耶利米書新譯
第五章 審判列國(II)
VI. 大馬士革(49:23-27):
有關大馬士革:
23 "哈馬和亞珥拔驚惶, "Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,
因他們聽到壞消息. for they have heard bad news.
致心中慌亂如怒海. They are dishearted, troubled like the restless sea.
24 大馬士革變得脆弱, Damascus has become feeble,
滿懷恐懼群起逃命; she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her;
痛苦與憂愁緊抓她, anguish and pain have seized her,
有如臨盆產婦一樣. pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 我心中喜悅的名城, Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,
為何沒被無情拋棄? the town in which I delight?
26 然而少壯仆倒街頭, Surely, her young man will fall in the streets;
在那日, 士兵無聲全都消滅," all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,"
萬軍之耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord Almighty.
27 "我必在大馬士革城牆縱火, "I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;
把便哈達的城堡燒個精光." it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad."
VII. 基達和夏瑣(49:28-33):
有關巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒攻打基達和夏瑣, 耶和華這樣說:
28 "起來! 攻擊基達, "Arise, and attack Kedar
消滅東方人! and destroy the people of he East.
29 搶走他們的帳棚牛羊, Their tents and their flocks will be taken;
以及他們的財寶駱駝. their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels.
災民大聲高喊: '恐怖籠罩四方!' Men will shout to them, 'Terror on every side!'
30 "趕快逃命! "Flee quickly away!
住在夏瑣的人啊, 要深藏洞中!" Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
"巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒, "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you;
陰謀策劃攻擊害你們. he has devised a plan against you.
31 "起來攻擊散漫之國, "Arise and attack a nation at ease
他們自信毫無戒備," which lives in confidence,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
"無門無閂之國, "a nation that has neither gates nor bars;
人民獨自居住, its people live alone.
32 駱駝必成掠物, Their camels will become plunder,
牲畜必成擄品. and their large herds will be booty.
我必分散披頭散髮者, I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places
使災難降臨他們四方," and will bring disaster on them from every side,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
33 "夏瑣必成野狗出沒場, "Hazor will become a haunt of jackals,
永遠成為荒涼不毛地. a desolate place forever.
無人住在那裏, No one will live there;
沒人居住其中." no man will dwell in it."
VIII. 以攔(49:34-39):
猶大王西底家在位時, 耶和華有關以攔的話臨到耶利米說:
35 看哪! 我必折斷以攔的弓, See, I will break the bow of Elam,
那是他們依靠的力量. the mainstay of their might.
36 我必從天的四方, I will bring against Elam the four winds
颳四風吹襲以攔, from the four quarters of the heavens;
把他們吹散四方, I will scatter them to the four winds,
放逐到每一國中. and there will not be a nation where Elam's exiles do not go.
37 我必在他們的仇敵和 I will shatter Elam before their foes,
索命人面前粉碎他們; before those who seek their lives;
並降災禍在他們身上, I will bring disaster upon them,
我的烈怒也不饒他們. even my firece anger,'
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
"我必以刀劍追殺他們, "I will pursue them with the sword
直至把他們完全消滅. until I have made an end of them.
39 我必在以攔設我寶座, I will set my throne in Elam
完全消滅其君王臣宰," and destroy her king and officials,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
39 "但日子到了, "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam
我必恢復以攔的福祉," in days to come,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
IX. 巴比倫(50:1-51:64):
耶和華藉先知耶利米有關巴比倫及迦勒底人之地所說的話如次:
(I) 巴比倫預言(50:1-46):
1. 預言敗亡(50:1-16):
2 你們要在列國中宣告, "Announce and proclaim among the nations,
高舉大旗宣告不隱瞞: lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back,
巴比倫定必被攻陷, but say, 'Babylon will be captured;
彼勒蒙羞米羅達驚. Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror.
神像受辱而偶像懼.' Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.'
3 北方之國必攻擊她, A nation from the north will attack her
她的土地荒涼悲悽. and lay waste her land.
人獸遠逃無人居往. No one will live it; both men and animals will flee away.
4 "到那日在那時," "In those days, at that time,"
耶和華這樣宣示, declares the Lord,
"以色列和猶大子民必含淚 "The people of Isreal and the people of Judah together
同去尋求耶和華他們的神. will go in tear to seek the Lord their God.
5 他們詢問錫安路, They will ask the way to Zion
轉臉面對錫安城 and turn their faces toward it.
永遠不忘之約下, They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
同心走向耶和華. in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
6 "我的子民成迷羊, "My people have been lost sheep;
皆因牧人領錯路, their shepherds have led them astray
他們流浪在山野, and caused them to roam on the mountains.
俳徊大山小邱間, They wandered over mountain and hill
忘了他們安息地. and forgot their own resting place.
7 找他們的吃他們, Whoever found them devoured them;
他們的仇敵說: '我們無罪, their enemies said, 'We are not guilty,
因他們都得罪了耶和華, for they sinned against the Lord,
耶和華是他們的真草場, their true pasture,
而且是他們列祖的盼望.' the Lord, the hope of their fathers.'
8 快逃跑離開巴比倫! Flee out of Babylon;
遠離迦勒底人之地, leave the land of the Babylonians,
像羊群帶頭的公羊. and be like the goats that lead the flock.
9 我必煽起北方大國, For I will stir up and bring against Babylon
率領聯軍攻巴比倫. an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.
他們佈好陣勢攻她, They will take up their positions against her,
她被北方大軍佔領. and from the north she will be captured.
北軍箭手訓練有素, Their arrows will be like skilled warriors
箭箭都命中無虛發. who do not return empty-handed.
10 巴比倫因之被洗劫, So Babylonia will be plundered;
掠奪者人人滿載歸." all who plunder her will have their fill,"
11 掠奪我子民的啊! Because you rejoice and are glad,
你們都滿心歡樂, you who pillage my inheritance,
像打穀小牛嬉戲, because you frolic like heifer threshing grain
像雄壯公馬嘶叫; and neigh like stallions,
12 你們的母親羞愧, your mother will be greatly ashamed;
生你們的也慚愧. she who gave you birth will be disgraced.
她在列國淪為小, She will be the least of the nations -
成荒野旱地沙漠. a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.
13 因主怒地無人住, Because of the Lord's anger she will not be inhabited
完全變成荒涼地. but will be completely desolate.
所有經過巴比倫的人們, All who pass Babylon will be horrified and scoff
見她重創無不驚懼冷笑. because of all her wounds.
14 所有拉弓的啊! "Take up your positions around Babylon,
你們要在巴比倫四圍佈陣, all you who draw the bow.
不要省箭放手向她猛射吧! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
因為她犯罪觸犯了耶和華. for she has sinned against the Lord.
15 從四面八方向她吶喊進攻! Shout against her on every side!
她終於棄械投降了, She surrenders, her towers fall,
城樓傾倒城牆崩坍. her walls are torn down.
因這是耶和華報復; Since this is the vengeance of the Lord,
你們都要向她報復, take vengeance on her,
打殺她如她打殺人. do to her as she has done to others.
16 把巴比倫播種者和 Cut off from Babylon the sower,
持鐮刀收割者剪除. and the traper with his sickle at harvest.
因逃欺壓者的刀劍, Because of the sword of the oppressor
讓他們都重回本族, let everyone return to his own people,
逃回他們自己故土. let everyone flee to his own land.
2. 選民回歸(50:17-20):
17 "以色列是被獅子驅散的羊群, "Isreal is a scattered flock that lions have chased away.
首先要吞噬他們的是亞述王, The first to devour him was the king of assyria;
最後要粉碎他們骨頭的 the last to crush his bones
是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒." was Nebuchadnezzer king of Babylon."
因此萬軍之耶和華以色列的神這樣說:
18 "我必懲罰巴比倫王及其地, "I will punish the king of Babylon and his land
如我過去懲罰亞述王一樣. as I punished the king of Assyria.
19 但我必把以色列領回草場, But I will bring Isreal back to his pasture
讓他們在迦密巴珊吃青草; and he will braze on Carmel and Bashan;
在以法蓮和基列吃得飽足. his appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20 到那日在那時," In those days, at that time,"
耶和華這樣宣示, declares the Lord,
"我要追究以色列的罪, "search will be made for Isreal's guilt,
但一無所獲; but there will be none,
並要追究猶大的罪, and for the sins of Judah,
也一無發現. but none will be found,
因我赦免我饒恕的餘民. for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
3. 神的審判(50:21-46):
21 "去攻擊米拉大翁之地, "Attack the land of Merathaim
和居住在比割的居民, and those who live in Pekod.
追殺並徹底消滅他們!" Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,"
耶和華這樣宣示, declares the Lord,
遵我的命令認真執行. "Do everything I have command you.
22 戰場嘶殺聲響徹這地, The noise of battle is in the land,
那是大毀滅的喊叫聲! the noise of great destruction!
23 全地的大槌何等斷裂破碎! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth!
巴比倫在列國中何等荒涼! How desolate is Babylon among the nations!
24 巴比倫啊! 我為你設下陷阱, I set a trap for you, O Babylon,
在你察覺前就把你抓住, and you were caught before you knew it;
你被捕乃因反抗耶和華. you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord.
25 耶和華已打開祂的軍火庫, The Lord has opened his arsenal
從中取出了祂烈怒的武器, and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
因主萬軍之耶和華 for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do
在巴比倫地有事做. in the land of the Babyolonians.
26 從遠方來攻打她吧! Come against her from afar.
打開她的豐盈糧倉, Break open her grannaries;
把她堆起來如堆糧. pile her up like heaps of grain.
徹底把她完全消滅, Completely destroy her
一個餘民也不留下. and leave her no remnant.
27 殺盡她所有幼公牛, Kill all her young bulls;
全部都送進屠宰場! let them go down to slaughter!
他們有禍了! 因他們的日子已到, Woe to them! For their day has come,
懲罰他們的時候到了. the time for them to be punished.
28 聽巴比倫難民在錫安宣稱: Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon,
耶和華我們的神如何報復, declaring in Zion how the Lord our God has taken vengeance,
如何為祂的殿去施行報復. vengeance for his temple.
29 "呼召射手去攻擊巴比倫, "Summon archers against Babylon,
所有射手在她周圍紮營; all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her;
把她緊緊圍住無一脫逃. let no one escape.
她如何懲人就如何懲她. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done.
因她反抗耶和華以色列聖者. for she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Isreal.
30 因此她的壯丁仆倒街頭, Therefore, her young men will fail in the streets;
她的戰士在那日全消滅," all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
31 主萬軍之耶和華這樣說: "See, I am against you, O arrogant one,"
"看哪, 狂傲的人啊! declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
我要全面發動攻擊你, "for your day has come,
因懲罰你的時日到了. the time for you to be punished.
32 狂傲的人必跌撞仆倒, The arrogant one will stumble and fall
無人伸援手把她扶起, and no one will help her up;
我放火焚燒她的城邑, I will knidle a fire in her towns
把她周圍的人全燒滅." that will consume all who are around her."
萬軍之耶和華這樣說:
33 以色列子民受欺壓, "The people of Isreal are oppressed,
猶大子民也受欺壓. and the people of Judah as well.
俘虜他們的嚴看守, All their captors hold them fast,
不讓他們輕易脫逃. refusing to let them go.
34 但他們的救贖主大有能力, Yet their Redeemer is strong;
萬軍之耶和華就是祂的名. the Lord Almighty is his name.
衪必強力護衛他們, He will vigorously defend their cause,
使他們的地土安寧, so that he may bring rest to their land,
卻使巴比倫不平靖. but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
35 "用刀劍誅殺巴比倫人!" "A sword against the Babylonians!"
耶和華這樣宣示, declares the Lord,
"誅殺住在巴比倫的人, "against those who live in Babylon
以及她的首領和智者! and against her officials and wise men!
36 用刀劍殺她的假先知!" A sword against her false prophets!
使他們成為無知愚人. They will become fools.
用刀劍誅殺她的戰士! A sword against her warriors!
使他們充滿驚惶恐懼. They will be filled with terror.
37 用刀劍砍她的馬和車, A sword against her horses and chariots
以及她軍中外籍傭兵! and all the foreigners in her ranks!
他們如婦女不堪一擊. They will become women.
用刀劍追殺她的財寶! A sword against her treasures!
使所有財寶掠奪一空. They will be plundered.
38 用乾旱對付她的河川! A drought on her waters!
使之乾涸至滴水無存. They will dry up.
因為那是拜偶像之地, For it is a land of idols,
使偶像瘋狂充滿恐懼. idols that will go mad with terror.
39 "成曠野走獸豺狼巢穴, "So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,
貓頭鷹也居住在其間. and there the owl will dwell.
永遠不再有人來居住, It will never again be inhabited
或世世代代居住那裏. or lived in from generation to generation.
40 如神推翻所多瑪蛾摩拉, As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah
以及其鄰近的城邑鄉鎮." along with their neighboring towns,"
耶和華這樣宣示, declares the Lord,
"沒人住在那裏, "so no one will live there,
無人居住其間. no man will dwell in it.
41 看哪! 大軍正從北方南下, Look! An Army is coming from the north;
大國和很多受煽惑的君王 a great nation and many kings
聯手從地極浩浩蕩蕩前來. are being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
42 巴比倫人啊! They are armed with bows and spears;
他們手持強弓長矛, they are cruel and without mercy.
殘酷無情不講人道. They sound like the roaring sea
騎著戰馬馳騁南下, as they ride on their horses,
來勢洶洶聲如怒濤; they come like men in battle formatiom to attack you,
千鈞戰陣攻擊你們. O Daughter of Babylon.
43 巴比倫王得報心驚, The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,
兩手發軟四肢無力, and his hands hang limp.
痛楚緊緊把他抓住, Anguish has gripped him,
疼痛有如臨盆婦人. pain like that of a woman in labor.
44 像頭猛獅從約旦叢林躍出, Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets
在肥美的草場上橫衝直撞, to a rich pastureland,
我會頃刻間把巴比倫逐出. I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
又會揀選委任誰治理此地? Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this?
誰能像我又誰能來挑戰我? Who is like me and who can challenge me?
那個牧人能在我面前站立? And what shepherd can stand against me?
45 因此, 聽聽耶和華進攻巴比倫計劃. Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon.
看衪如何對付巴比倫土地: what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:
把羊群中幼小的全部拖走, The young of the flock will be dragged away;
更把他們的草場完全毀滅. he will completely destroy their pasture because of them.
46 攻佔巴比倫之聲震驚全地, At the sound of Babylon's capture the earth will tremble;
痛哭哀號聲瞬間傳遍列國." its cry will resound among the nations."
(II) 再審巴比倫(51:1-64):
1. 報復巴比倫(51:1-5):
耶和華這樣說:
1 看哪! 我必激起毀滅者的靈, See, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer
攻擊巴比倫及立加米的人. against Babylon and his people of Leb Kamai.
2 我必遣外邦人至巴比倫, I will send foreigners to Babylon
顛簸破壞她的土地, to winnow her and to devastate her land;
在災禍來臨的日子 they will oppose her on every side
從四面八方打擊她. in the day of her disaster.
3 勿讓射手拉滿弓, Let not the archer string his bow,
也不讓他穿盔甲. nor let him put on his armor.
絕不放過壯年人, Do not spare her young men;
徹底消滅她大軍. completely destroy her army.
4 被殺倒在巴比倫, They will fall down slain in Babylon,
身受重傷倒街頭. fatally wounded in her streets.
5 因為以色列和猶大, For Isreal and Judah have not been forsaken
在以色列聖者面前, by their God, the Lord Almighty,
他們地雖充滿罪惡, though their land is full of guilt
萬軍之耶和華仍未棄絕. before the Holy One of Isreal.
2. 神手金杯(51:6-20):
6 快從巴比倫逃出! Flee from Babylon!
趕緊逃跑保性命! Run for your lives!
勿因她罪被毀滅. Do not be destroyed because of her sin.
耶和華報復日到, It is time for the Lord's vengeance;
衪必使她得報應. he will pay her what she deserves.
7 巴比倫是祂手中金杯, Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord's hand;
她使全地的人都喝醉. she made the whole earth drunk.
世上列國喝了她的酒, The nations drank her wine;
個個酩酊大醉發酒瘋. therefore they have now gone mad.
8 巴比倫必突傾倒崩塌, Babylon will suddenly fall and be broken.
你們為她傷心哀哭吧! Wail over her!
給她擦乳香或可治癒 Get balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.
9 "'我們本想醫治巴比倫, "'We would have healed Babylon,
但她病入膏肓難醫治; but she cannot be healed;
離開她各自歸本地吧! let us leave her and each go to his own land,
因她的判決高及雲天.' for her judgment reaches to the skies, it rises as high as the clouds.'
10 "'耶和華已為我們申冤, "'The Lord has vindicated us;
來吧! 讓我們在錫安 come, let us tell in Zion
述說耶和華我們神的作為.' what the Lord our God has done.'
11 磨利箭頭拿起盾牌! Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields!
耶和華已煽起瑪代諸王, The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes,
因衪目的在毀滅巴比倫. because his purpose is to destroy Babylon.
耶和華會伸手報復, The Lord will take vengeance,
為祂的殿施行報復. vengeance for his temple.
12 高舉大旗進攻巴比倫城樓! Lift up a banner against the walls of Babylon!
加強守衛, 增設防哨, Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen,
做好埋伏! prepare an anbush!
耶和華必實現祂旨意, The Lord will carry out hiis purpose,
祂定意攻擊巴比倫人. his decree against the people of Babylon.
13 你們這些住河川交錯 You who live by many waters
擁有很多財寶的富人, and are rich in treasures,
被剪除滅絕末日到了. your end has come, the time for you to be cut off.
14 萬軍之耶和華自己起誓說: The Lord Almighty has sworn by himself:
我必像蝗蟲般補充你兵丁, I will surely fill you with men, as with a swarm of locusts,
他們必向你發出勝利歡呼. and they will shout in triumph over you.
15 "衪以大能創造大地, "He made the earth by his power;
又以智慧建立世界, he founded the world by his wisdom
更以理智展開諸天. and tretched out the heavens by his understanding.
16 衪一打雷天水澎湃, When he thunders, the waters in heavens roar;
雲霧立從地極上騰. he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
祂打雷帶雨降大地, He sends lightning with the rain
從祂庫中吹出風來. and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
17 人人都麻木無知, Every man is senseless and without knowledge;
金匠因造偶蒙羞, every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.
祂的鑄像都虛假, His images are a fraud,
毫無氣息欺騙人. they have no breath in them.
18 偶像敗壞招嘲笑, They are worthless, the objects of mockery;
審判一到就消滅. when their judgment comes, they will peirsh.
19 雅各福份非如此, He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
因衪乃造萬物者, for he is the Maker of all things,
包含祂造的支派; including the tribe of his inheritance -
萬軍之耶和華乃其名. the Lord Almighty is his name.
3. 神手怒杖(51:20-26):
20 你是我的戰杖, "You are my war club,
我的戰爭武器; my weapon for battle -
我要用你打碎列國, with you I shatter nations,
用你毀滅地上萬邦. with you I destroy kingdoms,
21 用你打倒戰馬騎士, with you I shatter horse and rider,
用你打倒戰車車手. with you I shatter chariot and driver.
22 用你打擊男子婦女, with you I shatter man and woman,
用你打擊老人少年, with you I shatter old man and youth.
用你打擊少男少女. with you I shatter young man and maiden,
23 用你擊打牧人羊群, with you I shatter shepherd and flock,
用你擊打農夫耕牛, with you I shatter farmer and oxen,
用你擊打總督官吏. with you I shatter governors and officials.
耶和華說: "我必在你們前面報復巴比倫和住在巴比倫的人在錫安所作的－切惡."
25 毀滅全地的山崗啊, "I am against you, O destroying mountains,
我必打擊你! you who destroy the whole earth,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
"我必伸手打擊你, "I will stretch out my hand against you,
把你推滾下懸崖, roll you off the cliffs,
使你成燒燬焦山. and make you a burned-out mountain.
26 石無一成房角石, No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone,
也沒石可作基石, nor any stone for a foundation,
因你必永遠荒涼." for you will be desolate forever,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
4. 號召出擊(51:27-32):
27 "在大地高舉大旗! "Lift up a banner in the land!
在列國吹響號角! Blow the trumpet among the nations!
號召列國去攻擊: Prepare the nations for these knigdom:
亞拉臘 米尼和亞實基拿. Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz.
任命統帥去攻擊她, Appoint a commander against her;
使戰馬如蝗蟲湧上. send up horses like a swarm of locusts.
28 號召列國去攻她: Prepare the nations for battle against her -
集結瑪代諸王及 the kings of the Medes,
屬下總督和臣子, their governors and all their officials,
和其治下的諸國. and all the countries they rule.
29 大地震撼而蜷曲, The land trembles and writhes,
因耶和華定意攻擊巴比倫, for the Lord's purposes against Babylon
從此荒涼無人居. so that no one will live there.
30 巴比倫兵士停止戰鬥, Babylon's warriors have stopped fighting;
全都躲藏在碉堡之中. they remain in their strongholds.
他們的精力耗竭, Their strength is exhausted;
軟弱無力像婦女. they have become like women.
巴比倫居所起火, Her dwellings are set on fire;
城門閂全被折斷. the bars of her gates are broken.
31 驛馬－匹接一匹, One courier follows another
信差一個接一個, and messenger follows messenger
紛向巴比倫王報信, to announce to the king of Babylon
他的京城全淪陷; that his entire city is captured,
32 大河渡口全被佔, the river crossings seized,
遠近沼澤都起火, the marshes set on fire,
軍兵驚惶無所措." and the soldiers terrified."
5. 巴國傾倒(51:33-51):
萬軍之耶和華以色列的神這樣說:
33 "巴比倫好像打禾場, "The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor
收割打穀之時快到." at the time it is trampled; the time to harvest her will soon come."
34 錫安的居民說: "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us,
"巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒吞滅我們, he has thrown us into confusion,
把我們丟入混亂中, he has made us an empty jar.
使我們成為空罐子. Like a serpent he has swallowed us
像條大蟒蛇把我們吞下, and filled his stomach with our delicacies,
當作充滿她腹中的美食, and then has spewed us out.
35 可惜吞不下全都吐出來. May the violence done to our flesh
願她對我們肉體的暴力, be upon Babylon,"
全都歸到巴比倫的身上," say the inhabitants of Zion.
耶路撒冷人說: "May our blood be
"但願流我們血的罪, on those who live in Babylonia."
都歸到巴比倫居民." says Jerusalem.
因此耶和華這樣說:
36 "看哪! 我必為你辯護申冤, "See, I will defend your cause and avenge you;
使她的大海枯竭泉源乾涸. I will dry up her sea and make her springs dry.
37 巴比倫必成－堆廢墟, Babylon will be a heap of ruins,
野狗出沒之地, a huant of jackals,
恐怖嘲笑目標, an object of horror and scorn,
無人居住城邑. a place where no one lives.
38 她的百姓咆哮如幼獅, Her people all roar like young lions,
吼叫如小獅. they growl like lion cubs.
39 當他們都奮起之時, But while they are aroused,
我為他們擺設筵席, I will set out a feast for them and make them drink,
讓他們開懷大暢飲, so that they shout with laughter -
席終長眠永不醒起." then sleep forever and not awake,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
40 "我定必使他們像羔羊 "I will bring them down like lambs to be slaughtered,
和公羊趕入屠場宰殺. like rams and goats.
41 向全地誇口的示沙克 How Sheshach will be captured,
怎會輕易被攻佔淪陷! the boast of the whole earth seized!
巴比倫在列國之中 What a horror Babylon will be
變得多麼恐怖可怕! among the nations!
42 大海漲過巴比倫, The sea will rise over Babylon;
洶湧大浪淹沒她. its roaring waves will cover her.
43 她的城邑成荒場, Her towns will be desolate,
乾涸無水成沙漠, a dry and desert land,
成為空無人住地, a land where no one lives,
更無旅客從中過. through which no man travels.
44 我必懲罰巴比倫的巴力, I will punish Bel in Babylon
讓牠吐出牠吞下的東西. and make him spew out what he has swallowed.
列國不再流向她, The nations will no longer stream to him.
巴比倫城必傾倒. And the wall of Babylon will fall.
45 我的子民啊, 快逃離巴比倫! "Come out of her, my people!
趕快逃命! Run for your lives!
逃避耶和華的烈怒. Run from the fierce anger of the Lord.
46 在境內聽到謠言時, Do not lose heart or be afraid
你們不必心驚膽戰; when rumors are heard in the land;
今年一謠言, 明年又一謠言, one rumor comes this year, another the next,
境內遍傳殘暴謠言, rumors of violence in the land
統治者互相打殺. and of ruler against ruler.
47 因日子將要到來, For the time will surely come
我必懲罰巴比倫偶像; when I will punish the idols of Babylon;
她的全地都必蒙羞, her whole land will be disgraced
被誅殺者屍橫遍野. and her slain will all lie fallen within her.
48 那時天地和其中的－切 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them
都必為巴比倫覆亡歡呼, will shout for joy over Babylon,
毀滅者將從北方攻擊她. for out of the north destroyers will attack her."
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
49 巴比倫必因屠殺以色列人覆亡, "Babylon must fall because of Isreal's slain,
正如全地被屠殺的人因她仆倒. just as the slain in all the earth have fallen because of Babylon.
50 逃脫刀劍者快離開勿流連! You who have escaped the sword, leave and do not linger!
你們要在遠方記念耶和華, Remember the Lord in a distant land,
並在聖城耶路撒冷思念祂." and think in Jerusalem."
51 "我們都是飽受羞辱, "We are disgraced,
受盡凌辱滿臉羞愧, for we have been insulted and shame covers our faces,
因外人進入耶和華殿聖所. because foreigners have entered the holy places of the Lord's house."
6. 破除偶像(51:52-58):
52 耶和華說: "但日子將到, "But days are coming," declares the Lord,
我必懲罰她的偶像, "when I will punish her idols,
使她全地傷者呻吟. and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
53 即使巴比倫升高天, Even if Babylon reaches the sky
鞏固她在高處堡壘, and fortified her lofty stronghold,
也會派毀滅者對她. I will send destroyers against her,"
耶和華這樣宣示. declares the Lord.
54 哀號之聲從巴比倫傳來, "The sound of a cry comes from Babylon,
毀滅之聲從迦勒底傳出. the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.
55 耶和華要毀滅巴比倫, The Lord will destroy Babylon;
使她的吵鬧噪音止息. he will silence her noisy din.
敵人大軍如怒潮來襲, Waves of enemies will rage like great waters;
波濤洶湧之聲發迴響. the roar of their voices will resound.
56 毀滅者必侵襲巴比倫, A destroyer will come against Babylon;
戰士被俘弓箭也折斷. her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken.
因耶和華是復仇之神, For the Lord is a God of retribution;
衪必十足報復巴比倫. he will repay in full.
57 我必使她的大臣智者 I will make her officials and wise men drunk,
總督及官兵全都喝醉, her governors, officers and warriors as well;
醉倒沉睡永遠不會醒. they will sleep forever and not awake,"
名萬軍之耶和華的王這樣宣示. declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty.
萬軍之耶和華這樣說:
58 "巴比倫堅厚城牆必夷平, "Babylon's thick wall will be leveled
她的高大城門烈火焚燒; and her high gates set on fire;
百姓勞碌都成空 the peoples exhausted themselves for nothing,
全國辛勞付一炬. the nations' labor is only fuel for the flames."
7. 先知預言(51:59-64):
猶大王西底家在位第四年, 瑪西雅之孫尼利亞之子大臣西萊雅與王同去巴比倫時,
先知耶利米有話吩咐西萊雅; 他把要降臨巴比倫一切災禍及所有有關巴比倫的話, 都寫在書卷上.
接著, 耶利米對西萊雅說: "你到巴比倫後, 要大聲把書中的話讀出, 然後說: '耶和華啊! 你說你要
毀滅這地, 故人獸都不能居住, 永遠荒涼!' 讀完書卷後, 把書卷綁塊石頭扔入幼發拉底河中. 最後
說: '因我降災巴比倫, 她也會沉淪河底, 永不浮出, 她的百姓也隨之滅沒.'" 耶利米的話到此為止.