耶利米書 21
1 耶和華的話臨到耶利米。那時，西底家王打發瑪基雅的兒子巴施戶珥和瑪西雅的兒子祭司西番雅去見耶利米，說：
This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah to talk with him. They said,
2 「請你為我們求問耶和華；因為巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來攻擊我們，或者耶和華照他一切奇妙的作為待我們，使巴比倫王離開我們上去。」
“Please speak with Lord on our behalf because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will do some miracle for us like all those miracles he used to do, so that Nebuchadnezzar will retreat from us.”
3 耶利米對他們說：「你們當對西底家這樣說：
But Jeremiah replied, “Tell Zedekiah this:
4 『耶和華－以色列的上帝如此說：我要使你們手中的兵器，就是你們在城外與巴比倫王和圍困你們的迦勒底人打仗的兵器翻轉過來，又要使這些都聚集在這城中。
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I'm going to turn the weapons you're holding against you, the weapons you're using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonian army outside the wall besieging you. I'm going to bring them right into the center of this city.
5 並且我要在怒氣、忿怒，和大惱恨中，用伸出來的手，並大能的膀臂，親自攻擊你們；
I myself will fight against you with all my power and might, with the full force of my furious anger.
6 又要擊打這城的居民，連人帶牲畜都必遭遇大瘟疫死亡。
I will kill those living in this city, human beings and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.
7 以後我要將猶大王西底家和他的臣僕百姓，就是在城內，從瘟疫、刀劍、饑荒中剩下的人，都交在巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的手中和他們仇敵，並尋索其命的人手中。巴比倫王必用刀擊殺他們，不顧惜，不可憐，不憐憫。這是耶和華說的。』
After that, declares the Lord, I'm going to hand you over, Zedekiah king of Judah, as well as your officers and the people who are left in this city after the plague and war and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to your enemies who want you dead. He will attack you; he won't spare you or show you any pity or mercy.
8 「你要對這百姓說：『耶和華如此說：看哪，我將生命的路和死亡的路擺在你們面前。
Tell the people this as well: This is what the Lord says: Look, I'm placing before you the path of life and the path of death.
9 住在這城裏的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死；但出去歸降圍困你們迦勒底人的必得存活，要以自己的命為掠物。
If you stay in this city you'll die either by sword and famine and plague, but if you leave and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging you, you will live. In fact it will be like gaining your life as plunder from a war.
10 耶和華說：我向這城變臉，降禍不降福；這城必交在巴比倫王的手中，他必用火焚燒。』」
For I am determined to bring disaster on this city, and not blessings, declares the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.
11 「至於猶大王的家，你們當聽耶和華的話。
In addition tell the royal family of the king of Judah to listen to the Lord's message:
12 大衛家啊，耶和華如此說： 你們每早晨要施行公平， 拯救被搶奪的脫離欺壓人的手， 恐怕我的忿怒因你們的惡行發作， 如火着起，甚至無人能以熄滅。
Descendants of David, this is what the Lord says: Make sure you judge fairly every day. Protect those who are being unjustly treated from those corrupt people, otherwise because of their evil actions my anger will blaze out like fire that can't be put out.
13 耶和華說：住山谷和平原磐石上的居民， 你們說：誰能下來攻擊我們？ 誰能進入我們的住處呢？ 看哪，我與你們為敵。
Watch out, because I'm going to fight against you people who live above the valley on top of a flat rock, declares the Lord. You say, ‘Who can attack us? Who can break down our defenses?’
14 耶和華又說： 我必按你們做事的結果刑罰你們； 我也必使火在耶路撒冷的林中着起， 將她四圍所有的盡行燒滅。」
I'm going to punish you as you deserve for what you've done, declares the Lord. I will set your forest on fire and it will burn up everything around you.”
