Jeremiah 5

1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.

1 你們當在耶路撒冷的街上跑來跑去， 在寬闊處尋找， 看看有一人行公義求誠實沒有？ 若有，我就赦免這城。

2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”

2 其中的人雖然指着永生的耶和華起誓， 所起的誓實在是假的。

3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

3 耶和華啊，你的眼目不是看顧誠實嗎？ 你擊打他們，他們卻不傷慟； 你毀滅他們，他們仍不受懲治。 他們使臉剛硬過於磐石， 不肯回頭。

4 Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

4 我說：這些人實在是貧窮的，是愚昧的， 因為不曉得耶和華的作為 和他們上帝的法則。

5 I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they too, with one accord, had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.

5 我要去見尊大的人，對他們說話， 因為他們曉得耶和華的作為 和他們上帝的法則。 哪知，這些人齊心將軛折斷， 掙開繩索。

6 Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.

6 因此，林中的獅子必害死他們； 晚上 的豺狼必滅絕他們； 豹子要在城外窺伺他們。 凡出城的必被撕碎； 因為他們的罪過極多， 背道的事也加增了。

7 “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

7 我怎能赦免你呢？ 你的兒女離棄我， 又指着那不是神的起誓。 我使他們飽足， 他們就行姦淫， 成群地聚集在娼妓家裏。

8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

8 他們像餵飽的馬到處亂跑， 各向他鄰舍的妻發嘶聲。

9 Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

9 耶和華說：我豈不因這些事討罪呢？ 豈不報復這樣的國民呢？

10 Go up through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not finish them off. Strip off her branches, for they do not belong to the LORD.

10 你們要上她葡萄園的牆施行毀壞， 但不可毀壞淨盡， 只可除掉她的枝子， 因為不屬耶和華。

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to Me,” declares the LORD.

11 原來以色列家和猶大家大行詭詐攻擊我。 這是耶和華說的。

12 They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.

12 他們不認耶和華，說： 這並不是他， 災禍必不臨到我們； 刀劍和饑荒，我們也看不見。

13 The prophets are but wind, for the word is not in them. So let their own predictions befall them.”

13 先知的話必成為風； 道也不在他們裏面。 這災必臨到他們身上。

14 Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: “Because you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes.

14 所以耶和華－萬軍之上帝如此說： 因為百姓說這話， 我必使我的話在你口中為火，使他們為柴； 這火便將他們燒滅。

15 Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

15 耶和華說：以色列家啊， 我必使一國的民從遠方來攻擊你， 是強盛的國， 是從古而有的國。 他們的言語你不曉得， 他們的話你不明白。

16 Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men.

16 他們的箭袋是敞開的墳墓； 他們都是勇士。

17 They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”

17 他們必吃盡你的莊稼和你的糧食， 是你兒女該吃的； 必吃盡你的牛羊， 吃盡你的葡萄和無花果； 又必用刀毀壞你所倚靠的堅固城。

18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you.

18 耶和華說：「就是到那時，我也不將你們毀滅淨盡。

19 And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

19 百姓若說：『耶和華－我們的上帝為甚麼向我們行這一切事呢？』你就對他們說：『你們怎樣離棄耶和華 ，在你們的地上事奉外邦神，也必照樣在不屬你們的地上事奉外邦人。』」

20 Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:

20 當傳揚在雅各家， 報告在猶大說：

21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

21 愚昧無知的百姓啊， 你們有眼不看， 有耳不聽， 現在當聽這話。

22 Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.

22 耶和華說：你們怎麼不懼怕我呢？ 我以永遠的定例， 用沙為海的界限， 水不得越過。 因此，你們在我面前還不戰兢嗎？ 波浪雖然翻騰，卻不能逾越； 雖然匉訇，卻不能過去。

23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away.

23 但這百姓有背叛忤逆的心； 他們叛我而去，

24 They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

24 心內也不說： 我們應當敬畏耶和華－我們的上帝； 他按時賜雨，就是秋雨春雨， 又為我們定收割的節令，永存不廢。

25 Your iniquities have diverted these from you; your sins have deprived you of My bounty.

25 你們的罪孽使這些事轉離你們； 你們的罪惡使你們不能得福。

26 For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men.

26 因為在我民中有惡人。 他們埋伏窺探，好像捕鳥的人； 他們設立圈套陷害人。

27 Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich.

27 籠內怎樣滿了雀鳥， 他們的房中也照樣充滿詭詐； 所以他們得成為大，而且富足。

28 They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

28 他們肥胖光潤， 作惡過甚，不為人伸冤！ 就是不為孤兒伸冤， 不使他亨通， 也不為窮人辨屈。

29 Should I not punish them for these things?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

29 耶和華說：我豈不因這些事討罪呢？ 豈不報復這樣的國民呢？

30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land.

30 國中有可驚駭、可憎惡的事：

31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?

31 就是先知說假預言， 祭司藉他們把持權柄； 我的百姓也喜愛這些事， 到了結局你們怎樣行呢？