1Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.
1有幾個以色列長老到我這裡來，坐在我面前。
2And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2耶和華的話就臨到我說：
3'Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?
3人子啊，這些人已將他們的假神接到心裡，把陷於罪的絆腳石放在面前，我豈能絲毫被他們求問麼？
4'Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and [then] comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols,
4所以你要告訴他們：主耶和華如此說：以色列家的人中，凡將他的假神接到心裡，把陷於罪的絆腳石放在面前，又就了先知來的，我─耶和華在他所求的事上，必按他眾多的假神回答他（或譯：必按他拜許多假神的罪報應他），
5in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols.''
5好在以色列家的心事上捉住他們，因為他們都藉著假神與我生疏。
6'Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.
6所以你要告訴以色列家說：主耶和華如此說：回頭罷！離開你們的偶像，轉臉莫從你們一切可憎的事。
7'For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and [then] comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person.
7因為以色列家的人，或在以色列中寄居的外人，凡與我隔絕，將他的假神接到心裡，把陷於罪的絆腳石放在面前，又就了先知來要為自己的事求問我的，我─耶和華必親自回答他。
8'I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. So you will know that I am the LORD.
8我必向那人變臉，使他作了警戒，笑談，令人驚駭，並且我要將他從我民中剪除；你們就知道我是耶和華。
9'But if the prophet is prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the LORD, who have prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
9先知若被迷惑說一句預言，是我─耶和華任那先知受迷惑，我也必向他伸手，將他從我民以色列中除滅。
10'They will bear [the punishment of] their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be,
10他們必擔當自己的罪孽。先知的罪孽和求問之人的罪孽都是一樣，
11in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be My people, and I shall be their God,'' declares the Lord GOD.'
11好使以色列家不再走迷離開我，不再因各樣的罪過玷污自己，只要作我的子民，我作他們的神。這是主耶和華說的。
12Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,
12耶和華的話臨到我說：
13'Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast,
13人子啊，若有一國犯罪干犯我，我也向他伸手折斷他們的杖，就是斷絕他們的糧，使饑荒臨到那地，將人與牲畜從其中剪除；
14even [though] these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their [own] righteousness they could [only] deliver themselves,' declares the Lord GOD.
14其中雖有挪亞、但以理、約伯這三人，他們只能因他們的義救自己的性命。這是主耶和華說的。
15'If I were to cause wild beasts to pass through the land and they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts,
15我若使惡獸經過糟踐那地，使地荒涼，以致因這些獸，人都不得經過；
16[though] these three men were in its midst, as I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'they could not deliver either [their] sons or [their] daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate.
16雖有這三人在其中，主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，他們連兒帶女都不能得救，只能自己得救，那地仍然荒涼。
17'Or [if] I should bring a sword on that country and say, 'Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,'
17或者我使刀劍臨到那地，說：刀劍哪，要經過那地，以致我將人與牲畜從其中剪除；
18even [though] these three men were in its midst, as I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'they could not deliver either [their] sons or [their] daughters, but they alone would be delivered.
18雖有這三人在其中，主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，他們連兒帶女都不能得救，只能自己得救。
19'Or [if] I should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it,
19或者我叫瘟疫流行那地，使我滅命（原文是帶血）的忿怒傾在其上，好將人與牲畜從其中剪除；
20even [though] Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'they could not deliver either [their] son or [their] daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.'
20雖有挪亞、但以理、約伯在其中，主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，他們連兒帶女都不能救，只能因他們的義救自己的性命。
21For thus says the Lord GOD, 'How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!
21主耶和華如此說：我將這四樣大災─就是刀劍、饑荒、惡獸、瘟疫降在耶路撒冷，將人與牲畜從其中剪除，豈不更重麼？
22'Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, [both] sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you and you will see their conduct and actions; then you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it.
22然而其中必有剩下的人，他們連兒帶女必帶到你們這裡來，你們看見他們所行所為的，要因我降給耶路撒冷的一切災禍，便得了安慰。
23'Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done in vain whatever I did to it,' declares the Lord GOD.
23你們看見他們所行所為的，得了安慰，就知道我在耶路撒冷中所行的並非無故。這是主耶和華說的。