< 耶利米書 40 >
1 耶利米鎖在耶路撒冷和猶大被擄到巴比倫的人中,護衛長尼布撒拉旦將他從拉瑪釋放以後,耶和華的話臨到耶利米。
The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him, being bound in chains, among all the captivity of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive to Babylon.
2 護衛長將耶利米叫來,對他說:「耶和華-你的上帝曾說要降這禍與此地。
And the captain of the body-guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, Jehovah thy God pronounced this evil upon this place,
3 耶和華使這禍臨到,照他所說的行了;因為你們得罪耶和華,沒有聽從他的話,所以這事臨到你們。
and Jehovah hath brought [it about] and done according as he said; for ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened unto his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
4 現在我解開你手上的鍊子,你若看與我同往巴比倫去好,就可以去,我必厚待你;你若看與我同往巴比倫去不好,就不必去。看哪,全地在你面前,你以為哪裏美好,哪裏合宜,只管上那裏去吧!」
And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains that are upon thy hand. If it seem good in thy sight to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will keep mine eye upon thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me to Babylon, forbear. See, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and right in thy sight to go, thither go.
5 耶利米還沒有回去,護衛長說:「你可以回到沙番的孫子亞希甘的兒子基大利那裏去;現在巴比倫王立他作猶大城邑的省長。你可以在他那裏住在民中,不然,你看哪裏合宜就可以上那裏去。」於是護衛長送他糧食和禮物,釋放他去了。
And while he had not yet given answer; [he said, ] Yea, go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and abide with him in the midst of the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right in thy sight to go. And the captain of the body-guard gave him provisions and a present, and let him go.
6 耶利米就到米斯巴見亞希甘的兒子基大利,在他那裏住在境內剩下的民中。
And Jeremiah came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and abode with him among the people that remained in the land.
7 在田野的一切軍長和屬他們的人聽見巴比倫王立了亞希甘的兒子基大利作境內的省長,並將沒有擄到巴比倫的男人、婦女、孩童,和境內極窮的人全交給他。
And all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that had not been carried away captive to Babylon.
8 於是軍長尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利,加利亞的兩個兒子約哈難和約拿單,單戶篾的兒子西萊雅,並尼陀法人以斐的眾子,瑪迦人的兒子耶撒尼亞和屬他們的人,都到米斯巴見基大利。
And they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah; even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
9 沙番的孫子亞希甘的兒子基大利向他們和屬他們的人起誓說:「不要怕服事迦勒底人,只管住在這地,服事巴比倫王,就可以得福。
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
10 至於我,我要住在米斯巴,伺候那到我們這裏來的迦勒底人;只是你們當積蓄酒、油,和夏天的果子,收在器皿裏,住在你們所佔的城邑中。」
And as for me, behold, I dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans, who will come unto us; and ye, gather wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities which ye have taken.
11 在摩押地和亞捫人中,在以東地和各國的一切猶大人,聽見巴比倫王留下些猶大人,並立沙番的孫子亞希甘的兒子基大利管理他們。
Likewise all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon and in Edom, and that were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
12 這一切猶大人就從所趕到的各處回來,到猶大地米斯巴的基大利那裏,又積蓄了許多的酒,並夏天的果子。
and all the Jews returned out of all the places whither they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.
13 加利亞的兒子約哈難和在田野的一切軍長來到米斯巴見基大利,
And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah unto Mizpah,
14 對他說:「亞捫人的王巴利斯打發尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利來要你的命,你知道嗎?」亞希甘的兒子基大利卻不信他們的話。
and said unto him, Dost thou indeed know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to smite thee to death? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 加利亞的兒子約哈難在米斯巴私下對基大利說:「求你容我去殺尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利,必無人知道。何必讓他要你的命,使聚集到你這裏來的猶大人都分散,以致猶大剩下的人都滅亡呢?」
And Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and no man shall know it: why should he take thy life, and all they of Judah who are gathered unto thee be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
16 亞希甘的兒子基大利對加利亞的兒子約哈難說:「你不可行這事,你所論以實瑪利的話是假的。」
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.