Isaiah 44
1 Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.
但是現在，我的僕人雅各伯！我所揀選的以色列！你聽罷！
2 This is what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
那造成你，從母胎形成你，且協助你的上主這樣說：「我的僕人雅各伯！我所揀選的耶叔戎，你不要害怕！
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;
因為我要把水倒在乾地上，使豪雨落在旱陸上；我要把我的神傾住在你的苗裔身上，把我的祝福降在你的子孫身上。
4 and they will spring up amongst the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
他們要生長，有如水邊的青草，又如溪畔的楊柳。
5 One will say, ‘I am the LORD’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to the LORD,’ and honour the name of Israel.”
這個說：「我是上主的，」那個要起雅各伯的名字，另一個要在手上寫 ：「屬於上主，」並要起以色列的名號。
6 This is what the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
上主，以色列的君王，救主，萬軍的上主這樣說：「我是元始，我是終末，在我以外沒有別的神。
7 Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
誰相似我﹖讓他前來伸述，讓他說明，給我拿出證據來！誰能從永遠預言未來的事，請他告訴我們快要發生的事罷！
8 Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”
你們不必驚慌，不用害怕！我不是早已告訴過你，早已宣布了嗎﹖你們是我的證人，在我以外還有別的神嗎﹖決沒有別的磐石！我一個也不認識！」
9 Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.
製造偶像的人都是虛無，他們所喜愛的，也毫無用處；他們的見證人一無所見，毫無所知，必將蒙受恥辱。
10 Who has fashioned a god, or moulds an image that is profitable for nothing?
有誰製造神像或鑄偶像，不想得利呢﹖
11 Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
看哪！凡作他夥伴的，都要蒙受恥辱，因為製造偶像的，也只是人而已！ 讓他們集合起來一同前來罷！他們必要驚慌羞愧！
12 The blacksmith takes an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.
鐵匠先在炭火上工作，再用鎚子打成偶像，他用大力的手臂工作，當饑餓時，也就沒有力量；沒有水喝，他就疲勞不堪。
13 The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
木匠伸展繩墨，用筆劃線，後拿刨子刨平，再用圓規測量，做成一個人形，具有人的美麗，好供在廟裏。
14 He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one amongst the trees of the forest. He plants a cypress tree, and the rain nourishes it.
人先去砍伐一塊香柏，或取一塊榆木，或橡木；或在樹林中選一塊堅固的木料，或自己種植一棵月桂樹，讓雨水使之長大。
15 Then it will be for a man to burn; and he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he burns it and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
這些木料原是為人作燃料，原可用來取煖，也可燃燒烘烤麵包；人卻用它來作神像去恭敬，或做偶像去叩拜：
16 He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
人把一半木頭投入火中燃燒，在火炭上烤肉吃；待吃飽了烤肉，又取了煖，遂說：「哈哈！我暖和了，也覺得有了火！」
17 The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image. He bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
遂用剩下的一半作了一個神像，一個偶像，向它叩拜，俯伏懇求說：「求你救我，因為你是我的神！」
18 They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
他們不瞭解，也不覺悟，因為他們的眼糊住了，什麼也看不見；他們的心也不知覺悟，
19 No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burnt part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
也不回心想一下，也不會明智通達地說：「一半木頭我已投入火中燒了，並在火炭上烤了麵包，烤了肉吃；我竟將剩下的一半作了一個怪物，向這塊木頭敬拜。」
20 He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
他所追求的僅是一把灰；他迷惑的心領他走入歧途，而不能自拔，也不會問說：「我右手所拿的不是虛無嗎﹖」
21 Remember these things, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
雅各伯啊！你要記住這些事！以色列啊！你也應記住，因為你是我的僕人，我造了你，是叫你作我的僕人。以色列啊！我決不會忘了你！
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
我消除了你的罪過，有如煙消；我消除了你的愆尤，有如雲散；歸依我罷！因為我救贖了你。
23 Sing, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
諸天，歡騰罷！因為上主作了這一切；地下的深淵，歡呼罷！山嶺、森林和其中的樹木，高聲歌唱罷！因為上主拯救了雅各伯，在以色列顯揚了自己。
24 The LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am the LORD, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
你的救主，由母胎形成你的上主這樣說：「我是創造萬有的上主，只有我展開了諸天，佈置了大地，誰與我同在﹖
25 who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
是我破壞了占卜者的預兆，使巫士成為愚妄，使智者退後，使他們的知識變為愚蠢，
26 who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
是我叫我僕人們的話實現，叫我使者們的計謀成功；是我論及耶路撒冷說：「你必要有人居住。」論及猶大各城說：「你們要被重建，我必要重建你們的廢址。」
27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers,’
是我對深淵說：「你必涸竭，我要使你的河流乾涸。」
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”
是我論及居魯士說：「他是我的牧人，他要履行我的一切計劃，要吩咐重建耶路撒冷，奠基重修聖殿。」
