< 耶利米書 1 >
1 便雅憫地亞拿突城的祭司中,希勒家的兒子耶利米的話記在下面。
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
2 猶大王亞們的兒子約西亞在位十三年,耶和華的話臨到耶利米。
to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 從猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬在位的時候,直到猶大王約西亞的兒子西底家在位的末年,就是十一年五月間耶路撒冷人被擄的時候,耶和華的話也常臨到耶利米。
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 我未將你造在腹中,我已曉得你; 你未出母胎,我已分別你為聖; 我已派你作列國的先知。
"Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."
6 我就說:主耶和華啊,我不知怎樣說,因為我是年幼的。
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD. Look, I do not know how to speak; for I am a child."
7 耶和華對我說: 你不要說我是年幼的, 因為我差遣你到誰那裏去,你都要去; 我吩咐你說甚麼話,你都要說。
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a child;' for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak.
8 你不要懼怕他們, 因為我與你同在, 要拯救你。 這是耶和華說的。
Do not be afraid because of them; for I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.
9 於是耶和華伸手按我的口,對我說: 我已將當說的話傳給你。
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Look, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 看哪,我今日立你在列邦列國之上, 為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆, 又要建立、栽植。
Look, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
11 耶和華的話又臨到我說:「耶利米,你看見甚麼?」我說:「我看見一根杏樹枝。」
Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree."
12 耶和華對我說:「你看得不錯;因為我留意保守我的話,使得成就。」
Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it."
13 耶和華的話第二次臨到我說:「你看見甚麼?」我說:「我看見一個燒開的鍋,從北而傾。」
The word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" I said, "I see a boiling caldron; and it is tipping away from the north."
14 耶和華對我說:「必有災禍從北方發出,臨到這地的一切居民。」
Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 耶和華說:「看哪,我要召北方列國的眾族;他們要來,各安座位在耶路撒冷的城門口,周圍攻擊城牆,又要攻擊猶大的一切城邑。
For, look, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD; "and they shall come, and they shall each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
16 至於這民的一切惡,就是離棄我、向別神燒香、跪拜自己手所造的,我要發出我的判語,攻擊他們。
I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 所以你當束腰,起來將我所吩咐你的一切話告訴他們;不要因他們驚惶,免得我使你在他們面前驚惶。
"You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.
18 看哪,我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆,與全地和猶大的君王、首領、祭司,並地上的眾民反對。
For, look, I have made you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
19 他們要攻擊你,卻不能勝你;因為我與你同在,要拯救你。這是耶和華說的。」
They will fight against you; but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you."