今日讀經

耶和華必除滅萬類

¹當猶大王亞們的兒子約西亞在位的時候，耶和華的話臨到希西家的玄孫，亞瑪利雅的曾孫，基大利的孫子，古示的兒子西番雅。This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:

²耶和華說：我必從地上除滅萬類。“I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

³我必除滅人和牲畜，與空中的鳥、海裡的魚，以及絆腳石和惡人；我必將人從地上剪除。這是耶和華說的。“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

攻擊拜巴力和萬象的人

⁴我必伸手攻擊猶大和耶路撒冷的一切居民，也必從這地方剪除所剩下的巴力，並基瑪林的名和祭司，“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—

⁵與那些在房頂上敬拜天上萬象的，並那些敬拜耶和華指著他起誓，又指著瑪勒堪起誓的，those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,

⁶與那些轉去不跟從耶和華的，和不尋求耶和華也不訪問他的。and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”

耶和華的日子快到

⁷你要在主耶和華面前靜默無聲，因為耶和華的日子快到。耶和華已經預備祭物，將他的客分別為聖。Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests.

⁸到了我─耶和華獻祭的日子，必懲罰首領和王子，並一切穿外邦衣服的。“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.

⁹到那日，我必懲罰一切跳過門檻、將強暴和詭詐得來之物充滿主人房屋的。On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.

¹⁰耶和華說：當那日，從魚門必發出悲哀的聲音，從二城發出哀號的聲音，從山間發出大破裂的響聲。On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.

¹¹瑪革提施的居民哪，你們要哀號，因為迦南的商民都滅亡了！凡搬運銀子的都被剪除。Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.

用燈巡查耶路撒冷

¹²那時，我必用燈巡查耶路撒冷；我必懲罰那些如酒在渣滓上澄清的；他們心裡說：耶和華必不降福，也不降禍。And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’

¹³他們的財寶必成為掠物；他們的房屋必變為荒場。他們必建造房屋，卻不得住在其內；栽種葡萄園，卻不得喝所出的酒。Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

耶和華的大日臨近

¹⁴耶和華的大日臨近，臨近而且甚快，乃是耶和華日子的風聲；勇士必痛痛地哭號。The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.

¹⁵那日是忿怒的日子，是急難困苦的日子，是荒廢淒涼的日子，是黑暗幽冥、密雲烏黑的日子，That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

¹⁶是吹角吶喊的日子，要攻擊堅固城和高大的城樓。a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.

¹⁷我必使災禍臨到人身上，使他們行走如同瞎眼的，因為得罪了我。他們的血必倒出如灰塵；他們的肉必拋棄如糞土。I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.

¹⁸當耶和華發怒的日子，他們的金銀不能救他們；他的忿怒如火必燒滅全地，毀滅這地的一切居民，而且大大毀滅。Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

趁日子未到，應當聚集

^1–2不知羞恥的國民哪，你們應當聚集！趁命令沒有發出，日子過去如風前的糠，耶和華的烈怒未臨到你們，他發怒的日子未到以先，你們應當聚集前來。Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.

謙卑人當尋求耶和華

³世上遵守耶和華典章的謙卑人哪，你們都當尋求耶和華！當尋求公義謙卑，或者在耶和華發怒的日子可以隱藏起來。Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.

審判非利士

⁴迦薩必致見棄；亞實基倫必然荒涼。人在正午必趕出亞實突的民；以革倫也被拔出根來。For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.

⁵住沿海之地的基利提族有禍了！迦南、非利士人之地啊，耶和華的話與你反對，說：我必毀滅你，以致無人居住。Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”

⁶沿海之地要變為草場，其上有牧人的住處和羊群的圈。So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.

⁷這地必為猶大家剩下的人所得；他們必在那裡牧放群羊，晚上必躺臥在亞實基倫的房屋中；因為耶和華─他們的　神必眷顧他們，使他們被擄的人歸回。The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.

審判摩押和亞捫

⁸我聽見摩押人的毀謗和亞捫人的辱罵，就是毀謗我的百姓，自誇自大，侵犯他們的境界。“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders.

⁹萬軍之耶和華─以色列的　神說：我指著我的永生起誓：摩押必像所多瑪，亞捫人必像蛾摩拉，都變為刺草、鹽坑、永遠荒廢之地。我百姓所剩下的必擄掠他們；我國中所餘剩的必得著他們的地。Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

¹⁰這事臨到他們是因他們驕傲，自誇自大，毀謗萬軍之耶和華的百姓。This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts.

¹¹耶和華必向他們顯可畏之威，因他必叫世上的諸神瘦弱。列國海島的居民各在自己的地方敬拜他。The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.

審判古實和亞述

¹²古實人哪，你們必被我的刀所殺。“You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”

¹³耶和華必伸手攻擊北方，毀滅亞述，使尼尼微荒涼，又乾旱如曠野。And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.

¹⁴群畜，就是各國（國：或譯類）的走獸必臥在其中；鵜鶘和箭豬要宿在柱頂上。在窗戶內有鳴叫的聲音；門檻都必毀壞，香柏木已經露出。Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

¹⁵這是素來歡樂安然居住的城，心裡說：惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的；現在何竟荒涼成為野獸躺臥之處！凡經過的人都必搖手嗤笑她。This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

悖逆污穢的城有禍了

¹這悖逆、污穢、欺壓的城有禍了！Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!

²她不聽從命令，不領受訓誨，不倚靠耶和華，不親近她的　神。She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.

³她中間的首領是咆哮的獅子；她的審判官是晚上的豺狼，一點食物也不留到早晨。Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.

⁴她的先知是虛浮詭詐的人；她的祭司褻瀆聖所，強解律法。Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.

⁵耶和華在她中間是公義的，斷不做非義的事，每早晨顯明他的公義，無日不然；只是不義的人不知羞恥。The LORD within her is righteous; He does no wrong. He applies His justice morning by morning; He does not fail at dawn, yet the unjust know no shame.

⁶我─耶和華已經除滅列國的民；他們的城樓毀壞。我使他們的街道荒涼，以致無人經過；他們的城邑毀滅，以致無人，也無居民。“I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant.

⁷我說：你只要敬畏我，領受訓誨；如此，你的住處不致照我所擬定的除滅。只是你們從早起來就在一切事上敗壞自己。I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me and accept correction.’ Then her dwelling place would not be cut off despite all for which I punished her. But they rose early to corrupt all their deeds.

⁸耶和華說：你們要等候我，直到我興起擄掠的日子；因為我已定意招聚列國，聚集列邦，將我的惱怒─就是我的烈怒都傾在她們身上。我的忿怒如火，必燒滅全地。Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

萬民用清潔的言語事奉

⁹那時，我必使萬民用清潔的言語好求告我─耶和華的名，同心合意地事奉我。For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

¹⁰祈禱我的，就是我所分散的民（原文是女子；下同），必從古實河外來，給我獻供物。From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering.

¹¹當那日，你必不因你一切得罪我的事自覺羞愧；因為那時我必從你中間除掉矜誇高傲之輩，你也不再於我的聖山狂傲。On that day you will not be put to shame for any of the deeds by which you have transgressed against Me. For then I will remove from among you those who rejoice in their pride, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.

¹²我卻要在你中間留下困苦貧寒的民；他們必投靠我─耶和華的名。But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

¹³以色列所剩下的人必不作罪孽，不說謊言，口中也沒有詭詐的舌頭；而且吃喝躺臥，無人驚嚇。The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.”

錫安應當歌唱

¹⁴錫安的民哪，應當歌唱！以色列啊，應當歡呼！耶路撒冷的民哪，應當滿心歡喜快樂！Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

¹⁵耶和華已經除去你的刑罰，趕出你的仇敵。以色列的王─耶和華在你中間；你必不再懼怕災禍。The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.

¹⁶當那日，必有話向耶路撒冷說：不要懼怕！錫安哪；不要手軟！On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.

¹⁷耶和華─你的　神是施行拯救、大有能力的主。他在你中間必因你歡欣喜樂，默然愛你，且因你喜樂而歡呼。The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”

¹⁸那些屬你、為無大會愁煩、因你擔當羞辱的，我必聚集他們。“I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

¹⁹那時，我必罰辦一切苦待你的人，又拯救你瘸腿的，聚集你被趕出的。那些在全地受羞辱的，我必使他們得稱讚，有名聲。Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth.

²⁰那時，我必領你們進來，聚集你們；我使你們被擄之人歸回的時候，就必使你們在地上的萬民中有名聲，得稱讚。這是耶和華說的。At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captives before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

坐在眾水上的大淫婦

¹拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位前來對我說：「你到這裡來，我將坐在眾水上的大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看。Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

²地上的君王與她行淫，住在地上的人喝醉了她淫亂的酒。」The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

騎在朱紅色獸上的女人

³我被聖靈感動，天使帶我到曠野去，我就看見一個女人騎在朱紅色的獸上；那獸有七頭十角，遍體有褻瀆的名號。And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

⁴那女人穿著紫色和朱紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾；手拿金杯，杯中盛滿了可憎之物，就是她淫亂的污穢。The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.

額上的名：大巴比倫

⁵在她額上有名寫著說：「奧祕哉！大巴比倫，作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

⁶我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。我看見她，就大大地希奇。I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.

女人和獸的奧祕

⁷天使對我說：「你為甚麼希奇呢？我要將這女人和馱著她的那七頭十角獸的奧祕告訴你。“Why are you so amazed?” said the angel. “I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

⁸你所看見的獸，先前有，如今沒有，將要從無底坑裡上來，又要歸於沉淪。凡住在地上、名字從創世以來沒有記在生命冊上的，見先前有、如今沒有、以後再有的獸，就必希奇。The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

七頭是七座山、七位王

⁹智慧的心在此可以思想。那七頭就是女人所坐的七座山，This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

¹⁰又是七位王；五位已經傾倒了，一位還在，一位還沒有來到；他來的時候，必須暫時存留。There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.

¹¹那先前有如今沒有的獸，就是第八位；他也和那七位同列，並且歸於沉淪。The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.

十角是十王

¹²你所看見的那十角就是十王；他們還沒有得國，但他們一時之間要和獸同得權柄，與王一樣。The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.

¹³他們同心合意將自己的能力、權柄給那獸。These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.

羔羊必勝過他們

¹⁴他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選、有忠心的，也必得勝。」They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

眾水是多民多國

¹⁵天使又對我說：「你所看見那淫婦坐的眾水，就是多民、多人、多國、多方。Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

十角與獸必恨這淫婦

¹⁶你所看見的那十角與獸必恨這淫婦，使她冷落赤身，又要吃她的肉，用火將她燒盡。And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

¹⁷因為　神使諸王同心合意，遵行他的旨意，把自己的國給那獸，直等到　神的話都應驗了。For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

¹⁸你所看見的那女人就是管轄地上眾王的大城。」And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”