1 “ If you will return, O Israel,” says the Lord, “return to Me. If you will put away your false gods from Me and be faithful to Me,

“Si has de volver, oh Israel,” declara el Señor “vuélvete a Mí. Si quitas de Mi presencia tus abominaciones, Y no vacilas,

2 a nd promise, ‘As the Lord lives,’ by what is true and right and good, then the nations will be happy in Him. And in Him they will have honor.”

Y juras: ‘Vive el Señor,’ En verdad, en juicio y en justicia, Entonces en El serán bendecidas las naciones, Y en El se gloriarán.”

3 F or the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, “Break up your ground which has not been planted, and do not plant seeds among thorns.

Porque así dice el Señor a los hombres de Judá y de Jerusalén: “Rompan la tierra no labrada, Y no siembren entre espinos.

4 S et yourselves apart to the Lord, and put away the flesh from your heart, men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Or My anger will go out like fire and burn with no one to stop it, because of the sinful things you do.” Armies from the North Are Coming

Circuncídense para el Señor, Y quiten los prepucios de sus corazones, Hombres de Judá y habitantes de Jerusalén, No sea que Mi furor salga como fuego Y arda y no haya quien lo apague, A causa de la maldad de sus obras.”

5 M ake it known in Judah and Jerusalem, and say, “Sound the horns in the land.” Cry out and say, “Gather together, and let us go into the strong cities made ready for battle.”

Declaren en Judá y proclamen en Jerusalén, y digan: “Toquen la trompeta en la tierra; Clamen en alta voz, y digan: ‘Reúnanse y entremos En las ciudades fortificadas.’

6 L ift up a flag toward Zion! Run to a safe place, do not stand still. For I am bringing much trouble from the north that will destroy much.

Levanten bandera hacia Sion; Busquen refugio, no se detengan; Porque traigo del norte la calamidad, Una gran destrucción.

7 A lion has gone up from his secret place. A destroyer of nations has begun to move. He has gone out from his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be destroyed and no people will live in them.

Ha salido el león de la espesura, Y el destructor de naciones se ha puesto en marcha; Ha salido de su lugar Para convertir tu tierra en desolación. Tus ciudades quedarán en ruinas, sin habitantes.

8 C over yourselves with cloth made from hair because of this. Cry out in sorrow. For the burning anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.

Por eso, vístanse de cilicio, Laméntense y giman; Porque no se ha apartado de nosotros La ardiente ira del Señor.”

9 “ In that day,” says the Lord, “the heart of the king and the hearts of the rulers will become weak. The religious leaders will be filled with fear. And the men of God will be troubled and filled with wonder.”

“Y sucederá en aquel día,” declara el Señor “que fallará el corazón del rey Y el corazón de los príncipes; Se quedarán atónitos los sacerdotes Y los profetas se pasmarán.”

10 T hen I said, “O Lord God, for sure You have fooled these people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when in truth a sword brings danger to their lives.”

Entonces dije: “¡Ah, Señor Dios! Ciertamente has engañado en gran manera a este pueblo y a Jerusalén, diciendo: ‘Paz tendrán,’ cuando tienen la espada al cuello.”

11 A t that time it will be said to these people and Jerusalem, “A hot wind from the open hill-tops in the desert will come toward My people, but not to blow away what is of no worth, and not to make clean.

En aquel tiempo se dirá a este pueblo y a Jerusalén: “Un viento abrasador de las alturas desoladas del desierto, en dirección a la hija de Mi pueblo, no para aventar, ni para limpiar,

12 A wind too strong for this will come at My word. Now I will bring punishment against them.” Armies Are All Around Judah

un viento demasiado fuerte para esto, vendrá a Mi mandato. Ahora Yo pronunciaré juicios contra ellos.

13 S ee, he comes up like clouds. His war-wagons come like the strong-wind. His horses are faster than eagles. It is bad for us, for we are destroyed!

Miren, él sube como las nubes, Y sus carros como un torbellino; Sus caballos son más ligeros que las águilas. ¡Ay de nosotros, porque estamos perdidos!”

14 W ash your heart from sin, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long will your sinful thoughts stay within you?

Lava de maldad tu corazón, Jerusalén, Para que seas salvada. ¿Hasta cuándo morarán dentro de ti Pensamientos perversos ?

15 F or a voice calls out from Dan, and tells of sin from Mount Ephraim.

Porque una voz lo anuncia desde Dan, Y proclama el mal desde los montes de Efraín.

16 “ Tell it to the nations now! Make it known over all Jerusalem, saying, ‘An army is coming from a far country, and they lift up their voices against the cities of Judah.

“Avísen lo a las naciones: ¡Aquí están! Proclamen sobre Jerusalén: ‘Sitiadores vienen de tierra lejana Y alzan sus voces contra las ciudades de Judá.

17 T hey are against her all around, like watchmen of a field, because she has turned against Me,’ says the Lord.

Como guardas de campo están apostados contra ella por todos lados, Porque se ha rebelado contra Mí,’ declara el Señor.

18 “ Your ways and what you do have brought these things to you. This is your sin. How bitter it is! It has touched your very heart!” Jeremiah Feels Pain for His People

Tu comportamiento y tus acciones Te han traído estas cosas. Esta es tu maldad. ¡Qué amarga! ¡Cómo ha penetrado hasta tu corazón!”

19 M y soul, my soul! I am in pain! O, my heart! My heart is beating so hard! It cannot be quiet, for I hear the sound of the horn, telling of the coming war.

¡Alma mía, alma mía! (¡Entrañas mías, entrañas mías!) Estoy angustiado, ¡oh corazón mío! Mi corazón se agita dentro de mí; No callaré, Porque has oído, alma mía, El sonido de la trompeta, El pregón de guerra.

20 N ews of much trouble comes again and again, for the whole land is laid waste. All at once my tents and my curtains are destroyed.

Desastre sobre desastre se anuncia, Porque es arrasada toda la tierra. De repente son arrasadas mis tiendas, En un instante mis cortinas.

21 H ow long must I see the flag and hear the sound of the horn?

¿Hasta cuándo he de ver la bandera Y he de oír el sonido de la trompeta?

22 “ For My people are foolish. They do not know Me. They are children who do not think, and they have no understanding. They know a lot about how to do sinful things, but they do not know how to do good.” Jeremiah Saw What the Future Would Be Like

“Porque Mi pueblo es necio, No Me conoce; Hijos torpes son, No son inteligentes. Astutos son para hacer el mal, Pero no saben hacer el bien.”

23 I looked on the earth and saw that it was an empty waste. I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.

Miré a la tierra, y estaba sin orden y vacía; Y a los cielos, y no tenían luz.

24 I looked on the mountains and saw they were shaking, and all the hills moved this way and that.

Miré a los montes, y temblaban, Y todas las colinas se estremecían.

25 I looked and saw that there were no people. And all the birds of the heavens had left.

Miré, y no había hombre alguno, Y todas las aves del cielo habían huido.

26 I looked and saw that the rich land was a desert. All its cities were laid waste before the Lord and His burning anger.

Miré, y la tierra fértil (el Carmelo) era un desierto, Y todas sus ciudades estaban arrasadas Delante del Señor, delante del ardor de Su ira.

27 F or the Lord says, “The whole land will be laid waste, yet I will not destroy everything.

Porque así dice el Señor: “Una desolación será toda la tierra, Pero no causaré una destrucción total.

28 F or the earth will be filled with sorrow and the heavens above will be dark, because I have spoken. I have planned it, and will not change My mind or turn back.”

Por eso se enlutará la tierra, Y se oscurecerán los cielos arriba, Porque he hablado, lo he decidido, Y no Me arrepentiré, ni Me retractaré de ello.”

29 E very city runs as they hear the sound of the horseman and the one who fights with arrows. They go among the trees and the rocks. Every city is left empty, and no one lives in them.

Al ruido de jinetes y arqueros huye toda la ciudad; Entran en las espesuras y trepan por los peñascos. Toda ciudad está abandonada, Y no queda en ellas morador alguno.

30 A nd you, O destroyed one, what will you do? Even when you dress in red, and wear objects of gold, and color your eyes to make them look bigger, you make yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers hate you, and want to kill you.

Y tú, desolada, ¿qué harás ? Aunque te vistas de escarlata, Aunque te pongas adornos de oro, Aunque te agrandes los ojos con pintura, En vano te embelleces; Te desprecian tus amantes, Sólo buscan tu vida.

31 I heard a cry as of a woman in pain, as if she were giving birth to her first child. It was the cry of the people of Zion, working hard to breathe, holding out hands, and saying, “O, it is bad for me! I am losing strength in front of those who want to kill me.”

Porque oí un grito como de mujer de parto, Angustia como de primeriza; Era el grito de la hija de Sion que se ahogaba, Y extendía sus manos, diciendo: “¡Ay ahora de mí, porque desfallezco ante los asesinos!”