< Jeremias 30 >
1 CONCERNING THE SONS OF AMMON thus says the Lord, Are there no sons in Israel? or have they no one to succeed [them]? therefore has Melchol inherited Galaad, and why shall their people dwell in their cities?
這是上主傳給耶肋米亞的話:
2 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will cause to be heard in Rabbath a tumult of wars; and they shall become a waste and ruined place, and her altars shall be burned with fire; then shall Israel succeed to his dominion.
上主以色列的天主這樣說:「凡我對你說的話,你都要寫在一本書上,
3 Howl, O Esebon, for Gai has perished; cry, you daughters of Rabbath, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament; for Melchol shall go into banishment, his priests and his princes together.
因為,看,時日將到──上主的斷語──我必轉變我人民以色列和猶大的命運──上主說──使他們回去佔領我賜給他們祖先的土地。」
4 Why do you exult in the plains of the Enakim, you haughty daughter, that trust in [your] treasures, that say, Who shall come in to me?
以下是上主論及以色列和猶大說的話:
5 Behold, I [will] bring terror upon you, says the Lord, from all the country round about you; and you shall be scattered every one right before him, and there is none to gather you.
上主這樣說:「人聽到了恐怖的喊叫:只有恐慌,沒有平安。
你們且自問自究:是否男人要生產﹖為什麼我竟見人人兩手叉腰,像正在生產的婦女,個個面色顯得蒼白﹖
噫! 這一天,真偉大,無可比擬,雖為雅各伯是痛苦的時期,但他們將由此而得救。
到了那一天──萬軍上主的斷語──我要折斷他們頸上所負的軛,粉碎他們的鎖鏈,他們不再作外方人的奴隸,
只服事上主,他們的天主,和我給他們興起的君王達味。
為此,我的僕人雅各伯,你不用害怕──上主的斷語──以色列,你不要驚慌;因為,看,我必從遠方救出你來,從充軍之地救回你的後裔;使雅各伯歸來,居享安寧,無所恐懼,
因為有我與你同在──上主的斷語──作你的救援。誠然,對我使你流徙所到的各民族,我要執行毀滅;但對你,我卻不執行毀滅,只依正義懲罰你,不讓你全然免罰。」
不錯,上主這樣說:「你的創傷不可治療,你的傷口無法醫治;
沒有人願意擔任調理你的創傷,無藥可使你的傷處收結。
你所有的愛人都忘掉了你,不再追求你,因為我像打擊敵人一樣,以殘酷的刑罰打擊了你,因為你太不義,你的罪惡,增添不已。
為什麼你還要為你的創傷悲號﹖你的創傷已不可治療:因為你太不義,你的罪惡增添不已,我纔這樣對待了你。
但是,凡吞滅你的,必被吞滅;凡與你為敵的,必被擄去充軍;凡劫掠你的,必遭劫掠;凡搶奪你的,我必使他們受人搶奪。
實在,我要使你的傷處收結,療愈你的創傷──上主的斷語──因為他們稱你為棄婦,無人過問的熙雍。」
上主這樣說:「看,我要轉變雅各伯帳幕的命運,憐憫他的家室,好使城市仍建在自己的山上,宮殿依然聳立在自己的原處,
從那裏發出頌謝的歌聲,歡樂的呼聲。我必使他們繁昌,人數不再滅少;我要顯耀他們,使他們不再受人輕視。
他們的子孫必要像昔日一樣,在 面前重新建立自己的集會;凡壓迫他們的,我必予以懲罰。
他們的元首,將是他們中的一個;他們的統帥,將出自他們之中;我要使他們前來接近我,他必與我接近,因為誰敢冒的危險,來與我接近──上主的斷語──
23 CONCERNING DAMASCUS. Emath is brought to shame, and Arphath: for they have heard an evil report: they are amazed, they are angry, they shall be utterly unable to rest.
看,上主的憤怒如暴風怒號,如撗掃的暴風,在惡人的頭上施轉。
24 Damascus is utterly weakened, she is put to flight; trembling has seized upon her.
上主的烈怒必不止息,直到衪執行完成了衪心裏的計劃;在末日你們必會明瞭。
25 How has she not left my city, they have loved the village?
26 Therefore shall the young men fall in your streets, and all your warriors shall fall, says the Lord.
27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the streets of the son of Ader.
28 CONCERNING KEDAR THE QUEEN OF THE PALACE, WHOM NABUCHODONOSOR KING OF BABYLON SMOTE, thus says the Lord; Arise you, and go up to Kedar, and fill the sons of Kedem.
29 They shall take their tents and their sheep, they shall take for themselves their garments, and all their baggage and their camels; and summon you destruction against them from every side.
30 Flee you, dig very deep for a dwelling-place, you that dwell in the palace; for the king of Babylon has framed a counsel, and devised a device against you.
31 Rise up, and go up against a nation settled [and] dwelling at ease, who have no doors, nor bolts, nor bars, [who] dwell alone.
32 And their camels shall be a spoil, and the multitude of their cattle shall be destroyed: and I will scatter them as chaff with every wind, having their hair cut about their foreheads, I will bring on their overthrow from all sides, says the Lord.
33 And the palace shall be a resting-place for ostriches, and desolate for ever: no man shall abide there, and no son of man shall dwell there.