耶利米询问耶和华
耶和华啊，我与你争辩的时候， 你总是显为义； 但有一件，我还要与你理论： 恶人的道路为何亨通呢？ 大行诡诈的为何得安逸呢？Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
2你栽培了他们， 他们也扎了根， 长大，而且结果。 他们的口与你相近， 心却与你远离。Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
3耶和华啊，你认识我，看见我， 你察验我向你的心如何。 求你将他们拉出来， 如将宰的羊， 为杀戮的日子分别出来。But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4这地悲哀， 一切田野的青草枯干要到几时呢？ 因其上居民的恶行， 牲畜和飞鸟都灭绝了。 因为他们说：“他看不见☛“他看不见”：死海古卷是“耶和华不让你看见”。我们的结局☛“他看不见...结局”：七十士译本是“神看不见我们的道路”。。”How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
5“你与步行的人同跑， 尚且觉得累， 怎能与马赛跑呢？ 你在安全之地尚且会跌倒☛“尚且会跌倒”或译“感觉安稳”。， 在约旦河边的丛林要怎么办呢？If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
6因为连你兄弟和你父家都以诡诈待你， 甚至在你后边大声喊叫。 虽然他们向你说好话， 你也不要相信他们。”耶和华为他的子民忧伤
For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
7我离弃了我的殿宇， 撇弃了我的产业， 将我心里所亲爱的交在她☛“她”指的是“所亲爱的”、“产业”。仇敌手中。I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8我的产业向我如林中的狮子， 出声攻击我， 因此我恨恶她。Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
9我的产业向我如斑点的鸷鸟， 有鸷鸟在四围攻击她。 你们去聚集田野的百兽， 叫它们来吞吃吧！Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
10许多牧人毁坏我的葡萄园， 践踏我的地产， 使我美好的地产变为荒凉的旷野。Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11他们使地荒凉； 地既荒凉，就向我哀哭。 全地荒凉，却无人在意。They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12灭命的来到旷野中一切光秃的高地； 耶和华的刀从地这边直到地那边，尽行杀灭， 凡血肉之躯都不得平安。The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
13他们种的是麦子， 收的却是荆棘； 辛辛苦苦却无收获。 因耶和华的烈怒， 你们必为自己的收成感到羞愧。耶和华对以色列的许诺
They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
14耶和华如此说：“看哪，我要将所有的恶邻拔出本地，他们曾占据了我赐给以色列百姓所承受的产业；我也要将犹大家从他们中间拔出来。Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
15我拔出他们以后，必回转过来怜悯他们，使他们归回，各归本业，各归故土。And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16他们若殷勤学习我百姓的道，指着我的名起誓：‘我指着永生的耶和华起誓’，正如他们从前教我百姓指着巴力起誓，他们必在我百姓中得以建立。And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
17他们若是不听，我必拔出那国，不但拔出，还要毁灭。这是耶和华说的。”But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.