ΒΑΡΟΥΧ - Baruch 6

GREEK BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 αντιγραφον επιστολης ης απεστειλεν ιερεμιας προς τους αχθησομενους αιχμαλωτους εις βαβυλωνα υπο του βασιλεως των βαβυλωνιων αναγγειλαι αυτοις καθοτι επεταγη αυτω υπο του θεου	1 This is a copy of the letter that Jeremiah sent to those who would be taken captive into Babylon by the king of Babylon, so as to prophesy to them according to the warning he had received about them from God. “Because of the sins which you have sinned before God, you will be carried away into the captivity of Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
2 δια τας αμαρτιας ας ημαρτηκατε εναντιον του θεου αχθησεσθε εις βαβυλωνα αιχμαλωτοι υπο ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεως των βαβυλωνιων	2 And so, having been taken into Babylon, you will be there many years and for a long time, even to seven generations, yet after this, I will lead you away from there with peace.
3 εισελθοντες ουν εις βαβυλωνα εσεσθε εκει ετη πλειονα και χρονον μακρον εως γενεων επτα μετα τουτο δε εξαξω υμας εκειθεν μετ' ειρηνης	3 But now, you will see in Babylon gods of gold and of silver, and of stone and of wood, carried upon shoulders, an awful display for the peoples.
4 νυνι δε οψεσθε εν βαβυλωνι θεους αργυρους και χρυσους και ξυλινους επ' ωμοις αιρομενους δεικνυντας φοβον τοις εθνεσιν	4 See to it, then, that you do not in effect become like these strangers and become afraid, so that in awe you would be carried away into their midst.
5 ευλαβηθητε ουν μη και υμεις αφομοιωθεντες τοις αλλοφυλοις αφομοιωθητε και φοβος υμας λαβη επ' αυτοις	5 And so, seeing the turmoil, behind you and in front of you, as they are worshiping, say in your hearts, ‘You ought to be adored, O Lord.’
6 ιδοντας οχλον εμπροσθεν και οπισθεν αυτων προσκυνουντας αυτα ειπατε δε τη διανοια σοι δει προσκυνειν δεσποτα	6 For my angel is with you. And I myself will examine your souls.
7 ο γαρ αγγελος μου μεθ' υμων εστιν αυτος τε εκζητων τας ψυχας υμων	7 For their tongue is polished by the craftsman, and they themselves are even inlaid with gold and silver, yet they are false and unable to speak.
8 γλωσσα γαρ αυτων εστιν κατεξυσμενη υπο τεκτονος αυτα τε περιχρυσα και περιαργυρα ψευδη δ' εστιν και ου δυνανται λαλειν	8 And, just like a virgin who loves to decorate herself, so do they take up gold and make designs with it.
9 και ωσπερ παρθενω φιλοκοσμω λαμβανοντες χρυσιον κατασκευαζουσιν στεφανους επι τας κεφαλας των θεων αυτων	9 Their gods have crowns of certified gold upon their heads, from which the priests subtract gold and silver, and spend it on themselves.
10 εστι δε και οτε υφαιρουμενοι οι ιερεις απο των θεων αυτων χρυσιον και αργυριον εις εαυτους καταναλωσουσιν δωσουσιν δε απ' αυτων και ταις επι του τεγους πορναις	10 Moreover, they even give from it to prostitutes, and use it to adorn kept women, and when they receive it back from the kept women, they use it to adorn their gods.
11 κοσμουσι τε αυτους ως ανθρωπους τοις ενδυμασιν θεους αργυρους και χρυσους και ξυλινους ουτοι δε ου διασωζονται απο ιου και βρωματων	11 But these cannot be freed from rust and moths.
12 περιβεβλημενων αυτων ιματισμον πορφυρουν εκμασσονται το προσωπον αυτων δια τον εκ της οικιας κονιορτον ος εστιν πλειων επ' αυτοις	12 Although they are covered with a purple garment, they must wipe off their face, because of the dust of the house, which is very great around them.
13 και σκηπτρον εχει ως ανθρωπος κριτης χωρας ος τον εις αυτον αμαρτανοντα ουκ ανελει	13 Yet he who holds a scepter like a man, like the judge of the region, cannot put to death one who sins against him.
14 εχει δε εγχειριδιον εν δεξια και πελεκυν εαυτον δε εκ πολεμου και ληστων ουκ εξελειται	14 And though he holds in his hand a sword and an axe, yet he cannot free himself from war and robbers. From this let it be known to you that they are not gods.
15 οθεν γνωριμοι εισιν ουκ οντες θεοι μη ουν φοβηθητε αυτους	15 Therefore, do not fear them. For just as the vessel a man uses becomes useless when broken, so also are their gods.
16 ωσπερ γαρ σκευος ανθρωπου συντριβεν αχρειον γινεται τοιουτοι υπαρχουσιν οι θεοι αυτων καθιδρυμενων αυτων εν τοις οικοις	16 When they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.
17 οι οφθαλμοι αυτων πληρεις εισιν κονιορτου απο των ποδων των εισπορευομενων	17 And like one who has offended the king and is surrounded at every door, or like a corpse about to be carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be plundered by robbers.
18 και ωσπερ τινι ηδικηκοτι βασιλεα περιπεφραγμεναι εισιν αι αυλαι ως επι θανατω απηγμενω τους οικους αυτων οχυρουσιν οι ιερεις θυρωμασιν τε και κλειθροις και μοχλοις οπως υπο των ληστων μη συληθωσι	18 They light candles to them, and in great number, and still they are unable to see, for they are like logs in the house.
19 λυχνους καιουσιν και πλειους η εαυτοις ων ουδενα δυνανται ιδειν	19 It is truly said that the creeping things, which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, and yet when these devour them and their garments, they do not feel it.
20 εστιν μεν ωσπερ δοκος των εκ της οικιας τας δε καρδιας αυτων φασιν εκλειχεσθαι των απο της γης ερπετων κατεσθοντων αυτους τε και τον ιματισμον αυτων ουκ αισθανονται	20 Their faces are made black by the smoke that is made in the house.
21 μεμελανωμενοι το προσωπον αυτων απο του καπνου του εκ της οικιας	21 Over their bodies and over their heads fly owls and swallows and birds, and similarly, even cats.
22 επι το σωμα αυτων και επι την κεφαλην εφιπτανται νυκτεριδες χελιδονες και τα ορνεα ωσαυτως δε και οι αιλουροι	22 From this you should understand that they are not gods. Therefore, neither should you fear them.
23 οθεν γνωσεσθε οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη ουν φοβεισθε αυτα	23 Furthermore, the gold which they have is shiny, but unless someone wipes off the rust, they will not shine. And even when they were molten, they did not feel it.
24 το γαρ χρυσιον ο περικεινται εις καλλος εαν μη τις εκμαξη τον ιον ου μη στιλψωσιν ουδε γαρ οτε εχωνευοντο ησθανοντο	24 They acquire all kinds of costly things, yet there is no breath in them.
25 εκ πασης τιμης ηγορασμενα εστιν εν οις ουκ εστιν πνευμα	25 Without feet, they are carried upon shoulders, showing their unworthiness to all men. And so, may those who worship them be confounded.
26 ανευ ποδων επ' ωμοις φερονται ενδεικνυμενοι την εαυτων ατιμιαν τοις ανθρωποις αισχυνονται τε και οι θεραπευοντες αυτα δια το μηποτε επι την γην πεση δι' αυτων ανιστασθαι	26 Because of this, if they fall to the ground, they do not get up by themselves; and if someone sets it upright, they will not stand firm on their own; yet, just like the dead, offerings are placed next to them.
27 μητε εαν τις αυτο ορθον στηση δι' εαυτου κινηθησεται μητε εαν κλιθη ου μη ορθωθη αλλ' ωσπερ νεκροις τα δωρα αυτοις παρατιθεται	27 The priests themselves sell their sacrifices, and they spend it wastefully; and, in like manner, their wives take part of it, never sharing anything with the sick or the beggars.
28 τας δε θυσιας αυτων αποδομενοι οι ιερεις αυτων καταχρωνται ωσαυτως δε και αι γυναικες αυτων απ' αυτων ταριχευουσαι ουτε πτωχω ουτε αδυνατω μεταδιδοασιν των θυσιων αυτων αποκαθημενη και λεχω απτονται	28 Fertile and menstruous women contaminate their sacrifices. And so, knowing from this that they are not gods, you should not fear them.
29 γνοντες ουν απο τουτων οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη φοβηθητε αυτους	29 For what reason are they called gods? It is because the women serve before the gods of silver and gold and wood,
30 ποθεν γαρ κληθειησαν θεοι οτι γυναικες παρατιθεασιν θεοις αργυροις και χρυσοις και ξυλινοις	30 and the priests sit in their houses, with torn garments, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.
31 και εν τοις οικοις αυτων οι ιερεις διφρευουσιν εχοντες τους χιτωνας διερρωγοτας και τας κεφαλας και τους πωγωνας εξυρημενους ων αι κεφαλαι ακαλυπτοι εισιν	31 But they roar, shouting out to their gods, just as at a feast for the dead.
32 ωρυονται δε βοωντες εναντιον των θεων αυτων ωσπερ τινες εν περιδειπνω νεκρου	32 The priests take away the garments of their gods, and clothe their wives and their sons.
33 απο του ιματισμου αυτων αφελομενοι οι ιερεις ενδυουσιν τας γυναικας αυτων και τα παιδια	33 And whether they endure evil from someone, or good, they are not able to repay it. They can neither establish a king, nor remove him.
34 ουτε εαν κακον παθωσιν υπο τινος ουτε εαν αγαθον δυνησονται ανταποδουναι ουτε καταστησαι βασιλεα δυνανται ουτε αφελεσθαι	34 Similarly, they can neither give riches, nor avenge evil. If anyone makes a vow to them, and does not keep it, they cannot require it.
35 ωσαυτως ουτε πλουτον ουτε χαλκον ου μη δυνωνται διδοναι εαν τις αυτοις ευχην ευξαμενος μη αποδω ου μη επιζητησωσιν	35 They cannot free a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
36 εκ θανατου ανθρωπον ου μη ρυσωνται ουτε ηττονα απο ισχυρου ου μη εξελωνται	36 They cannot restore sight to the blind, nor free a man from need.
37 ανθρωπον τυφλον εις ορασιν ου μη περιστησωσιν εν αναγκη ανθρωπον οντα ου μη εξελωνται	37 They will not have mercy on the widow, nor do good to orphans.
38 χηραν ου μη ελεησωσιν ουτε ορφανον ευ ποιησουσιν	38 Their gods of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like stones from the mountain; and those who worship them will be confounded.
39 τοις απο του ορους λιθοις ωμοιωμενοι εισιν τα ξυλινα και τα περιχρυσα και τα περιαργυρα οι δε θεραπευοντες αυτα καταισχυνθησονται	39 In what way, then, is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?
40 πως ουν νομιστεον η κλητεον αυτους υπαρχειν θεους	40 For even the Chaldeans themselves do not honor these, who, when they hear about a mute, unable to speak, they offer him to Bel, asking from him that he may speak,
41 ετι δε και αυτων των χαλδαιων ατιμαζοντων αυτα οι οταν ιδωσιν ενεον ου δυναμενον λαλησαι προσενεγκαμενοι τον βηλον αξιουσιν φωνησαι ως δυνατου οντος αυτου αισθεσθαι	41 as if these, who are unable to move, would be able to perceive. And even they themselves, when they shall understand this, will abandon them, for, having come to their senses, they do not consider them to be gods.
42 και ου δυνανται αυτοι νοησαντες καταλιπειν αυτα αισθησιν γαρ ουκ εχουσιν	42 Yet the women, wrapped in cords, sit by the roads, burning olive-stones.
43 αι δε γυναικες περιθεμεναι σχοινια εν ταις οδοις εγκαθηνται θυμιωσαι τα πιτυρα	43 And when any one of them, having been attracted by someone passing by, would sleep with him, she reproaches her neighbor because she was not found worthy, as she was, nor was her cord broken.
44 οταν δε τις αυτων εφελκυσθεισα υπο τινος των παραπορευομενων κοιμηθη την πλησιον ονειδιζει οτι ουκ ηξιωται ωσπερ και αυτη ουτε το σχοινιον αυτης διερραγη	44 But all things that occur with them are false; in what way, then, is it to be considered or said that they are gods?
45 παντα τα γινομενα αυτοις εστιν ψευδη πως ουν νομιστεον η κλητεον ωστε θεους αυτους υπαρχειν	45 Yet they have been made by the workmen and the goldsmiths. They will be nothing else but what the priests want them to be.
46 υπο τεκτονων και χρυσοχοων κατεσκευασμενα εισιν ουθεν αλλο μη γενωνται η ο βουλονται οι τεχνιται αυτα γενεσθαι	46 For the artisans themselves, who make them, do not exist for a long time. So then, can these things, which have been made by them, be gods?
47 αυτοι τε οι κατασκευαζοντες αυτα ου μη γενωνται πολυχρονιοι πως τε δη μελλει τα υπ' αυτων κατασκευασθεντα ειναι θεοι	47 Yet they have bequeathed falsehoods and disgrace after this to the future.
48 κατελιπον γαρ ψευδη και ονειδος τοις επιγινομενοις	48 For when they are overcome by battle or evil, the priests consider among themselves where they may hide themselves with them.
49 οταν γαρ επελθη επ' αυτα πολεμος και κακα βουλευονται προς εαυτους οι ιερεις που συναποκρυβωσι μετ' αυτων	49 Therefore, why would they be perceived to be gods, who can neither free themselves from war, nor rescue themselves from evils?
50 πως ουν ουκ εστιν αισθεσθαι οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι οι ουτε σωζουσιν εαυτους εκ πολεμου ουτε εκ κακων	50 For, in as much as they are only wood, inlaid with gold and silver, so let it be known henceforth, by all nations and kings, that they are false; because it has been revealed that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and there is no work of God in them.
51 υπαρχοντα γαρ ξυλινα και περιχρυσα και περιαργυρα γνωσθησεται μετα ταυτα οτι εστιν ψευδη τοις εθνεσι πασι τοις τε βασιλευσι φανερον εσται οτι ουκ εισι θεοι αλλα εργα χειρων ανθρωπων και ουδεν θεου εργον εν αυτοις εστιν	51 For this reason, then, it has been accepted that they are not gods, but are works of the hands of men, and no work of God is in them.
52 τινι ουν γνωστεον εστιν οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι	52 They have not raised up a king in the region, nor will they give rain to men.
53 βασιλεα γαρ χωρας ου μη αναστησωσιν ουτε υετον ανθρωποις ου μη δωσιν	53 They will not discern a judgment for anyone, nor will they free a region from injury, because they can do nothing, like crows in the middle of heaven and earth.
54 κρισιν τε ου μη διακρινωσιν αυτων ουδε μη ρυσωνται αδικουμενον αδυνατοι οντες ωσπερ γαρ κορωναι ανα μεσον του ουρανου και της γης	54 And, indeed, when there happens to be a fire in the house of these gods of wood, silver, and gold, the priests will certainly run away and save themselves, but these will truly be burned up like logs in the midst of it.
55 και γαρ οταν εμπεση εις οικιαν θεων ξυλινων η περιχρυσων η περιαργυρων πυρ οι μεν ιερεις αυτων φευξονται και διασωθησονται αυτοι δε ωσπερ δοκοι μεσοι κατακαυθησονται	55 Yet they cannot withstand a king and war. In what way, then, is it to be considered or accepted that they are gods?
56 βασιλει δε και πολεμιοις ου μη αντιστωσιν	56 These gods of wood and stone, inlaid with gold and silver, can free themselves neither from thieves nor from robbers; whoever is stronger than they are,
57 πως ουν εκδεκτεον η νομιστεον οτι εισιν θεοι	57 will take up these things, the gold and the silver, and the garments which cover them, and will get away; neither will they be able to help themselves.
58 ουτε απο κλεπτων ουτε απο ληστων ου μη διασωθωσιν θεοι ξυλινοι και περιαργυροι και περιχρυσοι ων οι ισχυοντες περιελουνται το χρυσιον και το αργυριον και τον ιματισμον τον περικειμενον αυτοις απελευσονται εχοντες ουτε εαυτοις ου μη βοηθησωσιν	58 Therefore, it is better to be a king displaying his power, or a useful vessel in a house, about which he who owns it will boast, or a door in the house, which keeps safe what is inside, than to be these gods of falsehood.
59 ωστε κρεισσον ειναι βασιλεα επιδεικνυμενον την εαυτου ανδρειαν η σκευος εν οικια χρησιμον εφ' ω χρησεται ο κεκτημενος η οι ψευδεις θεοι η και θυρα εν οικια διασωζουσα τα εν αυτη οντα η οι ψευδεις θεοι και ξυλινος στυλος εν βασιλειοις η οι ψευδεις θεοι	59 For the sun, and the moon, and the constellations, though they are brilliant and have been sent forth to be useful, are obedient.
60 ηλιος μεν γαρ και σεληνη και αστρα οντα λαμπρα και αποστελλομενα επι χρειας ευηκοα εισιν	60 Similarly, the lightning, when it appears and is evident, and, in like manner, the wind blowing in every region,
61 ωσαυτως και αστραπη οταν επιφανη ευοπτος εστιν το δ' αυτο και πνευμα εν παση χωρα πνει	61 and the clouds, when God orders them to make their rounds over the whole world, each carries out what was commanded.
62 και νεφελαις οταν επιταγη υπο του θεου επιπορευεσθαι εφ' ολην την οικουμενην συντελουσι το ταχθεν το τε πυρ εξαποσταλεν ανωθεν εξαναλωσαι ορη και δρυμους ποιει το συνταχθεν	62 Furthermore, the fire, having been sent from above so that it may consume mountains and woods, does what it has been instructed to do. Yet these are not similar, neither in splendor, nor in power, to any one of them.
63 ταυτα δε ουτε ταις ιδεαις ουτε ταις δυναμεσιν αυτων αφωμοιωμενα εστιν	63 From this, it should neither be supposed, nor said, that they are gods; since they are neither able to give judgment, nor to accomplish anything for men.
64 οθεν ουτε νομιστεον ουτε κλητεον υπαρχειν αυτους θεους ου δυνατων οντων αυτων ουτε κρισιν κριναι ουτε ευ ποιειν ανθρωποις	64 And so, knowing that they are not gods, therefore, have no fear of them.
65 γνοντες ουν οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη φοβηθητε αυτους	65 For they can neither curse kings, nor bless them.
66 ουτε γαρ βασιλευσιν ου μη καταρασωνται ουτε μη ευλογησωσι	66 Besides, they show no signs in heaven to the nations; they neither shine like the sun, nor give light like the moon.
67 σημεια τε εν εθνεσιν εν ουρανω ου μη δειξωσιν ουδε ως ο ηλιος λαμψουσιν ουδε φωτισουσιν ως σεληνη	67 Beasts are better than they are, for they can flee under a covering, and so protect themselves.
68 τα θηρια εστιν κρειττω αυτων α δυνανται εκφυγοντα εις σκεπην εαυτα ωφελησαι	68 Therefore, in no way is it clear to us that they are gods; because of this, you should not fear them.
69 κατ' ουδενα ουν τροπον εστιν ημιν φανερον οτι εισιν θεοι διο μη φοβηθητε αυτους	69 For just as a scarecrow in a cucumber field protects nothing, so are their gods of wood, and silver, and inlaid gold.
70 ωσπερ γαρ εν σικυηρατω προβασκανιον ουδεν φυλασσον ουτως οι θεοι αυτων εισιν ξυλινοι και περιχρυσοι και περιαργυροι	70 They are just the same as a white thorn in a garden, on which all the birds sit; they are even like a corpse thrown out into the darkness, just so are these gods of wood, and inlaid gold, and inlaid silver.
71 τον αυτον τροπον και τη εν κηπω ραμνω εφ' ης παν ορνεον επικαθηται ωσαυτως δε και νεκρω ερριμμενω εν σκοτει αφωμοιωνται οι θεοι αυτων ξυλινοι και περιχρυσοι και περιαργυροι	71 By the purple, and likewise the Royal purple, moth-eaten garments upon them, you will then know that they are not gods. And finally, they themselves are consumed and will be a disgrace in the region.
72 απο τε της πορφυρας και της μαρμαρου της επ' αυτοις σηπομενης γνωσεσθε οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι αυτα τε εξ υστερου βρωθησονται και εσται ονειδος εν τη χωρα	72 Better is the just man who has no such images, for he will be far from disgrace.”
73 κρεισσων ουν ανθρωπος δικαιος ουκ εχων ειδωλα εσται γαρ μακραν απο ονειδισμου .