耶利米書 18
1 耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2 「你起來，下到窯匠的家裏去，我在那裏要使你聽我的話。」
“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.”
3 我就下到窯匠的家裏去，正遇他轉輪做器皿。
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he was making something on the wheels.
4 窯匠用泥做的器皿，在他手中做壞了，他又用這泥另做別的器皿；窯匠看怎樣好，就怎樣做。
When the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 耶和華的話就臨到我說：
Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
6 「耶和華說：以色列家啊，我待你們，豈不能照這窯匠弄泥嗎？以色列家啊，泥在窯匠的手中怎樣，你們在我的手中也怎樣。
“House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
7 我何時論到一邦或一國說，要拔出、拆毀、毀壞；
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it,
8 我所說的那一邦，若是轉意離開他們的惡，我就必後悔，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
9 我何時論到一邦或一國說，要建立、栽植；
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
10 他們若行我眼中看為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我就必後悔，不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。
if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
11 現在你要對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說：『耶和華如此說：我造出災禍攻擊你們，定意刑罰你們。你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道，改正你們的行動作為。』
“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, and amend your ways and your doings.”’
12 「他們卻說：『這是枉然。我們要照自己的計謀去行。』各人隨自己頑梗的惡心做事。」
But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
13 所以，耶和華如此說： 你們且往各國訪問， 有誰聽見這樣的事？ 以色列民行了一件極可憎惡的事。
Therefore Yahweh says: “Ask now among the nations, ‘Who has heard such things?’ The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
14 黎巴嫩的雪從田野的磐石上豈能斷絕呢？ 從遠處流下的涼水豈能乾涸呢？
Will the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? Will the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?
15 我的百姓竟忘記我， 向假神燒香， 使他們在所行的路上，在古道上絆跌， 使他們行沒有修築的斜路，
For my people have forgotten me. They have burned incense to false gods. They have been made to stumble in their ways in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up,
16 以致他們的地令人驚駭， 常常嗤笑； 凡經過這地的必驚駭搖頭。
to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and shake his head.
17 我必在仇敵面前分散他們， 好像用東風吹散一樣。 遭難的日子，我必以背向他們， 不以面向他們。
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy. I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18 他們就說：「來吧！我們可以設計謀害耶利米；因為我們有祭司講律法，智慧人設謀略，先知說預言，都不能斷絕。來吧！我們可以用舌頭擊打他，不要理會他的一切話。」
Then they said, “Come! Let’s devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law won’t perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let’s strike him with the tongue, and let’s not give heed to any of his words.”
19 耶和華啊，求你理會我， 且聽那些與我爭競之人的話。
Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
20 豈可以惡報善呢？ 他們竟挖坑要害我的性命！ 求你記念我怎樣站在你面前為他們代求， 要使你的忿怒向他們轉消。
Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
21 故此，願你將他們的兒女交與饑荒和刀劍； 願他們的妻無子，且作寡婦； 又願他們的男人被死亡所滅， 他們的少年人在陣上被刀擊殺。
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
22 你使敵軍忽然臨到他們的時候， 願人聽見哀聲從他們的屋內發出； 因他們挖坑要捉拿我， 暗設網羅要絆我的腳。
Let a cry be heard from their houses when you bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me and hidden snares for my feet.
23 耶和華啊，他們要殺我的那一切計謀， 你都知道。 不要赦免他們的罪孽， 也不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪惡， 要叫他們在你面前跌倒； 願你發怒的時候罰辦他們。
Yet, Yahweh, you know all their counsel against me to kill me. Don’t forgive their iniquity. Don’t blot out their sin from your sight, Let them be overthrown before you. Deal with them in the time of your anger.
