< Jeremiah 16 >

1 A message from the Lord that came to me, saying,
耶和華的話又臨到我說:
2 Don't marry or have children here.
「你在這地方不可娶妻,生兒養女。
3 This is what the Lord says about children born here, and about their mothers and fathers—their parents here in this country:
因為論到在這地方所生的兒女,又論到在這國中生養他們的父母,耶和華如此說:
4 They will die from fatal diseases. No one will mourn for them. Their bodies won't be buried, but will lie on the ground like manure. They will be destroyed by war and famine, and their bodies will be food for birds of prey and wild animals.
他們必死得甚苦,無人哀哭,必不得葬埋,必在地上像糞土,必被刀劍和饑荒滅絕;他們的屍首必給空中的飛鳥和地上的野獸作食物。」
5 This is what the Lord says: Don't enter a home where people are having a funeral meal. Don't visit them to mourn or to offer condolences, for I have taken away my peace, my trustworthy love, and my mercy from these people, declares the Lord.
耶和華如此說:「不要進入喪家,不要去哀哭,也不要為他們悲傷,因我已將我的平安、慈愛、憐憫從這百姓奪去了。這是耶和華說的。
6 Everyone, from the most important to the least, will die in this country. They will not be buried or mourned; there will be no rites for the dead such as cutting oneself or shaving of heads.
連大帶小,都必在這地死亡,不得葬埋。人必不為他們哀哭,不用刀劃身,也不使頭光禿。
7 No funeral receptions will be held to comfort those who mourn—not even a comforting drink is to be offered at the loss of a father or mother.
他們有喪事,人必不為他們擘餅,因死人安慰他們;他們喪父喪母,人也不給他們一杯酒安慰他們。
8 Don't go into a house where people are celebrating and sit down with them to eat and drink.
你不可進入宴樂的家,與他們同坐吃喝。
9 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am going to put a stop right here, while you watch, to any sounds of celebration and joy, the happy voices of the groom and bride.
因為萬軍之耶和華-以色列的上帝如此說:你們還活着的日子在你們眼前,我必使歡喜和快樂的聲音,新郎和新婦的聲音,從這地方止息了。
10 When you explain all this to them they'll ask you, “Why has the Lord ordered that such a terrible disaster should happen to us? What did we do wrong? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God?”
「你將這一切的話指示這百姓。他們問你說:『耶和華為甚麼說,要降這大災禍攻擊我們呢?我們有甚麼罪孽呢?我們向耶和華-我們的上帝犯了甚麼罪呢?』
11 Answer them: It's because your forefathers deserted me, declares the Lord. They went and followed other gods, serving them and worshiping them. They abandoned me and didn't keep my laws.
你就對他們說:『耶和華說:因為你們列祖離棄我,隨從別神,事奉敬拜,不遵守我的律法,
12 You however have done even more evil than your forefathers. Look at how all of you followed your own stubborn evil thinking instead of obeying me.
而且你們行惡比你們列祖更甚;因為各人隨從自己頑梗的惡心行事,甚至不聽從我,
13 So I'm going to throw you out of this country and exile you in a country unfamiliar to you and your forefathers. There you'll serve other gods day and night, because I won't help you at all.
所以我必將你們從這地趕出,直趕到你們和你們列祖素不認識的地。你們在那裏必晝夜事奉別神,因為我必不向你們施恩。』」
14 But listen! The time is coming, declares the Lord, when people won't any longer make vows, saying. “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites out of Egypt.”
耶和華說:「日子將到,人必不再指着那領以色列人從埃及地上來之永生的耶和華起誓,
15 Instead they'll say, “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites back from the northern country and all the other countries where he had exiled them.” I'm going to bring them back to the country I gave their forefathers.
卻要指着那領以色列人從北方之地,並趕他們到的各國上來之永生的耶和華起誓,並且我要領他們再入我從前賜給他們列祖之地。」
16 But for the moment I'm going to send for many fishermen and they'll catch them, declares the Lord. Then I'm going to send for many hunters, and they'll hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from their hiding places in the rocks.
耶和華說:「我要召許多打魚的把以色列人打上來,然後我要召許多打獵的,從各山上、各岡上、各石穴中獵取他們。
17 I see everything they're doing. They can't hide from me, and their sins aren't hidden from me either.
因我的眼目察看他們的一切行為;他們不能在我面前遮掩,他們的罪孽也不能在我眼前隱藏。
18 First I'm going to pay them back double for their wickedness and sin, because they have made my land unclean with the lifeless bodies of their disgusting idols, filling my special country with their offensive pagan images.
我先要加倍報應他們的罪孽和罪惡;因為他們用可憎之屍玷污我的地土,又用可厭之物充滿我的產業。」
19 Lord, you are my strength and my fortress, my safe place in the time of trouble. Nations will come to you from all over the earth, and they will say, “The religion of our forefathers was a total lie! The idols they worshiped were useless—no good at all.
耶和華啊,你是我的力量, 是我的保障; 在苦難之日是我的避難所。 列國人必從地極來到你這裏, 說:我們列祖所承受的, 不過是虛假,是虛空無益之物。
20 How can people make gods for themselves? These aren't gods!”
人豈可為自己製造神呢? 其實這不是神。
21 Now they'll see! I'll show them, and then they'll recognize my power and strength. Then they'll know that I am the Lord!
耶和華說:「我要使他們知道,就是這一次使他們知道我的手和我的能力。他們就知道我的名是耶和華了。」

< Jeremiah 16 >