Bible, King James Version ________________________________________ Letter of Jeremiah ________________________________________ EpJer.1 A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.[1] Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians. [2] So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence. [3] Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. [4] Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them. [5] But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee. [6] For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls. [7] As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak. [8] And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. [9] Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves. [10] Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood. [11] Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment. [12] They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them. [13] And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country. [14] He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves. [15] Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not. [16] For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in. [17] And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers. [18] They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one. [19] They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not. [20] Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple. [21] Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also. [22] By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not. [23] Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it. [24] The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price. [25] They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth. [26] They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men. [27] As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it. [28] Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not. [29] For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood. [30] And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. [31] They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead. [32] The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children. [33] Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down. [34] In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it. [35] They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty. [36] They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress. [37] They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. [38] Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded. [39] How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them? [40] Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand. [41] Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge. [42] The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken. [43] Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods? [44] They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be. [45] And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods? [46] For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after. [47] For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. [48] How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague? [49] For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false: [50] And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. [51] Who then may not know that they are no gods? [52] For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men. [53] Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth. [54] Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams. [55] Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods? [56] Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers. [57] Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves. [58] Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false gods. [59] For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient. [60] In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. [61] And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden. [62] And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power. [63] Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men. [64] Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not, [65] For they can neither curse nor bless kings: [66] Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. [67] The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves. [68] It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not. [69] For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold. [70] And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark. [71] And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon then1: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country. [72] Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach. ________________________________________ http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/browse.html | |
[作者﹕耶利米書〔耶肋米亞〕時期﹕-587地區﹕耶路撒冷] 01這是耶利米〔耶肋米亞〕致耶路撒冷人民書的一個副本﹐ 時間剛好在他們被巴比倫王俘虜﹒並解往巴比倫babylon 的前夕﹒書中包括上帝命令耶利米〔耶肋米亞〕傳達給他們 的信息﹒ 02你們已經得罪了上帝﹒這就是你們即將被尼布甲尼撒王 nebuchadnezzar俘虜﹒並被當作囚犯解往巴比倫的原因﹒ 03你們將在那裡流放許多年﹐長達七代人之久﹔在這以後﹐ 上帝會領你們離開巴比倫﹐平平安安地返回家園﹒ 04在巴比倫那裡﹐你們將會看見木製銀製金製神衹﹕這些 神衹被人們扛在肩膀上﹐並且使異教徒們誠惶誠恐﹒ 05你們必須小心謹慎﹐切不可仿效那些外邦人﹒當你們看見 這些神衹被扛在隊伍裡﹒並且受到禮拜的時候﹒切不可讓 它們把你們嚇住﹒ 06相反的﹐卻要對自己說﹕主啊﹗唯有你﹐才是我們必須 禮拜的﹒ 07上帝的天使將在那裡跟你們在一起﹐他會保護你們的﹒ 08他們的偶像上貼著銀子和金子﹐還有木匠雕刻的舌頭﹒ 不過這些偶像並不是真正的神﹐它們不會說話﹒ 09人們製作金冠﹒戴在這些神衹的頭上﹐好像這些偶像是 喜愛鑽石的少女﹒ 10有些時候﹐那些祭司們偷竊他們神的銀子和金子﹒以供 他們自己的花消﹐ 11他們甚至拿出其中的一部分送給寺院妓女﹒人們擺弄著 這些木製銀製金製神衹﹒給它們穿上衣服﹐好像它們也是人﹒ 12儘管這些神衹身穿紫袍﹐像國王似的﹐然而它們卻依然 不能使自己免於生銹﹐或者保護自己免遭白蟻之害﹒ 13當廟裡的塵垢結在它們臉上的時候﹐還得別人替它們抹去﹒ 14活像法官似的﹐它們手裡握著權笏﹐然而它們卻不能懲辦 任何冒犯自己的人﹒ 15有些時候﹐它們手裡拿著短劍和斧子﹐然而它們卻不能保衛 自己免遭戰爭的浩劫﹒或竊賊的掠奪﹒ 16所有這一切都証明﹐它們不是神﹕不要禮拜它們﹒ 17這些神衹坐在廟堂裡如同破碗一樣毫無用處﹒它們的眼睛上﹒ 結滿人們進門時踏起的灰塵﹒ 18祭司們給廟宇加門加欄加閂﹒以防盜賊闖進來﹒這些神衹被 鎖起來﹐其牢固的程度不亞於﹒鎖一個因為冒犯國王而行將 伏法的囚犯﹒ 19祭司們為這些神衹點上燈﹐其亮度遠遠超過它們自己的需要﹐ 然而這些偽像卻連一個人也看不見﹒ 20它們的內臟被白蟻吃掉了﹐就像吃廟裡的木梁一樣﹐它們的 衣服也破爛了﹒可是它們自己甚至還沒有覺察到﹐ 21它們的面孔被廟裡的煙火熏黑了﹒ 22蝙蝠﹐燕子﹐還有別的鳥兒﹐棲息在它們身上﹐它們身上 甚至還坐著貓兒呢﹒ 23所有這一切都証明﹐它們不是神﹕不要禮拜它們﹒ 24這些偶像被貼上了金子﹐好叫它們漂亮些﹐然而它們卻不能 閃閃發光﹐除非有人擦拭它們﹒當它們被注入模型的時候﹐ 它們毫無知覺﹒ 25不管花多高的價錢把它們買來都是一個樣﹐它們還是不能 呼吸﹒ 26看看它們多麼無能﹗它們不能用自己的腳走路﹐非得四面 支撐著不可﹒ 27當一個神衹跌倒在地上﹒還得有人把它重新扶起來的時候﹐ 就連看管它們的人也感到麻煩﹒ 當人們把一個神衹擺到某個地方站著的時候﹐它便一動不動了﹐ 倘若它往一旁傾斜彎曲﹐那就再也不能自己站直了﹒給它們上供﹐ 就如同給死屍上供一個樣﹒ 28祭司們變賣了獻給神衹的供品﹐把所得的款項留給自己花﹒這 些祭司的妻子們將供品撒上鹽保存起來﹐以備日後取用﹐而不把 這些東西分給窮人和無依無靠的人﹒ 29就連正來月經的婦女或剛生過孩子的婦女都可以隨便摸弄供品﹒ 所有這一切都証明﹐它們不是神﹕不要禮拜它們﹒ 30既然連婦女都可以給這些木製銀製金製東西隨便上供﹐那它們 怎麼能夠居然被稱為神呢﹖ 31這些祭司們在居喪的日子裡﹒竟然能夠穩坐廟堂﹐他們穿著 破衣裳﹐剃了鬍鬚﹐光著腦袋﹒ 32在神衹面前﹐祭司們咆哮著吼叫著﹐仿佛他們正在參加甚麼 人的葬禮﹒ 33他們從神衹身上扒下衣服﹐送給他們的妻子和兒女﹒ 34不管是幫助還是傷害這些神衹﹐都沒有關系﹐因為它們根本 不會報復﹒它們不能將任何人立為國王或者將其廢黜﹐ 35它們不能使人致富或者給人一點甚麼錢﹒如果有人當它們發 過誓後又不守信用﹐那它們永遠也不會給他報應﹒ 36它們永遠不能救人脫離死亡﹐它們永遠不能幫助弱者反抗強者﹒ 37它們不能使盲人重見光明﹐或者挽救任何落難的人﹒ 38它們不能向寡婦或孤兒提供任何憐憫或幫助﹒ 39這些用木頭做成的外面貼著銀子和金子的東西﹐一點力量也 沒有﹐就和從山上搬來的石頭一樣﹒那些向這些東西頂禮膜拜 的人們將要蒙受羞恥﹒ 40怎麼能夠想像﹐它們是神或者管它們叫神呢﹖巴比倫人給他們 自己的神衹帶來了恥辱﹒ 41如果甚麼人不會說話﹐他們便把這個人領進廟裡﹐乞求彼勒給 他說話的能力﹐似乎彼勒甚麼都懂﹒ 42即使當人們認識到這些神衹毫不頂事的時候﹐他們還是昏頭 昏腦地繼續向它們頂禮膜拜﹒ 43不僅如此﹐而且婦女們還渾身纏上繩子﹐坐在路旁燒香﹐把 自己當作妓女來奉獻﹒ 當她們中的一個人被拉去性交的時侯﹐她還要回來嘲笑身旁的 婦女﹐說她不夠漂亮﹐沒有被選中﹒ 44與這些偶像相關聯的一切全都是虛妄的﹒人們怎麼能夠想像﹐ 它們是神﹐或者管它們叫神呢﹖ 45木匠和金匠製了這些神衹﹐因此它們的樣子就永遠超不出 這些工匠的意願﹒ 46就連神衹的製者本身都活不了多久﹐怎麼還能談得上由這些人 來創造神呢﹖ 47這些人留給後世子孫的遺產只能是虛妄和恥辱﹒ 48當戰爭和騷亂來臨之際﹐祭司們則謀劃著何處可以容他們帶 著神衹藏身﹒ 49在戰爭和騷亂面前﹐這些偶像是無能為力的﹒為甚麼人們就 認識不到﹐這些偶像並不是神呢﹖ 50這些偶像不過是貼銀貼金的木頭﹐總有一天會真像大白﹐ 它們根本不是甚麼神﹒ 51所有的國家和國王都將認識到﹐偶像只不過是人手的產物﹒ 它們沒有神的權威﹒ 52任何人都應該明白﹐它們根本不是神﹒ 53這些神衹永遠不能立任何人為王﹐或者降下雨來﹒ 54它們不能決定自身的事務﹐或者為蒙冤者伸張正義﹒它們根本 無所作為﹒它們如同在空中盤旋的烏鴉一樣﹐毫無用處﹒ 55當寺廟著火的時候﹐祭司們逃命去了﹐而貼銀貼金的木頭神衹﹒ 卻留下來被火燒﹐就像木粱一樣﹒ 56它們不能與諸王交戰或者出征御敵﹒人們怎麼能夠相信﹐ 它們就是神呢﹖ 57這些貼銀貼金的木頭神衹不能保衛它們自己免遭竊賊或 強盜的掠奪﹐ 58盜賊們將這些銀子金子和神衹的衣裳全都收羅在一起帶走了﹒ 這些神衹一點也不能制止他們﹒ 59從一個勇敢的國王直至一件好用的陶器﹐所有這一切全都比 一位虛妄的神衹好得多﹒就連一扇門也勝過一位虛妄的神衹﹐ 門還可以保住屋裡的東西呢﹒就連宮殿裡的一根木柱也勝過一 位虛妄的神衹﹒ 60上帝命令太陽﹒月亮和星星發光﹐他們就得照辦﹒ 61閃電和風也是如此﹒閃電老遠就能耀人眼目﹔而風則能吹遍 各處﹒ 62當上帝命令雲彩布滿全世界的時候﹐雲彩就得照辦﹒ 63當上帝從天降火焚燒山林的時候﹐火就唯命是聽﹒偶像卻不能 做這些事情﹕它們甚至做不出一件精致的仿製品﹒ 64既然它們無論如何都不能有益於我們﹒或者有害於我們﹐那為 甚麼還管它們叫神呢﹖ 65你們知道﹐它們不是神﹕不要禮拜它們﹒ 66這些神衹沒有凌駕於國王之上的權力﹐它們不能宣佈對國王的 詛咒或者祝福﹒ 67它們不能為國家在天上顯示任何預兆﹒它們不能像太陽或月亮 那樣發光﹒ 68甚至就連野獸都要比這些偶像有能耐﹐野獸至少還能夠逃避 危險﹐從而保護它們自己﹒ 69這就完全清楚了﹐它們不是神﹕不要禮拜它們﹒ 70它們這些貼銀貼金的木頭神衹﹐其用途大約相當於黃瓜地裡的 稻草人﹔此輩甚麼也保護不了﹒ 71它們的妙用如同花園裡的荊棘﹐不是把鳥兒嚇飛﹐而是為鳥兒 提供了一個棲息之所﹒這些神衹如同扔到黑暗裡的死屍﹒ 72它們身上穿的紫色'亞麻布'(大理石)袍子爛掉了﹐由此我們知道﹐ 它們不是神﹒到頭來﹐它們將被白蟻吃掉﹐這時誰也不能為它們 找到一點用場了﹒ 73義人有一個超過旁人的長處﹐他沒有任何偶像[注]﹐它們永遠 無法愚弄他﹒ ■#04x-注解﹕ ■1﹒耶利米書信大肆貶評偶像﹒有其自身文化背境及真理依據﹒ 但在遠東特別是中國﹒有其獨立文化背境﹒耶穌的十二使徒﹒ 往歐﹒非﹒亞﹒三大洲伸展﹒向東的多馬〔多默〕使徒﹒ ■2﹒十分遺憾地不來中原傳教﹒基督教信徒﹒請問耶穌是沒能 力命令多馬來中國﹖還是未有此需要呢﹖ 因此身為華人的基督教徒﹒要小心處理'偶像'這問題﹒ a反對偶像的耶和華上帝﹒親自命令摩西[曾宣佈十誡]製做 銅蛇偶像[民﹐戶21-8]﹒ b信心之父的亞伯拉罕﹒他竟信'上帝'把自己的兒子獻燔祭 [殺子祭神][創22-2]﹒ a表示偶像崇拜並非絕對錯誤﹒ b表示'上帝'也可以被撒但利用作無形的偶像﹒ 3﹒假如基督教信徒以'聖經真理'還認定﹕上帝是試驗亞伯拉罕的 話﹒無可否認﹒'聖經'已成為這些信徒的有形偶像﹒ 4﹒一個偶像該被尊敬與否﹖取決於該偶像究竟是導人向善或向 惡﹖中國的偶像[神像]﹒大部份說來是導人向善的﹐ 因此基教徒不能蔑視他教的文化﹒批評別教神像﹒ 5﹒我巴猶大告訴你們﹒一個敬拜孔子偶像的儒家弟子有可能被 基督稱為基督徒﹒一個信奉耶穌真神的耶教信徒有可能被你主 武稱為異教徒﹒ 6﹒被耶教徒尊為救世主的那一位曾說﹕凡不因我跌倒的就有褔 了[太﹒瑪11-6]﹒耶穌不但救人也會害人[太﹒瑪21-44]﹒ 不因'偶像'而跌倒﹐就明白'借假修真'之意﹒ http://www.1lord.net/ap04.html |