Jeremiah 1 Roam the streets of 请你们巡行耶路撒冷的街道,观察注意,在她的广场上搜寻:若你们能找到一人,一个履行正义,追求信实的人,我就宽恕这城。 2 Though they say, "As the LORD lives," they swear falsely. 虽然他们起誓说:"上主永在!"其实他们起的誓仍是虚誓。 3 O LORD, do your eyes not look for honesty? You struck them, but they did not cringe; you laid them low, but they refused correction; They set their faces harder than stone, and refused to return to you. 上主,你的眼睛难道不顾信实?你打击了他们,他们却毫不觉痛;你使他们挫败,他们仍拒绝受教,使自己的面孔比火石还要顽硬,不愿悔改。 4 It is only the lowly, I thought, who are foolish; For they know not the way of the LORD, their duty to their God. 我想:"不错,他们原是无知的平民,不认识上主的道路和他们天主的法律。 5 I will go to the great ones and speak with them; For they know the way of the LORD, their duty to their God. But, one and all, they had broken the yoke, torn off the harness. 我要去问有权势的人,与他们谈论,因为他们知道上主的道路和他们天主的法律。"哎!连他们也都折断了轭,挣断了绳索。 6 Therefore lions from the forest slay them, wolves of the desert ravage them, Leopards keep watch round their cities: all who come out are torn to pieces For their many crimes and their numerous rebellions. 为此,狮子由丛林出来袭击他们,旷野的豺狼出来伤害他们,豹子潜伏在他们的城旁,凡出来的人都被撕裂,因为他们罪上加罪,失节有增无已。 7 Why should I pardon you these things? Your sons have forsaken me, they swear by gods that are not. I fed them, but they committed adultery; to the harlot's house they throng. 8 Lustful stallions they are, each neighs after another's wife. 他们象荒淫雄壮的牡马,各向自己近人的妻室嘶鸣。 9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; On a nation such as this shall I not take vengeance? 这些事,我怎能不惩?t──上主的断语──象这样的民族,我怎能不亲自报复? 10 Climb to her terraces, and ravage them, destroy them (not) wholly. Tear away her tendrils, they do not belong to the LORD. 11 For they have openly rebelled against me, both the house of 以色列家和犹大家,实在对我不忠,达到极点── 12 1 They denied the LORD, saying, "Not he-- No evil shall befall us, neither sword nor famine shall we see. 上主的断语。他们否认上主说:"他不存在!灾祸绝不会临到我们身上,我们也绝不会见到战争和饥荒; 13 The prophets have become wind, and the word is not in them. May their threats be carried out against themselves!" 14 Now, for this that you have said, says the LORD, the God of hosts- Behold, I make my words in your mouth, a fire, And this people is the wood that it shall devour!— 15 Beware, I will bring against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD; A long-lived nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you know not, whose speech you cannot understand. 以色列家!看,我从远方给你们引来一个民族──上主的断语──一个所向无敌的民族,一个古老的民族,一个你们不懂她的语言,也听不出她说什么的民族 16 Their quivers are like open graves; all of them are warriors. 17 They will devour your harvest and your bread, devour your sons and your daughters, Devour your sheep and cattle, devour your vines and fig trees; They will beat flat with the sword the fortified city in which you trust. 这民族必吃掉你的收获和食粮,必吃掉你的儿子和女儿,必吃掉你的羊群和牛群,必吃掉你的葡萄和无花果,必以武力蹂躝你依恃的坚城。 18 Yet even in those days, says the LORD, I will not wholly destroy you. 19 And when they ask, "Why has the LORD done all these things to us?" say to them, "As you have forsaken me to serve strange gods in your own land, so shall you serve strangers in a land not your own." 假使有人问:"为什么上主我们的天主对我们做了这一切的事?"你当对他们说:"你们怎样离弃了我,在你们国内事奉了外邦的神祗,你们也该怎样在不属于你们的境内事奉外邦人。" 20 Announce this to the house of Jacob, proclaim it in Judah: 你们将这事通知雅各伯家,转告犹大说: 21 Pay attention to this, foolish and senseless people Who have eyes and see not, who have ears and hear not. "你们愚昧无知,有目不见,有耳不闻的人民,请听听这话: 22 Should you not fear me, says the LORD, should you not tremble before me? I made the sandy shore the sea's limit, which by eternal decree it may not overstep. Toss though it may, it is to no avail; though its billows roar, they cannot pass. 你们不敬畏我吗?──上主的断语──你们在我面前不战憟吗?是我堆积了沙石作海的界限,作为它永不能越过的界限:海浪虽汹涌,仍无能为力;虽怒号澎湃,仍不能越过。" 23 But this people's heart is stubborn and rebellious; they turn and go away, 但这内心顽固忤逆的人民,竟背叛而离去, 24 2 And say not in their hearts, "Let us fear the LORD, our God, Who gives us rain early and late, in its time; Who watches for us over the appointed weeks of harvest." 从不反心自省:"我们应该敬畏上主,我们的天主,因为他按时降下雨露、秋霖和春雨;又给我们保持固定的收获时节。" 25 Your crimes have prevented these things, your sins have turned back these blessings from you. 26 For there are among my people criminals; like fowlers they set traps, but it is men they catch. 27 Their houses are as full of treachery as a bird-cage is of birds; Therefore they grow powerful and rich, 犹如笼中满了飞鸟,他们家中也充满了欺诈,因此成了有势力,有钱财的人。 28 fat and sleek. They go their wicked way; justice they do not defend By advancing the claim of the fatherless or judging the cause of the poor. 他们肥胖红润,作奸犯科,不为孤儿辩护;只求自己享受,也不关怀穷人的权利。 29 Shall I not punish these things? says the LORD; on a nation such as this shall I not take vengeance? 象这样的事,我怎能不惩?t──上主的断语──象这样的民族,我怎能不亲自报复? 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests teach as they wish; Yet my people will have it so; what will you do when the end comes? 在国内发生了一件恐怖而可憎的事:先知们说假预言,司祭们争权夺利,我的人民反倒以此为乐;到了最后,你们究竟还要作什么? Footnotes(注解) 1 [12] They denied the LORD: the people act as though God does not exist and will not interfere. 2 [24] Rain early and late: autumn and spring rains respectively. Appointed weeks of harvest: the seven weeks between the Passover (Deut 16:9-10) and Pentecost, during which it ordinarily did not rain. |