Baruch 6

NEW JERUSALEM	LXX
1 'Because of the sins which you have committed before God you are to be deported to Babylon byNebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians.	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
2 Once you have reached Babylon you wil stay there for many years, as long as seven generations; afterwhich I shall bring you home in peace.	2 δια τας αμαρτιας ας ημαρτηκατε εναντιον του θεου αχθησεσθε εις βαβυλωνα αιχμαλωτοι υπο ναβουχοδονοσορ βασιλεως των βαβυλωνιων
3 Now in Babylon you wil see gods made of silver, of gold, of wood, being carried shoulder-high, andfilling the gentiles with fear.	3 εισελθοντες ουν εις βαβυλωνα εσεσθε εκει ετη πλειονα και χρονον μακρον εως γενεων επτα μετα τουτο δε εξαξω υμας εκειθεν μετ' ειρηνης
4 Be on your guard! Do not imitate the foreigners, do not have any fear of their gods	4 νυνι δε οψεσθε εν βαβυλωνι θεους αργυρους και χρυσους και ξυλινους επ' ωμοις αιρομενους δεικνυντας φοβον τοις εθνεσιν
5 as you see their worshippers prostrating themselves before and behind them. Instead, say in yourhearts, "Master, it is you that we must worship."	5 ευλαβηθητε ουν μη και υμεις αφομοιωθεντες τοις αλλοφυλοις αφομοιωθητε και φοβος υμας λαβη επ' αυτοις
6 For my angel is with you; your lives wil be in his care.	6 ιδοντας οχλον εμπροσθεν και οπισθεν αυτων προσκυνουντας αυτα ειπατε δε τη διανοια σοι δει προσκυνειν δεσποτα
7 'Overlaid with gold and silver, their tongues polished smooth by a craftsman, they are counterfeit andhave no power to speak.	7 ο γαρ αγγελος μου μεθ' υμων εστιν αυτος τε εκζητων τας ψυχας υμων
8 As though for a girl fond of finery, these people take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods.	8 γλωσσα γαρ αυτων εστιν κατεξυσμενη υπο τεκτονος αυτα τε περιχρυσα και περιαργυρα ψευδη δ' εστιν και ου δυνανται λαλειν
9 And sometimes, the priests filch gold and silver from their gods to spend on themselves, even givingsome of it to the prostitutes on the terrace.	9 και ωσπερ παρθενω φιλοκοσμω λαμβανοντες χρυσιον κατασκευαζουσιν στεφανους επι τας κεφαλας των θεων αυτων
10 They dress up these gods of silver, gold and wood, in clothes, like human beings; on their own theycannot protect themselves from either tarnish or woodworm;	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
11 when they have been dressed in purple cloaks, their faces have to be dusted, because of the templedust which settles thick on them.	11 κοσμουσι τε αυτους ως ανθρωπους τοις ενδυμασιν θεους αργυρους και χρυσους και ξυλινους ουτοι δε ου διασωζονται απο ιου και βρωματων
12 One holds a sceptre like the governor of a province, yet is powerless to put to death anyone whooffends him;	12 περιβεβλημενων αυτων ιματισμον πορφυρουν εκμασσονται το προσωπον αυτων δια τον εκ της οικιας κονιορτον ος εστιν πλειων επ' αυτοις
13 another holds sword and mace in his right hand, yet is powerless to defend himself against war orthieves.	13 και σκηπτρον εχει ως ανθρωπος κριτης χωρας ος τον εις αυτον αμαρτανοντα ουκ ανελει
14 From this it is evident that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	14 εχει δε εγχειριδιον εν δεξια και πελεκυν εαυτον δε εκ πολεμου και ληστων ουκ εξελειται
15 'Just as a pot in common use becomes useless once it is broken, so are these gods enshrined insidetheir temples.	15 οθεν γνωριμοι εισιν ουκ οντες θεοι μη ουν φοβηθητε αυτους
16 Their eyes are ful of dust raised by the feet of those who enter.	16 ωσπερ γαρ σκευος ανθρωπου συντριβεν αχρειον γινεται τοιουτοι υπαρχουσιν οι θεοι αυτων καθιδρυμενων αυτων εν τοις οικοις
17 Just as the doors are locked on al sides on someone who has offended a king and is under sentenceof death, so the priests secure the temples of these gods with gates and bolts and bars for fear of burglary.	17 οι οφθαλμοι αυτων πληρεις εισιν κονιορτου απο των ποδων των εισπορευομενων
18 They light more lamps for them than they do for themselves, and the gods see none of them.	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
19 They are like one of the temple beams, which are said to be gnawed away from within; the termitescreep out of the ground and eat them and their clothes too, and they feel nothing.	19 λυχνους καιουσιν και πλειους η εαυτοις ων ουδενα δυνανται ιδειν
20 Their faces are blackened by the smoke that rises from the temple.	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
21 Bats, swal ows, birds of every kind perch on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.	21 μεμελανωμενοι το προσωπον αυτων απο του καπνου του εκ της οικιας
22 From this, you can see for yourselves that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	22 επι το σωμα αυτων και επι την κεφαλην εφιπτανται νυκτεριδες χελιδονες και τα ορνεα ωσαυτως δε και οι αιλουροι
23 'The gold with which they are parading their futility before the world is supposed to make them lookbeautiful, but if someone does not rub off the tarnish, these gods wil not be shining much on their own, and evenwhile they were being cast, they felt nothing.	23 οθεν γνωσεσθε οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη ουν φοβεισθε αυτα
24 However much was paid for them, there is still no breath of life in them.	24 το γαρ χρυσιον ο περικεινται εις καλλος εαν μη τις εκμαξη τον ιον ου μη στιλψωσιν ουδε γαρ οτε εχωνευοντο ησθανοντο
25 Being unable to walk, they have to be carried on men's shoulders, which shows how futile they are. Itis humiliating for their worshippers, too, who have to stand them up again if they fal over.	25 εκ πασης τιμης ηγορασμενα εστιν εν οις ουκ εστιν πνευμα
26 Once they have been stood up, they cannot move on their own; if they tilt askew, they cannot rightthemselves; offerings made to them might as wel be made to the dead.	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
27 Whatever is sacrificed to them, the priests re-sel and pocket the profit; while their wives salt down partof it, but give nothing to the poor or to the helpless. As to the sacrifices themselves, why, women during theirperiods and women in childbed are not afraid to touch them!	27 μητε εαν τις αυτο ορθον στηση δι' εαυτου κινηθησεται μητε εαν κλιθη ου μη ορθωθη αλλ' ωσπερ νεκροις τα δωρα αυτοις παρατιθεται
28 From all this you can tel that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	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
29 'Indeed, how can they even be cal ed gods, when women do the offering to these gods of silver, goldand wood?	29 γνοντες ουν απο τουτων οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη φοβηθητε αυτους
30 In their temples, the priests stay sitting down, their garments torn, heads and beard shaved and headsuncovered;	30 ποθεν γαρ κληθειησαν θεοι οτι γυναικες παρατιθεασιν θεοις αργυροις και χρυσοις και ξυλινοις
31 they roar and shriek before their gods as people do at funeral feasts.	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
32 The priests take robes from the gods to clothe their own wives and children.	32 ωρυονται δε βοωντες εναντιον των θεων αυτων ωσπερ τινες εν περιδειπνω νεκρου
33 Whether these gods are treated badly or well, they are incapable of paying back either treatment; asincapable too of making or unmaking kings,	33 απο του ιματισμου αυτων αφελομενοι οι ιερεις ενδυουσιν τας γυναικας αυτων και τα παιδια
34 equal y incapable of distributing wealth or money. If anyone fails to honour a vow he has made tothem, they cannot cal him to account.	34 ουτε εαν κακον παθωσιν υπο τινος ουτε εαν αγαθον δυνησονται ανταποδουναι ουτε καταστησαι βασιλεα δυνανται ουτε αφελεσθαι
35 They can neither save anyone from death nor rescue the weak from the strong,	35 ωσαυτως ουτε πλουτον ουτε χαλκον ου μη δυνωνται διδοναι εαν τις αυτοις ευχην ευξαμενος μη αποδω ου μη επιζητησωσιν
36 nor restore sight to the blind, nor save anyone in trouble,	36 εκ θανατου ανθρωπον ου μη ρυσωνται ουτε ηττονα απο ισχυρου ου μη εξελωνται
37 nor take pity on a widow, nor be generous to an orphan.	37 ανθρωπον τυφλον εις ορασιν ου μη περιστησωσιν εν αναγκη ανθρωπον οντα ου μη εξελωνται
38 These wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are about as much use as rocks cut out of themountain side. Their worshippers wil be confounded!	38 χηραν ου μη ελεησωσιν ουτε ορφανον ευ ποιησουσιν
39 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	39 τοις απο του ορους λιθοις ωμοιωμενοι εισιν τα ξυλινα και τα περιχρυσα και τα περιαργυρα οι δε θεραπευοντες αυτα καταισχυνθησονται
40 'The Chaldaeans themselves do them no honour; if they find someone who is dumb and cannot speak,they present him to Bel, entreating him for the gift of speech, as though he could perceive it!	40 πως ουν νομιστεον η κλητεον αυτους υπαρχειν θεους
41 And they are incapable of drawing the conclusion and abandoning those gods -- such is their lack ofperception.	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
42 Women with strings round their waists sit in the streets, burning bran like incense;	42 και ου δυνανται αυτοι νοησαντες καταλιπειν αυτα αισθησιν γαρ ουκ εχουσιν
43 when one of these has been picked up by a passer-by and been to bed with him, she then gloats overher neighbour for not having been thought as worthy as herself and for not having had her string broken.	43 αι δε γυναικες περιθεμεναι σχοινια εν ταις οδοις εγκαθηνται θυμιωσαι τα πιτυρα
44 Whatever is done for them is spurious. So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	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
45 'Made by woodworkers and goldsmiths, they are only what those workmen decide to make them.	45 παντα τα γινομενα αυτοις εστιν ψευδη πως ουν νομιστεον η κλητεον ωστε θεους αυτους υπαρχειν
46 Their makers have not long to live themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?	46 υπο τεκτονων και χρυσοχοων κατεσκευασμενα εισιν ουθεν αλλο μη γενωνται η ο βουλονται οι τεχνιται αυτα γενεσθαι
47 Their legacy to their descendants is nothing but delusion and dishonour.	47 αυτοι τε οι κατασκευαζοντες αυτα ου μη γενωνται πολυχρονιοι πως τε δη μελλει τα υπ' αυτων κατασκευασθεντα ειναι θεοι
48 If war or disasters befal them, the priests discuss where best to hide themselves and these gods;	48 κατελιπον γαρ ψευδη και ονειδος τοις επιγινομενοις
49 how can anyone fail to realise that they are not gods, if they cannot save themselves from war or fromdisasters?	49 οταν γαρ επελθη επ' αυτα πολεμος και κακα βουλευονται προς εαυτους οι ιερεις που συναποκρυβωσι μετ' αυτων
50 And since they are only made of wood overlaid with gold or silver, it wil later become apparent thatthey are spurious; it wil be obvious to everyone, to nations as to kings, that they are not gods but the work ofhuman hands, and that there is no divine activity in them.	50 πως ουν ουκ εστιν αισθεσθαι οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι οι ουτε σωζουσιν εαυτους εκ πολεμου ουτε εκ κακων
51 Does anyone still need convincing that they are not gods?	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
52 'They can neither appoint a king over a country, nor give rain to humankind,	52 τινι ουν γνωστεον εστιν οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι
53 nor regulate their own affairs, nor rescue anyone who suffers a wrong; they are as helpless as crowsbetween sky and ground.	53 βασιλεα γαρ χωρας ου μη αναστησωσιν ουτε υετον ανθρωποις ου μη δωσιν
54 If fire fal s on the temple of these wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests fly to safetywhile they for their part stay there like beams, to be burnt.	54 κρισιν τε ου μη διακρινωσιν αυτων ουδε μη ρυσωνται αδικουμενον αδυνατοι οντες ωσπερ γαρ κορωναι ανα μεσον του ουρανου και της γης
55 They cannot put up any resistance to a king or to enemies.	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
56 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	56 βασιλει δε και πολεμιοις ου μη αντιστωσιν
57 'These wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver cannot evade thieves or marauders; strong men mayrob them of their gold and silver and make off with the robes they are dressed in; yet they are powerless to helpeven themselves.	57 πως ουν εκδεκτεον η νομιστεον οτι εισιν θεοι
58 Better to be a king displaying his prowess, a household pot of use to its owner, than to be thesecounterfeit gods; or merely the door of a house, protecting what is inside, than these counterfeit gods; or awooden pil ar in a palace than these counterfeit gods.	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
59 The sun, the moon and the stars, which shine and have been given work to do, are obedient;	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
60 similarly, the lightning, as it flashes, is a fine sight; in the same way, the wind blows across everycountry,	60 ηλιος μεν γαρ και σεληνη και αστρα οντα λαμπρα και αποστελλομενα επι χρειας ευηκοα εισιν
61 the clouds execute the order God gives them to pass over the whole earth, and the fire, sent fromabove to consume mountain and forest, carries out its orders.	61 ωσαυτως και αστραπη οταν επιφανη ευοπτος εστιν το δ' αυτο και πνευμα εν παση χωρα πνει
62 Now these gods are not their equals, either in beauty or in power.	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
63 So, no one can think or say that they are gods, powerless as they are to administer justice or to doanyone any good.	63 ταυτα δε ουτε ταις ιδεαις ουτε ταις δυναμεσιν αυτων αφωμοιωμενα εστιν
64 Therefore, knowing that they are not gods, do not be afraid of them.	64 οθεν ουτε νομιστεον ουτε κλητεον υπαρχειν αυτους θεους ου δυνατων οντων αυτων ουτε κρισιν κριναι ουτε ευ ποιειν ανθρωποις
65 'For they can neither curse nor bless kings,	65 γνοντες ουν οτι ουκ εισιν θεοι μη φοβηθητε αυτους
66 nor produce signs in heaven for the nations, nor shine like the sun, nor shed light like the moon.	66 ουτε γαρ βασιλευσιν ου μη καταρασωνται ουτε μη ευλογησωσι
67 The animals are better off than they are, being able to look after themselves by making for cover.	67 σημεια τε εν εθνεσιν εν ουρανω ου μη δειξωσιν ουδε ως ο ηλιος λαμψουσιν ουδε φωτισουσιν ως σεληνη
68 There is not the slightest shred of evidence that they are gods; so do not be afraid of them!	68 τα θηρια εστιν κρειττω αυτων α δυνανται εκφυγοντα εις σκεπην εαυτα ωφελησαι
69 'Their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a scarecrow in a field of cucumbers --protecting nothing.	69 κατ' ουδενα ουν τροπον εστιν ημιν φανερον οτι εισιν θεοι διο μη φοβηθητε αυτους
70 Or again, their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a thorn-bush in a garden -- any kind of bird may perch on it -- or like a corpse thrown out into the dark.	70 ωσπερ γαρ εν σικυηρατω προβασκανιον ουδεν φυλασσον ουτως οι θεοι αυτων εισιν ξυλινοι και περιχρυσοι και περιαργυροι
71 From the purple and linen rotting on their backs you can tell that they are not gods; and in the end,eaten away, they wil be the dishonour of the country.	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
72 Better, then, someone upright who has no idols; dishonour wil never come near him.'	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
	73 κρεισσων ουν ανθρωπος δικαιος ουκ εχων ειδωλα εσται γαρ μακραν απο ονειδισμου .