Baruch, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)
The prophecy of Baruch, Jeremias's scribe; its sixth chapter is the Letter of Jeremias. This is Baruch as it stands in the second tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives the edition’s Argument of the book and every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes.
THE ARGVMENT OF BARVCHS PROPHECIE.
MANIE ancient Fathers ſuppoſed this Prophecie to be Ieremies: though none doubted but Baruch his ſcribe was the writer [Margin: This prophecie is ſuppoſed by many to be Ieremies.] therof. So S. Xiſtus Epiſt. ad omnes fideles. S. Ireneus, li. 5. c. 35. S. Clement of Alexandria, li. 1. c. 10. & li. 2. c. 3. Pedag. S. Cyprian, li. 2. c. 5. & 6. contra Iudaeos. Euſebius Coeſarienſis, li. de Propheticorum libor. appellationibus, Cap. de Ieromia. & li. 6. c. 19. Demonſt. Euangel. Lactantius, li. 4. c. 13. Diuin. Inſtit. The firſt Councel of Nice, li. 2. fol. 105. & 109. S. Hilarie, li. 5. de Trinit. ſub finem. S. Cyril of Ieruſalem, Catecheſi. 4. & 11. & de Concurſu Domini. S. Baſil. li. 4. cont. Eunomium. S. Ambroſe, li. de fide. c. 7. cont. Arianos. li. de Paenit. c. 8. & li. 3. Examer. c. 14. S. Gregorie Nazianzen, Orat. 49. deſide. & Epist. 2. ad Cled⟨illegible⟩nium. S. Epiphanius, cont. Nazaraeos. & cont. Ebionaeos. S. Chryſoſtom, Ser. de Trinit. & aduerſ. Gentiles. S. Auguſtin, li. 18. c. 33. de Ciuit. & Queſt. Ʋet. & Noui Teſtat. q. 102. S. Proſper. par. 2. c. 9. & p. 3. c. 3. de promiſſ. & predict. S. Theodoretus, Dialogo. 1. Eraniſtes. (who alſo writeth Comentaries vpon this booke, as vpon diuine Scripture) c. 2. v. 9. Theſe and others alleage this Prophecie, as Ieremies. [Margin: By others accounted Baruchs.] Some alſo vnder the name of Baruch. As Origen, li. 2. c. 3. Periarch. S. Cyril of Alexandria, li. 10. in Iulianum, S. Gregorie Nyſſen, Orat. 1. de pauperibus amandis. S. Athanaſius, Orat. 2. cont. Arianos. Though in his Synopſi he mentioneth not Baruch, yet he, as alſo S. Auguſtin, l. 2. c. 8. Doct. Chriſt. S. Gelacius, diſt. 15. and others in their Catalogues of Canonical Scriptures, comprehend this booke vnder the name of Ieremie. But whether Baruch was the immediate Auctor vnder God, or the writer therof [Margin: By al holden to be Canonical Scripture.] as of an other mans Prophecie (as the Euangelistes writte the wordes of Chriſt, and others, in the Goſpels, and in the Actes of the Apoſtles) alwayes it is certaine, the Holie Ghoſt directed him, that he could not erre in writing it. And the ancient Fathers, and Councels euer accepted this booke as Diuine Scripture. The Councel alſo of Laodicea, in the laſt Canon, expreſly nameth Baruch, Lamentations, and Ieremies Epistle. And lastly The Councels of Florence, de Vnione Armenorum; and of Trent. Seſſ. 4. expreſly define that Baruch is Canonical Scripture. In the Greke [Margin: VVhy S. Ierom vrgeth it not againſt the Iewes. The contents.] this booke is placed before the Lamentations. which S. Ierom not finding in Hebrew, nor in the Canon of the Iewes, vrgeth it not againſt them. Yet teſtifieth that he found it in the vulgate Latin Edition, and that it conteineth [Margin: Pr⟨illegible⟩fat. Ierem.] manie thinges of Chriſt, and the later times. According to the historical ſenſe, the auctor in fiue chapters exhorteth the Iewes to repentance, and patience, prophecying that they should be brought into more diſtreſſe and captiuitie, then as yet they were; but should afterwards be releaſed. The ſixt chapter is Ieremies Epistle.
THE PROPHECIE OF BARVCH.
Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Iewes in Babylon hauing heard Baruchs booke redde, 6. ſend the ſame, with money to Ieruſalem, 10. requeſting their bretheren there to offer ſacrifice, and to pray for the king and prince of Babylon; and for them, 15. acknowleging their manifold ſinnes.
1 AND theſe be the wordes of the booke, that Baruch the ſonne of Nerias, the ſonne of Maaſias, the ſonne of Sedecias, the ſonne of Sedei, the ſonne of Helcias wrote in Babylon,
2 in the fifth yeare, in the ſeuenth day of the moneth, at [::] the time that the Chaldees tooke Ieruſalem, and burnt it with fyre.
3 And Baruch redde the wordes of this booke vnto the eares of Iechonias the ſonne of Ioakim king of Iuda, and to the eares of al the people comming to the booke,
4 and to the eares of the mightie, the ſonnes of the kinges, and to the eares of the ancients, and to the eares of the people, from the leaſt euen to the greateſt of them, that dwelt in Babylon, by the riuer Sodi.
5 Who hearing it wept, and faſted, and prayed in the ſight of our Lord.
6 And they gathered money, according as euerie mans hand was able,
7 and they ſent into Ieruſalem to Ioakim the ſonne of Helcias, the ſonne of Salom, prieſt, and to the prieſts, and to al the people, that were found with him in Ieruſalem.
8 When he tooke the veſſels of the temple of our Lord, which had bene taken away out of the temple, to returne them into the Land of Iuda the tenth day of the moneth Siuan, the ſiluer veſſels, which Sedecias the ſonne of Ioſias the king of Iuda made,
9 after that Nabuchodonoſor king of Babylon had taken Iechonias, and the princes, and al the mightie, and the people of the land from Ieruſalem, and brought them bound into Babylon.
10 And they ſaid: Behold we haue ſent you money, with the which bye ye holocauſts, and frankincenſe, and make [*] manna, and offer for ſinne at the altar of the Lord our God
11 and pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthaſar his ſonne, that their dayes may be as the dayes of heauen vpon the earth:
12 and that our Lord geue vs ſtrength, and illuminate our eyes, that we may liue vnder the shadow of Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon, and vnder the shadow of Balthaſar his ſonne, and [::] may ſerue them manie dayes, and may find grace in their ſight.
13 And for our ſelues pray ye to the Lord our God: becauſe we haue ſinned to the Lord our God, and his furie is not turned away from vs euen to this day.
14 And read ye this booke, which we haue ſent to you to be recited in the temple of our Lord, in a ſolemne day, and in a day couenient.
15 And you shal ſay: To the Lord our God iuſtice: but to vs confuſion of our face: as is this day to al Iuda, and them that dwel in Ieruſalem,
16 to our kinges, and to our princes, and to our prieſts, and to our prophetes, and to our fathers.
17 We haue ſinned before the Lord our God, and beleued him not, hauing diffidence in him:
18 and we would not be made ſubiect to him, and we haue not heard the voice of the Lord our God, to walke in his commandments, which he hath geuen vs.
19 From the day, that he brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt, euen to this day, we would not be brought to beleue the Lord our God: and * diſſipated we reuolted, that we might not heare his voice.
20 And manie euils and maledictions haue clouen to vs, which our Lord appoynted to Moyſes his ſeruant: who brought our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt, to geue vs a land flowing with milke and honie, as at this preſent day.
21 And we haue not heard the voice of the Lord our God according to al the wordes of the prophets, which he hath ſent to vs:
22 and we haue gone away euerie man into the ſenſe of our malignant hart, to ſerue ſtrange goddes, doing euils before the eyes of the Lord our God.
Marginal notes to Chapter 1
- 2 [::] The whole time of taking Ieru alem indured eleuen yeares before it was burned. In the fifth yeare of which ſpace this boke was written For as yet there were Prieſtes in Ieruſalem: v. 7. ſome holie veſſels, v. 8. the Altar, v 10▪ and the temple, v. 1⟨illegible⟩.
- 10 [*] or, manah ſacrifice.
- 12 [::] Seing it was Gods wil they ſhould be in captiuity, they deſired rather to be vnder the Chaldees then anie other foreine nation.
- 19 corrupted in iudgement.
Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The ſame captiues further confeſſe, that their calamities are iuſtly comen vpon them for their iniquities, 11. and therfore lamentably pray for Gods mercie, as he promiſed by Moyſes to penitents.
1 FOR the which thing the Lord our God hath eſtablished his word, that he ſpake to vs, and to our iudges, that haue iudged Iſrael, and to our kinges, and to our princes, and to al Iſrael and Iuda:
2 that our Lord might bring vpon vs great euils, which were not done vnder the heauen, as haue bene done in Ieruſalem, according to the thinges that are written in the law of Moyſes:
3 that a man [::] should eate the flesh of his ſonne, and the fleſh of his daughter.
4 And he hath geuen them vnder the hand of al the kinges, that are round about vs into reproch, and into deſolation among al peoples, into which our Lord hath diſperſed vs.
5 And we are made vnderneath, and not aboue: becauſe we haue ſinned to the Lord our God, in not obeying his voice.
6 To the Lord our God iuſtice: but to vs, and to our fathers confuſion of face, as is this day.
7 Becauſe our Lord hath ſpoken vpon vs al theſe euils, that are come vpon vs:
8 and we haue not beſought the face of the Lord our God, to returne euerie one of vs from our moſt wicked waies.
9 And our Lord hath watched in euils, and hath brought them vpon vs: becauſe our Lord is iuſt in al his workes, which he hath commanded vs:
10 and we haue not heard his voice to walke in the precepts of our Lord, which he hath geuen before our face.
11 And now ô Lord God of Iſrael, which brought out thy people out of the Land of Aegypt in a ſtrong hand, and in ſignes, and in wonders, and in thy great ſtrength, and in a mightie arme, and madeſt thee a name as is this day:
12 we haue ſinned, we haue done impiouſly, we haue dealt vniuſtly ô Lord our God, in al thy [::] iuſtices.
13 Let thy wrath be turned away from vs: becauſe we are left a few among the nations, where thou haſt diſperſed vs.
14 Heare ô Lord our prayers, and our petitions, and bring vs our for thine owne ſake: and grant vs to fynde grace before their face, that haue led vs away:
15 that al the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, and that thy name is inuocated vpon Iſrael, and vpon his ſtocke.
16 Looke ô Lord from thy holie houſe vpon vs, and incline thine eare, and heare vs.
17 Open thine eies, & ſee: becauſe the dead that are in hel, whoſe ſpirite is taken from their bowels, shal not geue honour and iuſtification to our Lord:
18 but the ſoule, that is ſorowful for the greatnes of euil, and goeth crooked, and weake, and the eyes fayling, and the hungrie ſoule geueth glorie and iuſtice to thee their Lord.
19 For not according to the iuſtices of our fathers doe we powre out prayers, and aske mercie before thy ſight ô Lord our God:
20 but becauſe thou haſt ſent thy wrath, and thy furie vpon vs, as thou haſt ſpoken by the hande of thy ſeruants the prophets, ſaying:
21 Thus ſayth our Lord: Bowe downe your shoulder, & your necke, and doe workes for the king of Babylon: and you shal ſitte in the land, which I haue geuen to your fathers.
22 But if you wil not heare the voice of the Lord your God, to worke for the king of Babylon: I wil make you to faile out of the cities of Iuda, and from without Ieruſalem,
23 and I wil take from you the voice of mirth, and the voice of ioy, and the voice of the bridegrome, and the voice of the bride, and al the land shal be without foote ſteppe that inhabite it.
24 And they heard not thy voice, to worke for the king of Babylon: and thou haſt eſtablished thy wordes, which thou ſpakeſt by the handes of thy ſeruants the prophets, that the bones of our kinges, and of our fathers should be tranſported out of their place:
25 and behold they are caſt forth in the heare of the ſunne, and in the froſt of the night: and they are dead in verie ſore paines, in famine, and by ſword, and by caſting forth.
26 And haſt made the temple, in which thy name was there inuocated, as it is this day, for the iniquitie of the houſe of Iſrael, and of the houſe of Iuda.
27 And thou haſt done in vs ô Lord our God according to al thy goodnes, and according to al that thy great compaſſion:
28 as thou ſpakeſt by the hand of thy ſeruant Moyſes, in the day, that thou didſt command him to write thy law before the children of Iſrael,
29 ſaying: If you wil not heare my voice, this great multitude ſhal be turned into a verie litle one among the Gentiles, whither I wil diſperſe them:
30 becauſe I know that the people wil not heare me. for it is a people of a ſtiffe necke: and they shal be conuerted to their hart in the land of their captiuitie:
31 and they shal knowe that I am the Lord their God: and I wil geue them a hart, and they shal vnderſtand: and eares, and they shal heare.
32 And they shal praiſe me in the land of their captiuitie, and shal be mindful of my name.
33 And they shal turne away them ſelues from their hard backe, and from their malignant workes: becauſe they shal remember the way of their fathers, that ſinned againſt me.
34 And I wil recal them backe into the land, which I ſware to their fathers, Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, and they shal haue the dominion therof: and I wil multiplie them, and they shal not be leſned.
35 And I wil eſtablish vnto them [::] an other teſtament euerlaſting, that I be their God, and they shal be my people: and I wil no more moue my people, the children of Iſrael from the land, that I haue geuen them.
Marginal notes to Chapter 2
- 3 [::] That this happened in the ſiege of Ieruſalem, is noted before ⟨illegible⟩nent. 2. v. 20. ⟨illegible⟩, ch. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 10.
- 5 Deut. 28. v. 43.
- 12 [::] Gods commandments are commonly called iuſtices (Pſa. 118.) and manie other places becauſe by obſeruing or not obſeruing the commandments men are made iuſt, or vniuſt.
- 20 Iere. 2. v. 8.
- 25 :: The tempi⟨illegible⟩ was not as yet deſtroyed but the prophet ſpeaketh of it, as he ſaw it ſhould come to paſſe.
- 28 Deut. 28. v. 62.
- 30 &. 32. v. 20.
- 35 [::] The law of Moyſes ceaſed after Chriſt, but Chriſts law continueth to the end of the world.
- 35 I⟨illegible⟩. 31. v. 3⟨illegible⟩. &c.
Chapter 3
CHAP. III. VVith further confeſſion of their ſinnes, 8. they acknowledge their iust captiuitie: 12. becauſe they haue left true wiſdome: 16. which was geuen to their fathers: 23. not to rich men, or mightie giants, 29. but to thoſe that ſerue God. 34. whom the ſtarres obey. 36. with a cleare prophecie of Christ.
1 AND now ô Lord omnipotent, God of Iſrael, the ſoule in diſtreſſes, & the penſiue ſpirite cryeth to thee:
2 heare Lord, and haue mercie, becauſe thou art a merciful God, and haue mercie vpon vs: becauſe we haue ſinned before thee.
3 Becauſe thou ſitteſt for euer, and shal we perish euerlaſtingly?
4 O Lord omnipotent, God of Iſrael, heare now the prayer of [::] the dead of Iſrael, and of their children, that haue ſinned before thee, and haue not heard the voice of the Lord their God, and euils haue ſtoocke faſt to vs.
5 Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but remember thy hand, and thy name in this time:
6 becauſe thou art the Lord our God, and we wil praiſe thee ô Lord:
7 becauſe for this end thou haſt geuen thy feare in our hartes, and that we may inuocate thy name, and may praiſe thee in our captiuitie, becauſe we are conuerted from the iniquitie of our fathers, which haue ſinned before thee.
8 And behold we are in our captiuitie, this day, wherby thou haſt diſperſed vs into reproch, and into malediction, and into ſinne, according to al the iniquities of our fathers, which haue reuolted from thee ô Lord our God.
9 [::] Heare Iſrael the commandments of life: harken with your eares, that you may know prudence.
10 What is the matter Iſrael that thou art in the land of the enemies?
11 Thou art waxen old in a ſtrange land, thou art defiled with the dead: thou art reputed with them that goe downe into hel.
12 Thou haſt forſaken the fountaine of wiſdom:
13 for if thou hadſt walked in the way of God, thou hadſt verely dwelt in peace euerlaſting.
14 Learne where wiſedom is, where ſtrength is, where vnderſtanding is: that thou mayſt know withal where is the long continuance of life and liuing, where the light of the eyes, and peace is.
15 Who hath found the place therof? and who hath entered into the treaſures therof?
16 Where are the princes of the Gentiles, and they that rule ouer the beaſts, that are vpon the earth?
17 that play with the birdes of the heauen,
18 that treaſure vp ſiluer, and gold, wherin men haue confidence, and is there no end of their getting? which fashion ſiluer & are careful, [::] neither is there invention of their workes?
19 They are deſtroyed, and are gone downe to hel, and others are riſen vp in their place.
20 Yong men ſaw the light, and dwelt vpon the earth: but the way of diſcipline they knew not,
21 neither vnderſtood they the pathes therof, neither haue their children receiued it, it is made farre from their face.
22 It hath not bene heard in the Land of Chanaan, neither hath it bene ſeene in Theman.
23 The children of Agar alſo, that ſeke out the prudence, that is of the earth, marchants of Merrhe, and of Theman, and [::] fablers, and ſearchers of prudence and vnderſtanding: but the way of wiſedom they haue not knowne, neither haue they remembrēd the pathes therof.
24 O Iſrael how great is the houſe of God, and how great is the place of his poſſeſſion!
25 It is great, and hath no end: high and vnmeſurable.
26 There were the Giants thoſe renowned, that were from the beginning, of big ſtature, expert in warre?
27 [::] Theſe did not our Lord chooſe, neither found they the way of diſcipline: therfore did they perish.
28 And becauſe they had not wiſedom, they perished through their follie.
29 Who hath aſcended into heauen, and taken her, and brought her downe from the clowdes?
30 Who hath paſſed ouer the ſea, and found her, and brought her aboue choſen gold?
31 There is none that can know her waies, nor that can ſearch out her pathes:
32 but he that knoweth al thinges, knoweth her, & hath found her out by his prudence: he that prepared the earth in time euerlaſting, and replenished it with cattel, and fourefooted beaſtes:
33 he that ſendeth forth light, and it goeth: and hath called it, and it obeyeth him with trembling.
34 And the ſtarres haue geuen light in their watches, and reioyced:
35 they were called, and they ſaid: here we are: and they haue shined to him with cheerfulnes, that made them.
36 [::] This is out God, and there shal none other be eſtemed againſt him.
37 He found out al the way of diſcipline, and deliuered it to Iacob his ſeruant, and to Iſrael his beloued.
38 After theſe thinges he was ſene vpon the earth, and was conuerſant with men.
Marginal notes to Chapter 3
- 4 [::] Men in ſinnes & miſerie are as if they were dead (v. 11.) yet by Gods mercie may receiue new grace of ſpiritual life.
- 9 [::] The Church readeth this prophecie as other diuine Scriptures in the Eues of Eaſter, and Pentecoſt; according to the moſt ancient Romane vſe.
- 18 [::] Shal they not finde the fruite of their workes?
- 23 [::] ⟨illegible⟩abulatores, thoſe that did frame, or explicate moral examples, for inſtruction of maners, were worthely eſtemed in al ages not ſuch as ſeaned falſe, and ridiculous goddes, with their filthie & wicked actes, of which S. Auguſtine writeth againſt Varro. l 6. c. 5, 6. & 7. deciuit
- 27 [::] It is vnpoſſible to finde true wiſdom without Gods grace, and by his grace it is eaſily ⟨illegible⟩ound. Deut. 30. v. 1⟨illegible⟩. Mat. 11. v. 30. 1. Ioa. 5. v. 3.
- 36 [::] By this text moſt of the Fathers cited in the argument of this booke proue Chriſt to be God againſt Ievves Paganes, and Heretikes.
Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Gods people neglecting his grace offered to them, more then to other nations, 6. are ſeuerely punished, 15. by captiuitie: 18. but are reſerued 22. and repenting shal be releaſed: 31. and their enimies deſtroyed.
1 THIS is [::] the booke of the commandments of God, and the law, that is for euer: al that hold it, shal come to life: but they that haue forſaken it, into death.
2 Returne Iacob, and take hold of it, walke by the way to the brightnes of it, againſt the light therof.
3 Deliuer not thy glorie to an other, & dignitie to a ſtrange nation.
4 We are bleſſed ô Iſrael: becauſe the thinges that pleaſe God, are manifeſt to vs.
5 Be of good comfort ô people of God, memorable Iſrael:
6 you are ſold to the Gentiles, not into perdition: but for that in anger you prouoked God to wrath, you are deliuered to the aduerſaries.
7 For you haue exaſperated him, that made you, the eternal God, immolating to diuels, and not to God.
8 For you haue forgotten God, who hath nourished you, and your nource Ieruſalem you haue made ſorowful.
9 For she ſaw the wrath comming from God to you, and she ſayd: Heare ye confines of Sion, for God hath brought me great mourning:
10 For I haue ſene the captiuitie of my people, and of my ſonnes, and daughters, which the euerlaſting hath brought vpon them.
11 For I nourished them with ioyfulnes: but I haue left them with weeping and mourning.
12 Let no man reiovce ouer me a widow, and deſolate: I am forſaken of manie for the ſinnes of my children, becauſe they haue declined from the law of God.
13 And his iuſtices they haue not knowne, nor walked by the wayes of Gods commandments, neither haue they entered by the pathes of his truth and iuſtice.
14 Let the borderers of Sion come, and remember the captiuitie of my ſonnes & daughters, which the euerlaſting hath brought vpon them.
15 For he hath brought vpon them a nation from a farre, a wicked nation, and of an other tongue:
16 which haue not reuerenced the ancient, nor pitied the children, & haue led away the beloued of the widow, and made the ſole woman deſolate of children.
17 But [::] as for me what can I helpe you?
18 For he that hath brought the euils vpon you, he wil deliuer you out of the handes of your enemies.
19 walke children, walke: for I am left alone.
20 I haue put of the ſtole of peace, and I haue put vpon me the ſackcloth of prayer, and I wil crie to the Higheſt in my dayes.
21 Be of good comfort my children. crie to our Lord, and he wil deliuer you out of the hand of the princes your enemies.
22 For I haue hoped in the euerlaſting for your ſaluation: & ioy is come to me from the holie one vpon the mercie, which shal come to you from our euerlaſting ſauiour.
23 For I ſent you forth with mourning and weeping: but our Lord wil bring you backe to me with ioy and gladnes for euer.
24 For as the neighbours of Sion haue ſeene your captiuitie from God: ſo shal they ſee alſo with celeritie your ſaluation from God, which shal come vpon you with great honour, and euerlaſting brightnes.
25 Children patiently ſuſtaine the wrath, which is come vpon you: for thyne enemie hath perſecuted thee, but thou shalt quickly ſee his deſtruction: and thou shalt get vp vpon his necke.
26 My delicate ones haue walked rough waies, for they are led as a flocke taken violently of the enemies.
27 Be of good comfort children, and crie out to our Lord: for there shal be remembrance of you with him, that hath led you away.
28 For as your minde hath bene to ſtray from God: ten tymes ſo much shal you returning againe ſeeke him.
29 For he that hath brought the euils vpon you, he againe wil bring vnto you euerlaſting ioy with your ſaluation.
30 Be of good comfort Ieruſalem: for he exhorteth thee, that named thee.
31 The wicked afflicters shal perish, that haue vexed thee: & they that haue reioyced in thy ruine, shal be punished.
32 The cities which thy children haue ſerued, shal be punished: and she that receiued thy children.
33 For as she hath reioyced in thy ruine, and bene glad at thy fal: ſo shal she be made ſorowful in her owne deſolation.
34 And the reioycing of her multitude shal be cut of, & her gladnes shal be turned to mourning.
35 For fyre shal come vpon her from the euerlaſting in long during dayes, and she shal be inhabited of diuels a great time.
36 Looke about ô Ieruſalem toward the Eaſt, and ſee the ioy that commeth to thee from God.
37 For behold thy children come, whom thou haſt let goe diſperſed, they come gathered together from the Eaſt euen to the Weſt, in the word of the holie one reioycing to the honor of God.
Marginal notes to Chapter 4
- 1 [::] VViſdom wherof he ſpake in the former chapter (v. 12.) is the lavv and commandment of God.
- 15 Deut. ⟨illegible⟩8. v. 49. Iere. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 15.
- 17 [::] Ieruſalem exhorteth her children to patience in their iuſt puniſhment, aſſuring them of Gods mercie and relaxation.
Chapter 5
CHAP. V. A conſola⟨illegible⟩orie prophecie to Ieruſalem, that her children shal be reduced with ioy from captiuitie.
1 PVT of Ieruſalem the robe of mourning, and of thy vexation: and put on the beautie, and honor of that euerlaſting glorie, which thou haſt of God.
2 God wil cloath thee with the dublet [::] of iuſtice, and wil put vpon thy head the mitre of euerlaſting honour.
3 For God wil show his brightnes in thee, which is vnder the heauen.
4 For thy name shal be named of God to thee for euer: The peace of iuſtice, and honor of pietie.
5 Ariſe Ieruſalem, and ſtand on high: and looke about toward the Eaſt, and ſee thy children gathered together from the ryſing of the ſunne to the going downe, in the word of the holie reioycing at the memorie of God.
6 For they went out from thee on foote led by the enimies: but our Lord wil bring them to the exalted into honour as children of the kingdom.
7 For God hath apoynted to humble euerie high mountaine, and euerlaſting rockes, and to fil vp valleis to be equal with the earth: that Iſrael may walke diligently to the honour of God.
8 And the woods alſo, and euerie tree of ſweetnes haue ouershadowed Iſrael by the commandment of God.
9 For God wil bring Iſrael with ioyfulnes in the light of his maieſtie, with mercie, and iuſtice, which is of him.
Marginal notes to Chapter 5
- 2 [::] Mercie is here called iuſtice in reſpect of Gods promiſe, for although ⟨illegible⟩ promiſe vvas of his only mercie, yet the performance procedeth alſo from his iuſtice.
Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Ieremie by his epiſtle forwarneth the Iewes, that they shal be captiues in Babylon: and after ſeuentie yeares shal be releaſed: 3. exhorting them, al that time to auoid idolatrie: 7. largely shewing the vanitie of idols.
1 A COPIE of the Epiſtle that Ieremie ſent to them that were [a] to be led away captiues into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to tel them according to that which was commanded him of God. † For the ſinnes that you haue ſinned before God, you shal be led away captiue into Babylon by Nabuchodonoſor the king of Babylon.
2 Being entered therfore into Babylon, you shal be there manie yeares, and long times euen vnto [b] ſeuen generations: and after this I wil bring you forth from thence with peace.
3 But now you shal ſee in Babylon goddes of gold, and of ſiluer, and of ſtone, and of wood to be caried vpon shoulders, shewing feare to the Gentiles.
4 Beware therfore leſt you alſo be like to the doing of ſtrangers, and you be afrayd, and feare take you in them.
5 Seeing therfore the multitude adoring behind, and before, ſay you in your hartes: Thou ougheſt to be adored ô Lord.
6 For mine c Angel is with you: and my ſelfe d wil aske account of your ſoules.
7 For their tongue polished by the crafteſman, them ſelues alſo layd ouer with gold, and ſiluer are falſe thinges, and they can not ſpeake.
8 And as to a virgin that loueth ornaments: ſo taking gold their goddes are forged.
9 Their goddes certes haue golden crownes vpon their heades: wherof the prieſtes ſecretely conuey away from them gold, and ſiluer, and beſtow it on them ſelues.
10 Yea and they geue therof to ſtrumpettes, and they decke whores: and againe when they receiue it of the harlots, they decke their goddes.
11 But theſe are not deliuered from the ruſt, and the moth.
12 And theſe being couered with a purple garment, they wype their face for the duſt of the houſe, which is very much among them.
13 And he hath a ſcepter as a man, as a iudge of the countrie, that killeth him not that offendeth againſt him.
14 He hath alſo in his hand a ſword, and an axe, but him ſelfe he deliuereth not from the ſword, and from robbers, wherby be it knowne to you that they are not goddes.
15 Therfore feare them not. For as a mans veſſel being broken is made vnprofitable: ſuch alſo are their goddes:
16 they being placed in the houſe, their eies are ful of duſt by the feete of them that goe in.
17 And as vpon one, that hath offended the king, the gates be shut round about, or as the dead brought to the graue, ſo doe the prieſtes gard the doores with shuttings, and lockes, leſt they be ſpoyled of theeues.
18 They light candles to them, and that manie, of the which they can ſee none: but they are as beames in the houſe.
19 And they ſay that the ſerpents which are of the earth, gnaw out their hartes, whiles they eate them and their garment, and they feele not.
20 Their faces are blacke with the ſmoke, that is made in the houſe.
21 The owles, and the ſwallowes flye vpon their bodie, and vpon their head, and the birdes alſo, the cattes in like manner.
22 Wherby you may knowe that they are not goddes. Therfore feare them not.
23 The gold alſo which they haue, is for bewtie, vnles a man wype of the ruſt, they shal not shine: for neither when they were moulten, did they feele.
24 With [::] al price are they bought, whereas there is no breath in them.
25 As being without feete they are caried vpon shoulders, shewing their baſenes to men. Be they confounded alſo that worship them.
26 Therfore if they fal to the ground, they riſe not vp of them ſelues, nor if a man ſet him vpright, shal he ſtand by him ſelf, but as to dead men their giftes shal be ſet before them.
27 Their prieſtes ſel their ſacrifices, and abuſe them: likwiſe alſo their wiues plucking from them, impert nothing, neither to the ſicke, nor to the begger.
28 Of their ſacrifices wemen in childbed, and in flowers doe touche: knowing therfore by theſe thinges that they are not goddes, feare them not.
29 For whence are they called goddes? Becauſe we men offer to the goddes of ſiluer, and gold, and wood:
30 And prieſtes ſitte in their houſes, hauing their garments rent, and their heades, & beard shauen, whoſe heades be bare.
31 And they were crying before their goddes, as at the ſupper of the dead.
32 The prieſts take away their garments, and they cloath their wiues & their children.
33 Neither if they ſuffer anie euil, nor if anie good of anie man, are they able to recompence it: neither can they make a king, nor take him away:
34 In like maner they can neither geue riches, nor requyre euil. If a man vow a vow vnto them, and performe it not; neither this doe they require.
35 They deliuer not a man from death, nor ſaue the weake from the mightier.
36 The blind man they reſtore not to his ſight: they shal not deliuer a man out of neceſſitie.
37 They shal not pitie the widow, nor doe good to the fatherleſſe.
38 Like vnto the ſtones of the mountaine are their goddes, of wood, and of ſtone, and of gold, and of ſiluer. & they that worship them, shal be confounded:
39 How then is it to be ſuppoſed, or to be ſayd, that they are goddes?
40 Moreouer the Ch⟨illegible⟩dees themſelues not honoring them: who when they heare that the dumme can not ſpeake, they offer it to Bel, requeſting of him, that it may ſpeake.
41 As though they could feele that haue no motion: and they when they shal vnderſtand, wil leaue them: for their goddes them ſelues haue no ſenſe.
42 And wemen compaſſed with cordes, ſit in the waies, burning the bones of oliues.
43 And when one of them being drawen of ſome paſſenger shal lie with him, she vpbraydeth her neighbour, that she is not counted worthie, as her ſelf, neither is her cord broken.
44–45 But al thinges that are done about them. are falſe, how is it then to be thought, or to be ſayd, that they be goddes? And they are made by crafteſmen, & by goldſmithes. They shal be nothing els, but that which the prieſtes wil haue them to be.
46 For the artificers themſelues, that make them, are of no long time. Why, can thoſe thinges then that are made by them, be goddes?
47 But they haue left forged things & reproch, to them that shal come after.
48 For when battel commeth vpon them, and euils: the prieſtes deuiſe with them ſelues, where they may hide them ſelues with them.
49 How then may they be thought, that they are goddes, which neither deliuer them ſelues from battel, nor ſaue them ſelues from euils?
50 For ſeing they be of wood, & layd ouer with gold, and with ſiluer, it shal be knowne afterwards that they are falſe thinges, of al the Gentiles, and kinges: Which are manifeſt that they are no goddes, but the workes of mens handes, and no worke of God is with them.
51 Whence then is it knowne, that they are not goddes, but the workes of mens handes, & no worke of God is in them?
52 A king to the countrie they raiſe not vp, neither shal they geue rayne to men.
53 Iudgement alſo they shal not decerne, neither shal they deliuer countries from iniurie: becauſe they can not do nothing, as choughes betwen the heauen and the earth.
54 For when fire shal fal into the houſe of the woodden, and ſiluer, and golden goddes, their prieſtes in dede shal flee, and be deliuered: but themſelues as beames shal be burnt in the middes.
55 And king and battel they shal not reſiſt. How is it then to be ſuppoſed, or to be receiued that they are goddes?
56 Not from theeues, nor from robbers shal the goddes of wood, and of ſtone, and layd ouer with gold, and with ſiluer deliuer them ſelues, ſtronger then which are the wicked men.
57–58 The gold, and ſiluer, and the garment where with they are couered, they shal take from them, and shal depart, neither shal they helpe themſelues. Therfore it is better to be a king shewing his ſtrength: or a profitable veſſel in the houſe, wherin he wil glorie that poſſeſſeth it: or a doore in the houſe, which kepeth the thinges that are therin, then falſe goddes.
59 The ſunne certes, and the moone, and the ſtarres wheras they are bright, and ſent forth for profitable vſes, obey.
60 Likewiſe alſo the lightning, when it shal appeare is perſpicuous: and the winde alſo bloweth the ſelf ſame in euerie countrie.
61 And the clowdes, which when God shal command to walke throughout the whole world, they doe that which is commanded them.
62 The fyre alſo being ſent from aboue to conſume mountaines, and woodes, doeth that which is commanded it. But theſe neither in shapes, nor in vertues are like to one of them.
63 Wherfore neither is it to be thought, nor to be ſaid, that they be goddes: wheras they can neither iudge iudgment, nor doe anie thing for men.
64 Knowing therfore that they are not goddes, then feare them not.
65 For neither shal they curſe, kinges, nor bleſſe them.
66 Signes alſo in the heauen to the Gentiles they shew not, neither shal they shine as the ſunne, nor geue light as the moone.
67 Beaſtes are better then they, which can flie vnder the roofe, and profite themſelues.
68 By no meanes therfore is it manifeſt vnto vs, that they are goddes: for which cauſe feare them not.
69 For as in a garden of cucumbers a ſcarcrow keepeth nothing, ſo are their goddes of wood, and of ſiluer, and layd ouer with gold.
70 After the ſame ſorte alſo in a garden the white thorne, vpon the which euerie bird ſirteth. In like manner alſo their goddes of wood, and layd ouer with gold, and with ſiluer, are like to a dead bodie caſt forth in the darke.
71 By the purple alſo and the murex colour layde vpon them, which fadeth, you ſhal know that they are not goddes. At the laſt alſo they are conſumed, and shal be a reproch in the countrie.
72 Better is therfore the iuſt man, that hath not Idols: for he shal be farre from reproches.
Marginal notes to Chapter 6
- 1 [a] Ieremie writte this Epiſtle before the common people were in Babylon, but Baruch redde it vnto them in Babylon, and ſo it was ſent back to the reſt, which were yet in Ieruſalem.
- 1 Iere 1⟨illegible⟩. v. 8. 9. &c.
- 2 [b] Tenne, being the firſtarticle number, ſignifieth a general number; and ſo ſeuen generations ſignifie ſeuen times tenne, that is, ſeuentie yeares. Sometimes ſeuen ⟨illegible⟩ ſignific a generalitie, becauſe this whole world is counted by ſeuen dayes: ſometimes. 100. ſignifie the ſame; as Gen. 15. v 16. 400. yeares are called four generations.
- 2 Iſa 44.
- 15 c The Angel which guided this people coming out of Aegypt. Exo. 12. 33. protected them alſo in Babylon.
- 18 d The innumerable abſurdities in forging and adoring falſe goddes here recited by the prophet ſhew how fooliſh & ſenſles they are, that ſerue idols, or anie images for goddes.
- 24 [::] Idolaters imagining that ſenſles idols had diuiue powre, fooliſhly eſtemed them of great value, & price.
- 24 Iſ. 46. v. ⟨illegible⟩.
Colophon
The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes. By the English College of Doway. The second tome (Psalms to 2 Machabees, with the Prayer of Manasses and the third and fourth books of Esdras), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).
Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.
This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (20 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.
In 2 places on this page the transcription has no verse cross between two numbered verses; there both numbers head a single paragraph (for example “12–13”) rather than cutting the text by guesswork. In 1 place a cross stands in the text where the printed verse numbers show no new verse; it is kept there as †.
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