Baruch 6

VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Propter peccata quæ peccastis ante Deum, abducemini in Babyloniam captivi a Nabuchodonosor rege Babylonis.	1 'Because of the sins which you have committed before God you are to be deported to Babylon byNebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians.
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 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.
3 Nunc autem videbitis in Babylonia deos aureos et argenteos, et lapideos et ligneos, in humeris portari, ostentantes metum gentibus.	3 Now in Babylon you wil see gods made of silver, of gold, of wood, being carried shoulder-high, andfilling the gentiles with fear.
4 Videte ergo ne et vos similes efficiamini factis alienis, et metuatis, et metus vos capiat in ipsis.	4 Be on your guard! Do not imitate the foreigners, do not have any fear of their gods
5 Visa itaque turba de retro et ab ante, adorantes dicite in cordibus vestris : Te oportet adorari, Domine.	5 as you see their worshippers prostrating themselves before and behind them. Instead, say in yourhearts, "Master, it is you that we must worship."
6 Angelus enim meus vobiscum est : ipse autem exquiram animas vestras.	6 For my angel is with you; your lives wil be in his care.
7 Nam lingua ipsorum polita a fabro ; ipsa etiam inaurata et inargentata : falsa sunt, et non possunt loqui.	7 'Overlaid with gold and silver, their tongues polished smooth by a craftsman, they are counterfeit andhave no power to speak.
8 Et sicut virgini amanti ornamenta, ita accepto auro fabricati sunt.	8 As though for a girl fond of finery, these people take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods.
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 sometimes, the priests filch gold and silver from their gods to spend on themselves, even givingsome of it to the prostitutes on the terrace.
10 Dant autem et ex ipso prostitutis, et meretrices ornant : et iterum cum receperint illud a meretricibus, ornant deos suos.	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;
11 Hi autem non liberantur ab ærugine et tinea.	11 when they have been dressed in purple cloaks, their faces have to be dusted, because of the templedust which settles thick on them.
12 Opertis autem illis veste purpurea, extergunt faciem ipsorum propter pulverem domus qui est plurimus inter eos.	12 One holds a sceptre like the governor of a province, yet is powerless to put to death anyone whooffends him;
13 Sceptrum autem habet ut homo, sicut judex regionis, qui in se peccantem non interficit.	13 another holds sword and mace in his right hand, yet is powerless to defend himself against war orthieves.
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 From this it is evident that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
15 non ergo timueritis eos. Sicut enim vas hominis confractum inutile efficitur, tales sunt et dii illorum.	15 'Just as a pot in common use becomes useless once it is broken, so are these gods enshrined insidetheir temples.
16 Constitutis illis in domo, oculi eorum pleni sunt pulvere a pedibus introëuntium.	16 Their eyes are ful of dust raised by the feet of those who enter.
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 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.
18 Lucernas accendunt illis, et quidem multas, ex quibus nullam videre possunt : sunt autem sicut trabes in domo.	18 They light more lamps for them than they do for themselves, and the gods see none of them.
19 Corda vero eorum dicunt elingere serpentes qui de terra sunt, dum comedunt eos, et vestimentum ipsorum, et non sentiunt.	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.
20 Nigræ fiunt facies eorum a fumo qui in domo fit.	20 Their faces are blackened by the smoke that rises from the temple.
21 Supra corpus eorum et supra caput eorum volant noctuæ, et hirundines, et aves etiam, similiter et cattæ.	21 Bats, swal ows, birds of every kind perch on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.
22 Unde sciatis quia non sunt dii : ne ergo timueritis eos.	22 From this, you can see for yourselves that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
23 Aurum etiam quod habent ad speciem est : nisi aliquis exterserit æruginem, non fulgebunt : neque enim dum conflarentur, sentiebant.	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.
24 Ex omni pretio empta sunt, in quibus spiritus non inest ipsis.	24 However much was paid for them, there is still no breath of life in them.
25 Sine pedibus, in humeris portantur, ostentantes ignobilitatem suam hominibus : confundantur etiam qui colunt ea.	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.
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 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.
27 Hostias illorum vendunt sacerdotes ipsorum, et abutuntur : similiter et mulieres eorum decerpentes, neque infirmo, neque mendicanti, aliquid impertiunt.	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!
28 De sacrificiis eorum fœtæ et menstruatæ contingunt. Sciens itaque ex his quia non sunt dii, ne timeatis eos.	28 From all this you can tel that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
29 Unde enim vocantur dii ? quia mulieres apponunt diis argenteis, et aureis, et ligneis :	29 'Indeed, how can they even be cal ed gods, when women do the offering to these gods of silver, goldand wood?
30 et in domibus eorum sacerdotes sedent habentes tunicas scissas, et capita et barbam rasam, quorum capita nuda sunt.	30 In their temples, the priests stay sitting down, their garments torn, heads and beard shaved and headsuncovered;
31 Rugiunt autem clamantes contra deos suos sicut in cœna mortui.	31 they roar and shriek before their gods as people do at funeral feasts.
32 Vestimenta eorum auferunt sacerdotes, et vestiunt uxores suas et filios suos.	32 The priests take robes from the gods to clothe their own wives and children.
33 Neque si quid mali patiuntur ab aliquo, neque si quid boni, poterunt retribuere : neque regem constituere possunt, neque auferre.	33 Whether these gods are treated badly or well, they are incapable of paying back either treatment; asincapable too of making or unmaking kings,
34 Similiter neque dare divitias possunt, neque malum retribuere. Si quis illis votum voverit et non reddiderit, neque hoc requirunt.	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.
35 Hominem a morte non liberant, neque infirmum a potentiori eripiunt.	35 They can neither save anyone from death nor rescue the weak from the strong,
36 Hominem cæcum ad visum non restituunt ; de necessitate hominem non liberabunt.	36 nor restore sight to the blind, nor save anyone in trouble,
37 Viduæ non miserebuntur, neque orphanis benefacient.	37 nor take pity on a widow, nor be generous to an orphan.
38 Lapidibus de monte similes sunt dii illorum, lignei, et lapidei, et aurei, et argentei : qui autem colunt ea, confundentur.	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!
39 Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut dicendum illos esse deos ?	39 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?
40 Adhuc enim ipsis Chaldæis non honorantibus ea : qui cum audierint mutum non posse loqui, offerunt illud ad Bel, postulantes ab eo loqui :	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!
41 quasi possint sentire qui non habent motum ! Et ipsi, cum intellexerint, relinquent ea : sensum enim non habent ipsi dii illorum.	41 And they are incapable of drawing the conclusion and abandoning those gods -- such is their lack ofperception.
42 Mulieres autem circumdatæ funibus in viis sedent, succendentes ossa olivarum :	42 Women with strings round their waists sit in the streets, burning bran like incense;
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 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.
44 Omnia autem quæ illi fiunt, falsa sunt : quomodo æstimandum aut dicendum est illos esse deos ?	44 Whatever is done for them is spurious. So how can anyone 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 'Made by woodworkers and goldsmiths, they are only what those workmen decide to make them.
46 Artifices etiam ipsi, qui ea faciunt, non sunt multi temporis : numquid ergo possunt ea, quæ fabricata sunt ab ipsis, esse dii ?	46 Their makers have not long to live themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?
47 Reliquerunt autem falsa et opprobrium postea futuris.	47 Their legacy to their descendants is nothing but delusion and dishonour.
48 Nam cum supervenerit illis prælium et mala, cogitant sacerdotes apud se ubi se abscondant cum illis.	48 If war or disasters befal them, the priests discuss where best to hide themselves and these gods;
49 Quomodo ergo sentiri debeant quoniam dii sunt, qui nec de bello se liberant, neque de malis se eripiunt ?	49 how can anyone fail to realise that they are not gods, if they cannot save themselves from war or fromdisasters?
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 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.
51 Unde ergo notum est quia non sunt dii, sed opera manuum hominum, et nullum Dei opus in ipsis est.	51 Does anyone still need convincing that they are not gods?
52 Regem regioni non suscitant, neque pluviam hominibus dabunt.	52 'They can neither appoint a king over a country, nor give rain to humankind,
53 Judicium quoque non discernent, neque regiones liberabunt ab injuria, quia nihil possunt, sicut corniculæ inter medium cæli et terræ.	53 nor regulate their own affairs, nor rescue anyone who suffers a wrong; they are as helpless as crowsbetween sky and ground.
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 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.
55 Regi autem et bello non resistent. Quomodo ergo æstimandum est aut recipiendum quia dii sunt ?	55 They cannot put up any resistance to a king or to enemies.
56 Non a furibus, neque a latronibus se liberabunt dii lignei, et lapidei, et inaurati, et inargentati : quibus hi qui fortiores sunt,	56 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?
57 aurum et argentum, et vestimentum quo operti sunt, auferent illis, et abibunt, nec sibi auxilium ferent.	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.
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 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.
59 Sol quidem et luna ac sidera, cum sint splendida et emissa ad utilitates, obaudiunt :	59 The sun, the moon and the stars, which shine and have been given work to do, are obedient;
60 similiter et fulgur cum apparuerit, perspicuum est : idipsum autem et spiritus in omni regione spirat :	60 similarly, the lightning, as it flashes, is a fine sight; in the same way, the wind blows across everycountry,
61 et nubes, quibus cum imperatum fuerit a Deo perambulare universum orbem, perficiunt quod imperatum est eis :	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.
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 Now these gods are not their equals, either in beauty or in power.
63 Unde neque existimandum est, neque dicendum illos esse deos, quando non possunt neque judicium judicare, neque quidquam facere hominibus.	63 So, no one can think or say that they are gods, powerless as they are to administer justice or to doanyone any good.
64 Scientes itaque quia non sunt dii, ne ergo timueritis eos.	64 Therefore, knowing that they are not gods, do not be afraid of them.
65 Neque enim regibus maledicent, neque benedicent.	65 'For they can neither curse nor bless kings,
66 Signa etiam in cælo gentibus non ostendunt : neque ut sol lucebunt, neque illuminabunt ut luna.	66 nor produce signs in heaven for the nations, nor shine like the sun, nor shed light like the moon.
67 Bestiæ meliores sunt illis, quæ possunt fugere sub tectum ac prodesse sibi.	67 The animals are better off than they are, being able to look after themselves by making for cover.
68 Nullo itaque modo nobis est manifestum quia sunt dii : propter quod ne timeatis eos.	68 There is not the slightest shred of evidence that they are gods; so do not be afraid of them!
69 Nam sicut in cucumerario formido nihil custodit, ita sunt dii illorum lignei, et argentei, et inaurati.	69 'Their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a scarecrow in a field of cucumbers --protecting nothing.
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 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.
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 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.
72 Melior est homo justus qui non habet simulacra, nam erit longe ab opprobriis.	72 Better, then, someone upright who has no idols; dishonour wil never come near him.'