Jeremiah 18
1 This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
2 Go down right away to the potter's house. I will give you my message there.
「你起來，下到窯匠的家裏去，我在那裏要使你聽我的話。」
3 I went down to the potter's house and saw him working at his potter's wheel.
我就下到窯匠的家裏去，正遇他轉輪做器皿。
4 But the pot that he was making from the clay went wrong. So he made it into something different as he thought best.
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 The Lord's message came to me, saying,
耶和華的話就臨到我說：
6 People of Israel, declares the Lord, can't I deal with you just like this potter does with his clay? I hold you in my hand just like clay in the potter's hand, people of 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 At one time it could happen that I announce that a nation or a kingdom is going to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要拔出、拆毀、毀壞；
8 However, if that nation I warned gives up its evil ways, then I will change my mind regarding the disaster I was about to bring.
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 At another time I could announce that I'm going to build up and give power to a nation or a kingdom.
我何時論到一邦或一國說，要建立、栽植；
10 But if it does evil in my sight and refuses to listen to my voice, then I will change my mind regarding the good I had planned for it.
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 So tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: Watch out! I am preparing disaster for you, and working out a plan against you. All of you, give up your evil ways. Live right and act right!
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'll say, “We just can't! We'll do whatever we want. Each of us will stubbornly follow our own evil thinking.”
「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 Consequently this is what the Lord says: Ask around the nations—has anybody ever heard anything like this? Virgin Israel has acted really badly.
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 Does the snow of Lebanon ever disappear from its rocky mountain-tops? Do its cool waters that flow from such distant sources ever dry up?
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 But my people have rejected me! They burn incense to useless idols which trip them up, making them leave the old roads in order to walk down unmade paths instead of the highway.
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 They have turned their country into a horrific wasteland, a place that will always be treated with contempt. People passing by will be shocked, shaking their heads in disbelief.
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 Like a strong wind from the east I will scatter them before the enemy. I will turn my back on them and not look at them when their time of trouble comes.
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 Some people decided, “We need a plan to deal with Jeremiah. There'll still be priests to explain the law, there'll still be wise people to give advice, and there'll still be prophets to give prophecies. Let's organize a smear campaign against him so we don't have to listen to a word 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 Lord, please pay attention to what's happening to me! Listen to what my accusers are saying!
耶和華啊，求你理會我， 且聽那些與我爭競之人的話。
20 Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they have dug a pit to trap me! Remember how I stood before you to plead on their behalf, to stop you being angry with 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 But now may their children starve; may they be killed by the sword. May their wives lose their children and their husbands; may their husbands die from disease; may their young men be killed in battle.
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 May cries of agony be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders to attack them, because they dug a pit to capture me and hid traps to catch me as I walk along.
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 Lord, you know about all their plots to try and kill me. Don't forgive their wickedness; don't wipe away their sin. Bring them down! Deal with them when you're angry!
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。
