Jeremiah 40

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

1 耶利米带着锁链跟耶路撒冷和犹大被掳的人一起被带往巴比伦，但护卫长尼布撒拉旦在拉玛释放了他。这事之后，耶和华的话传给了耶利米。

2 The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place,

2 护卫长释放耶利米之前对他说：“你的上帝耶和华曾说要在这里降下灾祸，

3 and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.

3 祂说到做到，果然降灾了。你们遭灾是因为你们得罪了耶和华，不听祂的话。

4 But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

4 现在我解除你手上的锁链，释放你。你如果想跟我去巴比伦，就去吧，我必善待你；如果你不想去，也可以。你看，整片土地都在你眼前，你想去哪里都可以。

5 But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

5 巴比伦王委任沙番的孙子、亚希甘的儿子基大利治理犹大的城邑，你如果想留下来，可以去他那里，住在同胞中，或去其他你喜欢的地方。”于是，护卫长给耶利米干粮和礼物，放他离去。

6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

6 耶利米就到米斯巴的亚希甘之子基大利那里，居住在留下来的同胞当中。

7 When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,

7 躲在乡村的犹大众将领及其士兵听说巴比伦王委任亚希甘的儿子基大利做犹大省长，管理当地的男女妇孺，就是没有被掳到巴比伦的穷人，

8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

8 便来到米斯巴见基大利。他们是尼探雅的儿子以实玛利、加利亚的儿子约哈难和约拿单、单户篾的儿子西莱雅、尼陀法人以斐的儿子们、玛迦人耶撒尼亚及他们的属下。

9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

9 沙番的孙子、亚希甘的儿子基大利对他们起誓说：“你们不要害怕臣服于迦勒底人，只管住在此地臣服于巴比伦王，你们会平安无事。

10 As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”

10 至于我，我要留在米斯巴，代表你们与前来的迦勒底人会面。你们要储备酒、夏天的果子和油，存放在器皿内，在你们所住的城邑生活。”

11 When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them,

11 在摩押、亚扪、以东及各国的犹大人听说巴比伦王留下一些人，并委任沙番的孙子、亚希甘的儿子基大利管理他们，

12 they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.

12 便从流亡的各地回到犹大，去米斯巴见基大利。他们储备了大量的酒和夏天的果子。

13 Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

13 加利亚的儿子约哈难和在乡村的众将领来到米斯巴见基大利，

14 and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

14 对他说：“亚扪王巴利斯派尼探雅的儿子以实玛利来杀你，你知道吗？”亚希甘的儿子基大利却不相信他们的话。

15 Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

15 后来，加利亚的儿子约哈难在米斯巴私下对基大利说：“让我去杀掉尼探雅的儿子以实玛利吧！没人会知道。何必让他来杀害你，以致汇集到你这里的犹大余民再度分散、灭亡呢？”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

16 但亚希甘的儿子基大利对加利亚的儿子约哈难说：“你不可杀以实玛利，你说他要杀我这件事不是真的。”