44 He reproveth the people for their idolatry. 15 They that set light by the threatening of the Lord, are chastened. 26 The destruction of Egypt, and of the Jews therein, is prophesied.

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews, which dwell in the land of Egypt, and remained at Migdol and at [a]Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,

Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah: and behold, this day they are desolate and no man dwelleth therein,

Because of their wickedness which they have committed, to provoke me to anger in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods whom they knew not, neither they nor you, nor your fathers.

Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the Prophets [b]rising early, and sending them, saying, Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate.

But they would not hear nor incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, and to burn no more incense unto other gods.

Wherefore [c]my wrath, and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they are desolate, and wasted, as appeareth this day.

Therefore now thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling out of Judah, and leave you none to remain?

In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell: that ye might bring destruction unto yourselves, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all nations of the earth.

Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the [d]kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?

10 They are not [e]humbled unto this day, neither have they feared nor walked in my law nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will set my face against you (A)to evil, and to destroy all Judah,

12 And I will take the remnant of Judah that [f]have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt there to dwell, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt: they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die from the least unto the most, by the sword, and by the famine and they shall be a detestation and an astonishment, and a [g]curse and a reproach.

13 For I will visit them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have visited Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence,

14 So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah to the which they [h]have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but [i]such as shall escape.

15 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burnt incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,

16 The word that thou hast spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord, we will [j]not hear it of thee,

17 But we will do whatsoever thing goeth out of our own mouth, as to burn incense unto [k]the Queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, both we and our fathers, our kings and our princes in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then [l]had we [m]plenty of vittles and were well and [n]felt none evil.

18 But since we left off to burn incense to the Queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have had [o]scarceness of all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

19 And when we burnt incense unto the Queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes [p]to make her glad, and pour out drink offerings unto her without [q]our husbands?

20 Then said Jeremiah unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,

21 Did not the Lord remember the incense, that ye burnt in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, both you and your fathers, your kings, and your Princes, and the people of the land, and [r]hath he not considered it?

22 So that the Lord could no longer forbear, because of the wickedness of your inventions, and because of the abominations, which ye have committed: therefore is your land desolate, and an astonishment, and a curse, and without inhabitant, as appeareth this day.

23 Because you have burnt incense, and because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies, therefore this plague is come upon you, as appeareth this day.

24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people and to all the women, Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah, that are in the land of Egypt.

25 ¶ Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your [s]hand, saying, We will perform our vows that we have vowed to burn incense to the Queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her: ye will perform your vows, and do the things that ye have vowed.

26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt, Behold, I have sworn by my great Name, saith the Lord, that my Name [t]shall no more be called upon by the mouth of any man of Judah, in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liveth.

27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good, and all men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt, shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine, until they be utterly destroyed.

28 Yet a small number that escape the sword, [u]shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah: and all the remnant of Judah that are gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine or theirs.

29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the Lord, when I visit you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil.

30 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will [v]give Pharaoh Hophra King of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life: as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel his enemy, who also sought his life.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 44:1 These were all famous and strange cities in Egypt, where the Jews that were fled, dwelt for their safety: but the Prophet declareth that there is no hold so strong that can preserve them from God’s vengeance.
  2. Jeremiah 44:4 Read Jer. 7:25; 25:3; 36:5; 29:19 and 32:33.
  3. Jeremiah 44:6 He setteth before their eyes God’s judgments against Judah and Jerusalem for their idolatry, that they might beware by their example, and not with the like wickedness provoke the Lord: for then they should be double punished.
  4. Jeremiah 44:9 He showeth that we ought to keep in memory God’s plagues from the beginning, that considering them, we might live in his fear, and know if he have not spared our fathers, yea, kings, princes, and rulers, and also whole countries, and nations for their sins, that we vile worms, cannot look to escape punishment for ours.
  5. Jeremiah 44:10 Or, beaten down.
  6. Jeremiah 44:12 Which have fully set their minds, and are gone thither on purpose. Whereby he excepteth the innocents, as Jeremiah and Baruch that were forced: therefore the Lord showeth that he will set his face against them: that is, purposely destroy them.
  7. Jeremiah 44:12 Read Jer. 26:6 and 41:18.
  8. Jeremiah 44:14 Hebrew, lift up their souls.
  9. Jeremiah 44:14 Meaning, but a few.
  10. Jeremiah 44:16 This declareth how dangerous a thing it is to decline once from God, and to follow our own fantasies: for Satan ever soliciteth such, and doth not leave them till he have brought them to extreme impudency and madness, even to justify their wickedness against God and his Prophets.
  11. Jeremiah 44:17 Read Jer. 7:18, it seemeth that the Papists gathered of this place Salve Regina, and Regina caeli latare, calling the virgin Mary Queen of heaven, and so of the blessed virgin and mother of our Savior Christ, made an idol: for here the Prophet condemneth their idolatry.
  12. Jeremiah 44:17 Hebrew, we were satiated with bread.
  13. Jeremiah 44:17 This is still the argument of idolaters, which esteem religion by the belly, and instead of acknowledging God’s works, who sendeth both plenty and dearth, health and sickness, they attribute it to their idols, and so dishonor God.
  14. Jeremiah 44:17 Or, saw.
  15. Jeremiah 44:18 Or, want.
  16. Jeremiah 44:19 Or, to appease her.
  17. Jeremiah 44:19 This teacheth us how great danger it is for the husbands to permit their wives anything whereof they be not assured by God’s word: for thereby they take an occasion to justify their doings, and their husbands shall give an account thereof before God, read Isa. 3:25.
  18. Jeremiah 44:21 Hebrew, is it not come up into his heart?
  19. Jeremiah 44:25 You have committed double evil in making wicked vows, and in performing the same.
  20. Jeremiah 44:26 This declareth an horrible plague toward idolaters, seeing that God will not vouchsafe to have his Name mentioned by such as have polluted it.
  21. Jeremiah 44:28 We see therefore that God hath a perpetual care over his, wheresoever they are scattered: for though they be but two or three, yet he will deliver them when he destroyeth his enemies.
  22. Jeremiah 44:30 He showeth the means whereby they should be destroyed to assure them of the certainty of the plague, and yet they remain still in their obstinacy till they perish: for Josephus, lib. 10, de Antiq., cap. 11, writeth that five years after the taking of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar the younger having overcome the Moabites and the Ammonites, went against Egypt, and slew the king, and so brought these Jews and others into Babylon.

給流亡埃及以色列人的信息

44 有話臨到耶利米,論到住埃及地所有的猶大人,就是住在密奪答比匿挪弗巴特羅境內的猶大人,說: 「萬軍之耶和華—以色列的 神如此說:我所降與耶路撒冷猶大各城的一切災禍,你們都看見了。看哪,那些城鎮今日荒涼,無人居住; 這是因居民所行的惡,去燒香事奉別神,就是他們和你們,以及你們列祖所不認識的神明,惹我發怒。 我一再差遣我的僕人眾先知去,說:你們切不可行我所厭惡這可憎之事。 他們卻不聽從,不側耳而聽,也不轉離惡事,仍向別神燒香。 因此,我的怒氣和憤怒都傾倒出來,在猶大城鎮和耶路撒冷街市上燃起,以致它們都荒廢淒涼,正如今日一樣。 現在耶和華—萬軍之 神、以色列的 神如此說:你們為何做這大惡自害己命,使你們的男人、婦女、孩童和吃奶的都從猶大剪除,不留一人呢? 你們以手所做的,在寄居的埃及地向別神燒香,惹我發怒,使你們被剪除,在天下萬國中受詛咒羞辱。 你們祖先的惡行,猶大諸王和后妃的惡行,你們自己和你們妻子的惡行,就是在猶大地和耶路撒冷街市上所做的,你們都忘了嗎? 10 到如今你們還不懊悔,不懼怕,不肯遵行我在你們和你們祖先面前所設立的法度律例。

11 「所以萬軍之耶和華—以色列的 神如此說:看哪,我必向你們變臉降災,剪除猶大眾人。 12 我必使那定意進入埃及地、在那裏寄居的,就是倖存的猶大人,盡都滅絕。他們必在埃及地仆倒,因刀劍饑荒滅絕,從最小的到最大的都必遭刀劍饑荒而死,甚至受辱罵、驚駭、詛咒、羞辱。 13 我怎樣用刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫懲罰耶路撒冷,也必照樣懲罰那些住在埃及地的猶大人。 14 那進入埃及地、在那裏寄居的,就是倖存的猶大人,都不得逃脫,也不得歸回猶大地。他們心中很想歸回,居住在那裏;但除了少數逃脫的以外,都不得歸回。」

15 那些知道自己妻子向別神燒香的男人,與站在那裏的一大羣婦女,就是住埃及巴特羅所有的百姓,回答耶利米說: 16 「論到你奉耶和華的名向我們所說的話,我們必不聽從。 17 我們定要照我們口中所說的一切話去做,向天后燒香,獻澆酒祭,按着我們與我們祖先、君王、官長在猶大城鎮和耶路撒冷街市上素常所做的一樣;因為那時我們得以吃飽、享福樂,並未遇見災禍。 18 自從我們停止向天后燒香,獻澆酒祭,我們倒缺乏這一切,又因刀劍饑荒滅絕。」 19 婦女們說[a]:「我們向天后燒香,獻澆酒祭,做天后像的餅供奉它,向它獻澆酒祭,難道我們的丈夫沒有參與嗎?」

20 耶利米對這樣回答他的男人和婦女說: 21 「你們與你們祖先、君王、官長,以及這地的百姓,在猶大城鎮和耶路撒冷街市上所燒的香,耶和華豈不記得,放在他心上嗎? 22 耶和華因你們所行的惡、所做可憎的事,不能再容忍,所以使你們的地荒涼,受驚駭詛咒,無人居住,正如今日一樣。 23 你們燒香,得罪耶和華,不聽耶和華的話,不遵行他的律法、條例、法度,所以你們遭遇這災禍,正如今日一樣。」

24 耶利米又對眾百姓和婦女說:「所有在埃及地的猶大人哪,當聽耶和華的話。 25 萬軍之耶和華—以色列的 神如此說:你們和你們的妻子口中說過、手裏做到,說:『我們定要向天后還願,向它燒香,獻澆酒祭。』現在你們儘管堅定所許的願,去還願吧! 26 所有住埃及地的猶大人哪,當聽耶和華的話。耶和華說:看哪,我指着我至大的名起誓,在埃及全地,我的名必不再被猶大任何人的口呼喊:『我指着主—永生的耶和華起誓。』 27 看哪,我看守他們,為要降禍不降福;在埃及地的猶大人必因刀劍、饑荒而滅亡,直到滅絕。 28 埃及地能脫離刀劍、歸回猶大地的人數很少。那進入埃及地、在那裏寄居的,就是倖存的猶大人,必知道是誰的話站得住,是我的話呢,還是他們的話。 29 我在這地方懲罰你們,必有預兆,使你們知道我降禍給你們的話必站得住。這是耶和華說的。 30 耶和華如此說:看哪,我必將埃及合弗拉法老交在他仇敵和尋索其命的人手中,像我將猶大西底家交在他仇敵和尋索其命的巴比倫尼布甲尼撒手中一樣。」

Footnotes

  1. 44.19 「婦女們說」是根據古譯本;原文沒有。

Disaster Because of Idolatry

44 This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt(A)—in Migdol,(B) Tahpanhes(C) and Memphis(D)—and in Upper Egypt:(E) “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw the great disaster(F) I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah.(G) Today they lie deserted and in ruins(H) because of the evil(I) they have done. They aroused my anger(J) by burning incense(K) to and worshiping other gods(L) that neither they nor you nor your ancestors(M) ever knew. Again and again(N) I sent my servants the prophets,(O) who said, ‘Do not do this detestable(P) thing that I hate!’ But they did not listen or pay attention;(Q) they did not turn from their wickedness(R) or stop burning incense(S) to other gods.(T) Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out;(U) it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins(V) they are today.

“Now this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Why bring such great disaster(W) on yourselves by cutting off from Judah the men and women,(X) the children and infants, and so leave yourselves without a remnant?(Y) Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made,(Z) burning incense(AA) to other gods in Egypt,(AB) where you have come to live?(AC) You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse[a] and an object of reproach(AD) among all the nations on earth. Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors(AE) and by the kings(AF) and queens(AG) of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives(AH) in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?(AI) 10 To this day they have not humbled(AJ) themselves or shown reverence,(AK) nor have they followed my law(AL) and the decrees(AM) I set before you and your ancestors.(AN)

11 “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty,(AO) the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster(AP) on you and to destroy all Judah. 12 I will take away the remnant(AQ) of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest,(AR) they will die by sword or famine.(AS) They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach.(AT) 13 I will punish(AU) those who live in Egypt with the sword,(AV) famine and plague,(AW) as I punished Jerusalem. 14 None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”(AX)

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives(AY) were burning incense(AZ) to other gods, along with all the women(BA) who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt,(BB) said to Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen(BC) to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!(BD) 17 We will certainly do everything we said we would:(BE) We will burn incense(BF) to the Queen of Heaven(BG) and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials(BH) did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.(BI) At that time we had plenty of food(BJ) and were well off and suffered no harm.(BK) 18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings(BL) to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.(BM)

19 The women added, “When we burned incense(BN) to the Queen of Heaven(BO) and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands(BP) know that we were making cakes(BQ) impressed with her image(BR) and pouring out drink offerings to her?”

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21 “Did not the Lord remember(BS) and call to mind the incense(BT) burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem(BU) by you and your ancestors,(BV) your kings and your officials and the people of the land?(BW) 22 When the Lord could no longer endure(BX) your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse(BY) and a desolate waste(BZ) without inhabitants, as it is today.(CA) 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed(CB) his law or his decrees(CC) or his stipulations, this disaster(CD) has come upon you, as you now see.”(CE)

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women,(CF) “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah in Egypt.(CG) 25 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives(CH) have done what you said you would do when you promised, ‘We will certainly carry out the vows we made to burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.’(CI)

“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!(CJ) 26 But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt:(CK) ‘I swear(CL) by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign(CM) Lord lives.”(CN) 27 For I am watching(CO) over them for harm,(CP) not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish(CQ) by sword and famine(CR) until they are all destroyed.(CS) 28 Those who escape the sword(CT) and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few.(CU) Then the whole remnant(CV) of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand(CW)—mine or theirs.(CX)

29 “‘This will be the sign(CY) to you that I will punish(CZ) you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’(DA) 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh(DB) Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah(DC) king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’”(DD)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 44:8 That is, your name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that you are cursed; also in verse 12; similarly in verse 22.