耶利米書46:13-24

46:13 耶和華對先知耶利米所說的話，論到巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒要來攻擊埃及地：

46:14 你們要傳揚在埃及，宣告在密奪，報告在挪弗、答比匿說：要站起出隊，自作準備，因為刀劍在你四圍施行吞滅的事。

46:15 你的壯士為何被沖去呢？他們站立不住；因為耶和華驅逐他們，

46:16 使多人絆跌；他們也彼此撞倒，說：起來吧！我們再往本民本地去，好躲避欺壓的刀劍。

46:17 他們在那裡喊叫說：埃及王法老不過是個聲音（或譯：已經敗亡）；他已錯過所定的時候了。

46:18 君王─名為萬軍之耶和華的說：我指著我的永生起誓：尼布甲尼撒（原文是他）來的勢派必像他泊在眾山之中，像迦密在海邊一樣。

46:19 住在埃及的民（原文是女子）哪，要預備擄去時所用的物件；因為挪弗必成為荒場，且被燒毀，無人居住。

46:20 埃及是肥美的母牛犢；但出於北方的毀滅（或譯：牛虻）來到了！來到了！

46:21 其中的雇勇好像圈裡的肥牛犢，他們轉身退後，一齊逃跑，站立不住；因為他們遭難的日子、追討的時候已經臨到。

46:22 其中的聲音好像蛇行一樣。敵人要成隊而來，如砍伐樹木的手拿斧子攻擊他。

46:23 耶和華說：埃及的樹林雖然不能尋察（或譯：穿不過），敵人卻要砍伐，因他們多於蝗蟲，不可勝數。

46:24 埃及的民（原文是女子）必然蒙羞，必交在北方人的手中。

13 This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt:

14

“Announce this in Egypt, and proclaim it in Migdol;

    proclaim it also in Memphis and Tahpanhes:

‘Take your positions and get ready,

    for the sword devours those around you.’

15

Why will your warriors be laid low?

    They cannot stand, for the Lord will push them down.

16

They will stumble repeatedly;

    they will fall over each other.

They will say, ‘Get up, let us go back

    to our own people and our native lands,

    away from the sword of the oppressor.’

17

There they will exclaim,

    ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is only a loud noise;

    he has missed his opportunity.’

18

“As surely as I live,” declares the King,

    whose name is the Lord Almighty,

“one will come who is like Tabor among the mountains,

    like Carmel by the sea.

19

Pack your belongings for exile,

    you who live in Egypt,

for Memphis will be laid waste

    and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

20

“Egypt is a beautiful heifer,

    but a gadfly is coming

    against her from the north.

21

The mercenaries in her ranks

    are like fattened calves.

They too will turn and flee together,

    they will not stand their ground,

for the day of disaster is coming upon them,

    the time for them to be punished.

22

Egypt will hiss like a fleeing serpent

    as the enemy advances in force;

they will come against her with axes,

    like men who cut down trees.

23

They will chop down her forest,”

declares the Lord,

    “dense though it be.

They are more numerous than locusts,

    they cannot be counted.

24

Daughter Egypt will be put to shame,

    given into the hands of the people of the north.”

**************

    耶利米在此預言巴比倫必定勝過埃及，要在埃及的猶大百姓不要以為可以安居樂業，要有所覺悟，不要在悖逆上帝崇拜偶像。

    其實基督徒也要有所覺悟，要以上帝為我們的生活中心，既然我們已經蒙上帝的拯救，就是要我們與世人有分別，這個分別不是要我們離群索居，而是要我們有不同的生活態度，就是不再以自我為中心，而是以上帝為中心。

    我們的生命要立於不敗之地也是在這裡，因為勝利是屬乎上帝和上帝的子民，上帝得勝的方式是透過耶穌基督來完成了！

耶利米書46章

      耶利米書46:1-12 ,   耶利米書46:13-24 ,  耶利米書46:25-28    ,  耶利米書46:28   ,    

耶利米書46:1-12

46:1 耶和華論列國的話臨到先知耶利米。

46:2 論到關乎埃及王法老尼哥的軍隊：這軍隊安營在幼發拉底河邊的迦基米施，是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒在猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬第四年所打敗的。

46:3 你們要預備大小盾牌，往前上陣。

46:4 你們套上車，騎上馬！頂盔站立，磨槍貫甲！

46:5 我為何看見他們驚惶轉身退後呢？他們的勇士打敗了，急忙逃跑，並不回頭；驚嚇四圍都有！這是耶和華說的。

46:6 不要容快跑的逃避；不要容勇士逃脫（或譯：快跑的不能逃避；勇士不能逃脫）；他們在北方幼發拉底河邊絆跌仆倒。

46:7 像尼羅河漲發，像江河之水翻騰的是誰呢？

46:8 埃及像尼羅河漲發，像江河的水翻騰。他說：我要漲發遮蓋遍地；我要毀滅城邑和其中的居民。

46:9 馬匹上去吧！車輛急行吧！勇士，就是手拿盾牌的古實人和弗人（又作利比亞人），並拉弓的路德族，都出去吧！

46:10 那日是主─萬軍之耶和華報仇的日子，要向敵人報仇。刀劍必吞吃得飽，飲血飲足；因為主─萬軍之耶和華在北方幼發拉底河邊有獻祭的事。

46:11 埃及的民（原文是處女）哪，可以上基列取乳香去；你雖多服良藥，總是徒然，不得治好。

46:12 列國聽見你的羞辱，遍地滿了你的哀聲；勇士與勇士彼此相碰，一齊跌倒。

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations:

2 Concerning Egypt:

This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

3

“Prepare your shields, both large and small,

    and march out for battle!

4

Harness the horses,

    mount the steeds!

Take your positions

    with helmets on!

Polish your spears,

    put on your armor!

5

What do I see?

    They are terrified,

they are retreating,

    their warriors are defeated.

They flee in haste

    without looking back,

    and there is terror on every side,”

declares the Lord.

6

“The swift cannot flee

    nor the strong escape.

In the north by the River Euphrates

    they stumble and fall.

7

“Who is this that rises like the Nile,

    like rivers of surging waters?

8

Egypt rises like the Nile,

    like rivers of surging waters.

She says, ‘I will rise and cover the earth;

    I will destroy cities and their people.’

9

Charge, you horses!

    Drive furiously, you charioteers!

March on, you warriors—men of Cush[a] and Put who carry shields,

    men of Lydia who draw the bow.

10

But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—

    a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes.

The sword will devour till it is satisfied,

    till it has quenched its thirst with blood.

For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice

    in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

11

“Go up to Gilead and get balm,

    Virgin Daughter Egypt.

But you try many medicines in vain;

    there is no healing for you.

12

The nations will hear of your shame;

    your cries will fill the earth.

One warrior will stumble over another;

    both will fall down together.”

**************

    先知有時候不僅是報新聞，更是報「未來」聞，正如耶利米先知在此報埃及的「未來」聞，也因為如此先知被稱為先知或先見之原因。

    而先知宣講這信息也要讓逃到埃及的猶大百姓認識到，埃及也是岌岌可危的，不要自以為安全。

    這也告訴我們，不是倚靠強權，不是靠人的勢力，即使是再大的政權、國家都會敗亡，唯有上帝是永恆堅固的，是可以倚靠到永遠的！

耶利米書45章

    耶利米書45:1-5  ,

耶利米書45:1-5

45:1 猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬第四年，尼利亞的兒子巴錄將先知耶利米口中所說的話寫在書上。耶利米說：
45:2 「巴錄啊，耶和華─以色列的上帝說：
45:3 巴錄（原文是你）曾說：『哀哉！耶和華將憂愁加在我的痛苦上，我因唉哼而困乏，不得安歇。』
45:4 你要這樣告訴他，耶和華如此說：我所建立的，我必拆毀；我所栽植的，我必拔出；在全地我都如此行。
45:5 你為自己圖謀大事嗎？不要圖謀！我必使災禍臨到凡有血氣的。但你無論往哪裡去，我必使你以自己的命為掠物。這是耶和華說的。」

The word that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: ²Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ³You said, “Woe is me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.” ⁴Thus you shall say to him, “Thus says the Lord: I am going to break down what I have built, and pluck up what I have planted—that is, the whole land. ⁵And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”

************

    巴錄是幫耶利米將他的話語寫下來的人，相信他是一個受過良好教育的青年，又有好的文筆，這是上帝給他的恩賜。但是，生不逢時，在猶大被滅的環境中，好像英雄無用武之地！

    正如他的嘆息：「哀哉！耶和華將憂愁加在我的痛苦上，我因唉哼而困乏，不得安歇。」

    可見上帝的僕人們不管在哪個年代都有些惆悵，正如今日也是如此，畢竟都是面對人將對上帝的悖逆，發洩在上帝僕人的身上！或是怪上帝的僕人管太多了！好意被人嫌，這是非常正常的！

          也因為這樣上帝安慰巴錄說：「你為自己圖謀大事嗎？不要圖謀！我必使災禍臨到

凡有血氣的。這是耶和華的話語：『你無論往哪裡去，我必使你保全自己的性命。』」

    重點不在「圖謀大事」，而在「你無論往哪裡去，我必使你保全自己的性命」！上帝必保全我們的性命！

耶利米書44:15-30

44:15 那些住在埃及地巴忒羅知道自己妻子向別神燒香的，與旁邊站立的眾婦女，聚集成群，回答耶利米說：
44:16 「論到你奉耶和華的名向我們所說的話，我們必不聽從。
44:17 我們定要成就我們口中所出的一切話，向天后燒香、澆奠祭，按著我們與我們列祖、君王、首領在猶大的城邑中和耶路撒冷的街市上素常所行的一樣；因為那時我們吃飽飯、享福樂，並不見災禍。
44:18 自從我們停止向天后燒香、澆奠祭，我們倒缺乏一切，又因刀劍饑荒滅絕。」
44:19 婦女說：「我們向天后燒香、澆奠祭，做天后像的餅供奉她，向她澆奠祭，是外乎我們的丈夫嗎？」
44:20 耶利米對一切那樣回答他的男人婦女說：
44:21 「你們與你們列祖、君王、首領，並國內的百姓，在猶大城邑中和耶路撒冷街市上所燒的香，耶和華豈不記念，心中豈不思想嗎？
44:22 耶和華因你們所作的惡、所行可憎的事，不能再容忍，所以你們的地荒涼，令人驚駭咒詛，無人居住，正如今日一樣。
44:23 你們燒香，得罪耶和華，沒有聽從他的話，沒有遵行他的律法、條例、法度，所以你們遭遇這災禍，正如今日一樣。」
44:24 耶利米又對眾民和眾婦女說：「你們在埃及地的一切猶大人當聽耶和華的話。
44:25 萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：你們和你們的妻都口中說、手裡做，說：『我們定要償還所許的願，向天后燒香、澆奠祭。』現在你們只管堅定所許的願而償還吧！
44:26 所以你們住在埃及地的一切猶大人當聽耶和華的話。耶和華說：我指著我的大名起誓，在埃及全地，我的名不再被猶大一個人的口稱呼說：『我指著主─永生的耶和華起誓。』
44:27 我向他們留意降禍不降福；在埃及地的一切猶大人必因刀劍、饑荒所滅，直到滅盡。
44:28 脫離刀劍、從埃及地歸回猶大地的人數很少；那進入埃及地要在那裡寄居的，就是所剩下的猶大人，必知道是誰的話立得住，是我的話呢？是他們的話呢？
44:29 耶和華說：我在這地方刑罰你們，必有預兆，使你們知道我降禍與你們的話必要立得住。
44:30 耶和華如此說：我必將埃及王法老合弗拉交在他仇敵和尋索其命的人手中，像我將猶大王西底家交在他仇敵和尋索其命的巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒手中一樣。」

¹⁵ Then all the men who were aware that their wives had been making offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: ¹⁶“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you. ¹⁷Instead, we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out libations to her, just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials, used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. We used to have plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no misfortune. ¹⁸But from the time we stopped making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her, we have lacked everything and have perished by the sword and by famine.” ¹⁹And the women said, “Indeed we will go on making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her; do you think that we made cakes for her, marked with her image, and poured out libations to her without our husbands’ being involved?”

²⁰ Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who were giving him this answer: ²¹“As for the offerings that you made in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your ancestors, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them? Did it not come into his mind? ²²The Lord could no longer bear the sight of your evil doings, the abominations that you committed; therefore your land became a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is to this day. ²³It is because you burned offerings, and because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey the voice of the Lord or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his decrees, that this disaster has befallen you, as is still evident today.”

²⁴ Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you Judeans who are in the land of Egypt, ²⁵Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have accomplished in deeds what you declared in words, saying, ‘We are determined to perform the vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out libations to her.’ By all means, keep your vows and make your libations! ²⁶Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt: Lo, I swear by my great name, says the Lord, that my name shall no longer be pronounced on the lips of any of the people of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’ ²⁷I am going to watch over them for harm and not for good; all the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall perish by the sword and by famine, until not one is left. ²⁸And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who have come to the land of Egypt to settle, shall know whose words will stand, mine or theirs! ²⁹This shall be the sign to you, says the Lord, that I am going to punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words against you will surely be carried out: ³⁰Thus says the Lord, I am going to give Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, into the hands of his enemies, those who seek his life, just as I gave King Zedekiah of Judah into the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.”

************

    耶利米面對的是一群十分悖逆的百姓，竟然直接向他說：「論到你奉耶和華的名向我們所說的話，我們必不聽從。我們定要成就我們口中所出的一切話，向天后燒香、澆奠祭，按著我們與我們列祖、君王、首領在猶大的城邑中和耶路撒冷的街市上素常所行的一樣；因為那時我們吃飽飯、享福樂，並不見災禍。自從我們停止向天后燒香、澆奠祭，我們倒缺乏一切，又因刀劍饑荒滅絕。」

    我們聽到這樣的話，一定會「昏倒」！明明是因為他們拜偶像才會被巴比倫所滅，竟然怪到先知不給他們拜偶像，才會有今天的狀況！真是做賊的人，還說別人是賊！一點也不知檢討，不知羞恥！這就是人性啊！

    其實牧者在牧會的時候，也會碰到這一些傷腦筋的人物！這些人真的像魔鬼的僕役，常常阻擋傳道人，在教會按照上帝給的權柄來教導弟兄姊妹，尤其是依些自以為老資格的會友或長執，常常在教會彰顯他們的權威，要來壓制上帝的僕人，這樣的人將會面臨上帝的攻擊，因為他們自力權柄超過上帝的權柄，是與上帝為敵！

耶利米書44章

   耶利米書44:1-14   ,   耶利米書44:15-30  ,