Ezekiel 24
1 Almost nine [after we had been taken to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the tenth month [of that year], Yahweh gave me this message:
第九年十月初十日，耶和華的話又臨到我說：
2 “You human, write down what day of the month this is. On this [the army of] King of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem.
「人子啊，今日正是巴比倫王就近耶路撒冷的日子，你要將這日記下，
3 Tell those rebellious Israeli people [MTY] [in Babylon] a parable. Say this to them: This is what Yahweh the Lord says: ‘Pour water into the [cooking] pot and put the pot [the fire].
要向這悖逆之家設比喻說，主耶和華如此說： 將鍋放在火上， 放好了，就倒水在其中；
4 Put into the pot some pieces of [from one of your best sheep]: Put in the leg and shoulder, [which are] the best pieces. [Then] fill [the rest of] the pot with the best bones.
將肉塊，就是一切肥美的肉塊、腿， 和肩都聚在其中， 拿美好的骨頭把鍋裝滿；
5 Pile wood on the fire, and cook the bones and the meat in the boiling water.’
取羊群中最好的， 將柴堆在鍋下， 使鍋開滾， 好把骨頭煮在其中。
6 [Do that] because this is what Yahweh the Lord says: ‘Terrible things will happen [Jerusalem]; it is city that is full of murderers [MTY], [a city that is like] [MET] a scorched pot whose black residue inside cannot be removed. Take the pieces [of meat] out of the pot, but do not choose which pieces to take out.
「主耶和華如此說：禍哉！這流人血的城，就是長銹的鍋。其中的銹未曾除掉，須要將肉塊從其中一一取出來，不必為它拈鬮。
7 The blood of the people who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there; they were murdered on the bare rocks, not on the soil, where their blood could be covered.
城中所流的血倒在淨光的磐石上，不倒在地上，用土掩蓋。
8 But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered [MTY] to be smeared on the bare rock, where their blood could not be covered; I did that in order [I could see it and] then be angry and get revenge.’
這城中所流的血倒在淨光的磐石上，不得掩蓋，乃是出於我，為要發忿怒施行報應。
9 Therefore, this is what [I], Yahweh the Lord say: ‘Terrible things will happen to that city that is full of murderers [MTY]! [It will be as though] I also will pile high [the wood in the fire].
所以主耶和華如此說：禍哉！這流人血的城，我也必大堆火柴，
10 [So], heap on the wood and light the fire! Cook the meat well, and mix some spices with it; cook it until the bones are charred.
添上木柴，使火着旺，將肉煮爛，把湯熬濃，使骨頭烤焦；
11 Then set the empty pot on the [of the fire] until the pot becomes [very] hot and the copper glows, with the result that the impurities and the rust will be burned up.
把鍋倒空坐在炭火上，使鍋燒熱，使銅燒紅，鎔化其中的污穢，除淨其上的銹。
12 [It is as though] I tried to get rid of that rust, but I was not able to do it, [not even] by putting that pot in a fire.
這鍋勞碌疲乏，所長的大銹仍未除掉；這銹就是用火也不能除掉。
13 The [in the pot represents] your immoral behavior. I tried to cleanse you from your wicked behavior, but you did not allow me to do that. So you will not be [from the guilt of your sin] [I have punished you and] I am no longer angry.
在你污穢中有淫行，我潔淨你，你卻不潔淨。你的污穢再不能潔淨，直等我向你發的忿怒止息。
14 I, Yahweh, have said [that I will surely punish you]. [And it is time] for me to do that. I will not change my mind; I will not refrain from punishing you, and I will not pity you. I will judge you [and punish you] as you deserve to be punished for your sinful behavior. [That will surely happen because] I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it.”’”
我－耶和華說過的必定成就，必照話而行，必不返回，必不顧惜，也不後悔。人必照你的舉動行為審判你。這是主耶和華說的。」
15 [One day] Yahweh gave me this message:
耶和華的話又臨到我說：
16 “You human, I am going to suddenly take from [your wife], whom you love very much. [when she dies], do [show that you are] sad or lament or cry.
「人子啊，我要將你眼目所喜愛的忽然取去，你卻不可悲哀哭泣，也不可流淚，
17 Groan quietly; do not cry [openly] for her. [Keep] your turban wrapped around your head, [instead of being barefoot, keep] your sandals on your feet. Do not cover the lower part of your [to show that you are sad]. And do not eat the kind of food that people who are mourning usually eat.”
只可歎息，不可出聲，不可辦理喪事；頭上仍勒裹頭巾，腳上仍穿鞋，不可蒙着嘴唇，也不可吃弔喪的食物。」
18 [one morning] I talked to the [as usual], and that evening my wife [suddenly] died. The next morning I did what [Yahweh] had told me to do.
於是我將這事早晨告訴百姓，晚上我的妻就死了。次日早晨我便遵命而行。
19 Then the people asked me, “What do the things that you are doing signify to us?”
百姓問我說：「你這樣行與我們有甚麼關係，你不告訴我們嗎？」
20 So I said to them, “[This is what] Yahweh told me:
我回答他們：「耶和華的話臨到我說：
21 ‘Tell the Israeli people [MTY] that I am about to destroy the temple, [the building] that you are very proud of, the building that you delight to look at. Your children whom you [in Jerusalem when you were forced to come to Babylon] will be killed [their enemies’] swords.
『你告訴以色列家，主耶和華如此說：我必使我的聖所，就是你們勢力所誇耀、眼裏所喜愛、心中所愛惜的被褻瀆，並且你們所遺留的兒女必倒在刀下。
22 [When that happens], you will do like I have done: You will not cover the lower part of your faces, or eat the kinds of food that people who are mourning usually eat.
那時，你們必行我僕人所行的，不蒙着嘴唇，也不吃弔喪的食物。
23 [You will keep] your turbans wrapped around your heads and [keep] your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry, but your bodies will become very thin and slowly die because of your sins. And you will groan to each other.
你們仍要頭上勒裹頭巾，腳上穿鞋；不可悲哀哭泣。你們必因自己的罪孽相對歎息，漸漸消滅。
24 Ezekiel will be a warning to you, and you must do what he has done. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh the [have the power to do what I say that I will do].’”
以西結必這樣為你們作預兆；凡他所行的，你們也必照樣行。那事來到，你們就知道我是主耶和華。』
25 [Then Yahweh said to me], “You human, [soon] I will destroy their sacred temple, which they rejoice about and which they respect and delight to look at, and [I will get rid of] their sons and daughters also.
「人子啊，我除掉他們所倚靠、所歡喜的榮耀，並眼中所喜愛、心裏所重看的兒女。
26 On that day, someone will escape [from Jerusalem] and come and tell you what has happened [there].
那日逃脫的人豈不來到你這裏，使你耳聞這事嗎？
27 When that happens, you will be able to speak again [MTY] [without constraint]. You two will talk together [DOU]. You will be a warning to the people; and they will know that I, Yahweh the Lord, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].”
你必向逃脫的人開口說話，不再啞口。你必這樣為他們作預兆，他們就知道我是耶和華。」
