< Isaiah 48 >
1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the fountain of Judah; who swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
雅各伯家請聽這話:──你們以以色列的名字自稱,出自猶大之後,奉上主的名字起誓,又稱揚「以色列的天主,」但都不是出自誠心誠意;
2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, the LORD of hosts is His name.
雖然你們自稱是出自聖城,依賴名為「萬軍上主」的以色列的天主──「
3 I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of My mouth, and I announced them; suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
那過去的事,我早就預言過了,由我口中所發出的,也叫人聽見了;轉瞬間我行了那事,那事也就成就了。
4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
因為我知道你是頑固的,你的頸項似鐵槓,你的額是銅製的,
5 Therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I announced it to thee; lest thou shouldest say: 'Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.'
為此我早就告訴了你,在事未發生之前我就向你說明了,免得你說:「是我的神像行了這事,是我雕刻鑄成的神像命定了這事。」
6 Thou hast heard, see, all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have announced unto thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.
你既聽見了,也看見了這一切,難道你們不該作證嗎﹖如今我要宣佈新事,即你不知的隱密事。
7 They are created now, and not from of old, and before this day thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say: 'Behold, I knew them.'
這些事是現今而不是從前造成的,是今日之前你從沒有聽說過的,免得你說:「看,我早就知道了!」
8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
你從來沒有聽過,也不知道,也是你的耳朵聞所未聞的。因為我知道你好背信叛逆,你實在可稱為「胎生的叛徒。」
9 For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
但是為了我名的緣故,我暫緩發怒;為了我榮譽的緣故,我抑制了我自己,而沒有消滅你。
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have tried thee in the furnace of affliction.
看啊!我只是鍛煉了你,有如銀子,在患難的爐中磨煉了你。
11 For Mine own sake, for Mine own sake, will I do it; for how should it be profaned? And My glory will I not give to another.
為了我自己,為了我自己的緣故,我必要去行。我豈能讓我的名字受褻瀆﹖我決不將我的光榮讓與別人。」
12 Hearken unto Me, O Jacob, and Israel My called: I am He; I am the first, I also am the last.
雅各伯啊!我所召叫的以色列啊!你聽我說:我就是那位,我是元始, 我也是終末。
13 Yea, My hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spread out the heavens; when I call unto them, they stand up together.
我的手奠定了大地,我的右手展開了諸天;我一叫它們,它們就一同出現。
14 Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? He whom the LORD loveth shall perform His pleasure on Babylon, and show His arm on the Chaldeans.
你們都集合起來聽罷!邪神中有誰預言了這事呢﹖「我所愛的,必實行我的旨意:攻擊巴比倫和加色丁的苗裔。」
15 I, even I, have spoken, yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
只有我,只有我預言了這事,召叫了他,引導了他,使他所行的道路順利。
16 Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I; and now the Lord GOD hath sent me, and His spirit.
你們走近我前,聽這話罷!我從起初就沒有在暗處說過話,從實現之時起,我就在那裏。我上主現在即要施行救援。
17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD thy God, who teacheth thee for thy profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
你的救主上主,以色列的聖者這樣說:「我是上主你的天主,教訓你為你有益的事,引你走當走的道路。
18 Oh that thou wouldest hearken to My commandments! then would thy peace be as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;
恨不得你一向聽從我的命令! 那麼你的安樂將似江河,你的幸福將似海濤;
19 Thy seed also would be as the sand, and the offspring of thy body like the grains thereof; his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before Me.
你的子孫多如海沙,出於你身的苗裔多似沙粒;你的名字在我前決不會抹去,也決不會被刪除。」
20 Go ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye: 'The LORD hath redeemed His servant Jacob.
你們出離巴比倫,逃出加色丁罷!你們要以歡樂的呼聲宣告此事,叫人聽見,傳佈到地極說:「上主救贖了他的僕人雅各伯。」
21 And they thirsted not when He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; He cleaved the rock also, and the waters gushed out.'
當上主率領他們過曠野時,他們並不覺渴,因為他使水由巖石中流出給他們喝;他分開了巖石,水就湧流出來。
22 There is no peace, saith the LORD concerning the wicked.
上主說:惡人決無平安!