14:7 耶和華啊，我們的罪孽雖然作見證告我們，還求你為你名的緣故行事。我們本是多次背道，得罪了你。
14:8 以色列所盼望、在患難時作他救主的啊，你為何在這地像寄居的，又像行路的只住一宵呢？
14:9 你為何像受驚的人，像不能救人的勇士呢？耶和華啊，你仍在我們中間；我們也稱為你名下的人，求你不要離開我們。
14:10 耶和華對這百姓如此說：這百姓喜愛妄行（原文是飄流），不禁止腳步，所以耶和華不悅納他們。現今要記念他們的罪孽，追討他們的罪惡。
14:11 耶和華又對我說：「不要為這百姓祈禱求好處。
14:12 他們禁食的時候，我不聽他們的呼求；他們獻燔祭和素祭，我也不悅納；我卻要用刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫滅絕他們。」
“Though our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord, for your name's sake;
for our backslidings are many;
we have sinned against you.
O
you hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the
land,
like a traveler who turns aside to tarry
for a night?
Why
should you be like a man confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot save?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not leave us.”
Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
“They have loved to wander thus;
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them;
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.”
The
Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry,
and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept
them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”
************
先知耶利米雖然為以色列人代求，但是上帝卻說：「不要為這百姓祈禱求好處。他們禁食的時候，我不聽他們的呼求；他們獻燔祭和素祭，我也不悅納；我卻要用刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫滅絕他們。」
這也警告我們，不可以輕忽上帝，不要因為祂是慈愛的上帝，就認為我們可以任意而為！我們輕忽上帝、不斷犯罪的下場，就是有一天上帝不願意拯救我們，讓我們嘗受罪惡的懲罰！
也因為如此，我們必須用敬畏上帝的心來遠離罪惡，尤其是我們想到上帝是恨惡罪惡的上帝，我們更是要遠離罪惡的事，過討上帝喜悅的生活，就是要透過基督的救贖，與上帝和好！
