¹ 耶和華的話臨到我說：

² 人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，

³ 說主耶和華如此說：有一大鷹，翅膀大，翎毛長，羽毛豐滿，彩色俱備，來到利巴嫩，將香柏樹梢擰去，

⁴ 就是折去香柏樹儘尖的嫩枝，叼到貿易之地，放在買賣城中；

⁵ 又將以色列地的枝子栽於肥田裡，插在大水旁，如插柳樹，

⁶ 就漸漸生長，成為蔓延矮小的葡萄樹。其枝轉向那鷹，其根在鷹以下，於是成了葡萄樹，生出枝子，發出小枝。

⁷ 又有一大鷹，翅膀大，羽毛多。這葡萄樹從栽種的畦中向這鷹彎過根來，發出枝子，好得他的澆灌。

⁸ 這樹栽於肥田多水的旁邊，好生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的葡萄樹。

⁹ 你要說，主耶和華如此說：這葡萄樹豈能發旺呢？鷹豈不拔出他的根來，芟除他的果子，使他枯乾，使他發的嫩葉都枯乾了麼？也不用大力和多民，就拔出他的根來。

¹⁰ 葡萄樹雖然栽種，豈能發旺呢？一經東風，豈不全然枯乾麼？必在生長的畦中枯乾了。

¹¹ 耶和華的話臨到我說：

¹² 你對那悖逆之家說：你們不知道這些事是甚麼意思麼？你要告訴他們說，巴比倫王曾到耶路撒冷，將其中的君王和首領帶到巴比倫自己那裡去。

¹³ 從以色列的宗室中取一人與他立約，使他發誓，並將國中有勢力的人擄去，

¹⁴ 使國低微不能自強，惟因守盟約得以存立。

¹⁵ 他卻背叛巴比倫王，打發使者往埃及去，要他們給他馬匹和多民。他豈能亨通呢？行這樣事的人豈能逃脫呢？他背約豈能逃脫呢？

¹⁶ 他輕看向王所起的誓，背棄王與他所立的約。主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，他定要死在立他作王、巴比倫王的京都。

¹⁷ 敵人築壘造臺，與他打仗的時候，為要剪除多人，法老雖領大軍隊和大群眾，還是不能幫助他。

¹⁸ 他輕看誓言，背棄盟約，已經投降，卻又做這一切的事，他必不能逃脫。

¹⁹ 所以主耶和華如此說：我指著我的永生起誓，他既輕看指我所起的誓，背棄指我所立的約，我必要使這罪歸在他頭上。

²⁰ 我必將我的網撒在他身上，他必在我的網羅中纏住。我必帶他到巴比倫，並要在那裡因他干犯我的罪刑罰他。

²¹ 他的一切軍隊，凡逃跑的，都必倒在刀下；所剩下的，也必分散四方（方：原文是風）。你們就知道說這話的是我─耶和華。

²² 主耶和華如此說：我要將香柏樹梢擰去栽上，就是從儘尖的嫩枝中折一嫩枝，栽於極高的山上；

²³ 在以色列高處的山栽上。他就生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的香柏樹，各類飛鳥都必宿在其下，就是宿在枝子的蔭下。

²⁴ 田野的樹木都必知道我─耶和華使高樹矮小，矮樹高大；青樹枯乾，枯樹發旺。我─耶和華如此說，也如此行了。

⁵ 地被其上的居民污穢；因為他們犯了律法，廢了律例，背了永約。

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (the same was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),

² which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:

³ From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, the word of Yahweh has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.

⁴ Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear)

⁵ saying, Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forevermore;

⁶ and don't go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don't provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no harm.

⁷ Yet you have not listened to me, says Yahweh; that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.

⁸ Therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies: Because you have not heard my words,

⁹ behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says Yahweh, and [I will send] to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

¹⁰ Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.

¹¹ This whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

¹² It shall happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Yahweh, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate forever.