耶利米書 13
1 耶和華對我如此說：「你去買一根麻布帶子束腰，不可放在水中。」
Thus says the Lord to me: “Go, and obtain for yourself a linen waistcloth. And you shall place it over your loins, and you shall not put it into water.”
2 我就照着耶和華的話，買了一根帶子束腰。
And so I obtained a waistcloth, according to the word of the Lord, and I placed it around my loins.
3 耶和華的話第二次臨到我說：
And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying:
4 「要拿着你所買的腰帶，就是你腰上的帶子，起來往幼發拉底河去，將腰帶藏在那裏的磐石穴中。」
“Take the waistcloth, which you obtained, which is around your loins, and, rising up, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in an opening of the rock.”
5 我就去，照着耶和華所吩咐我的，將腰帶藏在幼發拉底河邊。
And so I went, and I hid it by the Euphrates, just as the Lord had instructed me.
6 過了多日，耶和華對我說：「你起來往幼發拉底河去，將我吩咐你藏在那裏的腰帶取出來。」
And it happened that, after many days, the Lord said to me: “Rise up, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the waistcloth, which I instructed you to hide there.”
7 我就往幼發拉底河去，將腰帶從我所藏的地方刨出來，見腰帶已經變壞，毫無用了。
And so I went to the Euphrates, and I dug up and took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth had rotted, so that it was not fit for any use.
8 耶和華的話臨到我說：
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
9 「耶和華如此說：我必照樣敗壞猶大的驕傲和耶路撒冷的大驕傲。
“Thus says the Lord: In the same way, I will cause the arrogance of Judah and the arrogance of Jerusalem to rot.
10 這惡民不肯聽我的話，按自己頑梗的心而行，隨從別神，事奉敬拜，他們也必像這腰帶變為無用。」
This most wicked people, they are not willing to listen to my words, for they walk in the depravity of their own heart, and they have gone after strange gods, so as to serve them and to adore them. And so, they will become like this waistcloth, which is not fit for any use.
11 耶和華說：「腰帶怎樣緊貼人腰，照樣，我也使以色列全家和猶大全家緊貼我，好叫他們屬我為子民，使我得名聲，得頌讚，得榮耀；他們卻不肯聽。」
For just as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so have I brought close to me the entire house of Israel and the entire house of Judah, says the Lord, so that they would be to me: a people, and a name, and a praise, and a glory. But they did not listen.
12 「所以你要對他們說：『耶和華－以色列的上帝如此說：各罈都要盛滿了酒。』他們必對你說：『我們豈不確知各罈都要盛滿了酒呢？』
Therefore, you shall speak to them this word: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Every bottle will be filled with wine.’ And they will say to you: ‘Are we ignorant that every bottle will be filled with wine?’
13 你就要對他們說：『耶和華如此說：我必使這地的一切居民，就是坐大衛寶座的君王和祭司，與先知，並耶路撒冷的一切居民，都酩酊大醉。』」
And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings from the stock of David who sit upon his throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, unto inebriation.
14 耶和華說：「我要使他們彼此相碰，就是父與子彼此相碰；我必不可憐，不顧惜，不憐憫，以致滅絕他們。」
And I will scatter them, a man from his brother, and fathers and sons similarly, says the Lord. I will not spare them, and I will not pardon them, and I will not take pity, so as not to destroy them.”
15 你們當聽，當側耳而聽。 不要驕傲，因為耶和華已經說了。
Hear and pay close attention. Do not choose to lift yourself up, for the Lord has spoken.
16 耶和華－你們的上帝未使黑暗來到， 你們的腳未在昏暗山上絆跌之先， 當將榮耀歸給他； 免得你們盼望光明， 他使光明變為死蔭， 成為幽暗。
Give glory to the Lord your God, before darkness falls, and before your feet stumble on the darkened mountains. You will expect light, but he will turn it into the shadow of death and into utter darkness.
17 你們若不聽這話， 我必因你們的驕傲在暗地哭泣； 我眼必痛哭流淚， 因為耶和華的群眾被擄去了。
But if you will not listen to this, then my soul will weep in secret before the face of your pride. It will weep bitterly, and my eyes will flow with tears, because the flock of the Lord has been taken captive.
18 你要對君王和太后說： 你們當自卑，坐在下邊； 因你們的頭巾， 就是你們的華冠，已經脫落了。
“Say to the king and to the female ruler: Humble yourselves, sit down. For the crown of your glory has gone down from your head.
19 南方的城盡都關閉， 無人開放； 猶大全被擄掠， 且擄掠淨盡。
The cities of the south have been closed, and there is no one who may open them. All of Judah has been taken away into complete captivity.
20 你們要舉目觀看從北方來的人。 先前賜給你的群眾， 就是你佳美的群眾， 如今在哪裏呢？
Lift up your eyes and see, you who are arriving from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your famous cattle?
21 耶和華立你自己所交的朋友為首，轄制你， 那時你還有甚麼話說呢？ 痛苦豈不將你抓住像產難的婦人嗎？
What will you say when he visits upon you? For you have taught them against you, and you have instructed them with your own head. Will not pains take hold of you, as with a woman in labor?
22 你若心裏說：這一切事為何臨到我呢？ 你的衣襟揭起， 你的腳跟受傷， 是因你的罪孽甚多。
But if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things happened to me?’ it is because of the greatness of your iniquity that your shame has been uncovered and the soles of your feet have been defiled.
23 古實人豈能改變皮膚呢？ 豹豈能改變斑點呢？ 若能，你們這習慣行惡的便能行善了。
If the Ethiopian is able to change his skin, or the leopard is able to change his spots, then you also may be able to do well, though you have learned evil.
24 所以我必用曠野的風吹散他們， 像吹過的碎稭一樣。
And I will scatter them like chaff, which is carried away by the wind in the desert.
25 耶和華說：這是你所當得的， 是我量給你的分； 因為你忘記我， 倚靠虛假。
This is your lot, and this is the portion of your measure from me, says the Lord, because you have forgotten me, and you have had confidence in what is false.
26 所以我要揭起你的衣襟， 蒙在你臉上， 顯出你的醜陋。
Therefore, I have even bared your thighs before your face, and your shame has been seen.
27 你那些可憎惡之事－ 就是在田野的山上行姦淫， 發嘶聲，做淫亂的事－ 我都看見了。 耶路撒冷啊，你有禍了！ 你不肯潔淨，還要到幾時呢？
For I have seen your adulteries, and your neighing for the wickedness of your fornication, and your abominations upon the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How much longer before you will be made clean after me?”
