8月17日
耶利米書13章20-27節
現代中文譯本2019
13:20 耶路撒冷啊，看吧，敵人從北方來了！託你看顧、你所誇耀的人民在哪裡呢？
13:21 你一向認為是盟友的竟來征服你，統治你；你還有什麼話說呢？你要像產婦陣痛一樣痛苦。
13:22 如果你想知道，你為什麼遭遇這災難，為什麼衣服被撕破，被強暴，這是你可惡的罪招來的。
13:23 黑皮膚的人能改變他的膚色嗎？花豹能除掉牠的斑點嗎？如果能，你這慣做壞事的人也會行善了。
13:24 因此，上主要趕走你，好像曠野的風吹走麥稭。
13:25 他說，這是你應得的報應。他決定這樣對付你，因為你忘記了他，去投靠假神。
13:26 上主要親自剝光你的衣服，羞辱你。
13:27 他看見你做他所憎恨的事；他看見你在山上和田間跟蹤異教的神明，像荒淫無恥的女人追逐情郎。 耶路撒冷人哪，你們慘了！你們到什麼時候才能自潔呢？
ESV
13:20 “Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
13:21 What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you yourself have taught to be friends to you? Will not pangs take hold of you like those of a woman in labor?
13:22 And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’ it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up and you suffer violence.
13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
13:24 I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.
13:25 This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, declares the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.
13:26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.
13:27 I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your lewd whorings, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?”
今天的經文以一個問題作結，是上帝問百姓的一個問題。希伯來文經文的意義不清晰，所以有各種不同的解釋。它的意思是『這樣繼續下去會有多久呢？』或『在你悔改以前這種情形還會持續多久呢？』而是一個只有百姓得捫心自問的問題。
參考資料: https://bible.fhl.net/new/com.php?book=3&engs=Jer&chap=13&sec=20
