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 words of Jeremiah the son of Chilkiyahu, one of the priests that were 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；
To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon the king of Judah, 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 who continued [prophet] in the days of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah the king of Judah, until the carrying away into exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
4 上主對我說：
And the word of the Lord came unto me, 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 yet I had formed thee in thy mother's body I knew thee; and before thou wast yet come forth out of the womb I sanctified thee: a prophet unto the nations did I ordain thee.
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, Ah, Lord Eternal! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am [but] a lad.
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 unto me, Say not, I am [but] a lad; but to whomsoever I may send thee shalt thou go, and whatsoever I may command thee shalt thou 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 because of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith 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, and touched [me] therewith on my mouth; and the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy 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。」
See, I have appointed thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down: to build up, 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 unto me, saying, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, A staff of all almond-tree do I see.
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 unto me, Thou hast well seen; for I am watching over my word to perform it.
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 unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, A seething pot do I see; and the front thereof is turned from 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 unto me, Out of the north shall the evil break forth over 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, lo, I will call unto all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and upon all its walls round about, and upon [those of] all the cities of Judah.
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 call them to account touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burnt incense unto other gods, and have bowed down unto 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。
But do thou gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I may command thee; be not discouraged because of them, lest I humble thee before them.
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。
But I, behold, I have made of thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls over the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against 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 [although] they fight against thee, they shall not prevail against thee; for with thee am I saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
