Jeremiah 42

1 Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached

1 眾軍長和加利亞的兒子約哈難，並何沙雅的兒子耶撒尼亞 以及眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都進前來，

2 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.

2 對先知耶利米說：「求你准我們在你面前祈求，為我們這剩下的人禱告耶和華－你的上帝。我們本來眾多，現在剩下的極少，這是你親眼所見的。

3 Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

3 願耶和華－你的上帝指示我們所當走的路，所當做的事。」

4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”

4 先知耶利米對他們說：「我已經聽見你們了，我必照着你們的話禱告耶和華－你們的上帝。耶和華無論回答甚麼，我必都告訴你們，毫不隱瞞。」

5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

5 於是他們對耶利米說：「我們若不照耶和華－你的上帝差遣你來說的一切話行，願耶和華在我們中間作真實誠信的見證。

6 Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God!”

6 我們現在請你到耶和華－我們的上帝面前，他說的無論是好是歹，我們都必聽從；我們聽從耶和華－我們上帝的話，就可以得福。」

7 After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,

7 過了十天，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。

8 and he summoned Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.

8 他就將加利亞的兒子約哈難和同着他的眾軍長，並眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都叫了來，

9 Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition:

9 對他們說：「耶和華－以色列的上帝，就是你們請我在他面前為你們祈求的主，如此說：

10 ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you.

10 『你們若仍住在這地，我就建立你們，必不拆毀，栽植你們，並不拔出，因我為降與你們的災禍後悔了。

11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from him.

11 不要怕你們所怕的巴比倫王。』」耶和華說：「不要怕他！因為我與你們同在，要拯救你們脫離他的手。

12 And I will show you compassion, and he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own land.’

12 我也要使他發憐憫，好憐憫你們，叫你們歸回本地。

13 But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and you thus disobey the voice of the LORD your God,

13 倘若你們說：『我們不住在這地』，以致不聽從耶和華－你們上帝的話，

14 and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’

14 說：『我們不住這地，卻要進入埃及地，在那裏看不見爭戰，聽不見角聲，也不致無食飢餓。我們必住在那裏。』

15 then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and reside there,

15 你們所剩下的猶大人哪，現在要聽耶和華的話。萬軍之耶和華－以色列的上帝如此說：『你們若定意要進入埃及，在那裏寄居，

16 then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow on your heels into Egypt, and you will die there.

16 你們所懼怕的刀劍在埃及地必追上你們！你們所懼怕的饑荒在埃及要緊緊地跟隨你們！你們必死在那裏！

17 So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there will die by sword and famine and plague. Not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring upon them.’

17 凡定意要進入埃及在那裏寄居的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，無一人存留，逃脫我所降與他們的災禍。』

18 For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the residents of Jerusalem, so will My wrath be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and horror, of vilification and disgrace, and you will never see this place again.’

18 「萬軍之耶和華－以色列的上帝如此說：『我怎樣將我的怒氣和忿怒傾在耶路撒冷的居民身上，你們進入埃及的時候，我也必照樣將我的忿怒傾在你們身上，以致你們令人辱罵、驚駭、咒詛、羞辱，你們不得再見這地方。』

19 The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today!

19 所剩下的猶大人哪，耶和華論到你們說：『不要進入埃及去。』你們要確實地知道我今日警教你們了。

20 For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’

20 你們行詭詐自害；因為你們請我到耶和華－你們的上帝那裏，說：『求你為我們禱告耶和華－我們上帝，照耶和華－我們的上帝一切所說的告訴我們，我們就必遵行。』

21 For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you.

21 我今日將這話告訴你們，耶和華－你們的上帝為你們的事差遣我到你們那裏說的，你們卻一樣沒有聽從。

22 Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you will die in the place where you desire to go to reside.”

22 現在你們要確實地知道，你們在所要去寄居之地必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死。」