< 耶利米哀歌 4 >
1 黃金何其失光! 純金何其變色! 聖所的石頭倒在各市口上。
How the gold has become dim. How the most pure gold has changed. The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
2 錫安寶貴的眾子好比精金, 現在何竟算為窯匠手所做的瓦瓶?
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How they are regarded as clay jars, the work of the hands of the potter.
3 野狗尚且把奶乳哺其子, 我民的婦人倒成為殘忍, 好像曠野的鴕鳥一般。
Even the jackals offer the breast, they nurse their young ones, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.
4 吃奶孩子的舌頭因乾渴貼住上膛; 孩童求餅,無人擘給他們。
The nursing infant's tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, but no one gives to them.
5 素來吃美好食物的, 現今在街上變為孤寒; 素來臥朱紅褥子的, 現今躺臥糞堆。
Those who ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those who were brought up in purple embrace ash heaps.
6 都因我眾民的罪孽比所多瑪的罪還大; 所多瑪雖然無人加手於她, 還是轉眼之間被傾覆。
For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in an instant, and no hands were laid on her.
7 錫安的貴冑素來比雪純淨, 比奶更白; 他們的身體比紅寶玉更紅, 像光潤的藍寶石一樣。
Her consecrated ones were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance was like lapis lazuli.
8 現在他們的面貌比煤炭更黑, 以致在街上無人認識; 他們的皮膚緊貼骨頭, 枯乾如同槁木。
They appear darker than soot; they are not known in the streets. Their skin cleaves to their bones; it is withered and has become as dry as a stick.
9 餓死的不如被刀殺的, 因為這是缺了田間的土產, 就身體衰弱,漸漸消滅。
Those who are killed with the sword are better than those who are killed with hunger; those who waste away, pierced through, for lack of the fruits of the field.
10 慈心的婦人,當我眾民被毀滅的時候, 親手煮自己的兒女作為食物。
The hands of the compassionate women have cooked their own children; they were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
11 耶和華發怒成就他所定的, 倒出他的烈怒; 在錫安使火着起, 燒毀錫安的根基。
The LORD has accomplished his wrath, he has poured out his fierce anger; he has kindled a fire in Zion, which has devoured its foundations.
12 地上的君王和世上的居民都不信 敵人和仇敵能進耶路撒冷的城門。
The kings of the earth did not believe, neither all the inhabitants of the world, that the adversary or the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.
13 這都因她先知的罪惡和祭司的罪孽; 他們在城中流了義人的血。
It is because of the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.
14 他們在街上如瞎子亂走, 又被血玷污, 以致人不能摸他們的衣服。
They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, so that men can't touch their garments.
15 人向他們喊着說: 不潔淨的,躲開,躲開! 不要挨近我! 他們逃走飄流的時候, 列國中有人說: 他們不可仍在這裏寄居。
"Go away." they cried to them, "Unclean. Away, away. Do not touch." When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, "They shall not live here anymore."
16 耶和華發怒,將他們分散, 不再眷顧他們; 人不重看祭司,也不厚待長老。
The LORD himself has scattered them; he will no more regard them. They did not respect the priests, they did not favor the elders.
17 我們仰望人來幫助, 以致眼目失明,還是枉然; 我們所盼望的,竟盼望一個不能救人的國!
Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help. In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
18 仇敵追趕我們的腳步像打獵的, 以致我們不敢在自己的街上行走。 我們的結局臨近; 我們的日子滿足; 我們的結局來到了。
They hunt our steps, so that we can't go in our streets. Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end has come.
19 追趕我們的比空中的鷹更快; 他們在山上追逼我們, 在曠野埋伏,等候我們。
Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the sky. They chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.
20 耶和華的受膏者好比我們鼻中的氣, 在他們的坑中被捉住; 我們曾論到他說: 我們必在他蔭下, 在列國中存活。
The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits; of whom we said, "Under his shadow we can live among the nations."
21 住烏斯地的以東民哪,只管歡喜快樂; 苦杯也必傳到你那裏; 你必喝醉,以致露體。
Rejoice and be glad, daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz. The cup shall pass through to you also; you will get drunk, and shall make yourself naked.
22 錫安的民哪,你罪孽的刑罰受足了, 耶和華必不使你再被擄去。 以東的民哪,他必追討你的罪孽, 顯露你的罪惡。
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity. He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.