Baruc 6

NOVA VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Exemplum epistulae, quam mi sit Ieremias ad abducendos cap tivos inBabyloniam a rege Babyloniorum, ut nuntiaret illis secundum quod praeceptum estei a Deo. Propter peccata, quae peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi aNabuchodonosor rege Babyloniorum.	1 A copy of the letter which Jeremiah sent to those who were being led captive to Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to convey to them what God had commanded him:
2 Ingressi itaque in Babylonem, eritis illicannis pluribus et tempus longum usque ad generationes septem; post hoc autemeducam vos inde cum pace.	2 When you reach Babylon you will be there many years, a period seven generations long; after which I will bring you back from there in peace.
3 Nunc autem videbitis in Babylone deos argenteos etaureos et ligneos in umeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.	3 And now in Babylon you will see borne upon men's shoulders gods of silver and gold and wood, which cast fear upon the pagans.
4 Cavete ergo,ne et vos assimilati assimilemini alienigenis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.	4 Take care that you yourselves do not imitate their alien example and stand in fear of them,
5 Videntes turbam ante et retro adorantem eos, dicite autem in corde vestro: “Te oportet adorare, Domine ”.	5 when you see the crowd before them and behind worshiping them. Rather, say in your hearts, "You, O LORD, are to be worshiped!";
6 Angelus enim meus vobiscum est; ipse autemexquiret animas vestras.	6 for my angel is with you, and he is the custodian of your lives.
7 Nam lingua eorum polita a fabro; ipsa etiam inaurataet inargentata falsa sunt et non possunt loqui.	7 Their tongues are smoothed by woodworkers; they are covered with gold and silver-but they are a fraud, and cannot speak.
8 Et sicut virgini ornatumamanti, accepto auro fabricantur	8 People bring gold, as to a maiden in love with ornament,
9 coronas super capita deorum suorum. Interdumautem accidit etiam, ut sacerdotes, subtrahentes a diis aurum et argentum,erogent illud in semetipsos	9 and furnish crowns for the heads of their gods. Then sometimes the priests take the silver and gold from their gods and spend it on themselves,
10 et dent ex ipso et prostitutis in lupanari. Etornant illos ut homines vestimentis, deos argenteos et aureos et ligneos.	10 or give part of it to the harlots on the terrace. They trick them out in garments like men, these gods of silver and gold and wood;
11 Hiautem non liberantur ab aerugine et tinea.	11 but though they are wrapped in purple clothing, they are not safe from corrosion or insects.
12 Opertis illis veste purpurea,extergunt faciem eorum propter pulverem domus, qui est plurimus super eos.	12 They wipe their faces clean of the house dust which is thick upon them.
13 Etsceptrum habet ut homo, iudex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficiet.	13 Each has a scepter, like the human ruler of a district; but none does away with those that offend against it.
14 Habet etiam gladium in manu dextera et securim, se autem de bello et alatronibus non liberabit. Unde notum est quia non sunt dii;	14 Each has in its right hand an axe or dagger, but it cannot save itself from war or pillage. Thus it is known they are not gods; do not fear them.
15 non ergotimueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile fit, tales sunt dii eorum.	15 As useless as one's broken tools
16 Collocatis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere ex pedibusintroeuntium.	16 are their gods, set up in their houses; their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.
17 Et sicut alicui, qui regem offendit, circumsaeptae sunt aulae,tamquam ad mortem ducto, domus eorum muniunt sacerdotes ostiis et clausuris etseris, ne a latronibus exspolientur.	17 Their courtyards are walled in like those of a man brought to execution for a crime against the king; the priests reinforce their houses with gates and bars and bolts, lest they be carried off by robbers.
18 Lucernas accendunt et quidem plures quamsibi ipsis, quarum nullam videre possunt.	18 They light more lamps for them than for themselves, yet not one of these can they see.
19 Sunt autem sicut trabes in domo;corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes, qui de terra sunt; dum comedunt eoset vestimentum eorum, non sentiunt.	19 They are like any beam in the house; it is said their hearts are eaten away. Though the insects out of the ground consume them and their garments, they do not feel it.
20 Nigrae fiunt facies eorum a fumo, qui indomo fit.	20 Their faces are blackened by the smoke of the house.
21 Super corpus eorum et super caput volitant noctuae et hirundines etaves, similiter et cattae.	21 Bats and swallows alight on their bodies and on their heads; and cats as well as birds.
22 Unde scietis quia non sunt dii; non ergotimueritis eos.	22 Know, therefore, that they are not gods, and do not fear them.
23 Aurum enim, quod circa se habent ad speciem, nisi aliquis exterseritaeruginem, non fulgebit; neque enim, cum conflabantur, sentiebant.	23 Despite the gold that covers them for adornment, unless someone wipes away the corrosion, they do not shine; nor did they feel anything when they were molded.
24 Ex omnipretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non est.	24 They are bought at any price, and there is no spirit in them.
25 Sine pedibus, in umerisportantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus; confunduntur et, quiexcolunt ea,	25 Having no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, displaying their shame to all; and those who worship them are put to confusion
26 propter quod, ne forte cadat in terram, per ipsos erigetur.Neque, si quis illud erectum statuerit, per semetipsum movebitur neque, siinclinatum fuerit, erigetur; sed sicut mortuis munera illis apponuntur.	26 because, if they fall to the ground, the worshipers must raise them up. They neither move of themselves if one sets them upright, nor come upright if they fall; but one puts gifts beside them as beside the dead.
27 Hostias vero eorum sacerdotes eorum vendunt et abutuntur; similiter et uxoreseorum, ex ipsis partes sale condientes, neque mendico neque infirmo aliquidimpertiunt. De sacrificiis eorum menstruatae et fetae contingunt.	27 Their priests resell their sacrifices for their own advantage. Even their wives cure parts of the meat, but do not share it with the poor and the weak;
28 Scientesitaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timueritis eos.	28 the menstruous and women in childbed handle their sacrifices. Knowing from this that they are not gods, do not fear them.
29 Unde enim vocabuntur dii? Quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis et aureis etligneis,	29 How can they be called gods? For women bring the offerings to these gods of silver and gold and wood;
30 et in domibus illorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas etcapita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.	30 and in their temples the priests squat with torn tunic and with shaven hair and beard, and with their heads uncovered.
31 Rugiunt autem clamantescoram diis suis sicut in cena mortui.	31 They shout and wail before their gods as others do at a funeral banquet.
32 A vestimento eorum auferunt sacerdoteset vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.	32 The priests take some of their clothing and put it on their wives and children.
33 Neque si quid mali patiantur abaliquo neque si bonum, poterint retribuere; neque constituere regem possuntneque auferre.	33 Whether they are treated well or ill by anyone, they cannot requite it; they can neither set up a king nor remove him.
34 Similiter neque divitias neque aes poterunt dare. Si quisillis votum voverit nec reddiderit, non requirent.	34 Similarly, they cannot give anyone riches or coppers; if one fails to fulfill a vow to them, they cannot exact it of him.
35 De morte hominem nonliberabunt neque infirmiorem a potentiore eripient.	35 They neither save a man from death, nor deliver the weak from the strong.
36 Hominem caecum ad visumnon restituent, de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.	36 To no blind man do they restore his sight, nor do they save any man in an emergency.
37 Viduae nonmiserebuntur neque orphano benefacient.	37 They neither pity the widow nor benefit the orphan.
38 Lapidibus de monte similes sunt,lignea et inaurata et inargentata; qui autem excolunt illa, confundentur.	38 These gilded and silvered wooden statues are like stones from the mountains; and their worshipers will be put to shame.
39 Quomodo ergo aestimandum aut dicendum est esse illos deos?	39 How then can it be thought or claimed that they are gods?
40 Adhuc etiam ipsi Chaldaei non honorant ea; qui cum viderint mutum non posseloqui, afferunt Bel postulantes illum loqui,	40 Even the Chaldeans themselves have no respect for them; for when they see a deaf mute, incapable of speech, they bring forward Bel and ask the god to make noise, as though the man could understand;
41 quasi ipse possit sentire. Etnon possunt ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquere ea; sensum enim non habent.	41 and they are themselves unable to reflect and abandon these gods, for they have no sense.
42 Mulieres autem circumdatae funibus in viis sedent succendentes furfurem;	42 And their women, girt with cords, sit by the roads, burning chaff for incense;
43 cumautem aliqua ex ipsis, attracta ab aliquo transeunte, dormierit cum eo, proximaesuae exprobrat quod ea non sit digna habita, sicut ipsa, neque funis eiusdiruptus.	43 and whenever one of them is drawn aside by some passer-by who lies with her, she mocks her neighbor who has not been dignified as she has, and has not had her cord broken.
44 Omnia autem, quae illis fiunt, falsa sunt; quomodo ergo aestimandumest aut dicendum illos esse deos?	44 All that takes place around these gods is a fraud: how then can it be thought or claimed that they are gods?
45 A fabris et ab aurificibus facti sunt; nihil aliud erunt, nisi id quod voluntartifices.	45 They are produced by woodworkers and goldsmiths, and they are nothing else than what these craftsmen wish them to be.
46 Ipsi etiam, qui ea faciunt, non erunt multi temporis; itaquenumquid possunt, quae ab ipsis fabricata sunt, esse dii?	46 Even those who produce them are not long-lived;
47 Reliquerunt enimfalsa et opprobrium postea futuris.	47 how then can what they have produced be gods? They have left frauds and opprobrium to their successors.
48 Nam cum supervenerit illis proelium etmala, cogitant apud se sacerdotes, ubi se abscondant cum illis.	48 For when war or disaster comes upon them, the priests deliberate among themselves where they can hide with them.
49 Quomodo ergonon est sentiendum quia non sunt dii, qui nec liberant se de bello nec de malis?	49 How then can one not know that these are no-gods, which do not save themselves either from war or from disaster?
50 Nam cum sint lignea et inaurata et inargentata, scietur postea quia falsasunt; gentibus universis et regibus manifestum erit quia non sunt dii sed operamanuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in illis est.	50 They are wooden, gilded and silvered; they will later be known for frauds. To all peoples and kings it will be clear that they are not gods, but human handiwork; and that God's work is not in them.
51 Cui ergo non notum est quodnon sunt dii?	51 Who does not know that they are not gods?
52 Regem enim regioni non suscitabunt neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.	52 They set no king over the land, nor do they give men rain.
53 Iudicium quoque eorum non discernent nec regiones liberabunt iniuriam patientes,quia nihil possunt sicut corniculae inter medium caeli et terrae.	53 They neither vindicate their own rights, nor do they recover what is unjustly taken, for they are unable;
54 Etenim cuminciderit in domum deorum ligneorum vel inauratorum vel inargentatorum ignis,sacerdotes quidem ipsorum fugient et liberabuntur; ipsi vero sicut trabes inmedio comburentur.	54 they are like crows between heaven and earth. For when fire breaks out in the temple of these wooden or gilded or silvered gods, though the priests flee and are safe, they themselves are burnt up in the fire like beams.
55 Regi autem et hostibus non resistent. Quomodo ergoaestimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt?	55 They cannot resist a king, or enemy forces.
56 Neque a furibus neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei et inaurati etinargentati;	56 How then can it be admitted or thought that they are gods? are safe from neither thieves nor bandits, these wooden and silvered and gilded gods;
57 quibus hi fortiores sunt, quia aurum et argentum et vestimentum,quo operti sunt, auferent illis et abibunt; nec illi sibi auxilium ferent.	57 those who seize them strip off the gold and the silver, and go away with the clothing that was on them, and they cannot help themselves.
58 Itaque melius est esse regem ostentantem virtutem suam aut vas in domo utile,quo uti potest is, qui possidet illud, quam falsi dii, aut etiam ostium in domo,quod custodit, quae in ea sunt, quam falsi dii, et columna lignea in regiis quamfalsi dii.	58 How much better to be a king displaying his valor, or a handy tool in a house, the joy of its owner, than these false gods; or the door of a house, that keeps safe those who are within, rather than these false gods; or a wooden post in a palace, rather than these false gods!
59 Sol quidem et luna et sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa adutilitates, oboediunt;	59 The sun and moon and stars are bright, and obedient in the service for which they are sent.
60 similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est;eodem modo et spiritus in omni regione spirat;	60 Likewise the lightning, when it flashes, is a goodly sight; and the same wind blows over all the land.
61 et nubes, quibus cum imperatumfuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem, perficiunt, quod imperatum est;	61 The clouds, too, when commanded by God to proceed across the whole world, fulfill the order;
62 ignis etiam missus desuper, ut consumat montes et silvas, facit, quod praeceptumest: haec autem neque speciebus neque virtutibus uni eorum similia sunt.	62 and fire, sent from on high to burn up the mountains and the forests, does what has been commanded. But these false gods are not their equal, whether in beauty or in power;
63 Undeneque aestimandum est neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt nequeiudicium iudicare neque benefacere hominibus.	63 so that it is unthinkable, and cannot be claimed, that they are gods. They can neither execute judgment, nor benefit man.
64 Scientes itaque quia non suntdii, ne timueritis eos.	64 Know, therefore, that they are not gods, and do not fear them.
65 Neque enim regibus maledicent neque benedicent.	65 Kings they neither curse nor bless.
66 Signa in caelo gentibusnon ostendent neque ut sol lucebunt neque illuminabunt sicut luna.	66 They show the nations no signs in the heavens, nor are they brilliant like the sun, nor shining like the moon.
67 Bestiaemeliores sunt illis, quae possunt, fugientes sub tegumentum, prodesse sibi.	67 The beasts which can help themselves by fleeing to shelter are better than they are.
68 Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii; propter quod ne timueritiseos.	68 Thus in no way is it clear to us that they are gods; so do not fear them.
69 Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorumlignei et inaurati et inargentati.	69 For like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, that is no protection, are their wooden, gilded, silvered gods.
70 Eodem modo et in horto spinae albae, superquam omnis avis sedet; similiter et mortuo proiecto in tenebris similes sunt diieorum lignei et inaurati et inargentati.	70 Just like a thornbush in a garden on which perches every kind of bird, or like a corpse hurled into darkness, are their silvered and gilded wooden gods.
71 A purpura et bysso, quae super illostineant, scietis quia non sunt dii; ipsa etiam postremo comeduntur, et eritopprobrium in regione.	71 From the rotting of the purple and the linen upon them, it can be known that they are not gods; they themselves will in the end be comsumed, and be a disgrace in the land.
72 Melior est ergo homo iustus, qui non habet simulacra,nam erit longe ab opprobriis.	72 The better for the just man who has no idols: he shall be far from disgrace!