Exemplar epistolae quam misit Jeremias ad abducendos captivos in Babyloniam a rege Babyloniorum, ut annuntiaret illis secundum quod praeceptum est illi a Deo.

Here follows a copy of the letter Jeremias sent to the prisoners whom the king of Babylon was carrying off to his own country, with the warnings God bade him give them.

A copy of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them according to what was commanded him by God.

Propter peccata quæ peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi a Nabuchodonosor rege Babylonis.

In atonement for the sins by which you have offended God, you shall now be carried off to Babylon, by Nabuchodonosor that is king of it.

For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.

Ingressi itaque in Babylonem, eritis ibi annis plurimis, et temporibus longis, usque ad generationes septem: post hoc autem educam vos inde cum pace.

Babylon once reached, you shall have a long exile there, years a many, till seven generations have passed; then I will grant you a safe return.

And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.

Nunc autem videbitis in Babylonia deos aureos et argenteos, et lapideos et ligneos, in humeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.

And you must know that you will see, in that country, gods of gold and silver, gods of stone and wood, that are carried about on men’s shoulders; to the heathen, things of great dread.

But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the Gentiles.

Videte ergo ne et vos similes efficiamini factis alienis, et metuatis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.

Look well to it that you do not fall in with these alien customs, by the same fear overmastered.

Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.

Visa itaque turba de retro et ab ante, adorantes dicite in cordibus vestris: Te oportet adorari, Domine.

What though a great throng of worshippers attends them, before and behind? Let your hearts whisper in adoration, To thee, Lord, all worship belongs!

But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.

Angelus enim meus vobiscum est: ipse autem exquiram animas vestras.

My angel is at your side, and your lives shall be held to account for it.

For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.

Nam lingua ipsorum polita a fabro; ipsa etiam inaurata et inargentata: falsa sunt, et non possunt loqui.

Puppets of gold and silver, speak they cannot, for all the craftsman has given them tongues to speak with.

For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.

Et sicut virgini amanti ornamenta, ita accepto auro fabricati sunt.

Ay, gold must go to their fashioning, never was maid so bravely tricked out;

And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.

Coronas certe aureas habent super capita sua dii illorum: unde subtrahunt sacerdotes ab eis aurum et argentum, et erogant illud in semetipsos.

gods they are, and must wear golden crowns. And of this gold and silver the priests will steal some part for their own uses,

Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.

Dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis, et meretrices ornant: et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus, ornant deos suos.

and spend it on their minions; what the gods wore, harlots wear, what harlots wore, the gods.

Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.

Hi autem non liberantur ab ærugine et tinea.

From rust they cannot protect themselves, nor from the moth;

And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.

Opertis autem illis veste purpurea, extergunt faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos.

alas for the purple robes that deck them! And the temple dust lies thick upon them, so that their faces must be wiped clean.

But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.

Sceptrum autem habet ut homo, sicut judex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficit.

Here is an idol bearing a sceptre, human-fashion, as though it ruled the country-side, yet has it no power to kill the blasphemer;

This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.

Habet etiam in manu gladium et securim, se autem de bello et a latronibus non liberat. Unde vobis notum sit quia non sunt dii:

another carries sword or axe, yet from alarm of war or of robbers cannot defend itself; be sure, then, gods they are not.

And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not gods.

non ergo timueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur, tales sunt et dii illorum.

Never fear them; broken jar a man throws away as useless can be matched with such gods as these.

Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:

Constitutis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere a pedibus introëuntium.

There they sit in their temples, with eyes full of dust from the feet of passers-by,

When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.

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.

mewed up by their priests with bolt and bar for fear of robbery, like king’s enemy in his dungeon, dead man in his tomb;

And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.

Lucernas accendunt illis, et quidem multas, ex quibus nullam videre possunt: sunt autem sicut trabes in domo.

of all the lights that burn before them, they see none; roof-beam is not more senseless.

They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.

Corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt, dum comedunt eos, et vestimentum ipsorum, et non sentiunt.

Yet men will have it that serpents creep out of the earth and drink in the secrets of their hearts! Worms, more like, that eat the idol up, clothes and all, and it none the wiser.

And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.

Nigræ fiunt facies eorum a fumo qui in domo fit.

Smoke of the temple blackens their faces;

Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.

Supra corpus eorum et supra caput eorum volant noctuæ, et hirundines, et aves etiam, similiter et cattæ.

about their bodies and heads fly owl and swallow; birds hover and cats prowl.

Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.

Unde sciatis quia non sunt dii: ne ergo timueritis eos.

Be sure they are no gods; never fear them.

Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.

Aurum etiam quod habent ad speciem est: nisi aliquis exterserit æruginem, non fulgebunt: neque enim dum conflarentur, sentiebant.

Fair, golden faces! Yet will they not shine on the worshipper, till he rub off the stains on them; cast once for all in a mould, without feeling.

The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.

Ex omni pretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non inest ipsis.

Cost what they will, there is never a breath of life in them;

Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.

Sine pedibus, in humeris portantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus: confundantur etiam qui colunt ea.

never a pace they walk, but must still be carried on men’s shoulders, putting their own worshippers to shame by the betrayal of their impotence.

And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that worship them.

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.

Fall they to earth, they cannot rise from it, and though they be set up again, it is in no power of their own that they stand. As well bring gifts to dead men as to these;

Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.

Hostias illorum vendunt sacerdotes ipsorum, et abutuntur: similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes, neque infirmo, neque mendicanti, aliquid impertiunt.

the victim thou offerest yonder priest will sell, or put to his own use, nor ever a slice his wife cuts shall find its way to the sick and the needy.

The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.

De sacrificiis eorum fœtæ et menstruatæ contingunt. Sciens itaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timeatis eos.

Those offerings every woman may touch if she will, child-birth and monthly times notwithstanding. And are these gods? Are these to be feared?

The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing therefore by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.

Unde enim vocantur dii? quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis, et aureis, et ligneis:

Things of silver and gold and wood, that have women for their ministers, shall the divine name be theirs?

For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood:

et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas, et capita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.

In their temples you shall find priests sitting by with clothes rent, shaven and shorn, heads uncovered,

And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

Rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cœna mortui.

raising lament over their gods as at a dead man’s dirge.

And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

Vestimenta eorum auferunt sacerdotes, et vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.

Vestments their idols wore they will carry away, to dress their wives and children;

The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.

Neque si quid mali patiuntur ab aliquo, neque si quid boni, poterunt retribuere: neque regem constituere possunt, neque auferre.

so powerless are these gods to requite injury or reward service done. Not theirs to make kings or unmake them,

And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king nor put him down:

Similiter neque dare divitias possunt, neque malum retribuere. Si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit, neque hoc requirunt.

grant riches, or wreak vengeance; the unpaid vow they cannot exact,

In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not, they cannot require it.

Hominem a morte non liberant, neque infirmum a potentiori eripiunt.

nor deliver men from death, and the tyrant’s oppression,

They cannot deliver a man from death nor save the weak from the mighty.

Hominem cæcum ad visum non restituunt; de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.

give sight to the blind, succour in time of peril,

They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.

Viduæ non miserebuntur, neque orphanis benefacient.

shew mercy to the widow, or cheer the orphan’s lot.

They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.

Lapidibus de monte similes sunt dii illorum, lignei, et lapidei, et aurei, et argentei: qui autem colunt ea, confundentur.

Things of wood and stone, gold and silver, no more than rock on the mountain-side can they speed their worshippers;

Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that worship them shall be confounded.

Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut dicendum illos esse deos?

gods do we reckon them, gods do we call them?

How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods?

Adhuc enim ipsis Chaldæis non honorantibus ea: qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui, offerunt illud ad Bel, postulantes ab eo loqui:

And indeed the Chaldaeans themselves have but scant reverence for these idols of theirs; hear they of a dumb child that can utter no word, Bel’s image must be brought to it and petitioned for the gift of speech;

Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them: who when they hear of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, that he may speak,

quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum! Et ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquent ea: sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum.

as if the senseless thing which cannot move could yet hear them! Sense neither god nor worshipper has, else god should find no worship.

As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their gods themselves have no sense.

Mulieres autem circumdatæ funibus in viis sedent, succendentes ossa olivarum:

See where their women sit in the streets, with ropes about them, each before a fire of olive-stones,

The women also with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning olive stones.

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.

each waiting till some passer-by drags her away and beds her, then taunting her less coveted neighbours, that have ropes about them still!

And when any one of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth with him, she upbraideth her neighbour, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

Omnia autem quæ illi fiunt, falsa sunt: quomodo æstimandum aut dicendum est illos esse deos?

All lies, the worship of them, and shall they claim the title of gods?

But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods?

A fabris autem et ab aurificibus facta sunt: nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod volunt esse sacerdotes.

Carpenters made them and goldsmiths, only at the priests’ whim;

And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be nothing else but what the priests will have them to be.

Artifices etiam ipsi, qui ea faciunt, non sunt multi temporis: numquid ergo possunt ea, quæ fabricata sunt ab ipsis, esse dii?

and shall the handicraft of mortal craftsmen be divine?

For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long continuance. Can those things then that are made by them be gods?

Reliquerunt autem falsa et opprobrium postea futuris.

One day, their descendants will reproach them with a legacy of imposture.

But they have left false things and reproach to them that come after.

Nam cum supervenerit illis prælium et mala, cogitant sacerdotes apud se ubi se abscondant cum illis.

Come war, come peril, the priest thinks only of hiding himself and his gods both;

For when war cometh upon them, or evils, the priests consult with themselves where they may hide themselves with them.

Quomodo ergo sentiri debeant quoniam dii sunt, qui nec de bello se liberant, neque de malis se eripiunt?

gods who shall think them, that from war and peril their own selves cannot deliver?

How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils?

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.

Recognize it at last they will, kings and peoples everywhere, that gods of wood, gold and silver are false gods, creatures of man, not creators.

For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by all nations and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, but the work of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.

Unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est.

Man’s handiwork, with nothing in them of the divine, who can doubt it?

Whence therefore is it known that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and no work of God is in them?

Regem regioni non suscitant, neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.

Not through them comes king to throne, comes rain to country folk;

They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men.

Judicium quoque non discernent, neque regiones liberabunt ab injuria, quia nihil possunt, sicut corniculæ inter medium cæli et terræ.

redress wrong they may not, nor rid a people of tyranny; dead crow hung between heaven and earth is not more powerless.

They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression; because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth.

Etenim cum inciderit ignis in domum deorum ligneorum, argenteorum et aureorum, sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient, et liberabuntur: ipsi vero sicut trabes in medio comburentur.

Does a temple catch fire? You shall see priests taking refuge in flight, and the wooden gods, for all the silver and gold on them, burning among the woodwork.

For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams.

Regi autem et bello non resistent. Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt?

Against the king’s power, against the enemy’s attack, they can make no head; who shall reckon them or name them divine?

And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be supposed, or admitted that they are gods?

Non a furibus, neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei, et lapidei, et inaurati, et inargentati: quibus hi qui fortiores sunt,

Wood and stone, gold and silver, how to protect themselves against the superior strength of house-breaker and robber,

Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or robbers: they that are stronger than them

aurum et argentum, et vestimentum quo operti sunt, auferent illis, et abibunt, nec sibi auxilium ferent.

that will carry off sheathes of silver and gold, carry off the clothes from their backs, and leave them powerless?

Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves.

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.

Better some golden emblem of royal prowess, cup of silver meant for use, not only for display, door of wood that keeps safe the treasures of a house, than these deceiving idols!

Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods.

Sol quidem et luna ac sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates, obaudiunt:

How fair to look upon are sun and moon and stars! Yet theirs is loyal and useful service;

The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient.

similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est: idipsum autem et spiritus in omni regione spirat:

and so it is with yonder lightning, that dazzles the view. Everywhere winds blowing,

In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

et nubes, quibus cum imperatum fuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem, perficiunt quod imperatum est eis:

clouds drifting across the earth as God bade them, fulfil an appointed task;

And the clouds when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them.

ignis etiam missus desuper, ut consumat montes et silvas, facit quod præceptum est ei: hæc autem neque speciebus, neque virtutibus, uni eorum similia sunt.

an appointed task, too, has the heaven-lit fire that burns mountain-side and forest. What beauty have the idols, or what power, that they should be compared with any of these?

The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in power are like to any one of them.

Unde neque existimandum est, neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt neque judicium judicare, neque quidquam facere hominibus.

Gods never think them, gods never call them, that have no power to execute judgement, to do men good or ill.

Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men.

Scientes itaque quia non sunt dii, ne ergo timueritis eos.

And, since gods they are not, need is none to fear them;

Knowing therefore that they are not gods, fear them not.

Neque enim regibus maledicent, neque benedicent.

can they pronounce a curse or a blessing on kings?

For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them.

Signa etiam in cælo gentibus non ostendunt: neque ut sol lucebunt, neque illuminabunt ut luna.

Can they startle the world with portents, shine like the sun, light up darkness like the moon?

Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

Bestiæ meliores sunt illis, quæ possunt fugere sub tectum ac prodesse sibi.

Why, the very beasts are their betters, that know at least how to take shelter for their own safety!

Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves.

Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii: propter quod ne timeatis eos.

Fear we never the gods that ungod themselves so plainly!

Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not.

Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorum lignei, et argentei, et inaurati.

Wood and silver and gold, that watch over the world as a scare-crow over a herb-garden;

For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.

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.

wood and silver and gold, patient of the birds that perch on them as bush of white-thorn, or corpse left to lie in a dark alley!

They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.

A purpura quoque et murice, quæ supra illos tineant, scietis itaque quia non sunt dii: ipsi etiam postremo comeduntur, et erunt opprobrium in regione.

From the purple robes that rot on them, you may learn they are no gods; they, too, shall be eaten away when their time comes, and be a disgrace to the country-side.

By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.

Melior est homo justus qui non habet simulacra, nam erit longe ab opprobriis.

Well it is for God’s loyal servants, that eschew idolatry, and live from all censure far removed.

Better therefore is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.