耶利米書 2
1 耶和華的話臨到我說：
The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2 「你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說，耶和華如此說： 你幼年的恩愛， 婚姻的愛情， 你怎樣在曠野， 在未曾耕種之地跟隨我， 我都記得。
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 那時以色列歸耶和華為聖， 作為土產初熟的果子； 凡吞吃它的必算為有罪， 災禍必臨到他們。 這是耶和華說的。
Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”
4 雅各家、以色列家的各族啊，你們當聽耶和華的話。
Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5 耶和華如此說： 你們的列祖見我有甚麼不義， 竟遠離我，隨從虛無的神， 自己成為虛妄的呢？
The LORD says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
6 他們也不說： 那領我們從埃及地上來， 引導我們經過曠野， 沙漠有深坑之地， 和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、 無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裏呢？
They didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
7 我領你們進入肥美之地， 使你們得吃其中的果子和美物； 但你們進入的時候就玷污我的地， 使我的產業成為可憎的。
I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8 祭司都不說，耶和華在哪裏呢？ 傳講律法的都不認識我。 官長違背我； 先知藉巴力說預言， 隨從無益的神。
The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9 耶和華說：我因此必與你們爭辯， 也必與你們的子孫爭辯。
“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10 你們且過到基提海島去察看， 打發人往基達去留心查考， 看曾有這樣的事沒有。
For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
11 豈有一國換了他的神嗎？ 其實這不是神！ 但我的百姓將他們的榮耀換了那無益的神。
Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
12 諸天哪，要因此驚奇， 極其恐慌，甚為淒涼！ 這是耶和華說的。
“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.
13 因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事， 就是離棄我這活水的泉源， 為自己鑿出池子， 是破裂不能存水的池子。
“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
14 以色列是僕人嗎？ 是家中生的奴僕嗎？ 為何成為掠物呢？
Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
15 少壯獅子向他咆哮，大聲吼叫， 使他的地荒涼； 城邑也都焚燒，無人居住。
The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16 挪弗人和答比匿人也打破你的頭頂。
The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17 這事臨到你身上，不是你自招的嗎？ 不是因耶和華－你上帝引你行路的時候， 你離棄他嗎？
“Haven’t you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
18 現今你為何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢？ 你為何在亞述路上要喝大河的水呢？
Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19 你自己的惡必懲治你； 你背道的事必責備你。 由此可知可見，你離棄耶和華－你的上帝， 不存敬畏我的心， 乃為惡事，為苦事。 這是主－萬軍之耶和華說的。
“Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken GOD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.
20 我在古時折斷你的軛，解開你的繩索。 你說：我必不事奉耶和華； 因為你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下屈身行淫。
“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21 然而，我栽你是上等的葡萄樹， 全然是真種子； 你怎麼向我變為外邦葡萄樹的壞枝子呢？
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22 你雖用鹼、多用肥皂洗濯， 你罪孽的痕跡仍然在我面前顯出。 這是主耶和華說的。
For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.
23 你怎能說： 我沒有玷污、沒有隨從眾巴力？ 你看你谷中的路，就知道你所行的如何。 你是快行的獨峰駝，狂奔亂走。
“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
24 你是野驢，慣在曠野， 慾心發動就吸風； 起性的時候誰能使牠轉去呢？ 凡尋找牠的必不致疲乏； 在牠的月份必能尋見。
a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25 我說：你不要使腳上無鞋， 喉嚨乾渴。 你倒說：這是枉然。 我喜愛別神，我必隨從他們。
“Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
26 賊被捉拿，怎樣羞愧， 以色列家和他們的君王、首領、 祭司、先知也都照樣羞愧。
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
27 他們向木頭說：你是我的父； 向石頭說：你是生我的。 他們以背向我， 不以面向我； 及至遭遇患難的時候卻說： 起來拯救我們。
who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
28 你為自己做的神在哪裏呢？ 你遭遇患難的時候， 叫他們起來拯救你吧！ 猶大啊，你神的數目與你城的數目相等。
“But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
29 耶和華說： 你們為何與我爭辯呢？ 你們都違背了我。
“Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.
30 我責打你們的兒女是徒然的， 他們不受懲治。 你們自己的刀吞滅你們的先知， 好像殘害的獅子。
“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 這世代的人哪， 你們要看明耶和華的話。 我豈向以色列作曠野呢？ 或作幽暗之地呢？ 我的百姓為何說： 我們脫離約束，再不歸向你了？
Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
32 處女豈能忘記她的妝飾呢？ 新婦豈能忘記她的美衣呢？ 我的百姓卻忘記了我無數的日子！
“Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33 你怎麼修飾你的道路要求愛情呢？ 就是惡劣的婦人你也叫她們行你的路。
How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
34 並且你的衣襟上有無辜窮人的血； 你殺他們並不是遇見他們挖窟窿， 乃是因這一切的事。
Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
35 你還說：我無辜； 耶和華的怒氣必定向我消了。 看哪，我必審問你； 因你自說：我沒有犯罪。
“Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 你為何東跑西奔要更換你的路呢？ 你必因埃及蒙羞， 像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。
Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37 你也必兩手抱頭從埃及出來； 因為耶和華已經棄絕你所倚靠的， 你必不因他們得順利。
You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you won’t prosper with them.
