1Then all the commanders of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people both small and great 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（又名亞撒利雅，見四十三章二節）以及眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都進前來，
2and said to Jeremiah the prophet, 'Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, [that is] for all this remnant; because we are left [but] a few out of many, as your own eyes [now] see us,
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─你的神。我們本來眾多，現在剩下的極少，這是你親眼所見的。
3that the LORD your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do.'
3願耶和華─你的神指示我們所當走的路，所當做的事。
4Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, 'I have heard [you]. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and I will tell you the whole message which the LORD will answer you. I will not keep back a word from you.'
4先知耶利米對他們說：我已經聽見你們了，我必照著你們的話禱告耶和華─你們的神。耶和華無論回答甚麼，我必都告訴你們，毫不隱瞞。
5Then they said to Jeremiah, 'May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.
5於是他們對耶利米說：我們若不照耶和華─你的神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 listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.'
6我們現在請你到耶和華─我們的神面前，他說的無論是好是歹，我們都必聽從；我們聽從耶和華─我們 神的話，就可以得福。
7Now at the end of 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。
8Then he called for Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him, and for all the people both small and great,
8他就將加利亞的兒子約哈難和同著他的眾軍長，並眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都叫了來，
9and said to them, 'Thus says the LORD the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him:
9對他們說：耶和華─以色列的神，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, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I will relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on 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 are [now] fearing; do not be afraid of him,' declares the LORD, 'for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand.
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'I will also show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own soil.
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 are going to say, 'We will not stay in this land,' so as not to listen to 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─你們神的話，
14saying, 'No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the sound of a trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there';
14說：我們不住這地，卻要進入埃及地，在那裡看不見爭戰，聽不見角聲，也不致無食飢餓。我們必住在那裡。
15then in that case listen to the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'If you really set your mind to enter Egypt and go in to 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─以色列的神如此說：你們若定意要進入埃及，在那裡寄居，
16then the sword, which you are afraid of, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, about which you are anxious, will follow closely after you there [in] 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！你們必死在那裡！
17'So all the men who set their mind to go to Egypt to reside there will die by the sword, by famine and by pestilence; and they will have no survivors or refugees from the calamity that I am going to bring on them.'''
17凡定意要進入埃及在那裡寄居的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，無一人存留，逃脫我所降與他們的災禍。
18For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'As My anger and wrath have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so My wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. And you will become a curse, an object of horror, an imprecation and a reproach; and you will see this place no more.'
18萬軍之耶和華─以色列的神如此說：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。
19The LORD has spoken to you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go into Egypt!' You should clearly understand that today I have testified against you.
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。
20For you have [only] deceived yourselves; for it is you who sent me to the LORD your God, saying, 'Pray for us to the LORD our God; and whatever the LORD our God says, tell us so, and we will do it.'
20你們行詭詐自害；因為你們請我到耶和華─你們的神那裡，說：求你為我們禱告耶和華─我們 神，照耶和華─我們的 神一切所說的告訴我們，我們就必遵行。
21So I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the LORD your God, even in whatever He has sent me to [tell] you.
21我今日將這話告訴你們，耶和華─你們的神為你們的事差遣我到你們那裡說的，你們卻一樣沒有聽從。
22Therefore you should now clearly understand that you will die by the sword, by famine and by pestilence, in the place where you wish 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。