以色列人必回歸
1耶和華說:「那時,我要做以色列各宗族的上帝,他們必做我的子民。
2「逃脫刀兵之災的以色列人必在曠野蒙恩,
找到安息之所。
這是耶和華說的。」
3從前,耶和華向以色列顯現,說:
「我以永遠不變的愛愛你,
我以慈愛吸引你到我身邊。
4以色列人啊,
我要重建你們的家園,
你們要再次拿起鈴鼓與歡樂的人一同跳舞。
5你們將在撒瑪利亞的山上重新栽種葡萄園,
享受園中的果實。
6有一天,看守園子的人要在以法蓮的山上呼喊,
『我們上錫安朝見我們的上帝耶和華吧!』」
7耶和華說:
「你們要為雅各歡呼歌唱,
向列國之首喝采。
你們要傳揚頌讚,說,
『耶和華啊,
求你拯救以色列剩餘的子民!』
8看啊,我要從北方,
從地極招聚他們,
其中有瞎子、跛子、孕婦和產婦,
他們要成群結隊地回到這裡。
9我必引領他們回來,
他們必一路含淚禱告。
我要使他們走在溪水邊,
行在平坦的路上,
他們必不會跌倒,
因為我是以色列的父親,
以法蓮是我的長子。
10「列國啊,你們要聽耶和華的話,
要在遠方的海島宣揚,
『祂從前驅散以色列人,
如今必再聚集、保護他們,
好像牧人看守自己的羊群一樣。』
11耶和華必拯救雅各的子孫,
從強敵手中救出他們。
12他們必來到錫安山上歡呼,
為耶和華所賜的五穀、新酒、
油、羔羊和牛犢而歡欣。
他們就像水源充足的田園,
一無所缺。
13那時,少女要歡然起舞,
老人和青年要一起快樂。
我要使他們轉憂為喜,
我要安慰他們,使他們歡喜,
不再憂愁。
14我要使祭司有充足的供應,
使我的子民飽享美物。
這是耶和華說的。」
15耶和華說:
「在拉瑪有痛哭哀號的聲音,
是拉結在為兒女哀痛,
不肯接受安慰,
因為他們都死了。」
16耶和華說:
「不要哭泣,不要流淚,
因為你的勞苦必有回報,
你的兒女必從敵國回來。
這是耶和華說的。
17你將來必有盼望,
你的兒女必重返家園。
這是耶和華說的。
18我聽見以法蓮31·18 「以法蓮」是北國以色列的主要支派,常用來代指北國以色列。在為自己悲歎,
『我們就像未經馴服的牛犢,
你管教我們,使我們順服,
求你使我們回到你身邊,
重新復興,
因為你是我們的上帝耶和華。
19我們曾經離開你,
但我們後悔了;
我們醒悟之後捶胸頓足,
痛悔不已,
因早年的所作所為而羞愧難當。』」
20耶和華說:「以法蓮不是我的愛子嗎?
他不是我喜悅的孩子嗎?
我雖然常常責備他,
但仍然惦記著他。
我深深地想念他,
我必憐憫他。
21「以色列人啊,
你們要為自己設置路標,
豎起路牌,
牢記你們走過的大道。
以色列人啊,
回來吧!回到你們的城邑吧!
22不忠貞的子民啊!
你們四處流浪要到何時呢?
耶和華在地上行了一件新事——女子將要護衛男子。」
23以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說:「我使被擄的猶大人回到故鄉後,他們要在猶大各城邑再次呼喊,
『公義的居所啊,
聖山啊,願耶和華賜福給你!』
24「農夫和牧人必住在猶大的各城邑。 25我要使疲乏的人振作起來,使苦悶的人快樂起來。」
26這時,我醒過來,覺得這一覺實在香甜。
27耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,我要使以色列和猶大人丁興旺,牲畜繁多。 28我曾決意剷除、拆毀、推翻、剿滅他們,降災給他們,將來我必塑造、栽培他們。這是耶和華說的。 29那時,人再不會說,
『父親吃酸葡萄,
兒子的牙酸倒了。』
30因為各人都要承擔自己的罪,誰吃酸葡萄,誰的牙酸倒。」 31耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,我要與以色列家和猶大家另立新約, 32這約不同於我與他們祖先所立的約,就是我牽著他們祖先的手領他們離開埃及時所立的。雖然我是他們的丈夫,他們卻違背了我的約。這是耶和華說的。」
33耶和華說:「那些日子以後,我將與以色列家立這樣的約,我要把我的律法放在他們腦中,寫在他們心上。我要做他們的上帝,他們要做我的子民。 34誰都無需再教導他的鄰居和弟兄,說,『你要認識耶和華』,因為他們無論尊卑都必認識我。我要赦免他們的過犯,忘掉他們的罪惡。這是耶和華說的。」
35使陽光白天照耀、
星月晚上發光、
大海波濤洶湧的萬軍之耶和華說:
36「只要天地之律還在,
以色列邦國必永續不斷。
這是耶和華說的。」
37耶和華說:
「正如無人能量度高天,
探測大地的根基,
同樣我也決不會因以色列人的所作所為而棄絕他們。
這是耶和華說的。」
38耶和華說:「看啊,時候將到,從哈楠業樓直到角門,整個耶路撒冷城要重建起來歸給耶和華。 39城界要向外延伸到迦立山,再轉到歌亞。 40甚至拋屍、倒灰的整個山谷,以及從汲淪溪到東邊馬門拐角的所有田地都要歸給耶和華作聖地,永不再被傾覆、毀滅。」
1At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.31.3 of…: Heb. from afar31.3 with lovingkindness…: have I extended lovingkindness unto thee 4Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.31.4 tabrets: or, timbrels 5Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.31.5 eat…: Heb. profane them 6For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. 7For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.31.9 supplications: or, favours
10¶ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
15¶ Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
18¶ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.31.20 are…: Heb. sound 21Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
22¶ How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 23Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. 25For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. 26Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. 28And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. 29In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. 30But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:31.32 although…: or, should I have continued an husband unto them? 33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35¶ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
38¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.