Jeremiah 2
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
耶和華的話臨到我說：
2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
「你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說，耶和華如此說： 你幼年的恩愛， 婚姻的愛情， 你怎樣在曠野， 在未曾耕種之地跟隨我， 我都記得。
3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
那時以色列歸耶和華為聖， 作為土產初熟的果子； 凡吞吃它的必算為有罪， 災禍必臨到他們。 這是耶和華說的。
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
雅各家、以色列家的各族啊，你們當聽耶和華的話。
5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
耶和華如此說： 你們的列祖見我有甚麼不義， 竟遠離我，隨從虛無的神， 自己成為虛妄的呢？
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
他們也不說： 那領我們從埃及地上來， 引導我們經過曠野， 沙漠有深坑之地， 和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、 無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裏呢？
7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable.
我領你們進入肥美之地， 使你們得吃其中的果子和美物； 但你們進入的時候就玷污我的地， 使我的產業成為可憎的。
8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
祭司都不說，耶和華在哪裏呢？ 傳講律法的都不認識我。 官長違背我； 先知藉巴力說預言， 隨從無益的神。
9 Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
耶和華說：我因此必與你們爭辯， 也必與你們的子孫爭辯。
10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
你們且過到基提海島去察看， 打發人往基達去留心查考， 看曾有這樣的事沒有。
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
豈有一國換了他的神嗎？ 其實這不是神！ 但我的百姓將他們的榮耀換了那無益的神。
12 Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,”
諸天哪，要因此驚奇， 極其恐慌，甚為淒涼！ 這是耶和華說的。
13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事， 就是離棄我這活水的泉源， 為自己鑿出池子， 是破裂不能存水的池子。
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
以色列是僕人嗎？ 是家中生的奴僕嗎？ 為何成為掠物呢？
15 The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
少壯獅子向他咆哮，大聲吼叫， 使他的地荒涼； 城邑也都焚燒，無人居住。
16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
挪弗人和答比匿人也打破你的頭頂。
17 Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
這事臨到你身上，不是你自招的嗎？ 不是因耶和華－你上帝引你行路的時候， 你離棄他嗎？
18 Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
現今你為何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢？ 你為何在亞述路上要喝大河的水呢？
19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,”
你自己的惡必懲治你； 你背道的事必責備你。 由此可知可見，你離棄耶和華－你的上帝， 不存敬畏我的心， 乃為惡事，為苦事。 這是主－萬軍之耶和華說的。
20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
我在古時折斷你的軛，解開你的繩索。 你說：我必不事奉耶和華； 因為你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下屈身行淫。
21 I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
然而，我栽你是上等的葡萄樹， 全然是真種子； 你怎麼向我變為外邦葡萄樹的壞枝子呢？
22 Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,”
你雖用鹼、多用肥皂洗濯， 你罪孽的痕跡仍然在我面前顯出。 這是主耶和華說的。
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
你怎能說： 我沒有玷污、沒有隨從眾巴力？ 你看你谷中的路，就知道你所行的如何。 你是快行的獨峰駝，狂奔亂走。
24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
你是野驢，慣在曠野， 慾心發動就吸風； 起性的時候誰能使牠轉去呢？ 凡尋找牠的必不致疲乏； 在牠的月份必能尋見。
25 You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
我說：你不要使腳上無鞋， 喉嚨乾渴。 你倒說：這是枉然。 我喜愛別神，我必隨從他們。
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
賊被捉拿，怎樣羞愧， 以色列家和他們的君王、首領、 祭司、先知也都照樣羞愧。
27 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces, yet in the time of trouble they beg, ‘Rise up and save us!’
他們向木頭說：你是我的父； 向石頭說：你是生我的。 他們以背向我， 不以面向我； 及至遭遇患難的時候卻說： 起來拯救我們。
28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
你為自己做的神在哪裏呢？ 你遭遇患難的時候， 叫他們起來拯救你吧！ 猶大啊，你神的數目與你城的數目相等。
29 Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,”
耶和華說： 你們為何與我爭辯呢？ 你們都違背了我。
30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
我責打你們的兒女是徒然的， 他們不受懲治。 你們自己的刀吞滅你們的先知， 好像殘害的獅子。
31 You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?
這世代的人哪， 你們要看明耶和華的話。 我豈向以色列作曠野呢？ 或作幽暗之地呢？ 我的百姓為何說： 我們脫離約束，再不歸向你了？
32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
處女豈能忘記她的妝飾呢？ 新婦豈能忘記她的美衣呢？ 我的百姓卻忘記了我無數的日子！
33 How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
你怎麼修飾你的道路要求愛情呢？ 就是惡劣的婦人你也叫她們行你的路。
34 Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
並且你的衣襟上有無辜窮人的血； 你殺他們並不是遇見他們挖窟窿， 乃是因這一切的事。
35 you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
你還說：我無辜； 耶和華的怒氣必定向我消了。 看哪，我必審問你； 因你自說：我沒有犯罪。
36 How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
你為何東跑西奔要更換你的路呢？ 你必因埃及蒙羞， 像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。
37 Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
你也必兩手抱頭從埃及出來； 因為耶和華已經棄絕你所倚靠的， 你必不因他們得順利。
