Jeremiah 14
1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.
有上主的話傳給耶肋米亞說：
2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they bow down in black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
「猶大悲哀，城門蕭條，人人垂頭至地，耶路撒冷哀號四起。
3 And their nobles send their lads for water: they come to the pits, and find no water; their vessels return empty; they are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads.
顯貴派童僕去打水，來到井邊，卻不見有水，帶著空器回去，迷惑慚愧，遮住自己的頭。
4 Because of the ground which is cracked, for there hath been no rain in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
因為地上不落雨，田地無法耕耘，農夫們都已絕望，遮住自己的頭。
5 Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh her young, because there is no grass,
甚至母鹿在田間生產，因為沒有青草，也得拋棄自己的幼雛。
6 And the wild asses stand on the high hills, they gasp for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.
野獸站在童山上，像黟狗一般喘息；雙目失神，因為沒有草吃。
7 Though our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, work Thou for Thy name's sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against Thee.
上主，我們的罪過若指證我們，但求你因你的名而施救，因為我們屢次失節，得罪了你。
8 O Thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
你是以色列的希望，是她在患難中的救主。為什麼你在本鄉好像是個陌生人，好像是個投宿一夜的旅客﹖
9 Why shouldest thou be as a man overcome, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet Thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and Thy name is called upon us; leave us not.
為什麼你好像是個沈睡的人，好像是個不能施救的勇士﹖上主，你常在我們之中，我們是歸你名下的人，求你不要離棄我們。
10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people: Even so have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; therefore the LORD doth not accept them, now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins.
上主論人民說：「他們這樣愛好遊蕩，沒有約束自己的腳，為此上主不喜悅他們；現在憶起了他們的過犯，就懲罰他們的罪惡」。
11 And the LORD said unto me: 'Pray not for this people for their good.
上主對我說：「你不要為這人民求情!
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt-offering and meal-offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.'
既使他們齋戒，我也不會俯聽他們的呼籲；既使他們奉獻全燔祭和素祭，我也不會悅納，反而要用戰爭、飢饉和瘟疫將他們消滅」。
13 Then said I: 'Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them: Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.'
我於是說：「哎呀! 我主上主! 你看，先知們對他們說：你們決不會見到戰爭，你們決不會遭受饑荒，在這地方我必賜給你們真正的平安」。
14 Then the LORD said unto me: 'The prophets prophesy lies in My name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke I unto them; they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.
上主對我說：「先知們以我的名預言謊話，我並沒有派遺他們，也沒有對他們說過話。他們給你們所預言的，是荒謬的幻象空妄的卜筮，存心騙人的欺詐。
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD: As for the prophets that prophesy in My name, and I sent them not, yet they say: Sword and famine shall not be in this land, by sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed;
為此上主這樣說：關於那些以我名義說預言的先知，我既沒有他們，而他們反說：在這 中2不會有戰爭和饑饉，他們就必死於戰爭和饑饉。
16 and the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters; for I will pour their evil upon them.'
至於聽他們向自己講說預言的人民，必因饑饉和戰爭，陳屍在耶路撒冷街頭，沒有人掩埋他們和他們的妻室子女；我必將他們的邪惡都傾注在他們身上。
17 And thou shalt say this word unto them: Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
你應將這話轉告他們：我眼淚直流，晝夜不息，因為我的處女──人民──大受摧殘，受了嚴重的打擊。
18 If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! And if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! For both the prophet and the priest are gone about to a land, and knew it not.
我若走入田間，看見刀劍的遺屍；我若進入城裏，看見饑饉的可怖慘狀；就連先知和先知們也流亡到他們素不相識的地方」。
19 Hast Thou utterly rejected Judah? Hath Thy soul loathed Zion? Why hast Thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and behold terror!
難道你決意拋棄猶大，實心厭惡熙雍﹖為什麼你打擊我們，致使我們醫治無望﹖我們原是期待和平，卻不見好轉；希望醫治的時日，卻只見恐怖!
20 We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, even the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against Thee.
上主，我們承認我們的罪惡，和我們祖先的過犯；我們實在得罪了你。
21 Do not contemn us, for Thy name's sake, do not dishonour the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.
願你為了你的名，不要嫌棄，不要輕慢你光榮的御! 望你記憶，不要廢除你與我們訂的盟約!
22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not Thou He, O LORD our God, and do we not wait for Thee? For Thou hast made all these things.
異民的「虛無」中，有能降雨的嗎﹖或是諸天能自施甘霖﹖難道不只是你，上主我們的天主! 我們寄望於你，因為你行了這一切事。
