以西結書 17
1 耶和華的話臨到我說：
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 「人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，
“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel
3 說主耶和華如此說：有一大鷹，翅膀大，翎毛長，羽毛豐滿，彩色俱備，來到黎巴嫩，將香柏樹梢擰去，
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
4 就是折去香柏樹儘尖的嫩枝，叼到貿易之地，放在買賣城中；
He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.
5 又將以色列地的枝子栽於肥田裏，插在大水旁，如插柳樹，
He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.
6 就漸漸生長，成為蔓延矮小的葡萄樹。其枝轉向那鷹，其根在鷹以下，於是成了葡萄樹，生出枝子，發出小枝。
It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.
7 「又有一大鷹，翅膀大，羽毛多。這葡萄樹從栽種的畦中向這鷹彎過根來，發出枝子，好得它的澆灌。
But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.
8 這樹栽於肥田多水的旁邊，好生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的葡萄樹。
It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’
9 你要說，主耶和華如此說：這葡萄樹豈能發旺呢？鷹豈不拔出它的根來，芟除它的果子，使它枯乾，使它發的嫩葉都枯乾了嗎？也不用大力和多民，就拔出它的根來。
So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.
10 葡萄樹雖然栽種，豈能發旺呢？一經東風，豈不全然枯乾嗎？必在生長的畦中枯乾了。」
Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”
11 耶和華的話臨到我說：
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
12 「你對那悖逆之家說：你們不知道這些事是甚麼意思嗎？你要告訴他們說，巴比倫王曾到耶路撒冷，將其中的君王和首領帶到巴比倫自己那裏去。
“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.
13 從以色列的宗室中取一人與他立約，使他發誓，並將國中有勢力的人擄去，
He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,
14 使國低微不能自強，惟因守盟約得以存立。
so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.
15 他卻背叛巴比倫王，打發使者往埃及去，要他們給他馬匹和多民。他豈能亨通呢？行這樣事的人豈能逃脫呢？他背約豈能逃脫呢？
But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’
16 他輕看向王所起的誓，背棄王與他所立的約。主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，他定要死在立他作王、巴比倫王的京都。
‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.
17 敵人築壘造臺，與他打仗的時候，為要剪除多人，法老雖領大軍隊和大群眾，還是不能幫助他。
Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.
18 他輕看誓言，背棄盟約，已經投降，卻又做這一切的事，他必不能逃脫。」
He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’
19 所以主耶和華如此說：「我指着我的永生起誓，他既輕看指我所起的誓，背棄指我所立的約，我必要使這罪歸在他頭上。
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.
20 我必將我的網撒在他身上，他必在我的網羅中纏住。我必帶他到巴比倫，並要在那裏因他干犯我的罪刑罰他。
I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me.
21 他的一切軍隊，凡逃跑的，都必倒在刀下；所剩下的，也必分散四方。你們就知道說這話的是我－耶和華。」
All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’
22 主耶和華如此說：「我要將香柏樹梢擰去栽上，就是從儘尖的嫩枝中折一嫩枝，栽於極高的山上；
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
23 在以色列高處的山栽上。它就生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的香柏樹，各類飛鳥都必宿在其下，就是宿在枝子的蔭下。
I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
24 田野的樹木都必知道我－耶和華使高樹矮小，矮樹高大；青樹枯乾，枯樹發旺。我－耶和華如此說，也如此行了。」
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
