陶器的比喻
1耶和華對耶利米說： 2「你去陶匠家，在那裡我有話告訴你。」 3我便到陶匠家，見他正用輪盤做器皿。 4每當他手中的器皿做壞了，他就用那塊泥重做，想怎麼做就怎麼做。 5這時，耶和華對我說： 6「以色列人啊，難道我不能像陶匠對待陶泥一樣對待你們嗎？以色列人啊，你們在我手中就像陶泥在陶匠手中一樣。這是耶和華說的。 7當我宣佈要剷除、推翻、毀滅哪一邦或哪一國的時候， 8如果他們悔過自新，我必施憐憫，取消我原本要降給他們的災禍。 9當我宣佈要建造、栽培哪一邦或哪一國的時候， 10如果他們做我視為惡的事，不聽從我的話，我必改變心意，取消我原本要賜給他們的福氣。 11因此，你去告訴猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民，『耶和華說，我正計劃降災禍懲罰你們。你們要離開罪惡，改邪歸正。』 12他們卻說，『不！我們喜歡隨心所欲，為所欲為。』」
13因此耶和華說：
「你們問問列國，
看看誰曾聽過這樣的事？
少女般的以色列竟做了一件極可怕的事。
14黎巴嫩山嶺上的積雪會融化嗎？
從遠方流來的冰涼溪水會停止嗎？
15然而，我的子民卻把我拋諸腦後，
向虛無的神明燒香，
偏離古道，在歧途上絆絆跌跌。
16因此，他們的土地必荒涼，
永遠遭人嗤笑，
經過此地的人無不驚懼，
搖頭歎息。
17我要在敵人面前驅散他們，
就像東風吹散塵土一樣。
在他們遭難的時候，
我必以背相向，
不理睬他們。」
18他們說：「來！我們設計對付耶利米吧，反正我們有祭司教導律法，有智者出謀劃策，有先知傳講預言。來吧！我們抨擊他，不要理會他的話。」
19耶和華啊，求你眷顧我，
聽聽敵人對我的指控。
20人豈能以惡報善？
他們竟設陷阱謀害我，
求你回想我怎樣站在你面前為他們求情，
怎樣求你不要向他們發烈怒。
21因此，願他們喪身刀下，
兒女餓死，
妻子喪夫亡子，
年長的被殺，
年少的死於戰場！
22當你使敵軍突襲他們時，
願他們家中傳出哭喊聲，
因為他們挖陷阱要捕捉我，
設圈套要絆我的腳。
23耶和華啊，你知道他們害我的各種詭計，
求你不要赦免他們的罪過，
不要饒恕他們的惡行。
求你使他們倒在你面前，
求你在烈怒中懲罰他們。
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
