耶利米書 40

1 隊長乃步匝辣當從辣瑪釋放耶肋米亞以後，上主又有話傳給先知─俘虜中──

The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him, being bound in chains, among all the captivity of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive to Babylon.

2 衛隊長提出耶肋米亞後，便對他說：「雅威你的天主對這地方，曾預言過這番災禍，

And the captain of the body-guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, Jehovah thy God pronounced this evil upon this place,

3 如今果然來了；雅威照他所說的做了；因為你們犯罪相反雅威，沒有聽他的聲音，所以為你們纔發生了這樣的事。

and Jehovah hath brought [it about] and done according as he said; for ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened unto his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

4 現在，你看，今天我給你除去手上的鎖鏈；你若看著同我一起到巴比倫去好，就去，我必另眼看待你；你若看著同我一起到巴比倫去不好，沒有關係；你看，整個大地擺在你面前，你看著那裏好，去那裏相宜，就到那裏去罷。

And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains that are upon thy hand. If it seem good in thy sight to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will keep mine eye upon thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me to Babylon, forbear. See, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and right in thy sight to go, thither go.

5 你若願住下，可回到巴比倫王委任管理猶大城鎮的沙番的孫子，阿希甘的兒子革達里雅那裏去，與他一同住在民間；或是到看著相宜去的任何地方去。」衛隊長便給了他乾糧和禮物，打發他走了。

And while he had not yet given answer; [he said, ] Yea, go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and abide with him in the midst of the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right in thy sight to go. And the captain of the body-guard gave him provisions and a present, and let him go.

6 耶肋米亞來到米茲帕阿希甘的兒子革達里雅那裏，與他一同住在當地的遺民間。

And Jeremiah came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and abode with him among the people that remained in the land.

7 在鄉間殘存的各部隊首領和他們的屬下，聽說巴比倫王委派了阿希甘的兒子革達里雅管理當地，任命他照顧當地未遷徙至巴比倫去的男女、幼童和窮人，

And all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that had not been carried away captive to Babylon.

8 便親自和自己的屬下來到米茲帕革達里雅那裏；前來的，有乃塔尼雅的兒子依市瑪耳，卡勒亞的兒子約哈南，堂胡默特的兒子色辣雅，乃托法人厄法依的兒子們和瑪阿加人的兒子雅匝尼雅。

And they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah; even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

9 沙番的孫子，阿希甘的兒子革達里雅對他們和部屬起誓說：「你們不要怕奉加色丁人；住在本地，臣屬於巴比倫王，於你們必利。

And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

10 至於我，看，我願住在米茲帕，為對付到我們這裏來的加色丁人；你們只管儲藏酒、油和夏季的出產，安放在器皿內，住在所佔的城市裏。」

And as for me, behold, I dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans, who will come unto us; and ye, gather wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities which ye have taken.

11 散居在摩阿布，阿孟子民間，厄東地以及其他各地的一切猶太人，也聽說巴比倫王給猶大留下了遺民，派了沙番的孫子，阿希甘的兒子革達里雅管理他們，

Likewise all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon and in Edom, and that were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

12 所有的猶太人就從自己飄流所至之地回來，來到猶大地類茲帕革達里雅那裏，收得了大量的酒和夏季的出產。

and all the Jews returned out of all the places whither they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.

13 卡勒亞的兒子約哈南，和在鄉間所有部隊的首領，都到米茲帕革達里雅那裏，

And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah unto Mizpah,

14 對他說：「你是否知道：阿孟子民的君王巴里斯派遣乃塔尼雅的兒子依市瑪耳來殺害你﹖」但是阿希甘的兒子革達里雅不相信他們的話。

and said unto him, Dost thou indeed know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to smite thee to death? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

15 卡勒亞的兒子約哈南私下在米茲帕對革達里雅提議說：「讓我去殺了乃塔尼雅的兒子依市瑪耳，沒有人會知道；為什麼要讓他來謀害你的性命，集合在你身邊的一切猶太人又遭離散，猶大遺民再遭滅亡﹖」

And Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and no man shall know it: why should he take thy life, and all they of Judah who are gathered unto thee be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?

16 阿希甘的兒子革達里雅答覆卡勒亞的兒子約哈南說：「不要作這件事，因為你論依市瑪耳所說的，只不過是流言。」

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.