懲罰與拯救
1耶和華說：「我向沒有求問我的人顯現，
讓沒有尋找我的人尋見，
對沒有求告我的國家說，
『我在這裡，我在這裡！』
2我整天伸出雙手招呼一群悖逆的百姓，
他們卻任意妄為，
不走正路，
3不斷地當面惹我發怒。
他們在園中獻祭，
在磚臺上燒香，
4坐在墳場裡，
宿在隱秘處。
他們吃豬肉，
用不潔之物做湯，
5還對人說，『站遠點，
別挨近我，因為我比你聖潔！』
我被這些人氣得鼻孔冒煙，
整天怒火難息。
6看啊，這些都記錄在我面前，
我不會再保持緘默，
我要報應他們，
7按他們和他們祖先的罪報應他們。
我必按他們的所作所為報應他們，
因為他們在山上燒香，
在丘陵上褻瀆我。
這是耶和華說的。」
8耶和華說：「人發現一串葡萄尚可釀造新酒時，
一定會說，『不要毀壞它，
裡面還有好葡萄。』
同樣，因我僕人的緣故，
我也不會把他們全部毀滅。
9「我必使雅各的後裔興起，
使猶大人興起，
繼承我的群山。
我揀選的子民必擁有那片土地，
我的僕人必在那裡安居。
10沙崙必成為牧放羊群的草場，
亞割谷必成為牛群休憩的地方，
這些地方必屬於尋求我的人。
11但至於你們這些背棄我、
忘記我的聖山、
擺宴供奉幸運之神、
調酒祭奠命運之神的人，
12我要使你們註定被殺，
喪身刀下。
因為我呼喚你們，你們不回應；
我講話，你們不聆聽。
你們做我視為惡的事，
專行令我不悅的事。」
13所以主耶和華說：
「看啊，我的僕人必有吃有喝，
你們卻要饑渴交加；
我的僕人必歡喜，
你們卻要受羞辱；
14我的僕人必歡喜快樂，
揚聲歌唱，
你們卻要傷心欲絕，
嚎啕大哭。
15我的選民必用你們的名字作咒詛，
主耶和華必殺死你們，
給祂的僕人另起名字。
16因此，在地上求福祉的人都必向信實的上帝祈求，
在地上起誓的人都必憑信實的上帝起誓。
因為過去的苦難已經被遺忘，
從我眼前消失了。
新天新地
17「看啊，我要創造新天新地，
過去的一切都要被遺忘，
從記憶中消失。
18你們要因我創造的一切而永遠歡喜快樂。
看啊，我要創造一個充滿喜樂的耶路撒冷，
其中的居民個個歡欣。
19我必因耶路撒冷而歡喜，
因我的子民而快樂。
城裡再聽不見哭泣和哀號聲。
20再沒有只活幾天便夭折的嬰兒，
也沒有壽數未盡便死的老人，
因為滿了百歲便死的人不過算是青年，
不足百歲便死的人被視為受了咒詛。
21他們要建造房屋，安然居住，
栽種葡萄園，吃園中的果子。
22他們建的房屋再不會被別人居住，
他們種的果實再不會被別人享用。
我的子民必像樹木一樣長壽，
我揀選的人必長享自己親手勞碌的成果。
23他們不會徒勞，
他們的孩子也不會遇到災禍，
因為他們及其子孫是蒙上帝賜福的人。
24他們還沒有求告，
我就已經應允；
他們正要禱告，
我就已經垂聽。
25豺狼和綿羊必一起吃草，
獅子必像牛一樣吃草，
蛇必以塵土為食。
在我的整個聖山上，
牠們都不傷人，不害物。
這是耶和華說的。」
The Lord Judges and Saves
1The Lord says, “I made myself known to those who were not asking for me.
I was found by those who were not trying to find me.
I spoke to a nation that did not pray to me.
‘Here I am,’ I said. ‘Here I am.’
2All day long I have held out my hands
to welcome a stubborn nation.
They lead sinful lives.
They go where their evil thoughts take them.
3They are always making me very angry.
They do it right in front of me.
They offer sacrifices in the gardens of other gods.
They burn incense on altars that are made out of bricks.
4They sit among the graves.
They spend their nights talking to the spirits of the dead.
They eat the meat of pigs.
Their cooking pots hold soup that has ‘unclean’ meat in it.
5They say, ‘Keep away! Don’t come near us!
We are too sacred for you!’
Those people are like smoke in my nose.
They are like a fire that keeps burning all day.
6“I will judge them. I have even written it down.
I will not keep silent.
Instead, I will pay them back for all their sins.
7I will punish them for their sins.
I will also punish them for the sins of their people before them.”
This is what the Lord says.
“They burned sacrifices on the mountains.
They disobeyed me by worshiping other gods on the hills.
So I will make sure they are fully punished
for all the sins they have committed.”
8The Lord says,
“Sometimes juice is still left in grapes that have been crushed.
So people say, ‘Don’t destroy them.’
They are still of some benefit.”
That is what I will do for the good of those who serve me.
I will not destroy all my people.
9I will give children
to the families of Jacob and Judah.
They will possess my entire land.
My chosen people will be given all of it.
Those who serve me will live there.
10Their flocks will eat in the rich grasslands of Sharon.
Their herds will rest in the Valley of Achor.
That is what I will do for my people who follow me.
11“But some of you have deserted me.
You no longer worship on my holy mountain of Zion.
You spread a table for the god called Good Fortune.
You offer bowls of mixed wine to the god named Fate.
12So I will make it your fate to be killed by swords.
All of you will die in the battle.
That’s because I called out to you, but you did not answer me.
I spoke to you, but you did not listen.
You did what is evil in my sight.
You chose to do what does not please me.”
13So the Lord and King says,
“Those who serve me will have food to eat.
But you will be hungry.
My servants will have plenty to drink.
But you will be thirsty.
Those who serve me will be full of joy.
But you will be put to shame.
14My servants will sing
with joy in their hearts.
But you will cry out
because of the great pain in your hearts.
You will cry because your spirits are sad.
15My chosen ones will use your names
when they curse others.
I am your Lord and King.
I will put you to death.
But I will give new names to those who serve me.
16They will ask me to bless their land.
They will do it in my name.
I am the one true God.
They will make promises in their land.
They will do it in my name.
I am the one true God.
The troubles of the past will be forgotten.
They will be hidden from my eyes.
The Lord Will Create New Heavens and a New Earth
17“I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The things that have happened before will not be remembered.
They will not even enter your minds.
18So be glad and full of joy forever
because of what I will create.
I will cause others to take delight in Jerusalem.
They will be filled with joy
when they see its people.
19And I will be full of joy because of Jerusalem.
I will take delight in my people.
Weeping and crying
will not be heard there anymore.
20“Babies in Jerusalem will no longer
live only a few days.
Old people will not fail
to live for a very long time.
Those who live to the age of 100
will be thought of as mere children when they die.
Those who die before they are 100
will be considered as having been under God’s curse.
21My people will build houses and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They will no longer build houses
only to have others live in them.
They will no longer plant crops
only to have others eat them.
My people will live to be as old as trees.
My chosen ones will enjoy for a long time
the things they have worked for.
23Their work will not be worthless anymore.
They will not have children who are sure to face sudden terror.
Instead, I will bless them.
I will also bless their children after them.
24Even before they call out to me, I will answer them.
While they are still speaking, I will hear them.
25Wolves and lambs will eat together.
Lions will eat straw like oxen.
Serpents will eat nothing but dust.
None of those animals will harm or destroy
anything or anyone on my holy mountain of Zion,”
says the Lord.
