< 耶利米書 8 >
1 到那時──上主的斸語──人必從墳墓中拖出猶大君王的遺骸,司祭的遺骸,先知的遺骸,和耶路撒冷居民的遺骸,
At that time, saith Jehovah, Shall the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of the princes, The bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, And the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Be cast forth from their graves;
2 陳列在他們曾愛戀、事奉、追隨、求問和朝拜過的太陽、月亮和天上群星,前再沒有人收殮埋葬,任其留在地面充作肥料。
And they shall be spread before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, Which they have loved, and which they have served, and after which they have walked; Which they have consulted and have worshipped; They shall not be gathered, nor be buried; They shall be as dung upon the face of the ground.
3 這可惡種族剩下的全體遺民,在我驅逐他們所到的任何地,方都願意死,而不願意生──萬軍上主斷語。
And death shall be chosen rather than life By all the residue of them that remain of this evil race, Which remain in all the places whither I have driver them, Saith Jehovah of hosts.
4 你應對他們說:上主這樣說:人跌倒了,豈能不再起來﹖人離去了,豈能不再回來﹖
Thou shalt also say to them, Thus saith Jehovah, Doth a man fall, and not rise again? Doth one turn aside from the way, and not return,
5 為什麼這人民一墮落,便永久墮落,執迷不悟而不肯反悔呢﹖
Why then hath this people, Why hath Jerusalem, completely revolted? They hold fast deceit; They refuse to return.
6 我留心細聽,他們都言談不軌,沒有一個人悔恨自己的邪惡說:「可憐! 我做是什麼事﹖」反倒各自一再任性奔馳,有如衝入戰場的戰馬。
I have listened and heard, But they speak not aright; No one repenteth of his wickedness, Saying, “What have I done?” Every one runneth at full speed in his rebellion, As a horse rusheth to the battle.
7 天空的鸛鳥也知道自己的時令;斑鳩、燕子和雁,都固守自己的歸期;但是我的人民卻不知道上主法令。
Even the stork in the heavens knoweth her times, And the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the season of their coming, But my people regard not the laws of Jehovah.
8 你怎麼能說:我們是智者,我們有上主的法律﹖的確,但已為書記們以荒謬的筆鋒把乇編成了謊言。
How is it that ye say, “We are wise, We possess the law of Jehovah”? Behold, the false pen of the scribes Hath turned it into falsehood.
9 智慧人必要蒙羞驚慌,而至被捕;的確,他們即拋棄了上主話,還能有什麼智慧﹖
The wise men shall be confounded; They shall be dismayed and ensnared; Behold, they have rejected the word of Jehovah, And what wisdom is there in them?
10 為此,我必將他們的妻室交給外人,將他們的莊田交與別的地主,因為從最小的到最大的,都貪財圖利;從先知到司祭,都欺詐行事,
Therefore will I give their wives to others, And their fields to plunderers. For from the least of them even to the greatest, Every one is greedy of gain, Prophet and priest alike, Every one of them practiseth deceit.
11 草率治愈我的瘡痍說:「好了! 好了! 」其實卻沒有好。
They heal the wound of my people slightly, Saying, Peace! peace! when there is no peace.
12 他們既行事可憎,就理當知恥;可是,他們不但不知恥,反而連羞愧也不知是什麼;為此,他們要與倒斃者倒斃,在我降罰他們時,都要一厥不振──上主說。
Are they ashamed, that they have done abominable things? Nay, they are not at all ashamed; They know not how to blush. Therefore shall they fall with them that fall; At the time when I punish them, They shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.
13 我要徹底消滅他們──上主的斷語──葡萄樹上沒有葡萄,無花果樹上沒有無花果,樹葉都已凋零;我要派人來蹂躝。
I will utterly consume them, saith Jehovah; There shall be no grapes on the vine, Nor shall there be from the fig-tree; Even the leaf shall be withered; For I will send those that shall overrun them.
14 為什麼我們還坐著﹖集合起來吧! 讓我們進入堅城,死在那裏,因為上主我們的天主要消滅我們,我們喝苦膽,因為我們得罪了上主。
“Why do we remain here?” [[shall they say.]] “Assemble yourselves and let us go into the fortified cities. And let us there wait in silence! For Jehovah our God hath put us to silence, And given us the water of hemlock to drink, Because we have sinned against Jehovah.
15 我們原期待和平,卻不見好轉;原期待復興的時機,反而只見恐怖!
We look for peace, but no good cometh; For a time of deliverance, and behold, terror!”
16 從丹就可聽到敵人戰馬的喘息聲,戰馬嘶鳴,聲震全地;前來併吞土地和地上的一切,吞食城邑和城中的居民。
From Dan is heard the snorting of their horses, At the sound of the neighing of their steeds the whole land trembleth; They come and devour the land, and all that is in it; The city, and them that dwell therein.
17 看,我必給你們派來不伯符咒的毒蛇,咬傷你們──上主的斷語──
Behold I send against you serpents, Basilisks, which cannot be charmed, And they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
O where is consolation for my sorrow! My heart is faint within me.
19 由遠方傳來我女兒──人民──哀號的呼聲:「上主已不在熙雍﹖或者衪君王已不在那裏嗎﹖──為什麼他們以自己的偶像和外邦的「虛無」激怒我﹖──
Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people from a far country! “Is not Jehovah in Zion? Is her King there no more?” Why then have they provoked me by their graven images, And their foreign vanities?
20 收割期已經過去,夏天已經完結,我們仍沒有獲救! 」
The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, And we are not delivered.
21 我的女兒──人民──的創傷使我心痛欲裂,鬱鬱不安,不勝感傷。
For the wound of the daughter of my people am I wounded; I mourn; amazement hath taken hold of me.
22 難道在基肋阿得沒有膏藥,或在那裏沒有醫生嗎﹖究竟為了什麼,我的女兒──人民──的創傷還沒有痊愈﹖
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then are not the wounds of my people healed?