耶利米書 13
1 上主對我這樣說：「你去買條麻帶，束在腰間，但是不要浸在水裏。」
The LORD said to me, “Go, and buy yourself a linen belt, and put it on your waist, and don’t put it in water.”
2 我就照上主的話去買了根麻帶， 。
So I bought a belt according to the LORD’s word, and put it on my waist.
3 上主的話第二次傳給我說：
The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying,
4 「拿你買來束在腰間的帶子，起身往幼發拉的去，藏在那裏的嚴石縫裏」。
“Take the belt that you have bought, which is on your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.”
5 我照上主吩咐我的去了；將帶子藏在幼發拉的近旁。
So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6 過了多日，上主對我說：「你起身往幼發拉的去，拿回我吩咐你藏在那裏的帶子」。
After many days, the LORD said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the belt from there, which I commanded you to hide there.”
7 我便往幼發拉的去了，我由藏下的地方挖出那帶子；看，已經腐爛，毫無用處了。
Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and took the belt from the place where I had hidden it; and behold, the belt was ruined. It was profitable for nothing.
8 於是有上主的話傳給我說：
Then the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
9 「上主這樣說：我也要這樣毀滅猶大的驕傲，和耶路撒冷極度的高傲。
“The LORD says, ‘In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
10 這個拒絕我的話，而隨從自己固執的心行事，追隨事奉，朝拜其他神祗的邪惡人民，必要如這毫無用處的帶子木樣。
This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods to serve them and to worship them, will even be as this belt, which is profitable for nothing.
11 因為正如帶子緊貼在人的腰間，同樣我也錔使以色列全 家和猶大全家緊緊依附我──上主的斷語──成為我的人民，我的名譽，我的讚美和我的光榮；但是他們卻沒有聽從。
For as the belt clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to me,’ says the LORD; ‘that they may be to me for a people, for a name, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.’
12 你應向他們宣佈這話：上主以色列的天主這樣說：每個壺應盛滿酒。如果他們對你說：難道我們不知道，每個壺都應盛滿酒嗎﹖
“Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘The LORD, the God of Israel says, “Every container should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every container should be filled with wine?’
13 你就答覆他們說：上主這樣說：看，我要使這地上的一切居民，坐在達味寶座上的君王，以及司祭和先知並耶路撒冷的一切居民，都酩酊大醉，
Then tell them, ‘The LORD says, “Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
14 使他們彼此衝突，連父子也彼此衝突──上主的斷語──我毫不憐憫、不慈悲、不留情地將他們消滅」。
I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,” says the LORD: “I will not pity, spare, or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.”’”
15 你們側耳傾聽，不要傲慢，因為是上主在說話。
Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud, for the LORD has spoken.
16 黑暗來臨以前，在你的腳還沒有在黑暗中撞在石上以前，應將光榮歸於上主的天主；不然，你們期待光明，衪反發放死影，使它變得漆黑。
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it deep darkness.
17 假使你們還不聽從這警告，對你的驕傲，我只有暗自痛哭，眼淚直流，因為上主的羊群已被擄去。
But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
18 你應對君王和太后說：「你們應坐低位，因為你們華麗的王冠已由你們頭上落下」。
Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Humble yourselves. Sit down, for your crowns have come down, even the crown of your glory.
19 南部的城邑已被封鎖，沒有人去打開，全猶大已被擄去。
The cities of the South are shut up, and there is no one to open them. Judah is carried away captive: all of them. They are wholly carried away captive.
20 請你舉目觀望那來自北方的人；昔日委託給你的羊群，那壯麗的羊群，如今在那裏﹖
Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?
21 衪懲罰你，你還有什麼話說﹖是你教導了昔日的盟友來統治你，豈能不使你痛苦得像個臨產的婦女﹖
What will you say when he sets over you as head those whom you have yourself taught to be friends to you? Won’t sorrows take hold of you, as of a woman in travail?
22 假使你心裏說：為什麼我遭遇了此事──是因你罪大惡極，你的衣邊才被掀起，你的腳才受到污辱。
If you say in your heart, “Why have these things come on me?” Your skirts are uncovered because of the greatness of your iniquity, and your heels suffer violence.
23 雇士人豈能改變牠的斑點﹖那你們這些習於作惡的人，豈能行善﹖
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.
24 為此，我必使他們四散，像被曠野裏的風捲去的草芥。
“Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
25 這是你的命運，是我量給你的分子──上主的斷語──因為你忘記了我，信賴了「虛無」；
This is your lot, the portion measured to you from me,” says the LORD, “because you have forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.”
26 故此我也要將你的衣邊掀到你面上，使人見到你的羞恥。
Therefore I will also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame will appear.
27 你的姦淫，你春情的嘶鳴，你猥褻的淫亂，你在高丘上和田野間可恥的行為，我都看見了。禍哉，耶路撒冷! 你不肯自潔，要到何時﹖
I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean. How long will it yet be?”
