今日讀經

耶利米的時代

¹便雅憫地亞拿突城的祭司中，希勒家的兒子耶利米的話記在下面。These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

²猶大王亞們的兒子約西亞在位十三年，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

³從猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬在位的時候，直到猶大王約西亞的兒子西底家在位的末年，就是十一年五月間耶路撒冷人被擄的時候，耶和華的話也常臨到耶利米。and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

神呼召年幼的耶利米

⁴耶利米說，耶和華的話臨到我說：The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

⁵我未將你造在腹中，我已曉得你；你未出母胎，我已分別你為聖；我已派你作列國的先知。“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

⁶我就說：主耶和華啊，我不知怎樣說，因為我是年幼的。“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

⁷耶和華對我說：你不要說我是年幼的，因為我差遣你到誰那裡去，你都要去；我吩咐你說甚麼話，你都要說。But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

⁸你不要懼怕他們，因為我與你同在，要拯救你。這是耶和華說的。Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

⁹於是耶和華伸手按我的口，對我說：我已將當說的話傳給你。Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

¹⁰看哪，我今日立你在列邦列國之上，為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆，又要建立、栽植。See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

杏樹枝的異象

¹¹耶和華的話又臨到我說：「耶利米，你看見甚麼？」我說：「我看見一根杏樹枝。」And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

¹²耶和華對我說：「你看得不錯；因為我留意保守我的話，使得成就。」“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

燒開的鍋從北而傾

¹³耶和華的話第二次臨到我說：「你看見甚麼？」我說：「我看見一個燒開的鍋，從北而傾。」Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

¹⁴耶和華對我說：「必有災禍從北方發出，臨到這地的一切居民。」Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

¹⁵耶和華說：「看哪，我要召北方列國的眾族；他們要來，各安座位在耶路撒冷的城門口，周圍攻擊城牆，又要攻擊猶大的一切城邑。For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.

¹⁶至於這民的一切惡，就是離棄我、向別神燒香、跪拜自己手所造的，我要發出我的判語，攻擊他們。I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, and they have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.

¹⁷所以你當束腰，起來將我所吩咐你的一切話告訴他們；不要因他們驚惶，免得我使你在他們面前驚惶。Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.

¹⁸看哪，我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，與全地和猶大的君王、首領、祭司，並地上的眾民反對。Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

¹⁹他們要攻擊你，卻不能勝你；因為我與你同在，要拯救你。這是耶和華說的。」They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

神記得以色列幼年的愛

¹耶和華的話臨到我說：Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²「你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說，耶和華如此說：你幼年的恩愛，婚姻的愛情，你怎樣在曠野，在未曾耕種之地跟隨我，我都記得。“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

³那時以色列歸耶和華為聖，作為土產初熟的果子；凡吞吃它的必算為有罪，災禍必臨到他們。這是耶和華說的。Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.

離棄活水的泉源

⁴雅各家、以色列家的各族啊，你們當聽耶和華的話。Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.

⁵耶和華如此說：你們的列祖見我有甚麼不義，竟遠離我，隨從虛無的神，自己成為虛妄的呢？This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.

⁶他們也不說：那領我們從埃及地上來，引導我們經過曠野，沙漠有深坑之地，和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裡呢？They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

⁷我領你們進入肥美之地，使你們得吃其中的果子和美物；但你們進入的時候就玷污我的地，使我的產業成為可憎的。I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land and made My inheritance detestable.

⁸祭司都不說，耶和華在哪裡呢？傳講律法的都不認識我。官長違背我；先知藉巴力說預言，隨從無益的神。The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.

⁹耶和華說：我因此必與你們爭辯，也必與你們的子孫爭辯。Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.

¹⁰你們且過到基提海島去察看，打發人往基達去留心查考，看曾有這樣的事沒有。Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:

¹¹豈有一國換了他的神嗎？其實這不是神！但我的百姓將他們的榮耀換了那無益的神。Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.

¹²諸天哪，要因此驚奇，極其恐慌，甚為淒涼！這是耶和華說的。Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD.

¹³因為我的百姓做了兩件惡事，就是離棄我這活水的泉源，為自己鑿出池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

以色列為何成為掠物

¹⁴以色列是僕人嗎？是家中生的奴僕嗎？為何成為掠物呢？Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?

¹⁵少壯獅子向他咆哮，大聲吼叫，使他的地荒涼；城邑也都焚燒，無人居住。The young lions have roared at him; they have sounded their voices. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.

¹⁶挪弗人和答比匿人也打破你的頭頂。The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

¹⁷這事臨到你身上，不是你自招的嗎？不是因耶和華─你　神引你行路的時候，你離棄他嗎？Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?

¹⁸現今你為何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢？你為何在亞述路上要喝大河的水呢？Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?

¹⁹你自己的惡必懲治你；你背道的事必責備你。由此可知可見，你離棄耶和華─你的　神，不存敬畏我的心，乃為惡事，為苦事。這是主─萬軍之耶和華說的。Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.

像野驢一樣追隨別神

²⁰我在古時折斷你的軛，解開你的繩索。你說：我必不事奉耶和華；因為你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下屈身行淫（或譯：我在古時折斷你的軛，解開你的繩索，你就說：我必不事奉別神。誰知你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下仍屈身行淫）。“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

²¹然而，我栽你是上等的葡萄樹，全然是真種子；你怎麼向我變為外邦葡萄樹的壞枝子呢？I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?

²²你雖用鹼、多用肥皂洗濯，你罪孽的痕跡仍然在我面前顯出。這是主耶和華說的。Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.

²³你怎能說：我沒有玷污、沒有隨從眾巴力？你看你谷中的路，就知道你所行的如何。你是快行的獨峰駝，狂奔亂走。“How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,

²⁴你是野驢，慣在曠野，慾心發動就吸風；起性的時候誰能使牠轉去呢？凡尋找牠的必不致疲乏；在牠的月份必能尋見。a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.

²⁵我說：你不要使腳上無鞋，喉嚨乾渴。你倒說：這是枉然。我喜愛別神，我必隨從他們。You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’

²⁶賊被捉拿，怎樣羞愧，以色列家和他們的君王、首領、祭司、先知也都照樣羞愧。As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets

²⁷他們向木頭說：你是我的父；向石頭說：你是生我的。他們以背向我，不以面向我；及至遭遇患難的時候卻說：起來拯救我們。say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’

²⁸你為自己做的神在哪裡呢？你遭遇患難的時候，叫他們起來拯救你吧！猶大啊，你神的數目與你城的數目相等。But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.

²⁹耶和華說：你們為何與我爭辯呢？你們都違背了我。Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.

³⁰我責打你們的兒女是徒然的，他們不受懲治。你們自己的刀吞滅你們的先知，好像殘害的獅子。“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

³¹這世代的人哪，你們要看明耶和華的話。我豈向以色列作曠野呢？或作幽暗之地呢？我的百姓為何說：我們脫離約束，再不歸向你了？You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?

³²處女豈能忘記她的妝飾呢？新婦豈能忘記她的美衣呢？我的百姓卻忘記了我無數的日子！Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.

³³你怎麼修飾你的道路要求愛情呢？就是惡劣的婦人你也叫她們行你的路。How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.

³⁴並且你的衣襟上有無辜窮人的血；你殺他們並不是遇見他們挖窟窿，乃是因這一切的事。Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things

³⁵你還說：我無辜；耶和華的怒氣必定向我消了。看哪，我必審問你；因你自說：我沒有犯罪。you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

³⁶你為何東跑西奔要更換你的路呢？你必因埃及蒙羞，像從前因亞述蒙羞一樣。How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.

³⁷你也必兩手抱頭從埃及出來；因為耶和華已經棄絕你所倚靠的，你必不因他們得順利。Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”

背道的妻子

¹有話說：人若休妻，妻離他而去，作了別人的妻，前夫豈能再收回她來？若收回她來，那地豈不是大大玷污了嗎？但你和許多親愛的行邪淫，還可以歸向我。這是耶和華說的。“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.

²你向淨光的高處舉目觀看，你在何處沒有淫行呢？你坐在道旁等候，好像阿拉伯人在曠野埋伏一樣，並且你的淫行邪惡玷污了全地。“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.

³因此甘霖停止，春（原文是晚）雨不降。你還是有娼妓之臉，不顧羞恥。Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.

⁴從今以後，你豈不向我呼叫說：我父啊，你是我幼年的恩主。Have you not just called to Me, ‘My Father, You are my friend from youth.

⁵耶和華豈永遠懷怒，存留到底嗎？看哪，你又發惡言又行壞事，隨自己的私意而行（或譯：你雖這樣說，還是行惡放縱慾心）。Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?’ This you have spoken, but you keep doing all the evil you can.”

背道的以色列與奸詐的猶大

⁶約西亞王在位的時候，耶和華又對我說：「背道的以色列所行的，你看見沒有？她上各高山，在各青翠樹下行淫。Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.

⁷她行這些事以後，我說她必歸向我，她卻不歸向我。她奸詐的妹妹猶大也看見了。I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.

⁸背道的以色列行淫，我為這緣故給她休書休她；我看見她奸詐的妹妹猶大，還不懼怕，也去行淫。She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.

⁹因以色列輕忽了她的淫亂，和石頭木頭行淫，地就被玷污了。Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

¹⁰雖有這一切的事，她奸詐的妹妹猶大還不一心歸向我，不過是假意歸我。這是耶和華說的。」Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

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¹¹耶和華對我說：「背道的以色列比奸詐的猶大還顯為義。And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

背道的兒女啊，回來吧

¹²你去向北方宣告說：耶和華說：背道的以色列啊，回來吧！我必不怒目看你們；因為我是慈愛的，我必不永遠存怒。這是耶和華說的。Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.

¹³只要承認你的罪孽，就是你違背耶和華─你的　神，在各青翠樹下向別神東奔西跑，沒有聽從我的話。這是耶和華說的。Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.

¹⁴耶和華說：背道的兒女啊，回來吧！因為我作你們的丈夫，並且我必將你們從一城取一人，從一族取兩人，帶到錫安。“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion.

¹⁵我也必將合我心的牧者賜給你們。他們必以知識和智慧牧養你們。」Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

¹⁶耶和華說：「你們在國中生養眾多；當那些日子，人必不再提說耶和華的約櫃，不追想，不記念，不覺缺少，也不再製造。“In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made.

¹⁷那時，人必稱耶路撒冷為耶和華的寶座；萬國必到耶路撒冷，在耶和華立名的地方聚集。他們必不再隨從自己頑梗的惡心行事。At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

¹⁸當那些日子，猶大家要和以色列家同行，從北方之地一同來到我賜給你們列祖為業之地。」In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.

¹⁹我說：我怎樣將你安置在兒女之中，賜給你美地，就是萬國中肥美的產業。我又說：你們必稱我為父，也不再轉去不跟從我。Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.

²⁰以色列家，你們向我行詭詐，真像妻子行詭詐離開她丈夫一樣。這是耶和華說的。But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.

百姓哭泣認罪

²¹在淨光的高處聽見人聲，就是以色列人哭泣懇求之聲，乃因他們走彎曲之道，忘記耶和華─他們的　神。A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God.

²²你們這背道的兒女啊，回來吧！我要醫治你們背道的病。看哪，我們來到你這裡，因你是耶和華─我們的　神。“Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God.

²³仰望從小山或從大山的喧嚷中得幫助，真是枉然的。以色列得救，誠然在乎耶和華─我們的　神。Surely deception comes from the hills, and commotion from the mountains. Surely the salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God.

²⁴從我們幼年以來，那可恥的偶像將我們列祖所勞碌得來的羊群、牛群，和他們的兒女都吞吃了。From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.

²⁵我們在羞恥中躺臥吧！願慚愧將我們遮蓋；因為從立國（原文是幼年）以來，我們和我們的列祖常常得罪耶和華─我們的　神，沒有聽從耶和華─我們　神的話。Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

若回來，列國必因神得福

¹耶和華說：以色列啊，你若回來歸向我，若從我眼前除掉你可憎的偶像，你就不被遷移。“If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver,

²你必憑誠實、公平、公義，指著永生的耶和華起誓；列國必因耶和華稱自己為有福，也必因他誇耀。and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”

問安

¹保羅、西拉、提摩太寫信給帖撒羅尼迦、在　神─我們的父與主耶穌基督裡的教會。Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

²願恩惠、平安從父　神和主耶穌基督歸與你們！Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

為信心增長、彼此相愛感謝神

³弟兄們，我們該為你們常常感謝　神，這本是合宜的；因你們的信心格外增長，並且你們眾人彼此相愛的心也都充足。We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.

⁴甚至我們在　神的各教會裡為你們誇口，都因你們在所受的一切逼迫患難中，仍舊存忍耐和信心。That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring.

神公義的審判

⁵這正是　神公義判斷的明證，叫你們可算配得　神的國；你們就是為這國受苦。All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

⁶神既是公義的，就必將患難報應那加患難給你們的人，After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

⁷也必使你們這受患難的人與我們同得平安。那時，主耶穌同他有能力的天使從天上在火焰中顯現，and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels

⁸要報應那不認識　神和那不聽從我主耶穌福音的人。in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

⁹他們要受刑罰，就是永遠沉淪，離開主的面和他權能的榮光。They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

¹⁰這正是主降臨、要在他聖徒的身上得榮耀、又在一切信的人身上顯為希奇的那日子。我們對你們作的見證，你們也信了。on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.

為他們禱告

¹¹因此，我們常為你們禱告，願我們的　神看你們配得過所蒙的召，又用大能成就你們一切所羨慕的良善和一切因信心所做的工夫，To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,

¹²叫我們主耶穌的名在你們身上得榮耀，你們也在他身上得榮耀，都照著我們的　神並主耶穌基督的恩。so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.