耶利米書 50
1 關於巴比倫和加色丁地上主藉耶肋米亞先知所說的話：
The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 你們該在民族間宣布傳揚，該樹起旗幟傳揚，不該隱瞞，說：「巴比倫已陷落了，貝耳遭受了羞辱，默洛達客傾倒了；她的偶像遭受了恥辱，她的神祇傾倒了。」
“Declare amongst the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. Her idols are dismayed.’
3 因為有一民族從北方上來，向她進攻，使她的國土化為無人居住，人獸絕跡的荒野。
For a nation comes up out of the north against her, which will make her land desolate, and no one will dwell in it. They have fled. They are gone, both man and animal.
4 在那些日子裡和在那時期中──上主的斷語──以色列子民要與猶大子民一同歸來，且走且哭，尋覓上主他們的天主，
“In those days, and in that time,” says the LORD, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping, and will seek the LORD their God.
5 他們必詢問熙雍的所在，面朝往那裏的道路說：來，讓我們以永久不可忘的盟約依附上主! 」
They will enquire concerning Zion with their faces turned towards it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
6 我的人民是一群迷途的羊群，他們的牧人使他們流浪，在群山間徘徊，翻山越嶺地漫遊，忘掉了自己的羊棧。
My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
7 凡遇見他們的，將他們吞噬；他們的仇敵反而說：「我們並沒有過錯，因為是他們得罪了上主，正義的淵源和他們祖先的希望。」
All who found them have devoured them. Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of righteousness, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 你們該逃離巴比倫，走出加色丁地，如同羊群前領頭的公山羊。
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
9 因為，看，我必從北方，發動一群強盛的民族前來進攻巴比倫，列陣向她進攻，就地將她攻陷；他們的箭像是善戰的勇士，從不空手而歸。
For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they will set themselves in array against her. She will be taken from there. Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man. None of them will return in vain.
10 加色丁必遭劫掠，凡劫掠她的，必心滿意足──上主的斷語。
Chaldea will be a prey. All who prey on her will be satisfied,” says the LORD.
11 你們搶奪我產業的人，你們儘管喜樂，儘管歡欣：跳躍，好像踏青的小公牛；嘶鳴，有如獲偶的牡馬!
“Because you are glad, because you rejoice, O you who plunder my heritage, because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain, and neigh as strong horses,
12 你們的母親已遭受極大的恥辱，生養你的，已滿面羞慚。看，她已成為民族中最卑下的，成了曠野、旱地和荒原；
your mother will be utterly disappointed. She who bore you will be confounded. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13 在上主的盛怒下，她已無人居住，滿目淒涼：凡經過巴比倫的人，看見的種種慘狀，莫不驚異嗟嘆。
Because of the LORD’s wrath she won’t be inhabited, but she will be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon will be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
14 一切開張弓弩的射手! 你們應列陣圍攻巴比倫，向她射擊，不要吝惜箭羽，因為她得罪了上主。
Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD.
15 你們四周圍繞，向她吶喊! 她必伸手請降，她的城樓必將陷落，她的城牆必要被攻陷，因為這是上主的報復。你們報復她，照她作的還報!
Shout against her all around. She has submitted herself. Her bulwarks have fallen. Her walls have been thrown down, for it is the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, do to her.
16 你們要殲滅巴比倫播種和手持鐮刀收割的人! 面臨無情的刀劍，各人回歸自己的民族，各自逃往自己的故鄉。
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their own land.
17 以色列是獅子追捕的亡羊，首先吞噬她的，是亞述君王；最後咬碎她骨骸的，是拿步高巴比倫王。
“Israel is a hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
18 為此，萬軍的上主，以色列的天主這樣說：「看，我要懲罰巴比倫王和他的國土，就如我懲罰了亞述君王一樣。
Therefore the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19 我要領以色列回歸自己的牧場，在加爾默耳和巴商牧放，使他們的心靈在厄弗辣因與基肋阿得山上，獲得滿足。
I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
20 那些日子裏和在那時期中──上主的斷語──要想尋求以色列的不義，卻一無所有；要想尋猶大的罪惡，卻一無所見；因為我必寬恕我留下的遺民。
In those days, and in that time,” says the LORD, “the iniquity of Israel will be sought for, and there will be none, also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
21 你們該向默辣塔因地推進，進攻培科得的居民，屠殺，徹底將他們消滅──上主的斷語──全照我吩咐的進行。
“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says the LORD, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22 地上發生了交戰的吶喊，巨大的毀滅。
A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
23 怎麼，威震全地的鎚子也被破碎毀壞了﹖怎麼，巴比倫在萬民中也變得如此悽涼﹖
How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation amongst the nations!
24 我給你佈下羅網，你竟被捉住；而你，巴比倫，尚不自覺；你被尋獲，且被捉住，因為你竟敢違抗上主! 」
I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against the LORD.
25 上主開了自已的武庫，搬出了自己洩怒的武器，因為吾主萬軍的上主，在加色丁地有事要完成。
The LORD has opened his armoury, and has brought out the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, GOD of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 你們從四面八方向她湧來，打開她的倉庫，堆積成堆，徹底消滅，不給她留下殘餘；
Come against her from the farthest border. Open her storehouses. Cast her up as heaps. Destroy her utterly. Let nothing of her be left.
27 屠殺她的一切公牛，叫他們下入屠場! 卜們的災難臨頭，因為他們的日子到了，到了懲罰他們的時候。
Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.
28 聽從巴比倫地逃命出走的人，在熙雍報告說：「上主我們的天主在復仇，為自己的殿宇雪恥。
Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.
29 你們召集弓手，一切挽弓的人，來向巴比倫進攻，在她周圍紮營，不要讓她有人逃脫，該按照她的作為而報復她，照她所作的對待她，因為她傲慢反對上主，反對以色列的聖者。
“Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 為此，她的青年人要倒斃在她的廣場，她所有的戰士都要在那一天內滅亡──上主的斷語──
Therefore her young men will fall in her streets. All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day,” says the LORD.
31 你這驕橫的人! 看，我來對付你──我主萬軍上主的斷語──因為你的日子到了，到了懲罰你的時候。
“Behold, I am against you, you proud one,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies; “for your day has come, the time that I will visit you.
32 驕橫的必要傾覆顛仆，再沒有人來使她復興；我必放火燒毀她的城市，火要吞滅她四周的一切。」
The proud one will stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up. I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all who are around him.”
33 萬軍的上主這樣說：「以色列子民與猶大子民一同遭受了壓迫；凡俘擄他們的，都扣留他們，不肯釋放。」
The LORD of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse to let them go.
34 但是他們的救贖者，名叫萬軍的上主，剛強有力，必要辯護他們的案件，使大地安寧，使巴比倫的居民惶亂。
Their Redeemer is strong. The LORD of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 刀劍加於加色丁人──上主的斷語──加於巴比倫的居民，她的公卿和她的謀臣；
“A sword is on the Chaldeans,” says the LORD, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men.
36 刀劍加於她的巫士，使他們瘋狂；刀劍加於她的勇士，叫他們驚慌；
A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
37 刀劍加於她的戰馬戰車，加於她境內所有的雜族，使他們柔弱如婦女；刀劍加於她的府庫，使人任意搶奪；
A sword is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 刀劍加於她的水源，叫水源涸竭，因為她偶像遍地，人們癡戀這些怪物；
A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
39 為此，她必成為野貓和野狗的巢穴，駝鳥的棲身地，永遠不會有人居住，世世代代不會有居民；
Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation.
40 恰如天主滅亡了的索多瑪、哈摩辣及附近的城市一樣──上主的斷語──再沒有人居住，再沒有人留宿。
As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbour cities,” says the LORD, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
41 看，有一個民族，從北方來，有一個強盛的異邦和許多君王從地極興起，
“Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.
42 緊握弓矛，殘忍無情，像海嘯般喧嚷，騎著戰馬，萬眾一心，嚴陣準備向你進攻，巴比倫女郎!
They take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 巴比倫王聽到了他們前來的消息，束手無策，不勝憂慮，痛苦得有如臨盆的產婦。
The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of a woman in labour.
44 看哪，好像一隻雄獅，從約但的叢林上來，走向常綠的牧場；同樣，我也要轉瞬間將他們趕走，派我選定的人來統治。誠然，誰是我的對手﹖誰敢向我提出質問﹖誰能對抗我的牧人﹖
Behold, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me?”
45 為此，請你們聽上主對巴比倫設下的計謀，對加色丁地策劃的策略：連最弱小的羊也一定要被人牽去，他們的牧場也必對他們戰慄。
Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46 巴比倫轟然陷落，大地為之震動；哀號之聲，直達萬邦。
The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard amongst the nations.
