Jeremiah 18
1 The worde which came to Ieremiah from the Lord, saying,
耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
2 Arise, and go downe into the potters house, and there shall I shewe thee my words.
「你起來，下到窯匠的家裏去，我在那裏要使你聽我的話。」
3 Then I went downe to the potters house, and behold, he wrought a worke on the wheeles.
我就下到窯匠的家裏去，正遇他轉輪做器皿。
4 And the vessell that he made of clay, was broken in the hand of the potter. so he returned, and made it another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
窯匠用泥做的器皿，在他手中做壞了，他又用這泥另做別的器皿；窯匠看怎樣好，就怎樣做。
5 Then the worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying,
耶和華的話就臨到我說：
6 O house of Israel, cannot I doe with you as this potter, sayth the Lord? beholde, as the clay is in the potters hande, so are you in mine hande, O house of Israel.
「耶和華說：以色列家啊，我待你們，豈不能照這窯匠弄泥嗎？以色列家啊，泥在窯匠的手中怎樣，你們在我的手中也怎樣。
7 I will speake suddenly against a nation or against a kingdome to plucke it vp, and to roote it out and to destroy it.
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要拔出、拆毀、毀壞；
8 But if this nation, against whom I haue pronounced, turne from their wickednesse, I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vpon them.
我所說的那一邦，若是轉意離開他們的惡，我就必後悔，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
9 And I wil speake suddenly concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdome to builde it and to plant it.
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要建立、栽植；
10 But if it do euill in my sight and heare not my voyce, I will repent of ye good that I thought to do for them.
他們若行我眼中看為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我就必後悔，不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。
11 Speake thou nowe therefore vnto the men of Iudah, and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem, saying, Thus saith ye Lord, Behold, I prepare a plague for you, and purpose a thing against you: returne you therefore euery one from his euill way, and make your wayes and your workes good.
現在你要對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說：『耶和華如此說：我造出災禍攻擊你們，定意刑罰你們。你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道，改正你們的行動作為。』
12 But they sayde desperately, Surely wee will walke after our owne imaginations, and doe euery man after the stubburnnesse of his wicked heart.
「他們卻說：『這是枉然。我們要照自己的計謀去行。』各人隨自己頑梗的惡心做事。」
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Aske now among the heathen, who hath heard such thinges? the virgin of Israel hath done very filthily.
所以，耶和華如此說： 你們且往各國訪問， 有誰聽見這樣的事？ 以色列民行了一件極可憎惡的事。
14 Will a man forsake the snowe of Lebanon, which commeth from the rocke of the fielde? or shall the colde flowing waters, that come from another place, be forsaken?
黎巴嫩的雪從田野的磐石上豈能斷絕呢？ 從遠處流下的涼水豈能乾涸呢？
15 Because my people hath forgotten me, and haue burnt incense to vanitie, and their prophets haue caused them to stumble in their wayes from the auncient wayes, to walke in the pathes and way that is not troden,
我的百姓竟忘記我， 向假神燒香， 使他們在所行的路上，在古道上絆跌， 使他們行沒有修築的斜路，
16 To make their land desolate and a perpetual derision, so that euery one that passeth thereby, shalbe astonished and wagge his head,
以致他們的地令人驚駭， 常常嗤笑； 凡經過這地的必驚駭搖頭。
17 I will scatter them with an East winde before the enemie: I will shewe them the backe, and not the face in the day of their destruction.
我必在仇敵面前分散他們， 好像用東風吹散一樣。 遭難的日子，我必以背向他們， 不以面向他們。
18 Then sayde they, Come, and let vs imagine some deuice against Ieremiah: for the Lawe shall not perish from the Priest, nor counsell from the wise, nor the worde from the Prophet: come, and let vs smite him with the tongue, and let vs not giue heede to any of his words.
他們就說：「來吧！我們可以設計謀害耶利米；因為我們有祭司講律法，智慧人設謀略，先知說預言，都不能斷絕。來吧！我們可以用舌頭擊打他，不要理會他的一切話。」
19 Hearken vnto mee, O Lord, and heare the voyce of them that contend with me.
耶和華啊，求你理會我， 且聽那些與我爭競之人的話。
20 Shall euill be recompensed for good? for they haue digged a pit for my soule: remember that I stood before thee, to speake good for the, and to turne away thy wrath from them.
豈可以惡報善呢？ 他們竟挖坑要害我的性命！ 求你記念我怎樣站在你面前為他們代求， 要使你的忿怒向他們轉消。
21 Therefore, deliuer vp their children to famine, and let them drop away by the force of the sworde, and let their wiues be robbed of their children, and be widowes: and let their husbands be put to death, and let their yong men be slayne by the sword in the battell.
故此，願你將他們的兒女交與饑荒和刀劍； 願他們的妻無子，且作寡婦； 又願他們的男人被死亡所滅， 他們的少年人在陣上被刀擊殺。
22 Let the crye bee heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring an hoste suddenly vpon them: for they haue digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feete.
你使敵軍忽然臨到他們的時候， 願人聽見哀聲從他們的屋內發出； 因他們挖坑要捉拿我， 暗設網羅要絆我的腳。
23 Yet Lord thou knowest al their counsel against me tendeth to death: forgiue not their iniquitie, neither put out their sinne from thy sight, but let them be ouerthrowen before thee: deale thus with them in the time of thine anger.
耶和華啊，他們要殺我的那一切計謀， 你都知道。 不要赦免他們的罪孽， 也不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪惡， 要叫他們在你面前跌倒； 願你發怒的時候罰辦他們。
