圣殿讲道

耶和华对耶利米说: “你站在耶和华殿的门口这样宣告,‘从这些门进殿敬拜耶和华的犹大人啊,你们要听耶和华的话。 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说,你们改过自新,我便让你们在这里安居。 你们不要相信那些谎言,说这是耶和华的殿,这是耶和华的殿,这是耶和华的殿。

“‘如果你们真正改过自新,彼此公平相待, 不欺压异乡人和孤儿寡妇,不在这地方滥杀无辜,不拜其他神明自取毁灭, 我便让你们在这块我永远赐给你们祖先的土地上安居。

“‘然而,你们竟相信那些空洞的谎言。 你们偷盗、谋杀、通奸、起假誓、向巴力献祭、拜素不认识的神明, 10 然后来到这用来敬拜我的殿,站在我面前说自己安全了,以为可以继续做可憎之事。 11 难道这用来敬拜我的殿在你们眼中竟成了贼窝?这些事,我都看在眼里。这是耶和华说的。

12 “‘你们去我曾选为我名所在之地的示罗,看看我是怎样因我以色列子民的罪而惩罚那地方的。 13 我对你们的所作所为一再提出警告,你们却充耳不闻;我呼唤你们,你们却不回应。这是耶和华说的。 14 因此,我要像对付示罗一样对付你们所倚靠的这用来敬拜我的殿,对付我赐给你们和你们祖先的土地。 15 我要把你们从我面前赶走,好像从前赶走你们的弟兄以法莲[a]人一样。’”

16 耶和华说:“耶利米啊,不要为这些百姓祷告,不要替他们哀求,不要为他们向我祈求,因为我必不听。 17 你没有看见他们在犹大各城和耶路撒冷街道上所做的事吗? 18 孩子拾柴,父亲点火,妇人揉面做饼向天后献祭,向别的神明奠酒,惹我发怒。 19 耶和华说,‘难道他们是在惹我发怒吗?难道他们不是自害己身,自取羞辱吗?’ 20 主耶和华说,‘我要向这地方的人、牲畜、田野的树木和地里的出产发怒,发烈怒,如无法熄灭的火。’”

21 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说:“你们把平安祭连同燔祭都拿去吃吧! 22 因为我把你们祖先带出埃及的时候,并没有吩咐他们献燔祭或其他祭物, 23 只吩咐他们,‘你们要听从我的话,我就做你们的上帝,你们做我的子民;你们遵行我的吩咐,就必蒙福。’ 24 他们却掩耳不听,一意孤行,任意行恶,越来越坏。 25 从你们的祖先离开埃及那天起,一直到今天,我日复一日地差遣我的仆人——众先知到你们那里, 26 但你们掩耳不听,顽固不化,比你们的祖先更邪恶。 27 耶利米啊,你将这番话告诉他们,他们也不会听;你向他们呼吁,他们也不会回应。 28 你要对他们说,‘你们这些国民不听你们上帝耶和华的话,不肯受管教,口中毫无真理。

29 “‘你们要剪掉头发,
在光秃的山上哀哭,
因为耶和华已弃绝这惹祂发怒的百姓。’”

30 耶和华说:“犹大人做了我视为邪恶的事,把可憎的偶像放在用来敬拜我的圣殿中,玷污了圣殿。 31 他们在欣嫩子谷的陀斐特建造丘坛,焚烧自己的儿女。我从未吩咐他们这样做,连想都没想过。这不是我的吩咐,我也从未这样想过。 32 因此,看啊,时候将到,那地方必不再叫陀斐特或欣嫩子谷,而要叫杀戮谷。那里要埋葬死人,直到无处可埋。这是耶和华说的。 33 飞鸟和走兽必吃这百姓的尸体,无人驱赶它们。 34 我要使犹大各城和耶路撒冷街上的欢乐声、新郎和新娘的欢笑声全部消失,因为大地必荒凉。”

Footnotes

  1. 7:15 以法莲”此处指“北国以色列”。

劝人民悔改离罪才有转机

耶和华有话临到耶利米,说: “你要站在耶和华的殿门口,在那里宣告这话,说:‘所有进这些门来敬拜耶和华的犹大人哪!你们都要听耶和华的话。’”

万军之耶和华以色列的 神这样说:“你们要改正自己的所作所为,我就让你们在这地方居住。 你们不要倚靠虚谎的话,说:‘这是耶和华的殿,是耶和华的殿,是耶和华的殿。’ 如果你们实在改正自己的所作所为,人与人之间认真施行公正; 如果你们不欺压寄居的,不欺压孤儿寡妇,不在这地方流无辜人的血,也不跟从别的神,自招祸患; 我就让你们在赐给你们列祖直到永远的这地方居住。

“可是,你们竟然倚靠虚谎无益的话。 你们怎可偷盗、凶杀、奸淫、起假誓、向巴力烧香,跟从你们素不认识的别神, 10 然后来到这称为我名下的殿,站在我面前,说:‘我们安全啦!’你们这样就可以行这一切可憎的事吗? 11 这称为我名下的殿,难道在你们眼中看为贼窝吗?但我都看见了。”这是耶和华的宣告。

12 “你们可以到示罗我的地方去,就是先前我名的居所,看看我因我子民以色列的邪恶,对那地方所行的。 13 现在,因你们行了这一切事,我不断恳切告诫你们,你们却不听;我呼唤你们,你们却不答话。”这是耶和华的宣告。 14 “所以我从前怎样对待示罗,将来也怎样对待你们所倚靠的那称为我名下的殿,以及我赐给你们和你们列祖的地方。 15 我必把你们从我面前赶出,像我从前赶出你们的众兄弟,以法莲所有的后裔一样。

16 “至于你,不要为这人民祈祷,不要为他们呼求祷告,也不要为他们向我恳求,因为我不会听你。 17 他们在犹大的各城中,在耶路撒冷的街道上所行的,你没有看见吗? 18 儿子捡柴,父亲生火,妇女抟面,为天后做饼,又向别的神浇奠祭,惹我发怒。 19 他们害的是我吗?岂不是他们自己,以致脸上蒙羞吗?”这是耶和华的宣告。 20 因此,主耶和华这样说:“看哪!我的怒气和忿怒,必倒在这地方,也必倒在人口、牲畜、田野的树木和地的出产上;怒火烧起,不能熄灭。”

21 万军之耶和华以色列的 神这样说:“你们尽管把燔祭加在平安祭上,自己吃祭肉吧! 22 因为我把你们列祖从埃及地领出来的那日,燔祭和平安祭的事,我并没有向他们提说,也没有吩咐他们。 23 我只吩咐他们这一件事,说:‘你们要听从我的话,我就作你们的 神,你们也作我的子民;你们要遵行我所吩咐的一切道,好使你们蒙福。’ 24 他们却没有听从,也不留心,反倒按着他们的计谋,随从自己顽梗的恶心行事,向后不向前。 25 自从你们列祖出埃及地的那日直到今日,我差遣我的仆人众先知到你们那里去,而且是每日不断差遣。 26 你们(“你们”原文作“他们”)却没有听从,毫不留心,反倒硬着颈项行恶,比你们(“你们”原文作“他们”)的列祖还厉害。

27 “你要把这一切话告诉他们,他们却不听从你;你呼叫他们,他们也不回应。 28 然而,你要对他们说:‘这就是不听从耶和华他们 神的话,不受管教的国;诚实丧尽,并已从他们的口中断绝了。

陀斐特的恶行及刑罚

29 “‘你要剪去头发,并且把它拋掉,

上到光秃的高冈举哀,

因为耶和华摈斥、弃绝了

他所憎恨的世代。’”

30 “因为犹大人行了我看为恶的事,把他们可憎的偶像安放在称为我名下的殿中,污渎了这殿。”这是耶和华的宣告。 31 “他们在欣嫩子谷中,建造了陀斐特的邱坛,用火焚烧自己的儿女;这不是我吩咐的,我也没有在心里想过。 32 因此,看哪!日子快到,人必不再称这地方为陀斐特或欣嫩子谷,却要称它为‘杀戮谷’;人必在陀斐特埋葬尸体,甚至无处可容。”这是耶和华的宣告。 33 “这人民的尸体,也必给空中的飞鸟和地上的野兽作食物,没有人来驱赶。 34 那时,我必在犹大的城市中和耶路撒冷的街道上,使欢欣和快乐的声音、新郎和新妇的声音止息,因为这地必要变为荒场。”

False Religion Worthless

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Stand(A) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways(B) and your actions, and I will let you live(C) in this place. Do not trust(D) in deceptive(E) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” If you really change(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,(G) if you do not oppress(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods(J) to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land(K) I gave your ancestors(L) for ever and ever. But look, you are trusting(M) in deceptive(N) words that are worthless.

“‘Will you steal(O) and murder,(P) commit adultery(Q) and perjury,[a](R) burn incense to Baal(S) and follow other gods(T) you have not known, 10 and then come and stand(U) before me in this house,(V) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?(W) 11 Has this house,(X) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers(Y) to you? But I have been watching!(Z) declares the Lord.

12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh(AA) where I first made a dwelling(AB) for my Name,(AC) and see what I did(AD) to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke(AE) to you again and again,(AF) but you did not listen;(AG) I called(AH) you, but you did not answer.(AI) 14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh(AJ) I will now do to the house that bears my Name,(AK) the temple(AL) you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 I will thrust you from my presence,(AM) just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’(AN)

16 “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea(AO) or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen(AP) to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.(AQ) They pour out drink offerings(AR) to other gods to arouse(AS) my anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking?(AT) declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?(AU)

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign(AV) Lord says: My anger(AW) and my wrath will be poured(AX) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.(AY)

21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices(AZ) and eat(BA) the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands(BB) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,(BC) 23 but I gave them this command:(BD) Obey(BE) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.(BF) Walk in obedience to all(BG) I command you, that it may go well(BH) with you. 24 But they did not listen(BI) or pay attention;(BJ) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.(BK) They went backward(BL) and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again(BM) I sent you my servants(BN) the prophets.(BO) 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention.(BP) They were stiff-necked(BQ) and did more evil than their ancestors.’(BR)

27 “When you tell(BS) them all this, they will not listen(BT) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.(BU) 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.(BV) Truth(BW) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

29 “‘Cut off(BX) your hair and throw it away; take up a lament(BY) on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned(BZ) this generation that is under his wrath.

The Valley of Slaughter

30 “‘The people of Judah have done evil(CA) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols(CB) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled(CC) it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth(CD) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(CE) to burn their sons and daughters(CF) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.(CG) 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,(CH) for they will bury(CI) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcasses(CJ) of this people will become food(CK) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.(CL) 34 I will bring an end to the sounds(CM) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom(CN) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,(CO) for the land will become desolate.(CP)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 7:9 Or and swear by false gods

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.

For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.

15 And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.

16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith the Lord: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.

22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the Lord: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.

31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

32 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.

33 And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.

34 Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.