順服的利甲族和悖逆的猶大人
1猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬執政期間，耶和華對耶利米說： 2「你去利甲族那裡，邀請他們到耶和華殿的一間廂房，給他們酒喝。」 3於是，我將哈巴洗尼雅的孫子、雅利米雅的兒子雅撒尼亞，以及雅撒尼亞的弟兄和兒子等利甲全族的人， 4領到耶和華的殿，進入上帝的僕人伊基大利之子哈難眾兒子的房間。這房間靠近官長的房間，在殿門守衛沙龍的兒子瑪西雅的房間上面。 5我把盛滿酒的杯和壺擺在利甲全族面前，請他們喝酒。 6他們卻說：「我們不喝酒，因為我們的祖先利甲的兒子約拿達曾吩咐我們和我們的子孫永遠不可喝酒、 7蓋房、撒種、栽植葡萄或擁有葡萄園，一輩子都要住帳篷，以便在異鄉長久居住。 8我們遵守他的一切吩咐，我們和我們的妻子兒女從不喝酒， 9不蓋房，也沒有葡萄園、田地和種子。 10我們住帳篷，遵守我們祖先約拿達的一切吩咐。 11但當巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒進攻這裡的時候，我們決定來耶路撒冷躲避迦勒底和亞蘭的軍隊。因此，我們現在住在耶路撒冷。」
12耶和華對耶利米說： 13「這是以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華的話，你去把我的話告訴猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民，『耶和華說，你們要聽從我的教導。 14利甲的兒子約拿達吩咐他的子孫不可喝酒，他們直到現在都不喝酒。但我屢次告誡你們，你們卻不聽我的話。 15我再三差遣我的僕人——眾先知勸你們改邪歸正，不要追隨、祭拜別的神明，以便你們可以在我賜給你們和你們祖先的土地上安居樂業，你們卻充耳不聞，毫不理會。 16利甲的兒子約拿達的子孫尚且聽從他們祖先的吩咐，你們卻不聽從我的話。 17因此，以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說，我要給猶大和耶路撒冷的居民降下我說過的災禍。因為我對他們說話，他們不聽；我呼喚他們，他們不理會。』」
18然後，耶利米對利甲族人說：「以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說，『你們聽從祖先利甲的兒子約拿達的吩咐，遵守他的一切命令， 19因此，利甲的兒子約拿達的子孫必永遠事奉我。這是以色列的上帝——萬軍之耶和華說的。』」
1The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, 2Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. 3Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; 4And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:35.4 door: Heb. threshold, or, vessel 5And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. 6But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: 7Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. 8Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; 9Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: 10But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
12¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 13Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD. 14The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. 15I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. 16Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: 17Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
18¶ And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: 19Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.35.19 Jonadab…: Heb. There shall not a man be cut off from Jonadab the son of Rechab to stand, etc
