1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,
1耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
2'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you.'
2你起來，下到窯匠的家裡去，我在那著要使你聽我的話。
3Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.
3我就下到窯匠的家裡去，正遇他轉輪做器皿。
4But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
4窯匠用泥做的器皿，在他手中做壞了，他又用這泥另做別的器皿；窯匠看怎樣好，就怎樣做。
5Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,
5耶和華的話就臨到我說：
6'Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter [does]?' declares the LORD. 'Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
6耶和華說：以色列家啊，我待你們，豈不能照這窯匠弄泥麼？以色列家啊，泥在窯匠的手中怎樣，你們在我的手中也怎樣。
7'At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy [it];
7我何時論到一邦或一國說，要拔出、拆毀、毀壞；
8if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.
8我所說的那一邦，若是轉意離開他們的惡，我就必後悔，不將我想要施行的災禍降與他們。
9'Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant [it];
9我何時論到一邦或一國說，要建立、栽植；
10if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.
10他們若行我眼中看為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我就必後悔，不將我所說的福氣賜給他們。
11'So now then, speak to the men of Judah and against the inhabitants of Jerusalem saying, 'Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I am fashioning calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.''
11現在你要對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說：耶和華如此說：我造出災禍攻擊你們，定意刑罰你們。你們各人當回頭離開所行的惡道，改正你們的行動作為。
12'But they will say, 'It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'
12他們卻說：這是枉然。我們要照自己的計謀去行。各人隨自己頑梗的惡心做事。
13'Therefore thus says the LORD, 'Ask now among the nations, Who ever heard the like of this? The virgin of Israel Has done a most appalling thing.
13所以，耶和華如此說：你們且往各國訪問，有誰聽見這樣的事？以色列民（原文是處女）行了一件極可憎惡的事。
14'Does the snow of Lebanon forsake the rock of the open country? Or is the cold flowing water [from] a foreign [land] ever snatched away?
14利巴嫩的雪從田野的磐石上豈能斷絕呢？從遠處流下的涼水豈能乾涸呢？
15'For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway,
15我的百姓竟忘記我，向假神燒香，使他們在所行的路上，在古道上絆跌，使他們行沒有修築的斜路，
16To make their land a desolation, [An object of] perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head.
16以致他們的地令人驚駭，常常嗤笑；凡經過這地的必驚駭搖頭。
17'Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not [My] face In the day of their calamity.''
17我必在仇敵面前分散他們，好像用東風吹散一樣。遭難的日子，我必以背向他們，不以面向他們。
18Then they said, 'Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the [divine] word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with [our] tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words.'
18他們就說：來罷！我們可以設計謀害耶利米；因為我們有祭司講律法，智慧人設謀略，先知說預言，都不能斷絕。來罷！我們可以用舌頭擊打他，不要理會他的一切話。
19Do give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to what my opponents are saying!
19耶和華啊，求你理會我，且聽那些與我爭競之人的話。
20Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You To speak good on their behalf, So as to turn away Your wrath from them.
20豈可以惡報善呢？他們竟挖坑要害我的性命！求你記念我怎樣站在你面前為他們代求，要使你的忿怒向他們轉消。
21Therefore, give their children over to famine And deliver them up to the power of the sword; And let their wives become childless and widowed. Let their men also be smitten to death, Their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
21故此，願你將他們的兒女交與饑荒和刀劍；願他們的妻無子，且作寡婦；又願他們的男人被死亡所滅，他們的少年人在陣上被刀擊殺。
22May an outcry be heard from their houses, When You suddenly bring raiders upon them; For they have dug a pit to capture me And hidden snares for my feet.
22你使敵軍忽然臨到他們的時候，願人聽見哀聲從他們的屋內發出；因他們挖坑要捉拿我，暗設網羅要絆我的腳。
23Yet You, O LORD, know All their deadly designs against me; Do not forgive their iniquity Or blot out their sin from Your sight. But may they be overthrown before You; Deal with them in the time of Your anger!
23耶和華啊，他們要殺我的那一切計謀，你都知道。不要赦免他們的罪孽，也不要從你面前塗抹他們的罪惡，要叫他們在你面前跌倒；願你發怒的時候罰辦他們。