耶利米書 23
1 禍哉，那把我牧場上的羊群摧殘和趕散的牧人──上主的斷語──
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the LORD.
2 為此上主，以色列的天主，對牧放我民的牧人這樣說：「你們驅散趕走了我的羊群，不加照顧；現在，看，我必依照你們的惡行來懲罰你們──上主的斷語──
Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says against the shepherds who feed my people: “You have scattered my flock, driven them away, and have not visited them. Behold, I will visit on you the evil of your doings,” says the LORD.
3 我要從我以前驅散牠們所到的各地，集合我尚存的羊，引導牠們再回自己的羊棧，叫牠們滋生繁殖；
“I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they will be fruitful and multiply.
4 我要興起牧者來牧放牠們，使牠們無恐無懼，再也不會失掉一個──上主的斷語。
I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, neither will any be lacking,” says the LORD.
5 看，時日將到──上主的斷語──我必給達味興起一支正義的苗芽，叫他執政為王，斷事明智，在地上執行公道正義。
“Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch; and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
6 在他的日子裏，猶大必獲救，以色列必居享安寧；人將稱他為：「上主是我們的正義。」
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. This is his name by which he will be called: The LORD our righteousness.
7 為此，看，時日將到──上主的斷語──人不再以『那領以色列子民由埃及地上來的上主，永在』的話起誓，
“Therefore, behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that they will no more say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’
8 卻要以『那領以色列家的後裔，由北方，由他驅逐他們所到的各地回來，使他們再住在自己故鄉的上主，永在』的話起誓。
but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up and who led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will dwell in their own land.”
9 論到先知：我的心在我懷內已破碎，我渾身骨骸戰慄；為了上主，為了他的聖言，我好像成了一個醉漢，成了一個不勝酒力的人，
Concerning the prophets: My heart within me is broken. All my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of his holy words.
10 因為地上充滿了犯奸的人，為此，地受詛咒，只有哀傷，原野草場已枯乾；他們奔走的是邪路，他們的勢力是不義。
“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of the curse the land mourns. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right;
11 實在，先知和司祭都不虔誠，以至連在我的殿裏，也發現了他們的邪惡──上主的斷語──
for both prophet and priest are profane. Yes, in my house I have found their wickedness,” says the LORD.
12 因此，他們的道路為他們必將變為滑道，他們必被驅入黑暗，必要跌倒；因為到了降罰他們的年分，我必給他們招來災禍──上主的斷語──
Therefore their way will be to them as slippery places in the darkness. They will be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation,” says the LORD.
13 在撒瑪黎雅的先知中，我亦發現了可惡的事：他們竟奉巴耳的名義說預言，使我的以色列民誤入歧途。
“I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria. They prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
14 在耶路撒冷的先知中，我更發現了極可惡的事：他們竟犯姦淫，行動虛偽，助長惡人的勢力，致使誰也不痛悔自己的邪惡；他們對我猶如索多瑪，其中的居民好像哈摩辣人。
In the prophets of Jerusalem I have also seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one returns from his wickedness. They have all become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah.”
15 為此，萬軍的上主論先知這樣說：看啊! 我必叫他們吃苦艾，喝毒水，因為全地邪惡蔓延，都是出於耶路撒冷的先知。
Therefore the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink poisoned water; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.”
16 萬軍的上主這樣說：不要聽向你們說預言的先知的話；他們只使你們妄想，他們講的，並非出自上主的口，而只是他們心中的幻想。
The LORD of Hosts says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
17 他們對那輕視我的人肯定：「上主說：你們必享平安。」對一切隨從自己頑固的心行事的人說：「災禍不會來到你們身上。」
They say continually to those who despise me, ‘The LORD has said, “You will have peace;”’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, ‘No evil will come on you.’
18 其實，有誰參加過上主的會議，親自聽見過他的話﹖有誰曾留意聽他的話，而實在聽到了﹖
For who has stood in the council of the LORD, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who has listened to my word, and heard it?
19 看，上主的憤怒，如暴風發作，像旋風在惡人的頭上旋轉。
Behold, the LORD’s storm, his wrath, has gone out. Yes, a whirling storm! It will burst on the head of the wicked.
20 上主的烈怒必不止息，直到他執行和完成了他心裏的計劃；到末日你自必能徹底明瞭。
The LORD’s anger will not return until he has executed and performed the intents of his heart. In the latter days, you will understand it perfectly.
21 我並沒有派遣這些先知，他自卻自動奔走；我並沒有對他們說話，他們卻擅說預言。
I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
22 假使他們果真參加過我的會議，就該使我的人民聽到我的話，叫他們離棄自己邪道，和自己邪惡的行為。
But if they had stood in my council, then they would have caused my people to hear my words, and would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
23 難道對近處的，我是天主──上主的斷語──對遠處的，我就不是天主了嗎﹖
“Am I a God at hand,” says the LORD, “and not a God afar off?
24 人若隱藏在暗處，我就看不見了嗎﹖──上主的斷語──
Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says the LORD. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.
25 我聽見了這些先知說的，他們奉我名預言虛妄說：我做了一夢，我做了一夢!
“I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’
26 先知在民間妄說預言，宣講自己心中的幻想，要到幾時呢﹖
How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?
27 他們互相傳述自己的夢幻，企圖使我的人民忘記我的名，如同他們的祖先為了巴耳而忘記了我的名一樣。
They intend to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they each tell his neighbour, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal.
28 得了夢的先知，讓他傳夢；得了我的話的，就該忠實傳述我的話；麥稈怎能與麥粒相比﹖──上主的斷語──
The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat?” says the LORD.
29 我的話豈不是像火﹖──上主的斷語──豈不是像擊碎巖石的鐵鎚﹖
“Isn’t my word like fire?” says the LORD; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
30 為此，看──上主的斷語──我要懲罰互相竊取我話的先知。
“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who each steal my words from his neighbour.
31 看──上主的斷語──我要懲罰那些轉動自己的舌頭，妄說「神諭」的先知。
Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who use their tongues, and say, ‘He says.’
32 看──上主的斷語──我要懲罰那些預言和傳述幻夢，以自己的謊妄語迷惑我人民的先知；我既沒有派遣他們，也沒有對他們有所吩咐，他們對這人民就決不能有任何貢獻──上主的斷語。
Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says the LORD, “who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them or command them. They don’t profit this people at all,” says the LORD.
33 若是這人民，先知或司祭問你什麼是「上主的重擔﹖」你就答應他們說：你們就是重擔，我要將你們拋棄──上主的斷語──
“When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from the LORD?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘“What message? I will cast you off,” says the LORD.’
34 凡是問「上主的重擔」的先知、司祭或人民，我必懲罰這人和他的家。
As for the prophet, the priest, and the people, who say, ‘The message from the LORD,’ I will even punish that man and his household.
35 你們應每人對自己的鄰人和兄弟這樣說：「上主有了什麼答覆﹖」或「上主說了什麼﹖」
You will say everyone to his neighbour, and everyone to his brother, ‘What has the LORD answered?’ and, ‘What has the LORD said?’
36 不應再提「上主的重擔；」不然，各人的話必要成為自己的重擔，因為你們歪曲了永生的天主，萬軍的上主，和我們的天主的話。
You will mention the message from the LORD no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of Hosts, our God.
37 你應這樣問先知說：「上主對你有了什麼答覆﹖」或「上主說了什麼﹖」
You will say to the prophet, ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’
38 如果你們還說：「上主的重擔。」上主就要這樣說：就因你們還說「上主的重擔」這句話──我原派人對你們說：不要再說「上主的重擔」──
Although you say, ‘The message from the LORD,’ therefore the LORD says: ‘Because you say this word, “The message from the LORD,” and I have sent to you, telling you not to say, “The message from the LORD,”
39 為此，看，我要把你們卸下，把你們和我賜與你及你們祖先的城市，由我面前遠遠拋棄，
therefore behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off with the city that I gave to you and to your fathers, away from my presence.
40 使你們永遠受辱，受永遠不能忘的污辱。
I will bring an everlasting reproach on you, and a perpetual shame, which will not be forgotten.’”
