上帝應許拯救祂的子民
1耶和華對耶利米說： 2「以下是以色列的上帝耶和華的話，你要把我對你說的話寫在書卷上。 3耶和華說，『看啊，時候將到，我要使我被擄的子民——以色列人和猶大人回到故土，回到我賜給他們祖先的土地上。這是耶和華說的。』」
4以下是耶和華論到以色列和猶大的話。
5耶和華說：「我聽見驚恐不安的喊叫聲。
6你們去問問，
男人能分娩嗎？
為什麼我看見男人們都雙手捂著肚子，
好像分娩的婦人臉色鐵青呢？
7唉！無比可怕的日子快來了，
那將是雅各子孫的苦難之日，
但他們必得拯救。」
8萬軍之耶和華說：「那日，我要折斷他們頸上的軛，砍斷他們的鎖鏈，使他們不再受外族人奴役。 9他們要事奉我——他們的上帝耶和華，聽從我為他們選立來繼承大衛寶座的王。
10「我的僕人雅各啊，不要害怕；
以色列人啊，不要驚駭。
這是耶和華說的。
因為我必從遠方，
從你們流亡之地拯救你們，
使你們重歸故土，得享安寧，
不受他人驚嚇。
11因為我與你們同在，
要拯救你們。
這是耶和華說的。
我要徹底毀滅列國，
就是我曾使你們流亡的地方。
但我不會徹底毀滅你們，
也不會饒過你們，
我必公正地懲治你們。」
12耶和華說：
「你們的創傷無法醫治，
你們的傷口無法痊癒。
13沒有人幫助你們，
你們的傷處無藥可治，
你們無法痊癒。
14你們的盟友都忘了你們，
對你們漠不關心。
我要像你們的仇敵一樣擊打你們，
殘酷地懲罰你們，
因為你們罪大惡極，罪過無數。
15你們為何因自己無法醫治的創傷而哭泣呢？
因為你們罪大惡極，罪過無數，
我才這樣懲罰你們。
16然而，毀滅你們的必被毀滅，
與你們為敵的必被擄走，
擄掠你們的必被擄掠，
搶奪你們的必被搶奪。
17雖然你們這些錫安人無家可歸，
無人關心，
但我要醫治你們的創傷，
使你們康復。
這是耶和華說的。」
18耶和華說：
「看啊，我要使雅各的子孫復興，
我要憐憫他們，
使他們在廢墟上重建家園，
重修宮殿。
19那裡必傳出感謝和歡樂的聲音。
我必使他們的人口增加，
不再減少；
我必使他們得享尊榮，
不再受歧視。
20他們的兒女要如往日一樣興旺，
我要使他們的國家堅立，
我要懲罰所有壓迫他們的人。
21他們的首領將是自己的同胞，
他們的元首將出自本族。
他必應我的邀請來到我面前，
因為無人敢貿然來到我面前。
這是耶和華說的。
22他們要做我的子民，
我要做他們的上帝。」
23看啊，耶和華的怒氣必如風暴一樣橫掃過來，
颳到惡人頭上。
24耶和華不完成祂心中的計劃，
祂的烈怒必不止息。
將來有一天，你們會明白。
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4¶ And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.30.5 of fear…: or, there is fear, and not peace 6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?30.6 a man: Heb. a male 7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10¶ Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. 12For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. 13There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.30.13 that…: Heb. for binding up, or, pressing 14All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. 15Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee. 16Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 17For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
18¶ Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.30.18 heap: or, little hill 19And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. 20Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. 21And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. 22And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.30.23 continuing: Heb. cutting30.23 fall…: or, remain 24The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
