耶利米書 12
1 耶和華啊，我與你爭辯的時候， 你顯為義； 但有一件，我還要與你理論： 惡人的道路為何亨通呢？ 大行詭詐的為何得安逸呢？
Righteous art thou, O Lord, that I may make my defence to thee, yea, I will speak to thee [of] judgments. Why [is it] that the way of ungodly [men] prospers? [that] all that deal very treacherously are flourishing?
2 你栽培了他們， 他們也扎了根， 長大，而且結果。 他們的口是與你相近， 心卻與你遠離。
Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins.
3 耶和華啊，你曉得我，看見我， 察驗我向你是怎樣的心。 求你將他們拉出來， 好像將宰的羊， 叫他們等候殺戮的日子。
But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter.
4 這地悲哀， 通國的青草枯乾，要到幾時呢？ 因其上居民的惡行， 牲畜和飛鳥都滅絕了。 他們曾說：他看不見我們的結局。
How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them, that dwell in it? the beasts and birds are utterly destroyed; because [the people] said, God shall not see our ways.
5 耶和華說：你若與步行的人同跑， 尚且覺累， 怎能與馬賽跑呢？ 你在平安之地，雖然安穩， 在約旦河邊的叢林要怎樣行呢？
Thy feet run, and they cause thee to faint; how wilt thou prepare [to ride] upon horses? and thou hast been confident in the land of thy peace? how wilt thou do in the roaring of Jordan?
6 因為連你弟兄和你父家都用奸詐待你。 他們也在你後邊大聲喊叫， 雖向你說好話， 你也不要信他們。
For even thy brethren and the house of thy father, even these have dealt treacherously with thee; and they have cried out, they are gathered together in pursuit of thee; trust not thou in them, though they shall speak fair [words] to thee.
7 我離了我的殿宇， 撇棄我的產業， 將我心裏所親愛的交在她仇敵的手中。
I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given my beloved one into the hands of her enemies.
8 我的產業向我如林中的獅子， 她發聲攻擊我， 因此我恨惡她。
My inheritance has become to me as a lion in a forest; she has uttered her voice against me; therefore have I hated her.
9 我的產業向我豈如斑點的鷙鳥呢？ 鷙鳥豈在她四圍攻擊她呢？ 你們要去聚集田野的百獸， 帶來吞吃吧！
Is not my inheritance to me a hyaena's cave, or a cave round about her? Go ye, gather together all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her.
10 許多牧人毀壞我的葡萄園， 踐踏我的分， 使我美好的分變為荒涼的曠野。
Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have defiled my portion, they have made my desirable portion a trackless wilderness;
11 他們使地荒涼； 地既荒涼，便向我悲哀。 全地荒涼，因無人介意。
it is made a complete ruin: for my sake the whole land has been utterly ruined, because there is none that lays [the matter] to heart.
12 滅命的都來到曠野中一切淨光的高處； 耶和華的刀從地這邊直到地那邊盡行殺滅。 凡有血氣的都不得平安。
The ravagers are come to every passage in the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other: no flesh has any peace.
13 他們種的是麥子， 收的是荊棘； 勞勞苦苦卻毫無益處。 因耶和華的烈怒， 你們必為自己的土產羞愧。
Sow wheat, and reap thorns; their portions shall not profit them: be ashamed of your boasting, because of reproach before the Lord.
14 耶和華如此說：「一切惡鄰，就是佔據我使百姓以色列所承受產業的，我要將他們拔出本地，又要將猶大家從他們中間拔出來。
For thus saith the Lord, concerning all the evil neighbours that touch mine inheritance, which I have divided to my people Israel; Behold, I [will] draw them away from their land, and I will cast out Juda from the midst of them.
15 我拔出他們以後，我必轉過來憐憫他們，把他們再帶回來，各歸本業，各歸故土。
And it shall come to pass, after I have cast them out, [that] I will return, and have mercy upon them, and will cause them to dwell every one in his inheritance, and every one in his land.
16 他們若殷勤學習我百姓的道，指着我的名起誓說：『我指着永生的耶和華起誓』，正如他們從前教我百姓指着巴力起誓，他們就必建立在我百姓中間。
And it shall be, if they will indeed learn the way of my people, to swear by my name, [saying], The Lord lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall [that nation] be built in the midst of my people.
17 他們若是不聽，我必拔出那國，拔出而且毀滅。這是耶和華說的。」
But if they will not return, then will I cut off that nation with utter ruin and destruction.
