今日讀經

巴比倫的神像自身難保

¹彼勒屈身，尼波彎腰；巴比倫的偶像馱在獸和牲畜上。他們所抬的如今成了重馱，使牲畜疲乏，Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.

²都一同彎腰屈身，不能保全重馱，自己倒被擄去。The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

神從出生到年老都懷搋你

³雅各家，以色列家一切餘剩的要聽我言：你們自從生下，就蒙我保抱，自從出胎，便蒙我懷搋。“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.

⁴直到你們年老，我仍這樣；直到你們髮白，我仍懷搋。我已造作，也必保抱；我必懷抱，也必拯救。Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.

誰能與神相比

⁵你們將誰與我相比，與我同等，可以與我比較，使我們相同呢？To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

⁶那從囊中抓金子，用天平平銀子的人，雇銀匠製造神像，他們又俯伏，又叩拜。They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.

⁷他們將神像抬起，扛在肩上，安置在定處，它就站立，不離本位；人呼求它，它不能答應，也不能救人脫離患難。They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

唯有神預言並成就

⁸你們當想念這事，自己作大丈夫。悖逆的人哪，要心裡思想。Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!

⁹你們要追念上古的事。因為我是　神，並無別神；我是　神，再沒有能比我的。Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

¹⁰我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定；凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

¹¹我召鷙鳥從東方來，召那成就我籌算的人從遠方來。我已說出，也必成就；我已謀定，也必做成。I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

¹²你們這些心中頑梗、遠離公義的，當聽我言。Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:

¹³我使我的公義臨近，必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延；我要為以色列─我的榮耀，在錫安施行救恩。I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.

巴比倫從寶座跌落

¹巴比倫的處女啊，下來坐在塵埃；迦勒底的閨女啊，沒有寶座，要坐在地上；因為你不再稱為柔弱嬌嫩的。“Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate.

²要用磨磨麵，揭去帕子，脫去長衣，露腿蹚河。Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams.

³你的下體必被露出；你的醜陋必被看見。我要報仇，誰也不寬容。Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

⁴我們救贖主的名是萬軍之耶和華─以色列的聖者。Our Redeemer—the LORD of Hosts is His name—is the Holy One of Israel.

⁵迦勒底的閨女啊，你要默然靜坐，進入暗中，因為你不再稱為列國的主母。“Sit in silence and go into darkness, O Daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.

⁶我向我的百姓發怒，使我的產業被褻瀆，將他們交在你手中，你毫不憐憫他們，把極重的軛加在老年人身上。I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

⁷你自己說：我必永為主母，所以你不將這事放在心上，也不思想這事的結局。You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.

自誇安穩，邪術星象也救不了

⁸你這專好宴樂、安然居住的，現在當聽這話。你心中說：惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的。我必不致寡居，也不遭喪子之事。So now hear this, O lover of luxury who sits securely, who says to herself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or know the loss of children.’

⁹哪知，喪子、寡居這兩件事在一日轉眼之間必臨到你；正在你多行邪術、廣施符咒的時候，這兩件事必全然臨到你身上。These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

¹⁰你素來倚仗自己的惡行，說：無人看見我。你的智慧聰明使你偏邪，並且你心裡說：惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的。You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

¹¹因此，禍患要臨到你身，你不知何時發現（或譯：如何驅逐）；災害落在你身上，你也不能除掉；所不知道的毀滅也必忽然臨到你身。But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly.

¹²站起來吧！用你從幼年勞神施行的符咒和你許多的邪術；或者可得益處，或者可得強勝。So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!

¹³你籌劃太多，以致疲倦。讓那些觀天象的，看星宿的，在月朔說預言的，都站起來，救你脫離所要臨到你的事。You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

¹⁴他們要像碎秸被火焚燒，不能救自己脫離火焰之力；這火並非可烤的炭火，也不是可以坐在其前的火。Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There will be no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside.

¹⁵你所勞神的事都要這樣與你無益；從幼年與你貿易的也都各奔各鄉，無人救你。This is what they are to you—those with whom you have labored and traded from youth—each one strays in his own direction; not one of them can save you.

神為自己的名預先說明

¹雅各家，稱為以色列名下，從猶大水源出來的，當聽我言！你們指著耶和華的名起誓，提說以色列的　神，卻不憑誠實，不憑公義。“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—

²他們自稱為聖城的人，所倚靠的是名為萬軍之耶和華─以色列的　神。who indeed call yourselves after the holy city and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of Hosts is His name.

³主說：早先的事，我從古時說明，已經出了我的口，也是我所指示的；我忽然行做，事便成就。I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

⁴因為我素來知道你是頑梗的─你的頸項是鐵的；你的額是銅的。For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze.

⁵所以，我從古時將這事給你說明，在未成以先指示你，免得你說：這些事是我的偶像所行的，是我雕刻的偶像和我鑄造的偶像所命定的。Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’

⁶你已經聽見，現在要看見這一切；你不說明嗎？從今以後，我將新事，就是你所不知道的隱密事指示你。You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not acknowledge them? From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.

⁷這事是現今造的，並非從古就有；在今日以先，你也未曾聽見，免得你說：這事我早已知道了。They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot claim, ‘I already knew them!’

⁸你未曾聽見，未曾知道；你的耳朵從來未曾開通。我原知道你行事極其詭詐，你自從出胎以來，便稱為悖逆的。You have never heard; you have never understood; for a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew how deceitful you are; you have been called a rebel from birth.

⁹我為我的名暫且忍怒，為我的頌讚向你容忍，不將你剪除。For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.

¹⁰我熬煉你，卻不像熬煉銀子；你在苦難的爐中，我揀選你。See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

¹¹我為自己的緣故必行這事，我焉能使我的名被褻瀆？我必不將我的榮耀歸給假神。For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act; for how can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.

神呼召祂所揀選的人

¹²雅各─我所選召的以色列啊，當聽我言：我是耶和華，我是首先的，也是末後的。Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.

¹³我手立了地的根基；我右手鋪張諸天；我一招呼便都立住。Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.

¹⁴你們都當聚集而聽，他們（或譯：偶像）內中誰說過這些事？耶和華所愛的人必向巴比倫行他所喜悅的事；他的膀臂也要加在迦勒底人身上。Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon, and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.

¹⁵惟有我曾說過，我又選召他，領他來，他的道路就必亨通。I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.

¹⁶你們要就近我來聽這話：我從起頭並未曾在隱密處說話；自從有這事，我就在那裡。現在，主耶和華差遣我和他的靈來（或譯：耶和華和他的靈差遣我來）。Come near to Me and listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it happened, I was there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.

若早聽從，平安如河

¹⁷耶和華─你的救贖主，以色列的聖者如此說：我是耶和華─你的　神，教訓你，使你得益處，引導你所當行的路。Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.

¹⁸甚願你素來聽從我的命令！你的平安就如河水；你的公義就如海浪。If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

¹⁹你的後裔也必多如海沙；你腹中所生的也必多如沙粒。他的名在我面前必不剪除，也不滅絕。Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand, and your offspring as numerous as its grains; their name would never be cut off or eliminated from My presence.”

從巴比倫出來

²⁰你們要從巴比倫出來，從迦勒底人中逃脫，以歡呼的聲音傳揚說：耶和華救贖了他的僕人雅各！你們要將這事宣揚到地極。Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

²¹耶和華引導他們經過沙漠。他們並不乾渴；他為他們使水從磐石而流，分裂磐石，水就湧出。They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.

²²耶和華說：惡人必不得平安！“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”

僕人要作外邦人的光

¹眾海島啊，當聽我言！遠方的眾民哪，留心而聽！自我出胎，耶和華就選召我；自出母腹，他就提我的名。Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.

²他使我的口如快刀，將我藏在他手蔭之下；又使我成為磨亮的箭，將我藏在他箭袋之中；He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.

³對我說：你是我的僕人以色列；我必因你得榮耀。He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”

⁴我卻說：我勞碌是徒然；我盡力是虛無虛空。然而，我當得的理必在耶和華那裡；我的賞賜必在我　神那裡。But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”

⁵耶和華從我出胎，造就我作他的僕人，要使雅各歸向他，使以色列到他那裡聚集。原來耶和華看我為尊貴；我的　神也成為我的力量。And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—

⁶現在他說：你作我的僕人，使雅各眾支派復興，使以色列中得保全的歸回尚為小事，我還要使你作外邦人的光，叫你施行我的救恩，直到地極。He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

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⁷救贖主─以色列的聖者耶和華對那被人所藐視、本國所憎惡、官長所虐待的如此說：君王要看見就站起，首領也要下拜；都因信實的耶和華，就是揀選你─以色列的聖者。Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

悅納的時候、拯救的日子

⁸耶和華如此說：在悅納的時候，我應允了你；在拯救的日子，我濟助了你。我要保護你，使你作眾民的中保（中保：原文是約）；復興遍地，使人承受荒涼之地為業。This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,

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⁹對那被捆綁的人說：出來吧！對那在黑暗的人說：顯露吧！他們在路上必得飲食，在一切淨光的高處必有食物。to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They will feed along the pathways, and find pasture on every barren hill.

¹⁰不飢不渴，炎熱和烈日必不傷害他們；因為憐恤他們的必引導他們，領他們到水泉旁邊。They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

¹¹我必使我的眾山成為大道；我的大路也被修高。I will turn all My mountains into roads, and My highways will be raised up.

¹²看哪，這些從遠方來；這些從北方、從西方來；這些從秦（原文是希尼）國來。Behold, they will come from far away, from the north and from the west, and from the land of Aswan.”

¹³諸天哪，應當歡呼！大地啊，應當快樂！眾山哪，應當發聲歌唱！因為耶和華已經安慰他的百姓，也要憐恤他困苦之民。Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

母親怎能忘記孩子

¹⁴錫安說：耶和華離棄了我；主忘記了我。But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; the Lord has forgotten me!”

¹⁵婦人焉能忘記她吃奶的嬰孩，不憐恤她所生的兒子？即或有忘記的，我卻不忘記你。“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

¹⁶看哪，我將你銘刻在我掌上；你的牆垣常在我眼前。Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.

¹⁷你的兒女必急速歸回；毀壞你的，使你荒廢的，必都離你出去，Your builders hasten back; your destroyers and wreckers depart from you.

¹⁸你舉目向四方觀看；他們都聚集來到你這裡。耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓：你必要以他們為妝飾佩戴，以他們為華帶束腰，像新婦一樣。Lift up your eyes and look around. They all gather together; they come to you. As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “you will wear them all as jewelry and put them on like a bride.

¹⁹至於你荒廢淒涼之處，並你被毀壞之地，現今眾民居住必顯為太窄；吞滅你的必離你遙遠。For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.

²⁰你必聽見喪子之後所生的兒女說：這地方我居住太窄，求你給我地方居住。Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’

²¹那時你心裡必說：我既喪子獨居，是被擄的，漂流在外。誰給我生這些？誰將這些養大呢？撇下我一人獨居的時候，這些在哪裡呢？Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

萬民要把你的兒女帶回

²²主耶和華如此說：我必向列國舉手，向萬民豎立大旗；他們必將你的眾子懷中抱來，將你的眾女肩上扛來。This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

²³列王必作你的養父；王后必作你的乳母。他們必將臉伏地，向你下拜，並舔你腳上的塵土。你便知道我是耶和華；等候我的必不致羞愧。Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

²⁴勇士搶去的豈能奪回？該擄掠的豈能解救嗎？Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?

²⁵但耶和華如此說：就是勇士所擄掠的，也可以奪回；強暴人所搶的，也可以解救。與你相爭的，我必與他相爭；我要拯救你的兒女。Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

²⁶並且我必使那欺壓你的吃自己的肉，也要以自己的血喝醉，好像喝甜酒一樣。凡有血氣的必都知道我─耶和華是你的救主，是你的救贖主，是雅各的大能者。I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

穿上新人的品格

¹²所以，你們既是　神的選民，聖潔蒙愛的人，就要存（原文是穿；下同）憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

¹³倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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¹⁴在這一切之外，要存著愛心，愛心就是聯絡全德的。And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.

讓基督的平安和道理住在心裡

¹⁵又要叫基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們也為此蒙召，歸為一體；且要存感謝的心。Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

¹⁶當用各樣的智慧，把基督的道理豐豐富富地存在心裡（或譯：當把基督的道理豐豐富富地存在心裡，以各樣的智慧），用詩章、頌詞、靈歌，彼此教導，互相勸戒，心被恩感，歌頌　神。Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

¹⁷無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父　神。And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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家庭與主僕關係中的新人

¹⁸你們作妻子的，當順服自己的丈夫，這在主裡面是相宜的。Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹你們作丈夫的，要愛你們的妻子，不可苦待她們。Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

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²⁰你們作兒女的，要凡事聽從父母，因為這是主所喜悅的。Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

²¹你們作父親的，不要惹兒女的氣，恐怕他們失了志氣。Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

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²²你們作僕人的，要凡事聽從你們肉身的主人，不要只在眼前事奉，像是討人喜歡的，總要存心誠實敬畏主。Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.

²³無論做甚麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

²⁴因你們知道從主那裡必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

²⁵那行不義的必受不義的報應；主並不偏待人。Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

¹你們作主人的，要公公平平地待僕人，因為知道你們也有一位主在天上。Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

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禱告與說話

²你們要恆切禱告，在此警醒感恩。Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

³也要為我們禱告，求　神給我們開傳道的門，能以講基督的奧祕（我為此被捆鎖），as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

⁴叫我按著所該說的話將這奧祕發明出來。Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

⁵你們要愛惜光陰，用智慧與外人交往。Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

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⁶你們的言語要常常帶著和氣，好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.