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 which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who 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，

The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this evil on 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 the LORD has brought it, and done according as he spoke. Because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on 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。

Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, go there.”

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。

Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food 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。

Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left 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，

Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not 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。

then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Yochanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.

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。

Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Kasdim. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will 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。」

As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Kasdim who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you 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 when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set 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。

then all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered very much wine and summer fruits.

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，

Moreover Yochanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to 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 to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.

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﹖」

Then Yochanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should 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 to Yochanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”