He and the men with him said to me,“ Some of the people who returned are still alive. They are back in the land of Judah. But they are having a hard time. They are ashamed. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire.”

他们对我说：“那些被掳归回剩下的人在犹大省遭大难，受凌辱；并且耶路撒冷的城墙拆毁，城门被火焚烧。”

他们对我说：“那些被掳归回剩下的余民在犹大省那里遭大难，受凌辱；耶路撒冷的城墙被拆毁，城门被火焚烧。”

他们对我说：“那些被掳归回剩下的余民在犹大省那里遭大难，受凌辱；耶路撒冷的城墙被拆毁，城门被火焚烧。”

他们回答说：“那些从流亡之地归回犹大省的人深陷苦难，饱受凌辱。耶路撒冷的城墙已经倒塌，城门也被烧毁。”

他们对我说：“那些从被掳剩下的余民，在犹大省那里遭遇大患难，受到凌辱。耶路撒冷的城墙倒塌，城门也被火烧毁。”

他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的人在猶大省遭大難，受凌辱；並且耶路撒冷的城牆拆毀，城門被火焚燒。」

他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的餘民在猶大省那裏遭大難，受凌辱；耶路撒冷的城牆被拆毀，城門被火焚燒。」

他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的餘民在猶大省那裏遭大難，受凌辱；耶路撒冷的城牆被拆毀，城門被火焚燒。」

他們回答說：「那些從流亡之地歸回猶大省的人深陷苦難，飽受凌辱。耶路撒冷的城牆已經倒塌，城門也被燒毀。」

他們對我說：“那些從被擄剩下的餘民，在猶大省那裡遭遇大患難，受到凌辱。耶路撒冷的城牆倒塌，城門也被火燒毀。”

他們對我說：『那些沒有被擄的餘民在猶大省那裏遭大患難，受凌辱；耶路撒冷的城牆拆了破口，城門又被火焚燒。』

彼曰、俘囚之遺民、在其州遭難受辱、耶路撒冷城垣傾圮、邑門焚燬、

彼曰、猶大人被虜而歸者、遭難受辱、耶路撒冷城堞仍墮、邑門仍燬、

彼曰、被擄而歸、所遺餘於猶大州者、遭大難、受凌辱、耶路撒冷城垣仍墮、邑門仍燬、

They said to me,“ Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

And they said to me,“ The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

They said to me,“ Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

They said to me,“ The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

And they said to me,“ The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.”

And they said to me,“ The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

They said to me,“ The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province[ are] in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also[ is] broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

They said to me,“ The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!”

They said to me,“ The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”

I said to them,“ You can see the trouble we’re in. Jerusalem has been destroyed. Fire has burned up its gates. Come on. Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Then people won’t be ashamed anymore.”

The whole Babylonian army broke down the walls around Jerusalem. That’s what the commander told them to do.

But I said to the king,“ May you live forever! Why shouldn’t I look sad? The city where my people of long ago are buried has been destroyed. And fire has burned up its gates.”

That night I went out through the Valley Gate. I went toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate. I checked out the walls of Jerusalem. They had been broken down. I also checked the city gates. Fire had burned them up.

Nebuchadnezzar had taken many Jews away from the land of Judah. He had forced them to go to Babylon as prisoners. Now they returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went back to their own towns. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.

We want you to know that we went to the land of Judah. We went to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones. They are putting wooden beams in the walls. The people are working hard. The work is moving ahead very quickly under the direction of the people.

You handed us over to be eaten up like sheep. You have scattered us among the nations.You sold your people for very little. You didn’t gain anything when you sold them.You have made us something that our neighbors laugh at. Those who live around us make fun of us and tease us.The nations make jokes about us. They shake their heads at us.

We are something our neighbors joke about. The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.

Then I will remove Israel from the land. It is the land I gave them. I will turn my back on this temple. I will do it even though I have set it apart for my Name to be there. Then Israel will be hated by all the nations. They will laugh and joke about Israel.

The armies of Babylon broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. That’s what the commander told them to do.

“ Now look at us. We are slaves today. We’re slaves in the land you gave our people of long ago. You gave it to them so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces.But we have sinned against you. So its great harvest goes to the kings of Persia. You have placed them over us. They rule over our bodies and cattle just as they please. And we are suffering terribly.

We were sitting by the rivers of Babylon. We wept when we remembered what had happened to Zion.On the nearby poplar trees we hung up our harps.Those who held us as prisoners asked us to sing. Those who enjoyed hurting us ordered us to sing joyful songs. They said,“ Sing one of the songs of Zion to us!”

Why do you want to make me angry with the gods your hands have made? Why do you burn incense to the gods of Egypt, where you now live? You will destroy yourselves. All the nations on earth will use your name as a curse. They will say you are shameful.Have you forgotten the evil things done by your people of long ago? The kings and queens of Judah did those same things. So did you and your wives. They were done in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem.To this day the people of Judah have not made themselves humble in my sight. They have not shown any respect for me. They have not obeyed my law. They have not followed the rules I gave you and your people of long ago.”The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,“ I have decided to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy the whole land of Judah.I will destroy the people of Judah who are left. They had decided to go to Egypt and make their homes there. But all of them will die in Egypt. They will die of war or hunger. All of them will die, from the least important of them to the most important. They will die of war or hunger. People will use their name as a curse. They will be shocked at them. They will say bad things about them. And they will say they are shameful.

“ Armies of Babylon, go through their vineyards and destroy them. But do not destroy them completely. Strip off their branches. These people do not belong to me.

So I put the high officials of your temple to shame. I let Jacob’s family be totally destroyed. And I let people make fun of Israel.

King Xerxes ruled over the 127 territories in his kingdom. They reached from India all the way to Cush. Here is what happened during the time Xerxes ruled over the whole Persian kingdom.

Here are the leaders from different parts of the country who made their homes in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests and Levites lived in the towns of Judah. So did some temple servants and some members of the family lines of Solomon’s servants. All of them lived on their own property in the towns of Judah.

He is the Lord who rules over all. He is the God of Israel. He says,‘ My great anger has been poured out on those who used to live in Jerusalem. In the same way, it will be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. People will use your name in a curse. They will be shocked at you. They will say bad things about you. And they will say you are shameful. You will never see this place again.’

Nebuchadnezzar had taken many Jews away from the land of Judah. He had forced them to go to Babylon as prisoners. Now they returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went back to their own towns. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.

You women who are so contented, pay attention to me. You who feel so secure, listen to what I have to say.You feel secure now. But in a little over a year you will tremble with fear. The grape harvest will fail. There won’t be any fruit.So tremble, you contented women. Tremble with fear, you who feel so secure. Take off your fine clothes. Wrap yourselves in rags.Beat your chests to show how sad you are. The pleasant fields have been destroyed. The fruitful vines have dried up.My people’s land is overgrown with thorns and bushes. Mourn for all the houses that were once filled with joy. Cry over this city that used to be full of wild parties.The royal palace will be left empty. The noisy city will be deserted. The fort and lookout tower will become a dry and empty desert forever. Donkeys will enjoy being there. Flocks will eat there.

The Babylonians set the royal palace on fire. They also set fire to the houses of the people. And they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

I will make all the kingdoms on earth displeased with them. In fact, they will hate them a great deal. They will shake their heads at them. They will curse them and make fun of them. All this will happen no matter where I force them to go.

Lord, you have heard them laugh at me. You know all about their plans against me.

Your sacred cities have become a desert. Even Zion is a desert. Jerusalem is a dry and empty place.Our people of long ago used to praise you in our holy and glorious temple. But now it has been burned down. Everything we treasured has been destroyed.

I will hunt them down with war, hunger and plague. I will make all the kingdoms on earth displeased with them. They will use their name in a curse. All the nations where I drive them will be shocked at them. They will make fun of them. And they will bring shame on them.

Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard. I will take away its fence. And the vineyard will be destroyed. I will break down its wall. And people will walk all over my vineyard.

Jerusalem’s people are suffering and wandering. They remember all the treasures they used to have. But they fell into the hands of their enemies. And no one was there to help them. Their enemies looked at them. They laughed because Jerusalem had been destroyed.

Lord, think about what has happened to us. Look at the shame our enemies have brought on us.