Jeremiah 18
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
2 Up! go down to the potter's house, and there I will let my words come to your ears.
「你起來，下到窯匠的家裏去，我在那裏要使你聽我的話。」
3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and he was doing his work on the stones.
我就下到窯匠的家裏去，正遇他轉輪做器皿。
4 And when the vessel, which he was forming out of earth, got damaged in the hand of the potter, he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make it.
窯匠用泥做的器皿，在他手中做壞了，他又用這泥另做別的器皿；窯匠看怎樣好，就怎樣做。
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
耶和華的話就臨到我說：
6 O Israel, am I not able to do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. See, like earth in the potter's hand are you in my hands, O Israel.
「耶和華說：以色列家啊，我待你們，豈不能照這窯匠弄泥嗎？以色列家啊，泥在窯匠的手中怎樣，你們在我的手中也怎樣。
7 Whenever I say anything about uprooting a nation or a kingdom, and smashing it and sending destruction on it;
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要拔出、拆毀、毀壞；
8 If, in that very minute, that nation of which I was talking is turned away from its evil, my purpose of doing evil to them will be changed.
我所說的那一邦，若是轉意離開他們的惡，我就必後悔，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
9 And whenever I say anything about building up a nation or a kingdom, and planting it;
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要建立、栽植；
10 If, in that very minute, it does evil in my eyes, going against my orders, then my good purpose, which I said I would do for them, will be changed.
他們若行我眼中看為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我就必後悔，不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。
11 Now, then, say to the men of Judah and to the people of Jerusalem, This is what the Lord has said: See, I am forming an evil thing against you, and designing a design against you: let every man come back now from his evil way, and let your ways and your doings be changed for the better.
現在你要對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說：『耶和華如此說：我造出災禍攻擊你們，定意刑罰你們。你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道，改正你們的行動作為。』
12 But they will say, There is no hope: we will go on in our designs, and every one of us will do what he is moved by the pride of his evil heart to do.
「他們卻說：『這是枉然。我們要照自己的計謀去行。』各人隨自己頑梗的惡心做事。」
13 So this is what the Lord has said: Make search among the nations and see who has had word of such things; the virgin of Israel has done a very shocking thing.
所以，耶和華如此說： 你們且往各國訪問， 有誰聽見這樣的事？ 以色列民行了一件極可憎惡的事。
14 Will the white snow go away from the top of Sirion? will the cold waters flowing from the mountains become dry?
黎巴嫩的雪從田野的磐石上豈能斷絕呢？ 從遠處流下的涼水豈能乾涸呢？
15 For my people have put me out of their memory, burning perfumes to that which is nothing; and because of this, I will put a cause of falling in their ways, even in the old roads, and will make them go on side-roads, in a way not lifted up;
我的百姓竟忘記我， 向假神燒香， 使他們在所行的路上，在古道上絆跌， 使他們行沒有修築的斜路，
16 Making their land a thing of wonder, causing sounds of surprise for ever; everyone who goes by will be overcome with wonder, shaking his head.
以致他們的地令人驚駭， 常常嗤笑； 凡經過這地的必驚駭搖頭。
17 I will send them in flight, as from an east wind, before the attacker; I will let them see my back and not my face on the day of their downfall.
我必在仇敵面前分散他們， 好像用東風吹散一樣。 遭難的日子，我必以背向他們， 不以面向他們。
18 Then they said, Come, let us make a design against Jeremiah; for teaching will never be cut off from the priest, or wisdom from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, let us make use of his words for an attack on him, and let us give attention with care to what he says.
他們就說：「來吧！我們可以設計謀害耶利米；因為我們有祭司講律法，智慧人設謀略，先知說預言，都不能斷絕。來吧！我們可以用舌頭擊打他，不要理會他的一切話。」
19 Give thought to me, O Lord, and give ear to the voice of those who put forward a cause against me.
耶和華啊，求你理會我， 且聽那些與我爭競之人的話。
20 Is evil to be the reward of good? for they have made a deep hole for my soul. Keep in mind how I took my place before you, to say a good word for them so that your wrath might be turned away from them.
豈可以惡報善呢？ 他們竟挖坑要害我的性命！ 求你記念我怎樣站在你面前為他們代求， 要使你的忿怒向他們轉消。
21 For this cause, let their children be without food, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives be without children and become widows; let their men be overtaken by death, and their young men be put to the sword in the fight.
故此，願你將他們的兒女交與饑荒和刀劍； 願他們的妻無子，且作寡婦； 又願他們的男人被死亡所滅， 他們的少年人在陣上被刀擊殺。
22 Let a cry for help go up from their houses, when you send an armed band on them suddenly: for they have made a hole in which to take me, and have put nets for my feet secretly.
你使敵軍忽然臨到他們的時候， 願人聽見哀聲從他們的屋內發出； 因他們挖坑要捉拿我， 暗設網羅要絆我的腳。
23 But you, Lord, have knowledge of all the designs which they have made against my life; let not their evil-doing be covered or their sin be washed away from before your eyes: but let it be a cause of falling before you: so do to them in the time of your wrath.
耶和華啊，他們要殺我的那一切計謀， 你都知道。 不要赦免他們的罪孽， 也不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪惡， 要叫他們在你面前跌倒； 願你發怒的時候罰辦他們。
