以西結書 21
1 上主的話傳給我說：「
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 人子，你轉面向耶路撒冷，發言攻斥聖所，講預言攻斥以色列地域，
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel
3 向以色列地域說：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要攻擊你，我要拔劍出鞘，剷除你境內的義人和惡人，
and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.
4 因為我要剷除你境內的義人和惡人，為此，我的劍從鞘內抽出，攻擊由南至北一切有血肉的人；
Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.
5 這樣，凡有血肉的人都知道：是我，上主拔劍出鞘，決不再放回。
Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’
6 人子，你應哀歎! 應在他們眼前傷心痛苦哀歎。
But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief.
7 假使有人問你說：你為什麼哀歎﹖你就說：是為了一個凶信，當這事來到，所有的心靈必要沮喪，手臂必要無力，精神必要頹唐，膝蓋必要軟弱如水。看，災禍來到時，必將如此──吾主上主的斷語。」
And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.”
8 上主的話傳給我說：「
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9 人子，講預言罷! 吾主這樣說：你要說：有一把劍：是一把磨快而擦亮的劍。
“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says: ‘A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—
10 磨快了，是為大屠殺；擦亮了，是為閃爍發光。
it is sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice in the scepter of My son? The sword despises every such stick.
11 把它拿去擦亮，好握在掌中；這把磨快的劍，這把擦亮的劍，是為交在屠殺者的手中。
The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished, to be placed in the hand of the slayer.
12 人子，你要哀號痛哭，因為劍擊在我百姓身上，砍在以色列的一切首領身上。他們同我的百姓都喪身刀下。為此你應擊股示哀，
Cry out and wail, O son of man, for the sword is wielded against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel! They are tossed to the sword with My people; therefore strike your thigh.
13 因為已試過一次，這要怎麼辦﹖它連權杖都輕視了，以致不叫它存在──吾主上主的斷語──
Surely testing will come! And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue?’
14 人子，你講預言，且鼓掌罷! 那劍將是雙刃的，是屠殺的劍；那把大屠殺的劍向他們揮起，
‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!
15 叫他們膽顫心驚，死亡的人加多。我將屠殺的劍尖指向他們所有的門戶上：劍擦亮了，是為閃爍；磨快了，是為屠殺。
So that their hearts may melt and many may stumble, I have appointed at all their gates a sword for slaughter. Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.
16 你的刀鋒無論轉向何方，或向左，或向右，都應是鋒利的。
Slash to the right; set your blade to the left— wherever your blade is directed.
17 我也要親自鼓掌，以平息我的憤怒：這是我上主說的。」
I too will strike My hands together, and I will satisfy My wrath.’
18 上主的話傳給我說：「
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
19 人子，你應劃出兩條路，叫巴比倫王的劍沿路而來。這兩條路應由一地出發；又劃出一隻手，置於通往城市的道路起點。
“Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city.
20 你所劃的路，一條使劍至阿孟子民的辣巴特；一條使劍至猶大的堅城耶路撒冷。
Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
21 因為巴比倫王站在岔路上，在兩條路口上占卜、搖籤、求問「忒辣芬，」窺察牲肝。
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.
22 在他右手中出現了指向耶路撒冷的籤，他便下令屠殺，吶喊衝鋒，架起攻城門機，堆起高台，建造雲梯。
In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.
23 可是在曾經發過誓願的以色列子民看來，那籤是假的。但他卻想起了他們的罪過，為使他們俯首就擒。
It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive.
24 為此吾主上主這樣說：因為你們顯露了你們的過犯，在你們的行為上，現出你們的惡行，使我想起了你們的罪惡；你們既然使我想起你們的罪惡，你們必在他們手中俯首就擒。
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand.
25 你這無恥而萬惡的以色列首領，你的日子到了，犯罪的時候完了。
And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your final punishment.’
26 吾主上主這樣說：取下頭巾，摘去冠冕，一切都要轉變：卑下的要高陞，崇高的要降低。
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.
27 我必要使他的國澈底滅亡，再也不能存在，直到那掌權者來到，我再交給他。」「
A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’
28 人子，你應講預言說，吾主上主這樣攻斥阿孟子民和他們的侮辱說：你要說：有一把劍，拔出是為屠殺，磨快是為毀滅，擦亮是為閃爍──
Now prophesy, son of man, and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt: ‘A sword! A sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning—
29 那時人所給予你的，是虛假的異像，欺騙的占卜──是為砍在作惡犯罪者的脖子上，他們的日子到了，犯罪的時候完了。
while they offer false visions for you and lying divinations about you— to be placed on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.
30 把劍插入鞘內，我要在你受造之地，在你生長之地裁判你。
Return the sword to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
31 我要在你身上發洩我的怒氣，在你身上點起我的怒火，將你交在善於破壞的野蠻人手中。
I will pour out My anger upon you; I will breathe the fire of My fury against you; I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction.
32 你要成為烈火的燃料；你的血要傾流在國中，以後再沒有人記念你，因為我上主說了。」
You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will stain your own land. You will not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.’”
