以色列人必回歸

31 耶和華說:「那時,我要做以色列各宗族的上帝,他們必做我的子民。

「逃脫刀兵之災的以色列人必在曠野蒙恩,
找到安息之所。
這是耶和華說的。」
從前,耶和華向以色列顯現,說:
「我以永遠不變的愛愛你,
我以慈愛吸引你到我身邊。
以色列人啊,
我要重建你們的家園,
你們要再次拿起鈴鼓與歡樂的人一同跳舞。
你們將在撒瑪利亞的山上重新栽種葡萄園,
享受園中的果實。
有一天,看守園子的人要在以法蓮的山上呼喊,
『我們上錫安朝見我們的上帝耶和華吧!』」
耶和華說:
「你們要為雅各歡呼歌唱,
向列國之首喝采。
你們要傳揚頌讚,說,
『耶和華啊,
求你拯救以色列剩餘的子民!』
看啊,我要從北方,
從地極招聚他們,
其中有瞎子、跛子、孕婦和產婦,
他們要成群結隊地回到這裡。
我必引領他們回來,
他們必一路含淚禱告。
我要使他們走在溪水邊,
行在平坦的路上,
他們必不會跌倒,
因為我是以色列的父親,
以法蓮是我的長子。

10 「列國啊,你們要聽耶和華的話,
要在遠方的海島宣揚,
『祂從前驅散以色列人,
如今必再聚集、保護他們,
好像牧人看守自己的羊群一樣。』
11 耶和華必拯救雅各的子孫,
從強敵手中救出他們。
12 他們必來到錫安山上歡呼,
為耶和華所賜的五穀、新酒、
油、羔羊和牛犢而歡欣。
他們就像水源充足的田園,
一無所缺。
13 那時,少女要歡然起舞,
老人和青年要一起快樂。
我要使他們轉憂為喜,
我要安慰他們,使他們歡喜,
不再憂愁。
14 我要使祭司有充足的供應,
使我的子民飽享美物。
這是耶和華說的。」
15 耶和華說:
「在拉瑪有痛哭哀號的聲音,
是拉結在為兒女哀痛,
不肯接受安慰,
因為他們都死了。」

16 耶和華說:
「不要哭泣,不要流淚,
因為你的勞苦必有回報,
你的兒女必從敵國回來。
這是耶和華說的。
17 你將來必有盼望,
你的兒女必重返家園。
這是耶和華說的。
18 我聽見以法蓮[a]在為自己悲歎,
『我們就像未經馴服的牛犢,
你管教我們,使我們順服,
求你使我們回到你身邊,
重新復興,
因為你是我們的上帝耶和華。
19 我們曾經離開你,
但我們後悔了;
我們醒悟之後捶胸頓足,
痛悔不已,
因早年的所作所為而羞愧難當。』」
20 耶和華說:「以法蓮不是我的愛子嗎?
他不是我喜悅的孩子嗎?
我雖然常常責備他,
但仍然惦記著他。
我深深地想念他,
我必憐憫他。

21 「以色列人啊,
你們要為自己設置路標,
豎起路牌,
牢記你們走過的大道。
以色列人啊,
回來吧!回到你們的城邑吧!
22 不忠貞的子民啊!
你們四處流浪要到何時呢?
耶和華在地上行了一件新事——女子將要護衛男子。」

23 以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說:「我使被擄的猶大人回到故鄉後,他們要在猶大各城邑再次呼喊,

『公義的居所啊,
聖山啊,願耶和華賜福給你!』

24 「農夫和牧人必住在猶大的各城邑。 25 我要使疲乏的人振作起來,使苦悶的人快樂起來。」

26 這時,我醒過來,覺得這一覺實在香甜。

27 耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,我要使以色列和猶大人丁興旺,牲畜繁多。 28 我曾決意剷除、拆毀、推翻、剿滅他們,降災給他們,將來我必塑造、栽培他們。這是耶和華說的。 29 那時,人再不會說,

『父親吃酸葡萄,
兒子的牙酸倒了。』

30 因為各人都要承擔自己的罪,誰吃酸葡萄,誰的牙酸倒。」 31 耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,我要與以色列家和猶大家另立新約, 32 這約不同於我與他們祖先所立的約,就是我牽著他們祖先的手領他們離開埃及時所立的。雖然我是他們的丈夫,他們卻違背了我的約。這是耶和華說的。」

33 耶和華說:「那些日子以後,我將與以色列家立這樣的約,我要把我的律法放在他們腦中,寫在他們心上。我要做他們的上帝,他們要做我的子民。 34 誰都無需再教導他的鄰居和弟兄,說,『你要認識耶和華』,因為他們無論尊卑都必認識我。我要赦免他們的過犯,忘掉他們的罪惡。這是耶和華說的。」

35 使陽光白天照耀、
星月晚上發光、
大海波濤洶湧的萬軍之耶和華說:
36 「只要天地之律還在,
以色列邦國必永續不斷。
這是耶和華說的。」

37 耶和華說:
「正如無人能量度高天,
探測大地的根基,
同樣我也決不會因以色列人的所作所為而棄絕他們。
這是耶和華說的。」

38 耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,從哈楠業樓直到角門,整個耶路撒冷城要重建起來歸給耶和華。 39 城界要向外延伸到迦立山,再轉到歌亞。 40 甚至拋屍、倒灰的整個山谷,以及從汲淪溪到東邊馬門拐角的所有田地都要歸給耶和華作聖地,永不再被傾覆、毀滅。」

Footnotes

  1. 31·18 以法蓮」是北國以色列的主要支派,常用來代指北國以色列。

以色列人必回归

31 耶和华说:“那时,我要做以色列各宗族的上帝,他们必做我的子民。

“逃脱刀兵之灾的以色列人必在旷野蒙恩,
找到安息之所。
这是耶和华说的。”
从前,耶和华向以色列显现,说:
“我以永远不变的爱爱你,
我以慈爱吸引你到我身边。
以色列人啊,
我要重建你们的家园,
你们要再次拿起铃鼓与欢乐的人一同跳舞。
你们将在撒玛利亚的山上重新栽种葡萄园,
享受园中的果实。
有一天,看守园子的人要在以法莲的山上呼喊,
‘我们上锡安朝见我们的上帝耶和华吧!’”
耶和华说:
“你们要为雅各欢呼歌唱,
向列国之首喝采。
你们要传扬颂赞,说,
‘耶和华啊,
求你拯救以色列剩余的子民!’
看啊,我要从北方,
从地极招聚他们,
其中有瞎子、跛子、孕妇和产妇,
他们要成群结队地回到这里。
我必引领他们回来,
他们必一路含泪祷告。
我要使他们走在溪水边,
行在平坦的路上,
他们必不会跌倒,
因为我是以色列的父亲,
以法莲是我的长子。

10 “列国啊,你们要听耶和华的话,
要在远方的海岛宣扬,
‘祂从前驱散以色列人,
如今必再聚集、保护他们,
好像牧人看守自己的羊群一样。’
11 耶和华必拯救雅各的子孙,
从强敌手中救出他们。
12 他们必来到锡安山上欢呼,
为耶和华所赐的五谷、新酒、
油、羔羊和牛犊而欢欣。
他们就像水源充足的田园,
一无所缺。
13 那时,少女要欢然起舞,
老人和青年要一起快乐。
我要使他们转忧为喜,
我要安慰他们,使他们欢喜,
不再忧愁。
14 我要使祭司有充足的供应,
使我的子民饱享美物。
这是耶和华说的。”
15 耶和华说:
“在拉玛有痛哭哀号的声音,
是拉结在为儿女哀痛,
不肯接受安慰,
因为他们都死了。”

16 耶和华说:
“不要哭泣,不要流泪,
因为你的劳苦必有回报,
你的儿女必从敌国回来。
这是耶和华说的。
17 你将来必有盼望,
你的儿女必重返家园。
这是耶和华说的。
18 我听见以法莲[a]在为自己悲叹,
‘我们就像未经驯服的牛犊,
你管教我们,使我们顺服,
求你使我们回到你身边,
重新复兴,
因为你是我们的上帝耶和华。
19 我们曾经离开你,
但我们后悔了;
我们醒悟之后捶胸顿足,
痛悔不已,
因早年的所作所为而羞愧难当。’”
20 耶和华说:“以法莲不是我的爱子吗?
他不是我喜悦的孩子吗?
我虽然常常责备他,
但仍然惦记着他。
我深深地想念他,
我必怜悯他。

21 “以色列人啊,
你们要为自己设置路标,
竖起路牌,
牢记你们走过的大道。
以色列人啊,
回来吧!回到你们的城邑吧!
22 不忠贞的子民啊!
你们四处流浪要到何时呢?
耶和华在地上行了一件新事——女子将要护卫男子。”

23 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说:“我使被掳的犹大人回到故乡后,他们要在犹大各城邑再次呼喊,

“‘公义的居所啊,
圣山啊,愿耶和华赐福给你!’

24 “农夫和牧人必住在犹大的各城邑。 25 我要使疲乏的人振作起来,使苦闷的人快乐起来。”

26 这时,我醒过来,觉得这一觉实在香甜。

27 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,我要使以色列和犹大人丁兴旺,牲畜繁多。 28 我曾决意铲除、拆毁、推翻、剿灭他们,降灾给他们,将来我必塑造、栽培他们。这是耶和华说的。 29 那时,人再不会说,

“‘父亲吃酸葡萄,
儿子的牙酸倒了。’

30 因为各人都要承担自己的罪,谁吃酸葡萄,谁的牙酸倒。” 31 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约, 32 这约不同于我与他们祖先所立的约,就是我牵着他们祖先的手领他们离开埃及时所立的。虽然我是他们的丈夫,他们却违背了我的约。这是耶和华说的。”

33 耶和华说:“那些日子以后,我将与以色列家立这样的约,我要把我的律法放在他们脑中,写在他们心上。我要做他们的上帝,他们要做我的子民。 34 谁都无需再教导他的邻居和弟兄,说,‘你要认识耶和华’,因为他们无论尊卑都必认识我。我要赦免他们的过犯,忘掉他们的罪恶。这是耶和华说的。”

35 使阳光白天照耀、
星月晚上发光、
大海波涛汹涌的万军之耶和华说:
36 “只要天地之律还在,
以色列邦国必永续不断。
这是耶和华说的。”

37 耶和华说:
“正如无人能量度高天,
探测大地的根基,
同样我也决不会因以色列人的所作所为而弃绝他们。
这是耶和华说的。”

38 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,从哈楠业楼直到角门,整个耶路撒冷城要重建起来归给耶和华。 39 城界要向外延伸到迦立山,再转到歌亚。 40 甚至抛尸、倒灰的整个山谷,以及从汲沦溪到东边马门拐角的所有田地都要归给耶和华作圣地,永不再被倾覆、毁灭。”

Footnotes

  1. 31:18 以法莲”是北国以色列的主要支派,常用来代指北国以色列。

31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God(A) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

This is what the Lord says:

“The people who survive the sword
    will find favor(B) in the wilderness;
    I will come to give rest(C) to Israel.”

The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved(D) you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn(E) you with unfailing kindness.
I will build you up again,
    and you, Virgin(F) Israel, will be rebuilt.(G)
Again you will take up your timbrels(H)
    and go out to dance(I) with the joyful.(J)
Again you will plant(K) vineyards
    on the hills of Samaria;(L)
the farmers will plant them
    and enjoy their fruit.(M)
There will be a day when watchmen(N) cry out
    on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”(O)

This is what the Lord says:

“Sing(P) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost(Q) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    Lord, save(R) your people,
    the remnant(S) of Israel.’
See, I will bring them from the land of the north(T)
    and gather(U) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind(V) and the lame,(W)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping;(X)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead(Y) them beside streams of water(Z)
    on a level(AA) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,(AB)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:(AC)
‘He who scattered(AD) Israel will gather(AE) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’(AF)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem(AG) them from the hand of those stronger(AH) than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy(AI) on the heights(AJ) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty(AK) of the Lord
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,(AL)
    the young of the flocks(AM) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,(AN)
    and they will sorrow(AO) no more.
13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning(AP) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort(AQ) and joy(AR) instead of sorrow.
14 I will satisfy(AS) the priests(AT) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,(AU)
declares the Lord.

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,(AV)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,(AW)
    because they are no more.”(AX)

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,(AY)
for your work will be rewarded,(AZ)
declares the Lord.
    “They will return(BA) from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope(BB) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children(BC) will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined(BD) me like an unruly calf,(BE)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore(BF) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,(BG)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat(BH) my breast.
I was ashamed(BI) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(BJ)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(BK) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(BL) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(BM) for him,”
declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.(BN)
Take note of the highway,(BO)
    the road that you take.
Return,(BP) Virgin(BQ) Israel,
    return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,(BR)
    unfaithful(BS) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing(BT) on earth—
    the woman will return to[b](BU) the man.”

23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[c](BV) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless(BW) you, you prosperous city,(BX) you sacred mountain.’(BY) 24 People will live(BZ) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.(CA) 25 I will refresh the weary(CB) and satisfy the faint.”(CC)

26 At this I awoke(CD) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming,”(CE) declares the Lord, “when I will plant(CF) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched(CG) over them to uproot(CH) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,(CI) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”(CJ) declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents(CK) have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’(CL)

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;(CM) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will make a new covenant(CN)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant(CO)
    I made with their ancestors(CP)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,(CQ)
because they broke my covenant,
    though I was a husband(CR) to[d] them,[e]
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds(CS)
    and write it on their hearts.(CT)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.(CU)
34 No longer will they teach(CV) their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know(CW) me,
    from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive(CX) their wickedness
    and will remember their sins(CY) no more.”

35 This is what the Lord says,

he who appoints(CZ) the sun
    to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
    to shine by night,(DA)
who stirs up the sea(DB)
    so that its waves roar(DC)
    the Lord Almighty is his name:(DD)
36 “Only if these decrees(DE) vanish from my sight,”
    declares the Lord,
“will Israel(DF) ever cease
    being a nation before me.”

37 This is what the Lord says:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured(DG)
    and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject(DH) all the descendants of Israel
    because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.

38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt(DI) for me from the Tower of Hananel(DJ) to the Corner Gate.(DK) 39 The measuring line(DL) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley(DM) where dead bodies(DN) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley(DO) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,(DP) will be holy(DQ) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Or Lord has appeared to us from afar
  2. Jeremiah 31:22 Or will protect
  3. Jeremiah 31:23 Or I restore their fortunes
  4. Jeremiah 31:32 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / and I turned away from
  5. Jeremiah 31:32 Or was their master

31 At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God.

For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

11 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.

15 Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.

19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.

25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

27 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.

29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.

30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:

36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

37 Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.

38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.

39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.

40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.