Jeremiah 13
1 Thus, said Yahweh unto me, —Go and buy for thyself a linen girdle, and put upon thy loins, —but in water, shalt thou not place it.
上主對我這樣說：「你去買條麻帶，束在腰間，但是不要浸在水裏。」
2 So I bought a girdle according to the word of Yahweh, —and put upon my loins.
我就照上主的話去買了根麻帶， 。
3 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me second time saying:
上主的話第二次傳給我說：
4 Take the girdle which thou hast bought which is upon thy loins, —and arise go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the cliff.
「拿你買來束在腰間的帶子，起身往幼發拉的去，藏在那裏的嚴石縫裏」。
5 So I went, and hid it, by the Euphrates, as Yahweh had commanded me.
我照上主吩咐我的去了；將帶子藏在幼發拉的近旁。
6 And it came to pass, at the end of many days, —that Yahweh said unto me, —Arise go to the Euphrates, and take from thence the girdle, which I commanded thee to hide there.
過了多日，上主對我說：「你起身往幼發拉的去，拿回我吩咐你藏在那裏的帶子」。
7 So I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle out of the place where I had hidden it, —and lo! the girdle was spoiled, it was good for nothing,
我便往幼發拉的去了，我由藏下的地方挖出那帶子；看，已經腐爛，毫無用處了。
8 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me saying:
於是有上主的話傳給我說：
9 Thus, saith Yahweh, —After this manner, will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
「上主這樣說：我也要這樣毀滅猶大的驕傲，和耶路撒冷極度的高傲。
10 This wicked people who are refusing to hear my words, who are walking in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods, to serve them and to bow down to them, yea let them be like this girdle, which is good for nothing.
這個拒絕我的話，而隨從自己固執的心行事，追隨事奉，朝拜其他神祗的邪惡人民，必要如這毫無用處的帶子木樣。
11 For as a girdle cleaveth unto the loins of a man, so caused I to cleave unto me—the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah Declareth Yahweh, to become mine—For a people, and For a name, and For a praise and For an adorning, —but they hearkened not.
因為正如帶子緊貼在人的腰間，同樣我也錔使以色列全 家和猶大全家緊緊依附我──上主的斷語──成為我的人民，我的名譽，我的讚美和我的光榮；但是他們卻沒有聽從。
12 Therefore shalt thou say unto them this word—Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, Every jar, is to be filled with wine; and they will say unto thee, Do we not, know well, that every jar, is to be filled with wine?
你應向他們宣佈這話：上主以色列的天主這樣說：每個壺應盛滿酒。如果他們對你說：難道我們不知道，每個壺都應盛滿酒嗎﹖
13 Then shalt thou say unto them—Thus, saith Yahweh—Behold me! filling all the inhabitants of this land Even the kings that are sitting for David upon his throne and the priests and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness;
你就答覆他們說：上主這樣說：看，我要使這地上的一切居民，坐在達味寶座上的君王，以及司祭和先知並耶路撒冷的一切居民，都酩酊大醉，
14 and I will dash them every man against his brother even the fathers and the sons together, Declareth Yahweh, —I will not pity, Neither will I spare, Neither will I have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
使他們彼此衝突，連父子也彼此衝突──上主的斷語──我毫不憐憫、不慈悲、不留情地將他們消滅」。
15 Hear ye and give ear, be not haughty, —For Yahweh, hath spoken.
你們側耳傾聽，不要傲慢，因為是上主在說話。
16 Give ye to Yahweh your God—glory, Before he cause darkness, and Before your feet stumble upon the twilight mountains; Lest, when ye wait for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, And change it for thick darkness.
黑暗來臨以前，在你的腳還沒有在黑暗中撞在石上以前，應將光榮歸於上主的天主；不然，你們期待光明，衪反發放死影，使它變得漆黑。
17 But if ye will not hear it, In secret places, shall my soul weep Because of the pride, And mine eye, shall flow over, and run down with tears, Because captive hath been taken the flock of Yahweh.
假使你們還不聽從這警告，對你的驕傲，我只有暗自痛哭，眼淚直流，因為上主的羊群已被擄去。
18 Say thou to the king and to the queen-mother, Abase yourselves—Sit down, —For descended have your Head-tires, your Crown of adornment.
你應對君王和太后說：「你們應坐低位，因為你們華麗的王冠已由你們頭上落下」。
19 The cities of the South, are shut And there is none to open, —Judah hath been carried away captive, She hath altogether been carried away captive in full number.
南部的城邑已被封鎖，沒有人去打開，全猶大已被擄去。
20 Lift up your eyes and see Them who are coming in from the North, —Where is The flock that was given thee, Thy beautiful flock?
請你舉目觀望那來自北方的人；昔日委託給你的羊群，那壯麗的羊群，如今在那裏﹖
21 What wilt thou say when he shall bring punishment upon thee, Since, thou thyself, hast accustomed them to be over thee as friends in chief? Shall not, pangs, seize thee, as of a woman in childbirth?
衪懲罰你，你還有什麼話說﹖是你教導了昔日的盟友來統治你，豈能不使你痛苦得像個臨產的婦女﹖
22 But if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore have these things befallen me? For the greatness of thine iniquity have Thy skirts been turned aside Thy heels suffered violence!
假使你心裏說：為什麼我遭遇了此事──是因你罪大惡極，你的衣邊才被掀起，你的腳才受到污辱。
23 Can the Ethiopian change, his skin, Or the leopard his spots? Even, ye, may be able to do right, Who are accustomed to do wrong.
雇士人豈能改變牠的斑點﹖那你們這些習於作惡的人，豈能行善﹖
24 Therefore have I scattered them, As broken straw passing away, by the wind of the desert.
為此，我必使他們四散，像被曠野裏的風捲去的草芥。
25 This is thy lot Thy measured portion from me, Declareth Yahweh; For that thou didst forget me, And confide in falsehood:
這是你的命運，是我量給你的分子──上主的斷語──因為你忘記了我，信賴了「虛無」；
26 Therefore, even I myself, have drawn away thy skirts, over thy face, And thy shame hath been seen,
故此我也要將你的衣邊掀到你面上，使人見到你的羞恥。
27 Thine adulteries and thy neighings, thine unchaste wickedness, Upon the hills in the field, I have seen thine abominations! Woe to thee, O Jerusalem, Wilt thou not become pure? After how long yet?
你的姦淫，你春情的嘶鳴，你猥褻的淫亂，你在高丘上和田野間可恥的行為，我都看見了。禍哉，耶路撒冷! 你不肯自潔，要到何時﹖
