耶利米的抱怨

12 耶和华啊,每次我与你争论,

都显明你是对的。
然而,我还是对你的公正有所不解:
为什么恶人总是得势?
为什么诡诈之人反而生活安逸?
你栽培他们,让他们生根长大,
结出果实。
他们嘴上尊崇你,
心却远离你。
但耶和华啊,你认识我,了解我,
察验我的内心。
求你拖走他们,
就像拖走待宰的羊,
留到宰杀之日。
大地哀恸、
田野的植物枯槁要到何时呢?
由于这地方居民的罪恶,
野兽和飞鸟都灭绝了。
他们说:“上帝看不见我们的行为[a]。”
耶和华说:“如果你与步行的人竞走,
尚且感到疲乏,
又怎能与马赛跑呢?
如果你在宽阔之地尚且跌倒,
在约旦河边的丛林中又会怎样呢?
你的弟兄和家人都背叛了你,
与你作对。
任他们甜言蜜语,你不要相信。

“我已离开我的殿,
撇弃我的产业,
把我爱的子民交给他们的敌人。
我的子民像林中的狮子一样向我吼叫,
因此我憎恶他们;
我的子民就像一只带斑点的鸷鸟,
被其他鸷鸟围攻。
招聚野兽来吞吃它吧!
10 列国的首领毁坏我的葡萄园,
践踏我美好的土地,
使它荒凉;
11 他们使这片土地荒凉,
以致它在我面前哀哭。
遍地如此荒凉,却无人在意。
12 杀戮者已来到旷野中光秃的山岭,
耶和华使刀剑横扫全境,
无人幸免。
13 我的子民播种麦子,
却收割荆棘;
辛勤耕耘,却一无所获。
他们必因耶和华的烈怒而收获羞辱。”

14 耶和华说:“邪恶的邻国侵占了我赐给我以色列子民的土地,我要把这些恶邻逐出他们的本土,正如我要逐出犹大一样。 15 我逐出他们以后,还要再怜悯他们,把他们带回各自的家园和故土。 16 如果他们真心接受我子民的信仰,凭永活的耶和华之名起誓,正如他们教导我子民向巴力起誓一样,他们便能成为我的子民。 17 如果哪一国不听我的话,我必把它连根拔起,彻底毁灭。这是耶和华说的。”

腰带的比喻

13 耶和华对我说:“你去买一条麻布腰带束在腰间,不可让它沾水。” 我照耶和华的话买了腰带,束在腰间。 耶和华又对我说: “拿着你买来的腰带去幼发拉底河边,把它藏在那里的石缝中。” 于是,我照耶和华的吩咐把腰带藏在那里。 多日后,耶和华对我说:“去幼发拉底河边取回我吩咐你藏的腰带。” 我就去幼发拉底河边把所藏的腰带挖出来,但腰带已经腐烂,不能用了。

耶和华对我说: “这是耶和华说的,‘我也要这样消灭犹大的骄傲和耶路撒冷的狂妄。 10 这邪恶的百姓拒绝听我的话,一意孤行,跟随、供奉、祭拜别的神明,他们将像这腰带一样毫无用处。 11 我本想使以色列人和犹大人紧靠着我,就像腰带紧贴在人的腰间,让他们做我的子民,使我声名远扬、得到赞美和尊崇,他们却不肯听从。这是耶和华说的。’

12 “因此,你告诉他们,以色列的上帝耶和华说,‘每个瓶子都要盛满酒。’若他们说,‘难道我们不知道每个瓶子都要盛满酒吗?’ 13 你就告诉他们,‘耶和华说,我要使坐在大卫宝座上的君王以及祭司、先知、耶路撒冷人和这片土地上所有的居民都酩酊大醉; 14 我要使他们彼此撞得粉碎,就算父子也要彼此相撞;我要毁灭他们,决不心慈手软。’”

15 耶和华说话了,你们要留心听,
不可傲慢。
16 趁着你们的上帝耶和华还未使黑暗来临,
你们还未在漆黑的山上绊倒,
要把荣耀归给祂。
否则,祂必使你们期望的光明变为幽冥和黑暗。
17 如果你们因为骄傲而不肯听,
我会暗自哭泣、泪流满面,
因为耶和华的子民将要被掳。

18 耶和华让我对君王和太后说:
“从宝座上下来吧,
因为你们头上华美的王冠将要掉落。”
19 南部的城邑将被围困,
无人能解围,
犹大人都要被掳,无一幸免。

20 耶路撒冷啊,
举目看看那些从北方来的敌人吧,
从前赐给你的佳美羊群——你的百姓如今在哪里呢?
21 耶和华让你结交的盟友来统治你,
你还有什么话可说?
难怪你痛苦不堪,
就像分娩的妇人。
22 也许你在想:“为什么这些事发生在我身上?”
你的裙子被撕破,你遭受蹂躏,
是因为你罪大恶极。
23 古实人能改变他们的肤色吗?
豹子能脱去它们的斑点吗?
你这作恶成性的人怎能行善呢?
24 因此,耶和华说:
“我要把你分散到四方,
像旷野的风吹散碎秸一样。
25 这是你应得的报应,
是我量给你的,
因为你把我抛诸脑后,
信靠假神。
这是耶和华说的。
26 因此,我要把你的裙子掀到你的脸上,
使人见到你的羞耻。
27 你在山上和田野间拜偶像,
像无耻的妇人与情郎苟合,
发出淫语浪声。
这些可憎之事,我都看见了。
耶路撒冷啊,你有祸了!
你什么时候才肯自洁呢?”

预言旱灾

14 耶和华告诉耶利米有关旱灾的事:

“犹大充满悲泣,
她的城邑衰败,
人人坐在地上痛哭,
耶路撒冷哀鸣四起。
贵族派仆人去水池打水,
仆人去那里发现没有水,
就带着空瓶垂头丧气、
羞愧难当地回去了。
天不下雨,
土地干裂,
农夫沮丧地抱着头。
因为没有草,
田野的母鹿抛弃了刚生下来的小鹿;
因为没有草,
野驴站在光秃的山头上像豺狼一样喘气,双目无神。”

耶和华啊,虽然我们的罪控告我们,
我们屡屡叛逆得罪你,
求你为了自己的尊名而拯救我们。
以色列的盼望和患难时的救主啊,
你为什么在这里像一个异乡人,
像一个只住一夜的旅客呢?
你为什么像一个受惊的人,
像一个无力救人的勇士呢?
耶和华啊,你一直都在我们中间,
我们属于你的名下,
求你不要抛弃我们。

10 论到这些百姓,耶和华这样说:
“他们喜欢流浪,
不约束自己的脚步,
因此耶和华不喜欢他们。
现在祂要清算他们的罪恶,
追讨他们的罪。”

11 耶和华对我说:“你不要为这百姓祷告。 12 他们禁食,我也不会听他们的呼求;他们献上燔祭和素祭,我也不会悦纳。我要用战争、饥荒和瘟疫灭绝他们。” 13 我说:“主耶和华啊!众先知不停地告诉他们不会有战争,也不会遭遇饥荒,说耶和华必在这地方赐给他们永久的平安。”

14 耶和华对我说:“那些先知奉我的名说假预言,我并没有差派他们,没有委任他们,也没有对他们说话。他们对你们说的预言是假异象,是占卜,是凭空捏造。 15 我没有差派他们,他们却奉我的名说这地方必没有战争和饥荒。他们必死于战争和饥荒。这是耶和华说的。 16 至于听他们说预言的人以及那些人的妻子儿女,必因饥荒和战争而暴尸耶路撒冷街头。因为我要使他们受到应得的报应。

17 “耶利米,你要对他们说,
‘让我昼夜泪眼汪汪吧,
因为我的同胞遭受重创,
遍体鳞伤。
18 我走到田间,
眼前是具具被杀的尸体;
我进入城里,
见饥荒肆虐,
祭司和先知也流亡异乡[b]。’”

19 耶和华啊,你完全丢弃犹大了吗?
你厌恶锡安吗?
你为什么把我们打得伤痕累累,以致无法医治?
我们期待平安,却没有平安;
渴望得到医治,却饱受惊吓。
20 耶和华啊,我们承认自己和我们祖先的罪,
我们都得罪了你。
21 为了你的尊名,
求你不要厌恶我们,
不要让你荣耀的宝座蒙羞。
求你顾念你与我们立的约,
不要废除它。
22 在列国供奉的偶像中,
谁能赐下雨水呢?
天能自降甘霖吗?
我们的上帝耶和华啊,
难道不是只有你能行这些事吗?
是你赐雨水降甘霖,
所以我们仰望你。

Footnotes

  1. 12:4 上帝看不见我们的行为”参照《七十士译本》,希伯来文也可译作“他(指耶利米)看不见我们的结局”。
  2. 14:18 祭司和先知也流亡异乡”或译“连祭司和先知也浑浑噩噩,不知道自己做什么”。

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。」

腰帶的比喻

13 耶和華對我說:「你去買一條麻布腰帶束在腰間,不可讓它沾水。」 我照耶和華的話買了腰帶,束在腰間。 耶和華又對我說: 「拿著你買來的腰帶去幼發拉底河邊,把它藏在那裡的石縫中。」 於是,我照耶和華的吩咐把腰帶藏在那裡。 多日後,耶和華對我說:「去幼發拉底河邊取回我吩咐你藏的腰帶。」 我就去幼發拉底河邊把所藏的腰帶挖出來,但腰帶已經腐爛,不能用了。

耶和華對我說: 「這是耶和華說的,『我也要這樣消滅猶大的驕傲和耶路撒冷的狂妄。 10 這邪惡的百姓拒絕聽我的話,一意孤行,跟隨、供奉、祭拜別的神明,他們將像這腰帶一樣毫無用處。 11 我本想使以色列人和猶大人緊靠著我,就像腰帶緊貼在人的腰間,讓他們做我的子民,使我聲名遠揚、得到讚美和尊崇,他們卻不肯聽從。這是耶和華說的。』

12 「因此,你告訴他們,以色列的上帝耶和華說,『每個瓶子都要盛滿酒。』若他們說,『難道我們不知道每個瓶子都要盛滿酒嗎?』 13 你就告訴他們,『耶和華說,我要使坐在大衛寶座上的君王以及祭司、先知、耶路撒冷人和這片土地上所有的居民都酩酊大醉; 14 我要使他們彼此撞得粉碎,就算父子也要彼此相撞;我要毀滅他們,決不心慈手軟。』」

15 耶和華說話了,你們要留心聽,
不可傲慢。
16 趁著你們的上帝耶和華還未使黑暗來臨,
你們還未在漆黑的山上絆倒,
要把榮耀歸給祂。
否則,祂必使你們期望的光明變為幽冥和黑暗。
17 如果你們因為驕傲而不肯聽,
我會暗自哭泣、淚流滿面,
因為耶和華的子民將要被擄。

18 耶和華讓我對君王和太后說:
「從寶座上下來吧,
因為你們頭上華美的王冠將要掉落。」
19 南部的城邑將被圍困,
無人能解圍,
猶大人都要被擄,無一倖免。

20 耶路撒冷啊,
舉目看看那些從北方來的敵人吧,
從前賜給你的佳美羊群——你的百姓如今在哪裡呢?
21 耶和華讓你結交的盟友來統治你,
你還有什麼話可說?
難怪你痛苦不堪,
就像分娩的婦人。
22 也許你在想:「為什麼這些事發生在我身上?」
你的裙子被撕破,你遭受蹂躪,
是因為你罪大惡極。
23 古實人能改變他們的膚色嗎?
豹子能脫去牠們的斑點嗎?
你這作惡成性的人怎能行善呢?
24 因此,耶和華說:
「我要把你分散到四方,
像曠野的風吹散碎稭一樣。
25 這是你應得的報應,
是我量給你的,
因為你把我拋諸腦後,
信靠假神。
這是耶和華說的。
26 因此,我要把你的裙子掀到你的臉上,
使人見到你的羞恥。
27 你在山上和田野間拜偶像,
像無恥的婦人與情郎苟合,
發出淫語浪聲。
這些可憎之事,我都看見了。
耶路撒冷啊,你有禍了!
你什麼時候才肯自潔呢?」

預言旱災

14 耶和華告訴耶利米有關旱災的事:

「猶大充滿悲泣,
她的城邑衰敗,
人人坐在地上痛哭,
耶路撒冷哀鳴四起。
貴族派僕人去水池打水,
僕人去那裡發現沒有水,
就帶著空瓶垂頭喪氣、
羞愧難當地回去了。
天不下雨,
土地乾裂,
農夫沮喪地抱著頭。
因為沒有草,
田野的母鹿拋棄了剛生下來的小鹿;
因為沒有草,
野驢站在光禿的山頭上像豺狼一樣喘氣,雙目無神。」

耶和華啊,雖然我們的罪控告我們,
我們屢屢叛逆得罪你,
求你為了自己的尊名而拯救我們。
以色列的盼望和患難時的救主啊,
你為什麼在這裡像一個異鄉人,
像一個只住一夜的旅客呢?
你為什麼像一個受驚的人,
像一個無力救人的勇士呢?
耶和華啊,你一直都在我們中間,
我們屬於你的名下,
求你不要拋棄我們。

10 論到這些百姓,耶和華這樣說:
「他們喜歡流浪,
不約束自己的腳步,
因此耶和華不喜歡他們。
現在祂要清算他們的罪惡,
追討他們的罪。」

11 耶和華對我說:「你不要為這百姓禱告。 12 他們禁食,我也不會聽他們的呼求;他們獻上燔祭和素祭,我也不會悅納。我要用戰爭、饑荒和瘟疫滅絕他們。」 13 我說:「主耶和華啊!眾先知不停地告訴他們不會有戰爭,也不會遭遇饑荒,說耶和華必在這地方賜給他們永久的平安。」

14 耶和華對我說:「那些先知奉我的名說假預言,我並沒有差派他們,沒有委任他們,也沒有對他們說話。他們對你們說的預言是假異象,是占卜,是憑空捏造。 15 我沒有差派他們,他們卻奉我的名說這地方必沒有戰爭和饑荒。他們必死於戰爭和饑荒。這是耶和華說的。 16 至於聽他們說預言的人以及那些人的妻子兒女,必因饑荒和戰爭而曝屍耶路撒冷街頭。因為我要使他們受到應得的報應。

17 「耶利米,你要對他們說,
『讓我晝夜淚眼汪汪吧,
因為我的同胞遭受重創,
遍體鱗傷。
18 我走到田間,
眼前是具具被殺的屍體;
我進入城裡,
見饑荒肆虐,
祭司和先知也流亡異鄉[b]。』」

19 耶和華啊,你完全丟棄猶大了嗎?
你厭惡錫安嗎?
你為什麼把我們打得傷痕纍纍,以致無法醫治?
我們期待平安,卻沒有平安;
渴望得到醫治,卻飽受驚嚇。
20 耶和華啊,我們承認自己和我們祖先的罪,
我們都得罪了你。
21 為了你的尊名,
求你不要厭惡我們,
不要讓你榮耀的寶座蒙羞。
求你顧念你與我們立的約,
不要廢除它。
22 在列國供奉的偶像中,
誰能賜下雨水呢?
天能自降甘霖嗎?
我們的上帝耶和華啊,
難道不是只有你能行這些事嗎?
是你賜雨水降甘霖,
所以我們仰望你。

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」。
  2. 14·18 祭司和先知也流亡異鄉」或譯「連祭司和先知也渾渾噩噩,不知道自己做什麼」。

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You are always righteous,(A) Lord,
    when I bring a case(B) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:(C)
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(D)
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?
You have planted(E) them, and they have taken root;
    they grow and bear fruit.(F)
You are always on their lips
    but far from their hearts.(G)
Yet you know me, Lord;
    you see me and test(H) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep(I) to be butchered!
    Set them apart for the day of slaughter!(J)
How long will the land lie parched(K)
    and the grass in every field be withered?(L)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
    the animals and birds have perished.(M)
Moreover, the people are saying,
    “He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

“If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble[a] in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets(N) by[b] the Jordan?
Your relatives, members of your own family—
    even they have betrayed you;
    they have raised a loud cry against you.(O)
Do not trust them,
    though they speak well of you.(P)

“I will forsake(Q) my house,
    abandon(R) my inheritance;
I will give the one I love(S)
    into the hands of her enemies.(T)
My inheritance has become to me
    like a lion(U) in the forest.
She roars at me;
    therefore I hate her.(V)
Has not my inheritance become to me
    like a speckled bird of prey
    that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.(W)
10 Many shepherds(X) will ruin my vineyard
    and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
    into a desolate wasteland.(Y)
11 It will be made a wasteland,(Z)
    parched and desolate before me;(AA)
the whole land will be laid waste
    because there is no one who cares.
12 Over all the barren heights in the desert
    destroyers will swarm,
for the sword(AB) of the Lord(AC) will devour(AD)
    from one end of the land to the other;(AE)
    no one will be safe.(AF)
13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns;
    they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.(AG)
They will bear the shame of their harvest
    because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”(AH)

14 This is what the Lord says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance(AI) I gave my people Israel, I will uproot(AJ) them from their lands and I will uproot(AK) the people of Judah from among them. 15 But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion(AL) and will bring(AM) each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. 16 And if they learn(AN) well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’(AO)—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal(AP)—then they will be established among my people.(AQ) 17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy(AR) it,” declares the Lord.

A Linen Belt

13 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” So I bought a belt, as the Lord directed, and put it around my waist.

Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time:(AS) “Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath[c](AT) and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.” So I went and hid it at Perath, as the Lord told me.(AU)

Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride(AV) of Jerusalem. 10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen(AW) to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts(AX) and go after other gods(AY) to serve and worship them,(AZ) will be like this belt—completely useless!(BA) 11 For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown(BB) and praise and honor.(BC) But they have not listened.’(BD)

Wineskins

12 “Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Every wineskin should be filled with wine.’ And if they say to you, ‘Don’t we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’ 13 then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to fill with drunkenness(BE) all who live in this land, including the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets and all those living in Jerusalem. 14 I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the Lord. I will allow no pity(BF) or mercy or compassion(BG) to keep me from destroying(BH) them.’”

Threat of Captivity

15 Hear and pay attention,
    do not be arrogant,
    for the Lord has spoken.(BI)
16 Give glory(BJ) to the Lord your God
    before he brings the darkness,
before your feet stumble(BK)
    on the darkening hills.
You hope for light,
    but he will turn it to utter darkness
    and change it to deep gloom.(BL)
17 If you do not listen,(BM)
    I will weep in secret
    because of your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly,
    overflowing with tears,(BN)
    because the Lord’s flock(BO) will be taken captive.(BP)

18 Say to the king(BQ) and to the queen mother,(BR)
    “Come down from your thrones,
for your glorious crowns(BS)
    will fall from your heads.”
19 The cities in the Negev will be shut up,
    and there will be no one to open them.
All Judah(BT) will be carried into exile,
    carried completely away.

20 Look up and see
    those who are coming from the north.(BU)
Where is the flock(BV) that was entrusted to you,
    the sheep of which you boasted?
21 What will you say when the Lord sets over you
    those you cultivated as your special allies?(BW)
Will not pain grip you
    like that of a woman in labor?(BX)
22 And if you ask yourself,
    “Why has this happened to me?”(BY)
it is because of your many sins(BZ)
    that your skirts have been torn off(CA)
    and your body mistreated.(CB)
23 Can an Ethiopian[d] change his skin
    or a leopard its spots?
Neither can you do good
    who are accustomed to doing evil.(CC)

24 “I will scatter you like chaff(CD)
    driven by the desert wind.(CE)
25 This is your lot,
    the portion(CF) I have decreed for you,”
declares the Lord,
“because you have forgotten(CG) me
    and trusted in false gods.(CH)
26 I will pull up your skirts over your face
    that your shame may be seen(CI)
27 your adulteries and lustful neighings,
    your shameless prostitution!(CJ)
I have seen your detestable acts
    on the hills and in the fields.(CK)
Woe to you, Jerusalem!
    How long will you be unclean?”(CL)

Drought, Famine, Sword

14 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:(CM)

“Judah mourns,(CN)
    her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.(CO)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.(CP)
The ground is cracked
    because there is no rain in the land;(CQ)
the farmers are dismayed
    and cover their heads.
Even the doe in the field
    deserts her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.(CR)
Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights(CS)
    and pant like jackals;
their eyes fail
    for lack of food.”(CT)

Although our sins testify(CU) against us,
    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.(CV)
For we have often rebelled;(CW)
    we have sinned(CX) against you.
You who are the hope(CY) of Israel,
    its Savior(CZ) in times of distress,(DA)
why are you like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only a night?
Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
    like a warrior powerless to save?(DB)
You are among(DC) us, Lord,
    and we bear your name;(DD)
    do not forsake(DE) us!

10 This is what the Lord says about this people:

“They greatly love to wander;
    they do not restrain their feet.(DF)
So the Lord does not accept(DG) them;
    he will now remember(DH) their wickedness
    and punish them for their sins.”(DI)

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray(DJ) for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(DK) though they offer burnt offerings(DL) and grain offerings,(DM) I will not accept(DN) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(DO) famine(DP) and plague.”(DQ)

13 But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets(DR) keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine.(DS) Indeed, I will give you lasting peace(DT) in this place.’”

14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies(DU) in my name. I have not sent(DV) them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,(DW) divinations,(DX) idolatries[e] and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish(DY) by sword and famine.(DZ) 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury(EA) them, their wives, their sons and their daughters.(EB) I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.(EC)

17 “Speak this word to them:

“‘Let my eyes overflow with tears(ED)
    night and day without ceasing;
for the Virgin(EE) Daughter, my people,
    has suffered a grievous wound,
    a crushing blow.(EF)
18 If I go into the country,
    I see those slain by the sword;
if I go into the city,
    I see the ravages of famine.(EG)
Both prophet and priest
    have gone to a land they know not.(EH)’”

19 Have you rejected Judah completely?(EI)
    Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
    so that we cannot be healed?(EJ)
We hoped for peace
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.(EK)
20 We acknowledge(EL) our wickedness, Lord,
    and the guilt of our ancestors;(EM)
    we have indeed sinned(EN) against you.
21 For the sake of your name(EO) do not despise us;
    do not dishonor your glorious throne.(EP)
Remember your covenant(EQ) with us
    and do not break it.
22 Do any of the worthless idols(ER) of the nations bring rain?(ES)
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.(ET)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
  2. Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of
  3. Jeremiah 13:4 Or possibly to the Euphrates; similarly in verses 5-7
  4. Jeremiah 13:23 Hebrew Cushite (probably a person from the upper Nile region)
  5. Jeremiah 14:14 Or visions, worthless divinations

我保罗奉上帝的旨意,按照在基督耶稣里所应许的生命做基督耶稣的使徒, 写信给我亲爱的儿子提摩太。

愿父上帝和我们的主基督耶稣的恩典、怜悯和平安临到你!

勉励忠心事奉

我日夜不停地为你祷告,对我效法祖先用清洁的良心事奉的上帝充满了感恩。 每逢想起你流泪的情形,我就渴望见你,好使我的心充满喜乐。 我记得你那真诚无伪的信心。你外祖母罗以和你母亲友妮基首先有了这信心,我深信你也有。 因此我提醒你,要把上帝在我把手按在你身上时赐给你的恩赐充分发挥出来。 因为上帝赐给我们的不是懦弱的心,而是刚强、仁爱、自律的心。

所以,你不要羞于为我们的主做见证,也不要以我这为主被囚的人为耻,要靠着上帝的能力和我一同为福音受苦。 上帝拯救了我们,并呼召我们过圣洁的生活,不是因为我们的行为,而是出于祂的旨意和恩典。早在万古以前,祂就在基督耶稣里把这恩典赐给我们了, 10 如今借着我们救主基督耶稣的降世显明了出来。基督已经消灭了死亡,借着福音将不朽的生命彰显了出来。

11 我为了这福音受委派做传道人、使徒和教师。 12 我因此而遭受这些苦难,但我不以为耻,因为我知道我所信的是谁,也深信祂能保守祂所托付我的[a],一直到那日[b] 13 你要以在基督耶稣里的信心和爱心,把从我这里听到的正确教导当作典范遵守, 14 要靠着住在我们里面的圣灵牢牢守住交托给你的美善之道。

15 你知道几乎所有亚细亚的人都离弃了我,其中包括腓吉路和黑摩其尼。 16 愿主怜悯阿尼色弗一家人,他常常鼓励我,不以我被囚禁为耻。 17 他在罗马的时候千方百计寻访我的下落,直到找着我为止。 18 你很清楚,他从前在以弗所怎样在各个方面服侍我。愿主再来时格外地怜悯他。

Footnotes

  1. 1:12 祂所托付我的”又可翻译为“我所信托祂的”。
  2. 1:12 那日”指保罗站在基督面前交账的日子。

我保羅奉上帝的旨意,按照在基督耶穌裡所應許的生命作基督耶穌的使徒, 寫信給我親愛的兒子提摩太。

願父上帝和我們的主基督耶穌的恩典、憐憫和平安臨到你!

勉勵忠心事奉

我日夜不停地為你禱告,對我效法祖先用清潔的良心事奉的上帝充滿了感恩。 每逢想起你流淚的情形,我就渴望見你,好使我的心充滿喜樂。 我記得你那真誠無偽的信心。你外祖母羅以和你母親友妮基首先有了這信心,我深信你也有。 因此我提醒你,要把上帝在我把手按在你身上時賜給你的恩賜充分發揮出來。 因為上帝賜給我們的不是懦弱的心,而是剛強、仁愛、自律的心。

所以,你不要羞於為我們的主做見證,也不要以我這為主被囚的人為恥,要靠著上帝的能力和我一同為福音受苦。 上帝拯救了我們,並呼召我們過聖潔的生活,不是因為我們的行為,而是出於祂的旨意和恩典。早在萬古以前,祂就在基督耶穌裡把這恩典賜給我們了, 10 如今藉著我們救主基督耶穌的降世顯明了出來。基督已經消滅了死亡,藉著福音將不朽的生命彰顯了出來。

11 我為了這福音受委派做傳道人、使徒和教師。 12 我因此而遭受這些苦難,但我不以為恥,因為我知道我所信的是誰,也深信祂能保守祂所託付我的[a],一直到那日[b] 13 你要以在基督耶穌裡的信心和愛心,把從我這裡聽到的正確教導當作典範遵守, 14 要靠著住在我們裡面的聖靈牢牢守住交託給你的美善之道。

15 你知道幾乎所有亞細亞的人都離棄了我,其中包括腓吉路和黑摩其尼。 16 願主憐憫阿尼色弗一家人,他常常鼓勵我,不以我被囚禁為恥。 17 他在羅馬的時候千方百計尋訪我的下落,直到找著我為止。 18 你很清楚,他從前在以弗所怎樣在各個方面服侍我。願主再來時格外地憐憫他。

Footnotes

  1. 1·12 祂所託付我的」又可翻譯為「我所信託祂的」。
  2. 1·12 那日」指保羅站在基督面前交帳的日子。

Paul, an apostle(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,(B) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,(C)

To Timothy,(D) my dear son:(E)

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)

Thanksgiving

I thank God,(G) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,(H) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.(I) Recalling your tears,(J) I long to see you,(K) so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith,(L) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(M) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.(N) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,(O) but gives us power,(P) love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed(Q) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(R) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(S) by the power of God. He has saved(T) us and called(U) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done(V) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed(W) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,(X) who has destroyed death(Y) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel(Z) I was appointed(AA) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.(AB) 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,(AC) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard(AD) what I have entrusted to him until that day.(AE)

13 What you heard from me,(AF) keep(AG) as the pattern(AH) of sound teaching,(AI) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.(AJ) 14 Guard(AK) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.(AL)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia(AM) has deserted me,(AN) including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,(AO) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed(AP) of my chains.(AQ) 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!(AR) You know very well in how many ways he helped me(AS) in Ephesus.(AT)