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重申回歸故土的應許

33 耶利米還監禁在衛兵院子裡的時候,耶和華的話第二次臨到他,說: “那創造、塑造和堅定大地的是耶和華,耶和華是他的名。他這樣說: ‘你呼求我,我就應允你,並且把你所不知道的那些偉大奧祕的事告訴你。’ 論到這城裡的房屋和猶大王的宮殿,就是為了抵擋敵人的攻城土壘和刀劍而拆毀的,耶和華以色列的 神這樣說: ‘這城的居民出去和迦勒底人爭戰,就必使這些房屋充滿死屍,就是我在怒氣和烈怒中擊殺的。因為他們的一切惡行,我掩面不顧這城。 看哪!我必使這城的傷口痊愈康復,我必醫治城中的居民,並且使他們享有十分的平安和穩妥。 我必使猶大被擄的和以色列被擄的都歸回,並且建立他們像起初一樣。 我必潔淨他們得罪我的一切罪孽,並且赦免他們得罪我和悖逆我的一切罪孽。 這城必在地上萬國面前使我得名聲,得喜樂(按照《馬索拉文本》,“得名聲,得喜樂”應作“得喜樂的名聲”;現參照《七十士譯本》翻譯),得頌讚,得榮耀,因為萬國必聽見我向這城的人所施的一切福樂。他們因我向這城所施的一切福樂和平安,就都恐懼戰兢。’

回歸者的喜樂

10 “耶和華這樣說:‘論到這地方,你們說:“這地荒廢,沒有人煙,也沒有牲畜。”但在這荒涼、沒有人煙、沒有居民、也沒有牲畜的猶大各城和耶路撒冷的街上,必再聽見 11 歡喜和快樂的聲音,新郎和新婦的聲音;還要聽見那些帶著感恩祭到耶和華殿的人的聲音說:“你們要稱謝萬軍之耶和華,因為耶和華是至善的,他的慈愛永遠長存。”因為我必使這地被擄的歸回,像起初一樣。’”這是耶和華說的。

百廢俱興

12 “萬軍之耶和華這樣說:‘在這荒廢、沒有人煙、沒有牲畜的地方,和這地所有城中,必再有牧人放羊的牧場。 13 在山地、高地和南地的各城,在便雅憫地,在耶路撒冷周圍的各處,以及在猶大的各城裡,必再有牧人數點經過手下的羊群。’”這是耶和華說的。

公義的苗裔

14 “看哪!日子快到(這是耶和華的宣告),我必實踐我向以色列家和猶大家應許賜福的諾言。 15 在那些日子、那時候,我必使大衛公義的苗裔長起來;他必在地上施行公正和公義。 16 在那些日子,猶大必得救,耶路撒冷必安然居住;這城必被稱為‘耶和華是我們的公義’。 17 因為耶和華這樣說:‘大衛家必不斷有人坐在以色列家的王位上。 18 利未人的祭司也必不斷有人在我面前獻上燔祭和燒素祭;獻祭的事永不止息。’”

永不改變的約

19 耶和華說的話臨到耶利米,說: 20 “耶和華這樣說:‘你們若能廢掉我所立白晝和黑夜的約,使白晝和黑夜不按時更替, 21 就能廢掉我和我僕人大衛所立的約,使他沒有兒子在他的王位上作王;也能廢掉我和那些事奉我的利未支派的祭司所立的約。 22 我卻必使我僕人大衛的後裔和事奉我的利未人增多,像天上的萬象不能數算、海邊的沙粒不能斗量。’”

23 耶和華的話臨到耶利米,說: 24 “你沒有留意列國的人民說甚麼嗎?他們說:‘耶和華所揀選的這兩個家族,他已經棄絕了。’他們藐視我的子民,不再把他們看為一個國家。 25 耶和華這樣說:‘我若沒有設立白晝和黑夜的約,或立定天地的定律, 26 我就會棄絕雅各的後裔,和我僕人大衛的後裔,不從大衛的後裔中選人出來統治亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的後裔。我卻必使他們被擄的人歸回,也必憐憫他們。’”

應許以色列人必復興

33 耶利米被囚禁在護衛兵院子裡的時候,耶和華第二次對他說: 「耶和華創造大地,使其成形、根基穩固,祂名叫耶和華。祂說, 『你呼求我,我就回應你,並且把你不知道的偉大、奧妙之事告訴你。 以色列的上帝耶和華說,耶路撒冷城中的房屋和王宮被拆毀,用來修建防衛工事, 城中的人與迦勒底人爭戰只會使自己的房屋堆滿死屍,因為我要在憤怒中毀滅他們。他們作惡多端,我必掩面不理這城。 但有一天,我必使這城復興,醫治她的創傷,使她繁榮昌盛。 我要使被擄的猶大人和以色列人回到故土,重建家園。 我要除去他們的一切罪惡,赦免他們的一切罪過。 這城要使我在天下萬國面前得到尊崇、頌讚和榮耀。萬民聽見我使這城繁榮昌盛,都恐懼戰慄。』」

10 耶和華說:「你們說猶大的城邑和耶路撒冷的街道一片荒涼、人畜絕跡, 11 但這些地方必傳出歡樂聲、新郎新娘的歡笑聲和在耶和華殿中獻感恩祭者的歌唱聲,

『要感謝萬軍之耶和華,
因為耶和華是美善的,
祂的慈愛永遠長存』。

因為我必使被擄的人回到故土,重建家園。這是耶和華說的。」

12 萬軍之耶和華說:「在這一片荒涼、人畜絕跡的地方,在它所有城邑的周圍必再有供牧人放羊的草場。 13 在山區、丘陵和南地的城邑,以及便雅憫、耶路撒冷周圍和猶大的城邑必有人清點羊群。這是耶和華說的。」 14 耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,我要實現我給以色列人和猶大人的美好應許。 15 那時,我要使大衛公義的苗裔興起,他要在地上秉公行義。 16 那時,猶大必得到拯救,耶路撒冷必安享太平並被稱為『耶和華是我們的義』。 17 因為耶和華說,『我應許大衛的後裔必永遠統治以色列, 18 做祭司的利未人必永遠在我面前獻燔祭、素祭等祭物。』」

19 耶和華對耶利米說: 20 「這是耶和華說的,『除非你們能廢除我與白晝黑夜所立的約,叫白晝黑夜不再按時更替, 21 才能廢除我與我僕人大衛所立的約,使他的王位後繼無人,也才能廢除我與事奉我的利未祭司所立的約。 22 我要使我僕人大衛的後裔和事奉我的利未人像天上的星和海邊的沙一樣不可勝數。』」

23 耶和華對耶利米說: 24 「你聽見了嗎?人們說,『耶和華已經棄絕了祂所揀選的以色列和猶大兩個國家。』他們藐視我的子民,視他們為亡國之民。 25 然而,耶和華說,『正如我決不廢棄我所定的晝夜交替和天地運行之律, 26 我也決不棄絕雅各的後裔,不棄絕我僕人大衛的後裔。我必讓大衛的後裔做王統治亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的子孫,因為我必使被擄的人回到故土,恩待他們。』」

Promise of Restoration

33 While Jeremiah was still confined(A) in the courtyard(B) of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time:(C) “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth,(D) the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name:(E) ‘Call(F) to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable(G) things you do not know.’ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege(H) ramps(I) and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians[a]: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath.(J) I will hide my face(K) from this city because of all its wickedness.

“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal(L) my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace(M) and security. I will bring Judah(N) and Israel back from captivity[b](O) and will rebuild(P) them as they were before.(Q) I will cleanse(R) them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive(S) all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown,(T) joy, praise(U) and honor(V) before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble(W) at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’

10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”(X) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,(Y) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness,(Z) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings(AA) to the house of the Lord, saying,

“Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,
    for the Lord is good;(AB)
    his love endures forever.”(AC)

For I will restore the fortunes(AD) of the land as they were before,(AE)’ says the Lord.

12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate(AF) and without people or animals(AG)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.(AH) 13 In the towns of the hill(AI) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(AJ) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand(AK) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.

14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise(AL) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

15 “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous(AM) Branch(AN) sprout from David’s line;(AO)
    he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved(AP)
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.(AQ)
This is the name by which it[c] will be called:(AR)
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’(AS)

17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail(AT) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, 18 nor will the Levitical(AU) priests(AV) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.(AW)’”

19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day(AX) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,(AY) 21 then my covenant(AZ) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites(BA) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.(BB) 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless(BC) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”

23 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 24 “Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms[d](BD) he chose’? So they despise(BE) my people and no longer regard them as a nation.(BF) 25 This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night(BG) and established the laws(BH) of heaven and earth,(BI) 26 then I will reject(BJ) the descendants of Jacob(BK) and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes[e](BL) and have compassion(BM) on them.’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 33:5 Or Chaldeans
  2. Jeremiah 33:7 Or will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel
  3. Jeremiah 33:16 Or he
  4. Jeremiah 33:24 Or families
  5. Jeremiah 33:26 Or will bring them back from captivity

33 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

For thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

10 Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.

12 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the Lord.

14 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.

17 For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

19 And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying,

20 Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

21 Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

23 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,

24 Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.

25 Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;

26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

Excellence of the Restored Nation

33 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still (A)shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Thus says the Lord (B)who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (C)(the[a] Lord is His name): (D)‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [b]mighty things, which you do not know.’

“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah, which have been pulled down to fortify against (E)the siege mounds and the sword: ‘They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but only to (F)fill their places with the dead bodies of men whom I will slay in My anger and My fury, all for whose wickedness I have hidden My face from this city. Behold, (G)I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. And (H)I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places (I)as at the first. I will (J)cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. (K)Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall (L)fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’

10 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—(M)of which you say, “It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the (N)voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:

(O)“Praise the Lord of hosts,
For the Lord is good,
For His mercy endures forever”—

and of those who will bring (P)the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord.

12 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: (Q)‘In this place which is desolate, without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there shall again be a dwelling place of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 (R)In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall again (S)pass under the hands of him who counts them,’ says the Lord.

14 (T)‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that (U)I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:

15 ‘In those days and at that time
I will cause to grow up to David
A (V)Branch of righteousness;
He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
16 In those days Judah will be saved,
And Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which she will be called:

[c]THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

17 “For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never (W)lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 nor shall the (X)priests, the Levites, lack a man to (Y)offer burnt offerings before Me, to [d]kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.’ ”

The Permanence of God’s Covenant

19 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 “Thus says the Lord: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season, 21 then (Z)My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers. 22 As (AA)the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I (AB)multiply the descendants of David My servant and the (AC)Levites who minister to Me.’ ”

23 Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 “Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the Lord has chosen, He has also cast them off’? Thus they have (AD)despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.

25 “Thus says the Lord: ‘If (AE)My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not (AF)appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 (AG)then I will (AH)cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 33:2 Heb. YHWH
  2. Jeremiah 33:3 inaccessible
  3. Jeremiah 33:16 Heb. YHWH Tsidkenu; cf. Jer. 23:5, 6
  4. Jeremiah 33:18 burn