陶器的比喻
1耶和华对耶利米说： 2“你去陶匠家，在那里我有话告诉你。” 3我便到陶匠家，见他正用轮盘做器皿。 4每当他手中的器皿做坏了，他就用那块泥重做，想怎么做就怎么做。 5这时，耶和华对我说： 6“以色列人啊，难道我不能像陶匠对待陶泥一样对待你们吗？以色列人啊，你们在我手中就像陶泥在陶匠手中一样。这是耶和华说的。 7当我宣布要铲除、推翻、毁灭哪一邦或哪一国的时候， 8如果他们悔过自新，我必施怜悯，取消我原本要降给他们的灾祸。 9当我宣布要建造、栽培哪一邦或哪一国的时候， 10如果他们做我视为恶的事，不听从我的话，我必改变心意，取消我原本要赐给他们的福气。 11因此，你去告诉犹大人和耶路撒冷的居民，‘耶和华说，我正计划降灾祸惩罚你们。你们要离开罪恶，改邪归正。’ 12他们却说，‘不！我们喜欢随心所欲，为所欲为。’”
13因此耶和华说：
“你们问问列国，
看看谁曾听过这样的事？
少女般的以色列竟做了一件极可怕的事。
14黎巴嫩山岭上的积雪会融化吗？
从远方流来的冰凉溪水会停止吗？
15然而，我的子民却把我抛诸脑后，
向虚无的神明烧香，
偏离古道，在歧途上绊绊跌跌。
16因此，他们的土地必荒凉，
永远遭人嗤笑，
经过此地的人无不惊惧，
摇头叹息。
17我要在敌人面前驱散他们，
就像东风吹散尘土一样。
在他们遭难的时候，
我必以背相向，
不理睬他们。”
18他们说：“来！我们设计对付耶利米吧，反正我们有祭司教导律法，有智者出谋划策，有先知传讲预言。来吧！我们抨击他，不要理会他的话。”
19耶和华啊，求你眷顾我，
听听敌人对我的指控。
20人岂能以恶报善？
他们竟设陷阱谋害我，
求你回想我怎样站在你面前为他们求情，
怎样求你不要向他们发烈怒。
21因此，愿他们丧身刀下，
儿女饿死，
妻子丧夫亡子，
年长的被杀，
年少的死于战场！
22当你使敌军突袭他们时，
愿他们家中传出哭喊声，
因为他们挖陷阱要捕捉我，
设圈套要绊我的脚。
23耶和华啊，你知道他们害我的各种诡计，
求你不要赦免他们的罪过，
不要饶恕他们的恶行。
求你使他们倒在你面前，
求你在烈怒中惩罚他们。
1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.18.3 wheels: or, frames, or, seats 4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.18.4 of clay…: or, was marred, as clay in the hand of the potter18.4 made it…: Heb. returned and made, etc 5Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 7At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11¶ Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. 12And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. 13Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing. 14Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?18.14 the snow…: or, my fields for a rock, or for the snow of Lebanon? shall the running waters be forsaken for the strange cold waters? 15Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; 16To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. 17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
18¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.18.18 with…: or, for the tongue 19Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. 20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them. 21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.18.21 pour…: Heb. pour them out 22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. 23Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.18.23 to slay…: Heb. for death
