1The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
1陶匠制造陶器的比喻
2Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.
2“起来,下到陶匠的家里去,在那里我要使你听到我的话。”
3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
3我就下到陶匠的家里去,见他正在转盘旁工作。
4When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
4陶匠用他手中的泥所做的器皿坏了,他就用这泥再做别的器皿,照着自己的意思去作。
5Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
5于是耶和华的话临到我,说:
6House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter? says Yahweh. Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
6“以色列家啊!难道我不能待你们像这陶匠所作的一样吗?”这是耶和华的宣告。”看哪!泥在陶匠的手中怎样,以色列家啊!你们在我的手中也必怎样。
7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
7我什么时候宣布要拔出、拆毁、毁灭一邦或一国,
8if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
8如果我论到的那一邦转离他们的恶行,我就必回心转意,不把我原定的灾祸降给他们。
9At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
9同样,我什么时候宣布要建立、栽植一邦或一国,
10if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good, with which I said I would benefit them.
10如果他们行我眼中看为恶的事,不听从我的话,我就必回心转意,不把我应许的好处赐给他们。
11Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return you now everyone from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
11“现在你要对犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民说:‘耶和华这样说:看哪!我正在制造灾祸对付你们,拟定计划惩罚你们。你们各人要回转,离开自己的恶道,改正你们的行径和作为。’
12But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.
12他们却说:‘没用的!我们要随着自己的计划而行,各人要按着自己顽梗的恶心行事。’”
13Therefore thus says Yahweh: Ask now among the nations, who has heard such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
13弃绝 神的必遭弃绝因此耶和华这样说:“你们问一问列国,有谁听见过像这样的事呢?童女以色列竟行了一件非常骇人的事。
14Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
14黎巴嫩山上岩石的积雪融化过吗?从远处流下清凉的溪水干涸过吗?
15For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false gods; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up;
15但我的子民竟忘记我,向虚无的偶像烧香,以致他们在自己的路上、在古道上绊倒,行走小路,不是修建过的大道。
16to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.
16他们的土地变为荒凉,成为永远被人嗤笑的对象;经过这地的,都必惊骇摇头。
17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
17在他们的敌人面前,我要像东风吹散他们;在他们遭难的日子,我必使他们只见我的背,不见我的面。”
18Then they said, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
18耶利米求 神对付敌人他们说:“来吧!我们来设计对付耶利米;因为祭司的律法、智慧人的谋略、先知的话都不会断绝。来吧!我们用舌头攻击他,不理会他的一切话。”
19Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
19耶和华啊!求你倾听我的申诉,听那些指控我的人的声音。
20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
20良善的应得恶报吗?他们竟然挖陷坑害我。求你记念我怎样站在你面前,为他们说好话,使你的烈怒离开他们。
21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men struck of the sword in battle.
21因此,愿你使他们的儿女遭受饥荒,把他们交给刀剑(“刀剑”原文作“刀剑的手”);愿他们的妻子丧夫失子;愿他们的男人被杀死,他们的壮丁在战场上被刀剑击杀。
22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.
22你使侵略者忽然临到他们的时候,愿人从他们的屋里听见呼救声;因为他们挖陷坑要捉拿我,埋藏网罗要绊我的脚。
23Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me; don’t forgive their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from your sight; but let them be overthrown before you; deal you with them in the time of your anger.
23耶和华啊!至于你,你知道他们要杀我的一切计谋。求你不要赦免他们的罪孽,不要从你面前涂抹他们的罪!使他们在你面前绊倒;求你在发怒的时候,对付他们。