今日讀經

西底家派人求問

¹耶和華的話臨到耶利米。那時，西底家王打發瑪基雅的兒子巴施戶珥和瑪西雅的兒子祭司西番雅去見耶利米，說：This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,

²「請你為我們求問耶和華；因為巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來攻擊我們，或者耶和華照他一切奇妙的作為待我們，使巴比倫王離開我們上去。」“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

神要親自攻擊這城

³耶利米對他們說：「你們當對西底家這樣說：But Jeremiah answered, “You are to tell Zedekiah that

⁴『耶和華─以色列的　神如此說：我要使你們手中的兵器，就是你們在城外與巴比倫王和圍困你們的迦勒底人打仗的兵器翻轉過來，又要使這些都聚集在這城中。this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city.

⁵並且我要在怒氣、忿怒，和大惱恨中，用伸出來的手，並大能的膀臂，親自攻擊你們；And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.

⁶又要擊打這城的居民，連人帶牲畜都必遭遇大瘟疫死亡。I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’

⁷以後我要將猶大王西底家和他的臣僕百姓，就是在城內，從瘟疫、刀劍、饑荒中剩下的人，都交在巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒的手中和他們仇敵，並尋索其命的人手中。巴比倫王必用刀擊殺他們，不顧惜，不可憐，不憐憫。這是耶和華說的。』‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

生命的路和死亡的路

⁸「你要對這百姓說：『耶和華如此說：看哪，我將生命的路和死亡的路擺在你們面前。Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

⁹住在這城裡的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死；但出去歸降圍困你們迦勒底人的必得存活，要以自己的命為掠物。Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

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¹⁰耶和華說：我向這城變臉，降禍不降福；這城必交在巴比倫王的手中，他必用火焚燒。』」For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’

大衛家要施行公平

¹¹「至於猶大王的家，你們當聽耶和華的話。Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah to hear the word of the LORD.

¹²大衛家啊，耶和華如此說：你們每早晨要施行公平，拯救被搶奪的脫離欺壓人的手，恐怕我的忿怒因你們的惡行發作，如火著起，甚至無人能以熄滅。O house of David, this is what the LORD says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.

¹³耶和華說：住山谷和平原磐石上的居民，你們說：誰能下來攻擊我們？誰能進入我們的住處呢？看哪，我與你們為敵。Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau—declares the LORD—you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?”

¹⁴耶和華又說：我必按你們做事的結果刑罰你們；我也必使火在耶路撒冷的林中著起，將她四圍所有的盡行燒滅。」I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”

王若行公義，城就存留

¹耶和華如此說：「你下到猶大王的宮中，在那裡說這話，This is what the LORD says: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there,

²說：『坐大衛寶座的猶大王啊，你和你的臣僕，並進入城門的百姓，都當聽耶和華的話。saying, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David—you and your officials and your people who enter these gates.

³耶和華如此說：你們要施行公平和公義，拯救被搶奪的脫離欺壓人的手，不可虧負寄居的和孤兒寡婦，不可以強暴待他們，在這地方也不可流無辜人的血。This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

⁴你們若認真行這事，就必有坐大衛寶座的君王和他的臣僕百姓，或坐車或騎馬，從這城的各門進入。For if you will indeed carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses—they and their officials and their people.

⁵你們若不聽這些話，耶和華說：我指著自己起誓，這城必變為荒場。』But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”

王家要變為曠野

⁶耶和華論到猶大王的家如此說：我看你如基列，如黎巴嫩頂；然而，我必使你變為曠野，為無人居住的城邑。For this is what the LORD says concerning the house of the king of Judah: “You are like Gilead to Me, like the summit of Lebanon; but I will surely turn you into a desert, like cities that are uninhabited.

⁷我要預備行毀滅的人，各拿器械攻擊你；他們要砍下你佳美的香柏樹，扔在火中。I will appoint destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.

⁸「許多國的民要經過這城，各人對鄰舍說：『耶和華為何向這大城如此行呢？』And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’

⁹他們必回答說：『是因離棄了耶和華─他們　神的約，事奉敬拜別神。』」Then people will reply, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’”

為離家出外的人哭號

¹⁰不要為死人哭號；不要為他悲傷，卻要為離家出外的人大大哭號；因為他不得再回來，也不得再見他的本國。Do not weep for him who is dead; do not mourn his loss. Weep bitterly for him who is exiled, for he will never return to see his native land.

¹¹因為耶和華論到從這地方出去的猶大王約西亞的兒子沙龍（在列王下二十三章三十節名約哈斯），就是接續他父親約西亞作王的，這樣說：「他必不得再回到這裡來，For this is what the LORD says concerning Shallum son of Josiah, king of Judah, who succeeded his father Josiah but has gone forth from this place: “He will never return,

¹²卻要死在被擄去的地方，必不得再見這地。」but he will die in the place to which he was exiled; he will never see this land again.”

行不義蓋房的有禍了

¹³那行不義蓋房、行不公造樓、白白使用人的手工不給工價的有禍了！“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,

¹⁴他說：我要為自己蓋廣大的房、寬敞的樓，為自己開窗戶。這樓房的護牆板是香柏木的，樓房是丹色油漆的。who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace, with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it with vermilion.

¹⁵難道你作王是在乎造香柏木樓房爭勝嗎？你的父親豈不是也吃也喝、也施行公平和公義嗎？那時他得了福樂。Does it make you a king to excel in cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He administered justice and righteousness, and so it went well with him.

¹⁶他為困苦和窮乏人伸冤，那時就得了福樂。認識我不在乎此嗎？這是耶和華說的。He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.

¹⁷惟有你的眼和你的心專顧貪婪，流無辜人的血，行欺壓和強暴。“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”

¹⁸所以，耶和華論到猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬如此說：人必不為他舉哀說：哀哉！我的哥哥；或說：哀哉！我的姊姊；也不為他舉哀說：哀哉！我的主；或說：哀哉！我主的榮華。Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

¹⁹他被埋葬，好像埋驢一樣，要拉出去扔在耶路撒冷的城門之外。He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.

上黎巴嫩哀號

²⁰你要上黎巴嫩哀號，在巴珊揚聲，從亞巴琳哀號，因為你所親愛的都毀滅了。Go up to Lebanon and cry out; raise your voice in Bashan; cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers have been crushed.

²¹你興盛的時候，我對你說話；你卻說：我不聽。你自幼年以來總是這樣，不聽從我的話。I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.

²²你的牧人要被風吞吃，你所親愛的必被擄去；那時你必因你一切的惡抱愧蒙羞。The wind will drive away all your shepherds, and your lovers will go into captivity. Then you will be ashamed and humiliated because of all your wickedness.

²³你這住黎巴嫩、在香柏樹上搭窩的，有痛苦臨到你，好像疼痛臨到產難的婦人，那時你何等可憐！O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”

哥尼雅：摘下帶印的戒指

²⁴耶和華說：「猶大王約雅敬的兒子哥尼雅（又名耶哥尼雅；下同），雖是我右手上帶印的戒指，我憑我的永生起誓，也必將你從其上摘下來，“As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off.

²⁵並且我必將你交給尋索你命的人和你所懼怕的人手中，就是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒和迦勒底人的手中。In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans.

²⁶我也必將你和生你的母親趕到別國，並不是你們生的地方；你們必死在那裡，I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another land, where neither of you were born—and there you both will die.

²⁷但心中甚想歸回之地，必不得歸回。」You will never return to the land for which you long.”

²⁸哥尼雅這人是被輕看、破壞的器皿嗎？是無人喜愛的器皿嗎？他和他的後裔為何被趕到不認識之地呢？Is this man Coniah a despised and shattered pot, a jar that no one wants? Why are he and his descendants hurled out and cast into a land they do not know?

²⁹地啊，地啊，地啊，當聽耶和華的話！O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!

³⁰耶和華如此說：要寫明這人算為無子，是平生不得亨通的；因為他後裔中再無一人得亨通，能坐在大衛的寶座上治理猶大。This is what the LORD says: “Enroll this man as childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime. None of his descendants will prosper to sit on the throne of David or to rule again in Judah.”

殘害羊群的牧人有禍了

¹耶和華說：「那些殘害、趕散我草場之羊的牧人有禍了！」“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.

²耶和華─以色列的　神斥責那些牧養他百姓的牧人，如此說：「你們趕散我的羊群，並沒有看顧他們；我必討你們這行惡的罪。這是耶和華說的。Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.

³我要將我羊群中所餘剩的，從我趕他們到的各國內招聚出來，領他們歸回本圈；他們也必生養眾多。Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply.

⁴我必設立照管他們的牧人，牧養他們。他們不再懼怕，不再驚惶，也不缺少一個；這是耶和華說的。」I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.

公義的苗裔

⁵耶和華說：「日子將到，我要給大衛興起一個公義的苗裔；他必掌王權，行事有智慧，在地上施行公平和公義。Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

⁶在他的日子，猶大必得救，以色列也安然居住。他的名必稱為『耶和華─我們的義』。」In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

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從北方領回百姓

⁷耶和華說：「日子將到，人必不再指著那領以色列人從埃及地上來永生的耶和華起誓，So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’

⁸卻要指著那領以色列家的後裔從北方和趕他們到的各國中上來、永生的耶和華起誓。他們必住在本地。」Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought and led the descendants of the house of Israel up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ Then they will dwell once more in their own land.”

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僕人要尊敬主人

¹凡在軛下作僕人的，當以自己主人配受十分的恭敬，免得　神的名和道理被人褻瀆。All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

²僕人有信道的主人，不可因為與他是弟兄就輕看他；更要加意服事他；因為得服事之益處的，是信道蒙愛的。你要以此教訓人，勸勉人。Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

以敬虔為得利的門路

³若有人傳異教，不服從我們主耶穌基督純正的話與那合乎敬虔的道理，If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,

⁴他是自高自大，一無所知，專好問難，爭辯言詞，從此就生出嫉妒、紛爭、毀謗、妄疑，he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

⁵並那壞了心術、失喪真理之人的爭競。他們以敬虔為得利的門路。and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

敬虔加上知足便是大利

⁶然而，敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了；Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷因為我們沒有帶甚麼到世上來，也不能帶甚麼去。For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

⁸只要有衣有食，就當知足。But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

貪財是萬惡之根

⁹但那些想要發財的人，就陷在迷惑、落在網羅和許多無知有害的私慾裡，叫人沉在敗壞和滅亡中。Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

¹⁰貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財，就被引誘離了真道，用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

為真道打美好的仗

¹¹但你這屬　神的人要逃避這些事，追求公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔。But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

¹²你要為真道打那美好的仗，持定永生。你為此被召，也在許多見證人面前，已經作了那美好的見證。Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

萬王之王、萬主之主

¹³我在叫萬物生活的　神面前，並在向本丟•彼拉多作過那美好見證的基督耶穌面前囑咐你：I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

¹⁴要守這命令，毫不玷污，無可指責，直到我們的主耶穌基督顯現。Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁵到了日期，那可稱頌、獨有權能的萬王之王、萬主之主，which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.

¹⁶就是那獨一不死、住在人不能靠近的光裡，是人未曾看見、也是不能看見的，要將他顯明出來。但願尊貴和永遠的權能都歸給他。阿們！He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

囑咐富足的人

¹⁷你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠無定的錢財；只要倚靠那厚賜百物給我們享受的　神。Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.

¹⁸又要囑咐他們行善，在好事上富足，甘心施捨，樂意供給（或譯：體貼）人，Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

¹⁹為自己積成美好的根基，預備將來，叫他們持定那真正的生命。treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

保守所託付你的

²⁰提摩太啊，你要保守所託付你的，躲避世俗的虛談和那敵真道、似是而非的學問。O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

²¹已經有人自稱有這學問，就偏離了真道。願恩惠常與你們同在！which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.