耶利米書 1
1 本雅明地內阿納托特城的司祭中，希耳克雅的兒子耶肋米亞的言行錄。──
The word of God which came to Jeremias the [son] of Chelcias, of the priests, who lived in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
2 上主的話傳給，是在阿孟的兒子約史雅為猶大王執政第十三年；
[accordingly] as the word of God came to him in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 以後傳給他，是在約史雅的兒子約雅金為猶大王，直到約史雅的兒子漆德雅為猶大王第十一年年底，即直到是年五月，耶路撒冷固民被擄去充軍時為止。
And it was in the days of Joakim, son of Josias king of Juda, until the eleventh year of Sedekias king of Juda, [even] until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
4 上主對我說：
And the word of the Lord came to him, [saying],
5 「我還沒有在母腹形成你以前，我已認識了你；在你還沒有出離母胎以前，我已祝福了你，選定了你作萬民的先知。」
Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you; and before you came forth from the womb, I sanctified you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
6 我回答說：「哎呀! 我主上主! 你看，我還太年輕，不會說話」。
And I said, O Lord, you that are supreme Lord, behold, I know not [how] to speak, for I am a child.
7 上主對我說：「你別說：我太年輕，因為我派你到那裏去，你就應到那裏去；我命你說什麼，你就應說什麼。
And the Lord said to me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all to whoever I shall send you, and according to all [the words] that I shall command you, you shall speak.
8 你不要害怕他們，因為有我與你同在，保護你──上主的斷語。」
Be not afraid before them: for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
9 此後，上主伸出手來，觸摸我的口，對我說：「看，我將我的話放在你口中；
And the Lord stretched forth his hand to me, and touched my mouth: and the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put my words into your mouth.
10 看我今天委派你對萬民和邦列國，執行拔除、破壞、毀滅、推翻、建設和栽培的任務。」
Behold, I have appointed you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to rebuild, and to plant.
11 上主的話傳給我說：「耶肋米亞，你看見什麼﹖」我回答說：「我看見一棵杏樹枝。」
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, What see you? And I said, A rod of an almond tree.
12 上主對我說：「你看的對，因為我要警醒，看我的話怎樣實現。」
And the Lord said to me, You have well seen: for I have watched over my words to perform them.
13 上主的話二次傳給我說：「你看見什麼﹖」我回答說：「我看見一個沸騰的鍋，它的口由北面傾倒過來。」
And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, What see you? And I said, A cauldron on the fire; and the face of it is towards the north.
14 上主對我說：「災禍將由北方燒起，一直燒到這地上的一切居民。
And the Lord said to me, From the north shall flame forth evils upon all the inhabitants of the land.
15 看，我必召集北方的一切國家──上主的斷語──叫各國前來，在城門口，在城牆四周以及猶大各城市旁，建立自己的寶座。
For, behold, I call together all the kingdoms of the earth from the north, says the Lord; and they shall come, and shall set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls round about her, and against all the cities of Juda.
16 我要向各城市的人民宣告我的判決，懲罰他們的，因為他們離棄我，向別的神祗獻香，崇拜了他們手製的作品。
And I will speak to them in judgement, concerning all their iniquity, [forasmuch] as they have forsaken me, and sacrificed to strange gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
17 至於你，你要束上腰，起來向他們傳示我命令你的一切。在他們面前，你不要畏懼，免得我在他們面前令你畏懼。
And do you gird up your loins, and stand up, and speak all [the words] that I shall command you: be not afraid of their face, neither be you alarmed before them; for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
18 看啊! 我今天使你成為堅城、銅牆、鐵壁，以對抗猶大君王和首領，司祭和當地的人民。
Behold, I have made you this day as a strong city, and as a brazen wall, strong [against] all the kings of Juda, and the princes thereof, and the people of the land.
19 他們要攻擊你，卻不能得勝你，因為有我與你同在，協助你──上主的斷語。」
And they shall fight against you; but they shall by no means prevail against you; because I am with you, to deliver you, says the Lord.
