耶利米的抱怨

12 耶和華啊,每次我與你爭論,

都顯明你是對的。
然而,我還是對你的公正有所不解:
為什麼惡人總是得勢?
為什麼詭詐之人反而生活安逸?
你栽培他們,讓他們生根長大,
結出果實。
他們嘴上尊崇你,
心卻遠離你。
但耶和華啊,你認識我,瞭解我,
察驗我的內心。
求你拖走他們,
就像拖走待宰的羊,
留到宰殺之日。
大地哀慟、
田野的植物枯槁要到何時呢?
由於這地方居民的罪惡,
野獸和飛鳥都滅絕了。
他們說:「上帝看不見我們的行為[a]。」
耶和華說:「如果你與步行的人競走,
尚且感到疲乏,
又怎能與馬賽跑呢?
如果你在寬闊之地尚且跌倒,
在約旦河邊的叢林中又會怎樣呢?
你的弟兄和家人都背叛了你,
與你作對。
任他們甜言蜜語,你不要相信。

「我已離開我的殿,
撇棄我的產業,
把我愛的子民交給他們的敵人。
我的子民像林中的獅子一樣向我吼叫,
因此我憎惡他們;
我的子民就像一隻帶斑點的鷙鳥,
被其他鷙鳥圍攻。
招聚野獸來吞吃牠吧!
10 列國的首領毀壞我的葡萄園,
踐踏我美好的土地,
使它荒涼;
11 他們使這片土地荒涼,
以致它在我面前哀哭。
遍地如此荒涼,卻無人在意。
12 殺戮者已來到曠野中光禿的山嶺,
耶和華使刀劍橫掃全境,
無人倖免。
13 我的子民播種麥子,
卻收割荊棘;
辛勤耕耘,卻一無所獲。
他們必因耶和華的烈怒而收穫羞辱。」

14 耶和華說:「邪惡的鄰國侵佔了我賜給我以色列子民的土地,我要把這些惡鄰逐出他們的本土,正如我要逐出猶大一樣。 15 我逐出他們以後,還要再憐憫他們,把他們帶回各自的家園和故土。 16 如果他們真心接受我子民的信仰,憑永活的耶和華之名起誓,正如他們教導我子民向巴力起誓一樣,他們便能成為我的子民。 17 如果哪一國不聽我的話,我必把它連根拔起,徹底毀滅。這是耶和華說的。」

Footnotes

  1. 12·4 上帝看不見我們的行為」參照《七十士譯本》,希伯來文也可譯作「他(指耶利米)看不見我們的結局」。

12 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.

Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.

13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

14 Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah’s Question

12 Righteous (A)are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
(C)You are near in their mouth
But far from their [a]mind.

But You, O Lord, (D)know me;
You have seen me,
And You have (E)tested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for (F)the day of slaughter.
How long will (G)the land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
(H)The beasts and birds are consumed,
(I)For the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in (J)the [b]floodplain of the Jordan?
For even (K)your brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called [c]a multitude after you.
(L)Do not believe them,
Even though they speak [d]smooth words to you.

“I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have (M)hated it.
My [e]heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
(N)Bring them to devour!

10 “Many (O)rulers[f] have destroyed (P)My vineyard,
They have (Q)trodden My portion underfoot;
They have made My [g]pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it (R)desolate;
Desolate, it mourns to Me;
The whole land is made desolate,
Because (S)no one takes it to heart.
12 The plunderers have come
On all the desolate heights in the wilderness,
For the sword of the Lord shall devour
From one end of the land to the other end of the land;
No flesh shall have peace.
13 (T)They have sown wheat but reaped thorns;
They have [h]put themselves to pain but do not profit.
But be ashamed of your harvest
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

14 Thus says the Lord: “Against all My evil neighbors who (U)touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit—behold, I will (V)pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 (W)Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them (X)and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land. 16 And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, (Y)to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be (Z)established in the midst of My people. 17 But if they do not (AA)obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,” says the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:2 Most secret parts, lit. kidneys
  2. Jeremiah 12:5 Or thicket
  3. Jeremiah 12:6 Or abundantly
  4. Jeremiah 12:6 Lit. good
  5. Jeremiah 12:9 inheritance
  6. Jeremiah 12:10 Lit. shepherds or pastors
  7. Jeremiah 12:10 desired portion of land
  8. Jeremiah 12:13 Or strained

Jeremiah's Complaint

12 (A)Righteous are you, O Lord,
    when I complain to you;
    yet I would plead my case before you.
(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why do all (C)who are treacherous thrive?
You plant them, and they take root;
    they grow and produce fruit;
(D)you are near in their mouth
    and far from their heart.
(E)But you, O Lord, know me;
    (F)you see me, and test my heart toward you.
(G)Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
    and set them apart for (H)the day of slaughter.
(I)How long will the land mourn
    and the grass of every field wither?
(J)For the evil of those who dwell in it
    (K)the beasts and the birds are swept away,
    because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you,
    how will you compete with horses?
And if in a safe land you are so trusting,
    what will you do in (L)the thicket of the Jordan?
For (M)even your brothers and the house of your father,
    (N)even they have dealt treacherously with you;
    they are in full cry after you;
(O)do not believe them,
    though they speak friendly words to you.”

“I have forsaken my house;
    I have abandoned (P)my heritage;
I have given (Q)the beloved of my soul
    into the hands of her enemies.
(R)My heritage has become to me
    like a lion in the forest;
she has lifted up her voice against me;
    therefore I hate her.
Is (S)my heritage to me like (T)a hyena's lair?
    Are the (U)birds of prey against her all around?
Go, (V)assemble all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard;
    (W)they have trampled down my portion;
they have made my pleasant portion
    a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation;
    desolate, (X)it mourns to me.
The whole land is made desolate,
    (Y)but no man lays it to heart.
12 Upon all the bare heights in the desert
    destroyers have come,
for the sword of the Lord devours
    from one end of the land to the other;
    no flesh has peace.
13 (Z)They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns;
    (AA)they have tired themselves out but profit nothing.
They shall be ashamed of their[a] harvests
    (AB)because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

14 Thus says the Lord concerning all (AC)my evil neighbors (AD)who touch the heritage that (AE)I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, (AF)and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, (AG)to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, (AH)then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 (AI)But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:13 Hebrew your