對以色列的最後審判
1以法蓮支派在以色列地位崇高，
他們一開口，人都恐懼顫抖。
但他們卻祭拜巴力，自招滅亡。
2如今他們作惡日甚，
憑藉自己的聰明用銀子鑄造神像，
但這不過是匠人之作。
人們議論他們說：
「那些獻祭的人竟親吻牛犢偶像！」
3他們像晨霧，如轉瞬即逝的朝露，
像麥場上飛旋而去的糠秕，
又像窗口冒出的輕煙。
4耶和華說：
「自從你們離開埃及以來，
我就是你們的上帝耶和華。
除我以外，你們不可有別的神明；
在我以外，你們也沒有別的救主。
5我曾在乾旱的曠野照顧你們，
6但你們吃得飽足以後，
就心高氣傲，忘記了我。
7因此，我要像獅子攻擊你們，
如豹子潛伏在路旁；
8我要像一頭失了幼崽的母熊衝向你們，
撕裂你們的胸膛；
我要像母獅吞噬你們，
像兇猛的野獸撕碎你們。
9「以色列啊，你要滅亡了，
因為你抵擋我，抵擋你的幫助者。
10你曾求我為你設立君王和首領，
現在拯救你的君王在哪裡呢？
在各城管理你的首領在哪裡呢？
11我在憤怒中賜給你君王，
也在憤怒中廢黜他們。
12「以法蓮的過犯已被記錄在冊，
他的罪惡已被儲存入庫。
13臨產的陣痛要臨到他，
但他是毫無智慧的孩子，
分娩之時卻不離開母腹。
14我要把他們從陰間的權勢下贖回嗎？
我要救他們脫離死亡嗎？
死亡啊，你去降災給他們吧！
陰間啊，你去毀滅他們吧！
我不會再憐憫他們。
15儘管以法蓮在眾弟兄中最強盛，
但炙熱的東風——耶和華的風要從沙漠颳來，
使清泉枯竭，水井乾涸。
他儲藏的一切珍寶都要被擄去。
16撒瑪利亞人背叛了他們的上帝，
要擔當自己的罪過。
他們將喪身刀下，
他們的孩子要被摔死，
孕婦要被剖腹。」
The Lord’s anger against Israel
1When Ephraim spoke, people trembled;
he was exalted in Israel.
But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.
2Now they sin more and more;
they make idols for themselves from their silver,
cleverly fashioned images,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
It is said of these people,
‘They offer human sacrifices!
They kiss13:2 Or ‘Men who sacrifice / kiss calf-idols!’
3Therefore they will be like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears,
like chaff swirling from a threshing-floor,
like smoke escaping through a window.
4‘But I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt.
You shall acknowledge no God but me,
no Saviour except me.
5I cared for you in the wilderness,
in the land of burning heat.
6When I fed them, they were satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;
then they forgot me.
7So I will be like a lion to them,
like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8Like a bear robbed of her cubs,
I will attack them and rip them open;
like a lion I will devour them –
a wild animal will tear them apart.
9‘You are destroyed, Israel,
because you are against me, against your helper.
10Where is your king, that he may save you?
Where are your rulers in all your towns,
of whom you said,
“Give me a king and princes”?
11So in my anger I gave you a king,
and in my wrath I took him away.
12The guilt of Ephraim is stored up,
his sins are kept on record.
13Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him,
but he is a child without wisdom;
when the time arrives,
he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.
14‘I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;
I will redeem them from death.
Where, O death, are your plagues?
Where, O grave, is your destruction?
‘I will have no compassion,
15even though he thrives among his brothers.
An east wind from the Lord will come,
blowing in from the desert;
his spring will fail
and his well dry up.
His storehouse will be plundered
of all its treasures.
16The people of Samaria must bear their guilt,
because they have rebelled against their God.
They will fall by the sword;
their little ones will be dashed to the ground,
their pregnant women ripped open.’13:16 In Hebrew texts this verse (13:16) is numbered 14:1.
