以西結書 20
1 第七年五月初十日，有以色列的幾個長老來求問耶和華，坐在我面前。
On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to ask advice from the Lord, and they sat down with me.
2 耶和華的話臨到我說：
Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
3 「人子啊，你要告訴以色列的長老說，主耶和華如此說：你們來是求問我嗎？主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，我必不被你們求問。
“Son of man, tell these elders of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask my advice? As I live, I'm not going to answer you, declares the Lord God.
4 人子啊，你要審問審問他們嗎？你當使他們知道他們列祖那些可憎的事，
Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,
5 對他們說，主耶和華如此說：當日我揀選以色列，向雅各家的後裔起誓，在埃及地將自己向他們顯現，說：我是耶和華－你們的上帝。
and then tell them that this is what the Lord God says: At the time I chose Israel, I held up my hand and made a solemn promise to Jacob's descendants and revealed myself to them when they were in Egypt. I held up my hand and told them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’
6 那日我向他們起誓，必領他們出埃及地，到我為他們察看的流奶與蜜之地；那地在萬國中是有榮耀的。
I promised them on that day to lead them out of Egypt and take them to a country that I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country.
7 我對他們說，你們各人要拋棄眼所喜愛那可憎之物，不可因埃及的偶像玷污自己。我是耶和華－你們的上帝。
I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
8 他們卻悖逆我，不肯聽從我，不拋棄他們眼所喜愛那可憎之物，不離棄埃及的偶像。 「我就說，我要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，在埃及地向他們成就我怒中所定的。
But they rebelled against me and wouldn't do what I told them. None of them got rid of their disgusting pagan images, and they didn't give up worshiping the idols of Egypt. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in Egypt.
9 我卻為我名的緣故沒有這樣行，免得我名在他們所住的列國人眼前被褻瀆；我領他們出埃及地，在這列國人的眼前將自己向他們顯現。
But I did act so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations living near them who had seen me reveal myself to Israel by leading them out of Egypt.
10 這樣，我就使他們出埃及地，領他們到曠野，
So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.
11 將我的律例賜給他們，將我的典章指示他們；人若遵行就必因此活着。
There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.
12 又將我的安息日賜給他們，好在我與他們中間為證據，使他們知道我－耶和華是叫他們成為聖的。
I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord who makes them holy.
13 以色列家卻在曠野悖逆我，不順從我的律例，厭棄我的典章（人若遵行就必因此活着），大大干犯我的安息日。 「我就說，要在曠野將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，滅絕他們。
But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert, refusing to observe my laws and rejecting my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them and wipe them out there in the desert.
14 我卻為我名的緣故，沒有這樣行，免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。
But I still acted for them so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
15 並且我在曠野向他們起誓，必不領他們進入我所賜給他們流奶與蜜之地（那地在萬國中是有榮耀的）；
So I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I wouldn't take them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country—
16 因為他們厭棄我的典章，不順從我的律例，干犯我的安息日，他們的心隨從自己的偶像。
because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.
17 雖然如此，我眼仍顧惜他們，不毀滅他們，不在曠野將他們滅絕淨盡。
Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
18 「我在曠野對他們的兒女說：不要遵行你們父親的律例，不要謹守他們的惡規，也不要因他們的偶像玷污自己。
I told their children in the desert: ‘Don't do what your fathers told you to do. Don't follow their practices. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping their idols.
19 我是耶和華－你們的上帝，你們要順從我的律例，謹守遵行我的典章，
I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.
20 且以我的安息日為聖。這日在我與你們中間為證據，使你們知道我是耶和華－你們的上帝。
Keep my Sabbaths holy so they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may acknowledge that I am the Lord your God.’
21 只是他們的兒女悖逆我，不順從我的律例，也不謹守遵行我的典章（人若遵行就必因此活着），干犯我的安息日。 「我就說，要將我的忿怒傾在他們身上，在曠野向他們成就我怒中所定的。
But their children also rebelled against me. They didn't follow my laws and didn't keep my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in the desert.
22 雖然如此，我卻為我名的緣故縮手沒有這樣行，免得我的名在我領他們出埃及的列國人眼前被褻瀆。
But I held back and did what I did so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
23 並且我在曠野向他們起誓，必將他們分散在列國，四散在列邦；
However, I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I was going to scatter them among the various countries of different nations.
24 因為他們不遵行我的典章，竟厭棄我的律例，干犯我的安息日，眼目仰望他們父親的偶像。
For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.
25 我也任他們遵行不美的律例，謹守不能使人活着的惡規。
I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.
26 因他們將一切頭生的經火，我就任憑他們在這供獻的事上玷污自己，好叫他們淒涼，使他們知道我是耶和華。
I let them make themselves unclean by their offerings to idols, including their firstborn sons. I allowed this to happen so that they would be so appalled that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord.
27 「人子啊，你要告訴以色列家說，主耶和華如此說：你們的列祖在得罪我的事上褻瀆我；
So, son of man, tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: You're acting in exactly the same way your forefathers insulted me by being unfaithful to me.
28 因為我領他們到了我起誓應許賜給他們的地，他們看見各高山、各茂密樹，就在那裏獻祭，奉上惹我發怒的供物，也在那裏焚燒馨香的祭牲，並澆上奠祭。
After I led them into the land that I had promised to give them, on any high hill or under any leafy tree they saw there they offered their pagan sacrifices and presented offerings to idols that made me angry, burning their sweet-smelling incense and pouring out their drink offerings.
29 我就對他們說：你們所上的那高處叫甚麼呢？（那高處的名字叫巴麻直到今日。）
So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)
30 所以你要對以色列家說，主耶和華如此說：你們仍照你們列祖所行的玷污自己嗎？仍照他們可憎的事行邪淫嗎？
Therefore tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean like your forefathers, turning yourselves into prostitutes, acting the way they did with the same disgusting practices?
31 你們奉上供物使你們兒子經火的時候，仍將一切偶像玷污自己，直到今日嗎？以色列家啊，我豈被你們求問嗎？主耶和華說：我指着我的永生起誓，我必不被你們求問。
When you present your offerings to idols and sacrifice your children in the fire, you continue to make yourselves unclean with all your idols right up until now. So should I give you advice when you ask me, people of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I'm not going to answer you!
32 「你們說：我們要像外邦人和列國的宗族一樣，去事奉木頭與石頭。你們所起的這心意萬不能成就。」
When you say to yourselves, ‘Let's be like the other nations, like people in other countries who worship idols made of wood and stone,’ what you're thinking is never going to happen.
33 主耶和華說：「我指着我的永生起誓，我總要作王，用大能的手和伸出來的膀臂，並傾出來的忿怒，治理你們。
As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.
34 我必用大能的手和伸出來的膀臂，並傾出來的忿怒，將你們從萬民中領出來，從分散的列國內聚集你們。
With all my strength and power, and in my anger, I will lead you out from among the nations and gather you from the countries where you were scattered.
35 我必帶你們到外邦人的曠野，在那裏當面刑罰你們。
I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.
36 我怎樣在埃及地的曠野刑罰你們的列祖，也必照樣刑罰你們。這是主耶和華說的。
In the same way I judged your forefathers in the Egyptian desert after I'd led them out of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord God.
37 我必使你們從杖下經過，使你們被約拘束。
I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.
38 我必從你們中間除淨叛逆和得罪我的人，將他們從所寄居的地方領出來，他們卻不得入以色列地。你們就知道我是耶和華。
I will get rid of those of you who rebel against me, those who sin against me. I will lead them out of the country where they're currently living, but they won't enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 「以色列家啊，至於你們，主耶和華如此說：從此以後若不聽從我，就任憑你們去事奉偶像，只是不可再因你們的供物和偶像褻瀆我的聖名。
This is what the Lord God says to you, you people of Israel: All of you, go ahead and worship your idols. But after that if you don't listen to me you won't continue to disgrace me with your pagan offerings and idols.
40 「主耶和華說：在我的聖山，就是以色列高處的山，所有以色列的全家都要事奉我。我要在那裏悅納你們，向你們要供物和初熟的土產，並一切的聖物。
For there on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain, declares the Lord God, every single person in the whole country of Israel will worship me. That's where I'll accept them and will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, together with all your holy sacrifices.
41 我從萬民中領你們出來，從分散的列國內聚集你們，那時我必悅納你們好像馨香之祭，要在外邦人眼前在你們身上顯為聖。
When I bring you back from the nations and gather you from countries where you were scattered, I will accept you as a suitable offering to me. I will reveal my holiness through you so the nations can see.
42 我領你們進入以色列地，就是我起誓應許賜給你們列祖之地，那時你們就知道我是耶和華。
Then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord when I bring you back to the country of Israel, the land that I promised to give your forefathers.
43 你們在那裏要追念玷污自己的行動作為，又要因所做的一切惡事厭惡自己。
That's where you will remember your bad ways and everything you've done to make yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves for the evil things you did.
44 主耶和華說：以色列家啊，我為我名的緣故，不照着你們的惡行和你們的壞事待你們；你們就知道我是耶和華。」
Then you people of Israel will acknowledge that I am the Lord, because I have treated you well because of who I am, and not because of your evil ways and terrible things you've done, declares the Lord God.”
45 耶和華的話臨到我說：
Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
46 「人子啊，你要面向南方，向南滴下預言攻擊南方田野的樹林。
“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 對南方的樹林說，要聽耶和華的話。主耶和華如此說：我必使火在你中間着起，燒滅你中間的一切青樹和枯樹，猛烈的火焰必不熄滅。從南到北，人的臉面都被燒焦。
Tell the forest of the Negev: Listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am going to set you on fire, and it will burn up all your trees, both those that are living and those that are dead. The blaze won't be put out, and everything from the north to the south will be burned.
48 凡有血氣的都必知道是我－耶和華使火着起，這火必不熄滅。」
Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”
49 於是我說：「哎！主耶和華啊，人都指着我說：他豈不是說比喻的嗎？」
But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”
