耶利米書 21
1 上主傳給耶肋米亞的話：那時，漆德克雅王正派瑪耳基雅的兒子帕市胡爾，和司祭瑪阿色雅的兒子責法尼雅來見他說：
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,
2 請你替我們詢問上主：「巴比倫王拿步高既來與我們作戰，上主是否依照他所行的奇事來協助我們，叫他離我們遠去﹖」
“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”
3 耶肋米亞便回答他們說：「你們應這樣對漆德克雅說：
But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that
4 上主，以色列的天主這樣說：看，我必使你們手中所持，用以攻擊在城外圍攻你們的巴比倫王和加色丁人的武器，反回集中在這城的中心。
this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city.
5 然後我要伸出手來，以強力的手臂、震怒、狂暴和憤恨痛擊你們，
And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.
6 痛擊住在這裏的人和獸；他們必死於盛行的瘟疫。
I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’
7 此後──上主的斷語──我必將猶大王漆德克雅和他的臣僕，並這城中幸免於瘟疫、刀劍和饑饉的人民，交在巴比倫王拿步高和他們的仇敵，以及謀圖他們性命者的手中，叫敵人用利刃擊殺他們，毫不饒恕，毫不憐憫，毫不表同情。
‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
8 此外，你應對這人民說：看，我將生命的路和死亡的路，擺在你們面前：
Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
9 凡留在這城中的，必死於刀劍、饑饉和瘟疫；凡出來向圍攻你們的加色丁人投降的，必保全性命，必有生命當作自己的勝利品。
Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.
10 我所以轉面向著這城，是為降災，並不是為賜福──上主的斷語──這城必被交在巴比倫王手中，他要火燒這城。」
For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’
11 對於猶大的王室，你應該這樣說：你們該聆聽上主的話，
Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD.
12 達味家族! 上主這樣說：「你們應及早執行正義，從壓迫者手中解救被剝奪的人，免得我的忿怒，因你們行事邪惡，像火一般燒起，而沒有人能夠熄滅。」
O house of David, this is what the LORD says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.
13 至於你這居住在谷中和平原巖石上的人，看，我來對付你──上主的斷語──你們誇說：「誰能下來攻擊我們﹖誰能進入我們的巢穴﹖」
Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau— declares the LORD— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?”
14 我必按照你們行為應得的，來懲罰你們──上主的斷語──我要在她的樹林裏放火，吞滅她四周的一切。
I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”
