< 西番雅書 3 >

1 禍哉! 那叛逆、污穢,而殘暴的城市!
Terrible things will [also] happen [to Jerusalem], that city whose people have rebelled [against Yahweh] and who have become unacceptable to him [because of the sins that they have committed]. [They act violently toward others] and they (oppress/treat cruelly) [other people].
2 她從不聽呼聲,又不接受教訓;不依賴上主,也不親近她的天主。
[The people there] do not pay attention to people who tell them [the wrong things that they are doing] and [try to] (correct them/cause them to quit doing those things). [The people in Jerusalem] do not trust in Yahweh or draw near to ask help from their God.
3 她的王侯在她中間,是一些咆哮的獅子;她的判官是夜間的豺狼,什麼也不留到天明。
Their leaders are [like] [MET] roaring lions; they are [like] [MET] wolves that [attack other animals] during the evening, [and eat everything that they kill], with the result that the next morning there is nothing left [of those animals to eat].
4 她的先知都是些輕浮欺詐之徒,她火司祭褻瀆聖物,違犯法律。
The prophets in Jerusalem are proud, [and they give messages that are] not to be trusted. Their priests cause the temple to be unholy by doing things that are opposed to the laws [of Moses].
5 但上主在她中間是正義的,從不行不義;衪每天早晨施行審判,有如不消散的光明,衪全不認識可恥的邪惡。
But Yahweh is [also] in the city; and he never does what is wrong. He treats people justly/fairly; he does that every day, but wicked people are never ashamed [about their doing what is wrong].
6 我曾消滅了異民,他們的碉堡已化為廢墟;我使他們的街道荒涼得無人往來,他們的城市毀壞得不留一人,沒有一個遺。
[Yahweh says this]: “I have destroyed [many] nations; I have destroyed their strong/high city walls and towers. [Now] I have caused the streets in those cities to be completely deserted [DOU]; the cities are ruined. There are no people [still alive] in the cities; they are all dead [LIT].
7 我原想:「她必要敬畏我,接受教訓;凡我加於她的懲罰,必不致由她眼前消失。」但他們反加速使自己一切的行為墮落。
[So] I thought [to myself], ‘[Because of what I have done to those other nations], surely the people [of Jerusalem] will revere me [now], and they will accept (my correcting them/my telling them to quit doing what is wrong). [If they do that, I] will not destroy their houses; I will not punish them like I said that I would do.’ But [in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations], they were still eager to get up early each morning and continue to do evil things.
8 為什麼你們等待我──上主的斷語──等到我起來作證的一天,因為我已決定聚集萬民,召集列國,在他們身上傾洩我的憤怒和我所有的怒火:全地必要為我的妒火所吞滅。
Therefore I, Yahweh, say, ‘Wait for the day in which I will testify [in court about your evil things].’ I have decided to gather the people of the kingdoms [of the earth] [DOU] and cause them to know that I am very angry with them. All [over] the earth I will punish and destroy people; my being angry with them because I (am jealous/want people to worship no other god) is [like] [MET] a (raging/very hot) fire.
9 那時,我要使萬民的口脣純潔好能稱叫上主的名號,同心協力服事上主。
When that happens, I will cause [all] people [MTY] to be changed and enable them to speak [only] what is (pure/pleasing to me), in order that everyone can worship me [MTY] and unitedly/together serve me [MTY].
10 欽崇我的人,[ 即我所分散的集團] 要從雇士河那邊給我貢獻祭品。
[Then] my people who [were forced to go to other countries], those who live along the upper part of the [Nile] River in Ethiopia will come to me and bring offerings to me.
11 在那一天,你決不再因你反抗我的一切作為而羞慚,因為那時我必由你中間驅逐你那些驕矜自誇的人,使你不再在我的聖山上自誇;
At that time, you [people in Jerusalem] will no [longer] be ashamed [about what has happened to you], because you no longer will be rebelling against me. I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud [DOU]. No one on [Zion], my holy hill, will [strut around] proudly.
12 但我必在你中間留下謙遜和貧苦的百姓,他們必依賴上主的名號。
Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
13 以色列的遺民不再行邪惡,也不再說謊言;在他們的口裏再也找不到欺詐的吞頭;的確,他們或是牧放,或是休息,沒有人來恐嚇。
Those people who are still alive [there] in Israel will not do [things that are] wrong; they will not tell lies or deceive [MTY] people. They will eat and sleep [safely], [because] no one will cause them to be afraid.”
14 熙雍女子,妳應歡樂! 以色列,你應歡呼! 耶路撒冷女子,妳應全心高興喜樂!
You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
15 上主已撤銷對妳的定案,掃除了妳的仇敵;以色列的君王──上主,在妳中間,妳再不會遇見災禍!
[because] Yahweh will stop punishing [MTY] you, and he will send away from you [the armies of] your enemies! And Yahweh [himself], the king of [us] Israeli people, will live among us, and never again will we be afraid that [others will] harm us.
16 在那一天,人必對耶路撒冷說:「熙雍,你不用害怕,不要雙手低垂!
At that time, [other people] will say to us people of Jerusalem, “[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, do not be afraid; do not become afraid or discouraged,
17 上主你的天主,在你中間,他是一位施救的勇士,衪為你喜自勝,對你重溫衪的愛情,且因你躍喜樂,
[because] Yahweh your God is [living] among you. He is mighty, and he will rescue/save you. He will be very happy with you; because he loves you, he will cause you to not be afraid; he will sing loudly to rejoice over you.”
18 有如在慶節之日。我必消滅打搫你的人,使你不再受羞辱。
[Yahweh says, ] “You people were sad and ashamed because [you were unable to attend] your religious festivals; but I will cause you to no longer be disgraced.
19 看哪! 在那時,我必要了結一切迫害你的人,我必要拯救瘸腿的,聚集漂的;我必使他們在各地所受的羞辱,化為稱讚和榮譽。
Truly, I will [severely] punish all those who (oppressed you/caused you to suffer). I will rescue those who are helpless and those who were forced to go to other countries. I will enable them to be praised and honored in every country to which they were (exiled/forced to go), places where they were disgraced.
20 那時,我我必要召你們回來;那時,我必要聚集你們;當我要在你們的面前轉變你們的命運時,我必使你們在普世萬民中,獲得榮譽和稱讚──上主說。
At that time, I will gather you together and bring you [back] home [to Israel]. I will cause you to (have a good reputation/be honored) and be [greatly] praised among all the nations of the earth. You [MTY] will see me causing you to prosper again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”

< 西番雅書 3 >