
42 Mulieres autem circumdatæ funibus in viis sedent, succendentes ossa olivarum:
42 Yet they can’t perceive this themselves, and forsake them; for they have no understanding.
43 cum autem aliqua ex ipsis, attracta ab aliquo transeunte, dormierit cum eo, proximæ suæ exprobrat quod ea non sit digna habita, sicut ipsa, neque funis ejus diruptus sit.
43 The women also with cords around them sit in the ways, burning bran for incense; but if any of them, drawn by someone who passes by, lies with him, she reproaches her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself and her cord wasn’t broken.
44 Omnia autem quæ illi fiunt, falsa sunt: quomodo æstimandum aut dicendum est illos esse deos?
44 Whatever is done among them is false. How could a man then think or say that they are gods?
45 A fabris autem et ab aurificibus facta sunt: nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod volunt esse sacerdotes.
45 They are fashioned by carpenters and goldsmiths. They can be nothing else than what the workmen make them to be.
46 Artifices etiam ipsi, qui ea faciunt, non sunt multi temporis: numquid ergo possunt ea, quæ fabricata sunt ab ipsis, esse dii?
46 And they themselves who fashioned them can never continue long. How then should the things that are fashioned by them?
47 Reliquerunt autem falsa et opprobrium postea futuris.
47 For they have left lies and reproaches to those who come after.
48 Nam cum supervenerit illis prælium et mala, cogitant sacerdotes apud se ubi se abscondant cum illis.
48 For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.
49 Quomodo ergo sentiri debeant quoniam dii sunt, qui nec de bello se liberant, neque de malis se eripiunt?
49 How then can’t men understand that they are no gods, which can’t save themselves from war or from plague?
50 Nam cum sint lignea, inaurata et inargentata, scietur postea quia falsa sunt ab universis gentibus et regibus: quæ manifesta sunt quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus cum illis.
50 For seeing they are only wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will be known hereafter that they are false.
51 Unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est.
51 It will be manifest to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
52 Regem regioni non suscitant, neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.
52 Who then may not know that they are not gods?
53 Judicium quoque non discernent, neque regiones liberabunt ab injuria, quia nihil possunt, sicut corniculæ inter medium cæli et terræ.
53 For they can’t set up a king in a land or give rain to men.
54 Etenim cum inciderit ignis in domum deorum ligneorum, argenteorum et aureorum, sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient, et liberabuntur: ipsi vero sicut trabes in medio comburentur.
54 They can’t judge their own cause, or redress a wrong, being unable; for they are like crows between heaven and earth.
55 Regi autem et bello non resistent. Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt?
55 For even when fire falls upon the house of gods of wood overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee away, and escape, but they themselves will be burned apart like beams.
56 Non a furibus, neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei, et lapidei, et inaurati, et inargentati: quibus hi qui fortiores sunt,
56 Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies. How could a man then admit or think that they are gods?
57 aurum et argentum, et vestimentum quo operti sunt, auferent illis, et abibunt, nec sibi auxilium ferent.
57 Those gods of wood overlaid with silver or with gold aren’t able to escape from thieves or robbers.
58 Itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam, aut vas in domo utile, in quo gloriabitur qui possidet illud, vel ostium in domo, quod custodit quæ in ipsa sunt, quam falsi dii.
58 The gold, silver, and garments with which they are clothed—those who are strong will take from them, and go away with them. They won’t be able to help themselves.
59 Sol quidem et luna ac sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates, obaudiunt:
59 Therefore it is better to be a king who shows his manhood, or else a vessel in a house profitable for whatever the owner needs, than such false gods—or even a door in a house, to keep the things safe that are in it, than such false gods; or better to be a pillar of wood in a palace than such false gods.
60 similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est: idipsum autem et spiritus in omni regione spirat:
60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their jobs, are obedient.
61 et nubes, quibus cum imperatum fuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem, perficiunt quod imperatum est eis:
61 Likewise also the lightning when it flashes is beautiful to see. In the same way, the wind also blows in every country.
62 ignis etiam missus desuper, ut consumat montes et silvas, facit quod præceptum est ei: hæc autem neque speciebus, neque virtutibus, uni eorum similia sunt.
62 And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told.
63 Unde neque existimandum est, neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt neque judicium judicare, neque quidquam facere hominibus.
63 And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded; but these are to be compared to them neither in show nor power.
64 Scientes itaque quia non sunt dii, ne ergo timueritis eos.
64 Therefore a man shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, seeing they aren’t able to judge causes or to do good to men.
65 Neque enim regibus maledicent, neque benedicent.
65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, don’t fear them.
66 Signa etiam in cælo gentibus non ostendunt: neque ut sol lucebunt, neque illuminabunt ut luna.
66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings.
67 Bestiæ meliores sunt illis, quæ possunt fugere sub tectum ac prodesse sibi.
67 They can’t show signs in the heavens among the nations, or shine as the sun, or give light as the moon.
68 Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii: propter quod ne timeatis eos.
68 The beasts are better than they, for they can find shelter and help themselves.
69 Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorum lignei, et argentei, et inaurati.
69 In no way then is it manifest to us that they are gods. Therefore don’t fear them.
70 Eodem modo et in horto spina alba, supra quam omnis avis sedet, similiter et mortuo projecto in tenebris, similes sunt dii illorum lignei, et inaurati, et inargentati.
70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers that keeps nothing, so are their gods of wood overlaid with gold and silver.
71 A purpura quoque et murice, quæ supra illos tineant, scietis itaque quia non sunt dii: ipsi etiam postremo comeduntur, et erunt opprobrium in regione.
71 Likewise also their gods of wood overlaid with gold and with silver are like a white thorn in an orchard that every bird sits upon. They are also like a dead body that is thrown out into the dark.
72 Melior est homo justus qui non habet simulacra, nam erit longe ab opprobriis.
72 You will know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rots upon them. They themselves will be consumed afterwards, and will be a reproach in the country. 73 Better therefore is the just man who has no idols; for he will be far from reproach.