十二小先知書新譯
玖. 西番雅書(ZEPHANIAH)
前 言
西番雅書是舊約十二小先知書第九卷, 作者西番雅, 意 "耶和華隱藏的." 他是猶大王希西家元孫, 亞瑪利雅
曾孫, 基大利之孫, 古示之子(番1:1). 本書於耶路撒冷成書, 其預言主要對象為南國猶大和耶路撒冷, 時值猶大王
約西亞進行改革之年(主前639-608年; 王下22:1-23:30; 代下34:1-35:27).
西番雅作先知企圖挽救猶大脫離北國以色列瀕臨亡國被擄浩劫. 依他服事時間推算, 他與那鴻、哈巴谷
和耶利米為同期先知. 西番雅出身王室, 與但以理同屬王族後裔; 他與約西亞王為至親, 是出身宮廷的年青先知,
敬虔愛神, 聰穎冷靜, 誠懇切實, 書中預言, 直白坦率, 嚴厲不苟, 信心堅定. 全書主題: 耶和華對以色列和列國的
審判, 以及祂對外邦和以色列的拯救. 以罪惡與刑罰開始, 以歡樂詩歌作結, 獨具一格.
I. 序言1:1-3):
(I) 先知身世(1:1):
猶大王亞們之子約西亞在位時, 耶和華的話臨到希西家玄孫、亞瑪利雅曾孫, 基大利之孫, 古示之子
西番雅.
(II) 宣大審判(1:2-3):
2 耶和華宣示: "I will sweep away everything from the face of the eaeth,"
"我必除滅地面萬物, declares the Lord,
3 除滅地上人和牲畜, "I will sweep away both men and animals;
及空中飛鳥海中魚 I will sweep away birds of the air and the fish of the sea.
當地面人類除滅時, The wicked will have only heaps of rubble
惡人必成一堆廢物." when I cut off man from the face of the earth."
II. 主的日子(1:4-18):
(I) 審判拜偶(1:4--9):
4 我必伸手打擊猶大, "I will stretch out my hand against Judah
以及耶路撒冷居民. and against all who live in Jerusalem.
除滅當地巴力餘孽, I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,
基瑪林及拜偶祭司; the names of Chemarins and the idolatrous priests -
5 屋頂拜天上星宿者, those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host,
向耶和華敬拜起誓 those who bow down and swear by the Lord
又向瑪勒公起誓者. and who also swear by Molech.
6 和不再跟隨耶和華, those who turn back from following the Lord
既不去尋求耶和華 and neither seek the Lord
也不再求問祂的人. nor inquire of him.
7 在主耶和華前要肅靜, Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,
因耶和華的日子近了. for the day of the Lord is near.
耶和華已預備好祭物, The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
把邀請來的分別為聖. he has consecrated those he has invited.
8 到了耶和華獻祭之日, On the day of the Lord's sacrifice,
我必懲罰群臣和王子, I will punish the princes and the knig's sons
以及穿異族衣服的人. and all those clad in foreign clothes.
9 在那日我也要去懲罰 On that day I will punish
那些避免踏過門檻和 all who avoid stepping on the threshold,
在廟中到處擺滿假神 who fill the temple of their gods
及凶惡強暴詭詐的人. with violence and deceit.
(II) 聖城哀號(1:10--13):
10 耶和華宣示: "On that day," declares the Lord,
"到那日, 魚門必發出哭聲, "a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,
新區必痛哭哀號, wailing from the New Quarter,
山崩地裂聲震天. and a loud crash from the hills.
11 哀哭吧, 居住在市場區的人啊! Wail, you who live in the market district;
你們所有的商家必除滅, all your merchants will be wiped out.
所有銀子交易者必剪除. all who trade with silver will be ruined.
12 "到那時, 我必提燈進耶路撒冷, At that time I will march Jerusalem with lamps
去懲罰自滿自大和 and punish those who are complacent,
像糟粕中殘酒的人; who are like wine left on the dregs.
他們想:'無論好壞耶和華都不會管.' who think, 'The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.'
13 他們的財物必被洗劫, Their wealth will be plundered;
他們的房舍必被摧毀. their houses demolished.
他們建屋卻不自己住, They will build houses but not live in them.
栽植葡萄園卻無酒喝. they will plant vineyards but not dtink the wine.
(III) 主的大日(1:14--18):
14 耶和華的大日近了, The great day of the Lord is near -
非但近了而且快來. near and come quick.
聽啊! 耶和華大日的哀哭痛苦, Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter,
勇士吶喊在其中. the shouting of the warrior there.
15 那日是烈怒之日, That day will be a day of wrath,
是痛苦不安之日, a day of distress and anguish,
是災難毀滅之日, a day of trouble and ruin,
是黑暗陰沉之日, a day of darkness and gloom,
16 是烏雲漆黑之日; a day of clouds and blackness,
是吶喊號聲震天, a day of trumpet and battle cry
猛烈攻堅固城池 against the fortified cities
及四周鄉邑之日. and against the corner towns.
17 我定必降災折磨人, I will bring distress on the people
使他們行走像瞎子, and they will walk like blind men,
因他們犯罪悖逆我. because they have sinned against the Lord.
他們的血傾倒如土, Their blood will be poured out like dust
鼻孔髒物流個不盡. and their nostrails like filth.
18 在耶和華烈怒之日, Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them
金銀都救不了他們. on the day of the Lord's wrath.
在衪忿恨的烈火中, In the fire of his jealousy
全地都必焚燬淨盡; the whole world will be consumed,
因祂要突滅地上人. for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
III. 審判列國(2:1-3:8):
(I) 呼籲悔改(2:1-3):
1 可恥的國民啊! Gather together, Gather together
快來集合, 快來集合! O shameful nation,
2 在命定時間來到前, before the appointed time arrives
那日將如糠秕掃過; and that day sweeps on like chaff,
在主烈怒臨到你們, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you,
主烈怒之日到來前. before the day of the Lord's wrath comes upon you.
3 地上所有謙卑的人啊! Seek the Lord,
趕快尋求耶和華; all you humle of the land,
遵照主命令的人啊! you who do what he commands.
快尋求公義謙卑; Seek righteousness, seek humility;
這樣在主怒之日, perhaps you will be sheltered
你們才能得庇護. on the day of the Lord's anger.
(II) 審判非利士(2:4-7):
4 迦薩定必被拋棄, Gaza will be abandoned
亞實基倫成廢墟, and Askelon left in ruins.
亞實突正午全空, At midday Aashdod will be emptied
以革倫連根柭起. and Ekron uprooted.
5 基利提人啊, Woe to you who live by the sea,
居海邊的人有禍了! O Kerethite people;
非利士地的迦南啊! the word of the Lord is against you,
耶和華發話責備你: O Canaan, land of the Philistines.
"我必毀滅你, "I will destroy you,
無一人存留." and none will be left."
6 基利提人所居的海邊地, The land by the sea, where the Kerethites dwell,
必成牧人及羊圈聚集所. will be a place for shepherds and sheep pens.
7 這必都歸猶大家的餘民, It will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah;
他們會在那裏找到草場. there they will find pasture.
傍晚他們會下到亞實基倫家. In the evening they will be down in the house of Ashkelon.
耶和華他們的神會照顧他們, The Lord their God will care for them;
衪必會施恩恢復他們的福祉. he will restore their fortune.
(III) 審判摩押亞捫(2:8-11):
8 "我聽見摩押人的羞辱, "I have heard the insults of Moab
和亞捫人的笑罵; and the taunts of the Ammonites,
他們侮辱我子民, who insulted my people
威脅侵犯他們地." and made threats against their land.
9 萬軍之耶和華以色列的神宣示, Therefore, as surely as I live,"
"因此我必指著我的永生起誓: declares the Lord Almighty, the God of Isreal,
摩押必像所多瑪, "surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah -
成遍地雜草鹽坑, a place of weeds and salt pits,
永遠荒涼不毛地. a wasteland forever.
我餘下的子民必會掠奪他們, The remnant of my people will plunder them;
我倖存之國必繼承他們的地." the survivors of my nation will inherit their land."
10 這是他們為己驕傲得到的報應, This is what they will get in return for their pride,
因羞辱嘲弄萬軍之耶和華子民. or insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty.
11 當耶和華毀滅該地所有邪神時, The Lord will be awesome to them
他們對耶和華才會生敬畏之心. when he destroys all the gods of the land.
沿岸諸國人人都會當地敬拜衪. nations on every shore worship him, every one in its own land.
(IV) 審判古實(2:12):
12 古實人啊! You too, O Cushites,
你們也一樣必被我刀劍誅殺. will be slain by my sword.
(V) 審判亞述(2:13-15):
13 衪必伸手打擊北方毀滅亞述, He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria,
使尼尼微徹底荒涼乾如沙漠. living Niveveh utterly desolate and dry as desert.
14 牲畜及所有生物仆倒在其中, Flocks and herds will lie down there, creatures of every kind.
沙鷹和凶梟棲息在柱頂之上. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns.
牠們鳴叫聲穿窗而入發回音, Their calls will echo through the windows,
瓦礫堆滿門口木柱暴露無遺. rubble will be in the doorways, the beams of cedar will be exposed.
15 這就是那無憂無慮安全城市. This is the carefree city that lived in safety.
她對自己說: She said to herself,
"只有我, 除我以外別無他人." "I am, and there is none besides me."
何以現已淪為荒場野獸巢穴! What a ruin she has become, a lair for wild beasts!
凡經過的人莫不揮拳嘲笑她. All who pass by her scoff and shake their fists.
(VI) 審判耶路撒冷(3:1-5):
1 叛逆污穢 Woe to the city of oppressors,
和欺壓人的城有禍了! rebellious and defiled!
2 她不聽話也不受管教, She obeys no one, she accepts no correction.
不信靠主也不親近神. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God.
3 她的官員咆哮如獅子; Her officials are roaring lions,
她的首領凶狠如夜狼, her rulers are evening wolves,
到了早晨－切吃精光. who leave nothing for the morning.
4 她的先知盡是驕傲詭詐之輩, Her prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men.
祭司都是褻瀆聖所違法之徒. Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to law.
5 耶和華在城中公義不行不義. The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong.
每日早晨衪彰顯公正, Morning by morning he dispenses his justice,
每個新日祂都不放鬆. and every new day he does not fail,
不義之人卻不知羞恥. yet the unrighteous know no shame.
(VII) 拒絕悔改(3:6-8):
6 我耶和華剪除列國, I have cut off nation;
把他們的堡壘摧毀； their stronghold are demolished.
城中街道一片悽涼, I have left their streets deserted,
空空如也無人經過, with no one passing through.
他們的城邑全毀滅, Their cities are destroyed,
一個不留無一倖存. no one will be left - no one at all.
7 I said to the city,
"你們定要敬畏我, "Surely you will fear me
也要接受我管教!" and accept correction!"
你們居所才不會消滅, Then her dwelling would not be cut off,
我的懲罰才不會施行. nor all my punishments come upon her.
但他們還是依舊行惡. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did.
8 於是耶和華宣示: "Therefore wait for me,"
"因此你們要等候我, declares the Lord,
等我起來作證日子; "for the day I will stand up to testify.
我已決定召集列國, I have decided to assemble the nations,
同時也要招聚萬邦. to gather the kingdoms
把我的忿怒和烈怒, and to pour out my wrath on them -
通通都向他們傾倒. all my fierce anger.
我的怒火燒滅全地." The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.
IV. 餘民得救(3:9-20):
(I) 潔淨歸回(3:9-13):
9 "那時我定必潔淨萬民的嘴唇; Then will I purify the lips of the peoples,
使眾口同聲呼求耶和華的名, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
肩並肩同心一意事奉耶和華. and serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 我那分散敬拜我的子民, From beyond the rivers of Cush
從古實河外來向我獻祭. my worships, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.
11 到那日你們不會 On that day you will not be put to shame
因干犯我感羞恥, for all the wrongs you have done to me,
因為我必從城中 because I will remove from this city
剪滅驕傲作樂者. those who rejoice in their pride.
在聖山不再高傲. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill.
12 但我卻要在你們中間留下, But I will leave within you the meek and humble,
信靠主名弱小謙卑的子民. who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 以色列餘民不行惡; The remnant of Isreal will do no wrong;
他們也不再說謊言; they will speak no lies,
更不口吐詭言詐語. nor will deceit be found in their mouths.
安穩吃睡不再懼怕." They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.
(II) 聖城歡欣(3:14-17):
14 "錫安兒女啊, 你們要歌唱! Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
以色列啊, 你們要高喊! shout aloud, O Isreal!
耶路撒冷兒女啊, Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
你們都要心中歡喜快樂! O Daughter of Jerusalem!
15 耶和華已除去你們刑罰, The Lord has taken away your punishment,
且衪也趕走你們的仇敵. he has turned back your enemy.
耶和華以色列王與你們同在, The Lord, the king of Isreal, is with you;
從今後你們不再怕任何傷害. never again will you fear any harm.
16 到那日他們會對耶路撒冷說: On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
錫安啊, 不要懼怕, 不要手軟! "Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
17 耶和華你們的神與你同在, The Lord your God is with you,
大有能力施行拯救. he is mighty to save.
心中高興喜悅你們 He will take great delight in you,
滿懷慈愛安撫你們, he will quiet you with his love,
天韻美聲陶樂你們.'" he will rejoice over you with singing."
(III) 選民重建(3:18-20):
18 "我必除去你們節期憂傷, The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you;
那是你們的重擔和羞辱. they are a burden and reproach to you.
19 到那時我必收拾所有欺壓你們的人, At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you;
以及拯救瘸子和招聚分散各地的人. I will rescue lame and gather those have been scattered. 我必在你們受羞辱地讚美榮耀你們.I give them praise & honor every land they were put to shame.
20 到那時我定必招聚你們, At that time I will gather you;
到那時我必領你們回家; at that time I will bring you home.
我必定在地上萬民之中, I will give you honor and praise
全面公開讚美榮耀你們, among all the peoples of the earth
並在你們眼前恢復福祉." when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,"
耶和華這樣宣示. says the Lord.
(全文完)
感謝主, 讚美主,
一切榮耀歸我主,
哈利路亞, 阿們!
2016年12月21日 台北 / 2018年11月21日佈樂格 台北
2022年2月20日終校 台北