The world hopes for the best, but the Lord offers the best hope.

世人都盼望好日子，但唯有上帝给我们的盼望才是最好的。

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

疲倦的人，我必使他振作；愁苦的人，我必使他满足。-耶利米书31章25节

According to legend, Qu Yuan was a wise and patriotic Chinese government official who lived during the time known as the Warring States period (475–246 bc). It has been said that he tried repeatedly to warn his king about an impending threat that would destroy the country, but the king rejected his advice. Eventually, Qu Yuan was exiled. When he learned about the fall of his beloved country to the foe he had warned about, he ended his life.

传说屈原是战国时期（公元前475-246年）一位有智慧且爱国的官员。据说他曾多次力劝楚王，秦国的威胁足以令楚国亡国，但楚王拒绝接受他的劝告，甚至还将屈原流放偏远地区。最后，当屈原知道秦国果然攻陷了他所爱的祖国之后，他在痛苦绝望的情况下，投河自尽了。

Qu Yuan’s life resembles some aspects of the life of the prophet Jeremiah. He too served kings who scorned his warnings, and his country was ravaged. However, while Qu Yuan gave in to his despair, Jeremiah found genuine hope. Why the difference?

屈原与先知耶利米的遭遇其实有一些相似之处。耶利米和屈原一样，所服侍的君王藐视他的劝谏，结果国家遭到敌人的蹂躏和摧残。然而，屈原在绝望中选择放弃，但耶利米却找到了真正的盼望。为何两者如此截然不同呢？

Jeremiah knew the Lord who offers the only true hope. “There is hope for your descendants,” God had assured His prophet. “Your children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:17). Although Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 bc, it was later rebuilt (see Nehemiah 6:15).

因为耶利米认识上帝，知道唯有祂才能给我们真正的盼望。上帝已应许祂的先知说：“你末后必有指望，你的儿女必回到自己的境界”（耶利米书31章17节）。耶路撒冷虽在公元前586年被拆毁，但后来却得以重建（参阅尼希米记6章15节）。

At some point, we all find ourselves in situations that can cause us to despair. It could be a bad medical report, a sudden job loss, a shattered family. But when life knocks us down, we can still look up—for God is on the throne! He holds our days in His hands, and He holds us close to His heart. 

有时候，我们会来到一个令人看似无望的境况，例如：一份不乐观的医疗报告、突然失业，或是家庭遭逢巨变。纵使人生的境遇会把我们击倒，我们仍然可以仰望坐在宝座上的上帝！我们一生的年日都在祂手中，祂眷顾我们。

Lord, fill me up with hope and give me a tangible reminder today that things will turn out right in Your way, in Your time.

主啊，求祢使我充满盼望，并让我看到所有的事都会在祢所定的时间，按祢的旨意成为美好。

Jeremiah 31:16-26    NIV

31 This is what the Lord says:“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,”declares the Lord.“They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your descendants,”declares the Lord.“Your children will return to their own land. 18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. 19 After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ 20 Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord. 21 “Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns. 22 How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The Lord will create a new thing on earth—the woman will return to the man.” 23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’ 24 People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks. 25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” 26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

耶利米书 31:16-26

31 耶和华如此说：“你禁止声音不要哀哭，禁止眼目不要流泪，因你所做之工必有赏赐，他们必从敌国归回。”这是耶和华说的。 17 耶和华说：“你末后必有指望，你的儿女必回到自己的境界。 18 我听见以法莲为自己悲叹说：‘你责罚我，我便受责罚，像不惯负轭的牛犊一样。求你使我回转，我便回转，因为你是耶和华我的神。 19 我回转以后就真正懊悔，受教以后就拍腿叹息，我因担当幼年的凌辱就抱愧蒙羞。’” 20 耶和华说：“以法莲是我的爱子吗？是可喜悦的孩子吗？我每逢责备他，仍深顾念他，所以我的心肠恋慕他，我必要怜悯他。” 21  “以色列民哪，你当为自己设立指路碑，竖起引路柱，你要留心向大路，就是你所去的原路。你当回转，回转到你这些城邑。 22 背道的民哪，你翻来覆去要到几时呢？耶和华在地上造了一件新事，就是女子护卫男子。” 23 万军之耶和华以色列的神如此说：“我使被掳之人归回的时候，他们在犹大地和其中的城邑必再这样说：‘公义的居所啊，圣山哪，愿耶和华赐福给你！’ 24 犹大和属犹大城邑的人，农夫和放羊的人，要一同住在其中。 25 疲乏的人，我使他饱饫；愁烦的人，我使他知足。” 26 先知说：我醒了，觉着睡得香甜。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

God tells Jeremiah to “restrain your voice from weeping” (31:16). Hope shines through. Ephraim [Israel] and Judah will repent and be restored. In a rare respite from his grief, Jeremiah can say, “My sleep had been pleasant to me” (v. 26).

上帝告诉耶利米说：“你禁止声音不要哀哭”（31章16节），这是因为未来仍然有盼望。将来以法莲[以色列]和犹大都会悔改，并得以复兴。耶利米的悲伤得到缓解，所以他说：“我醒过来，四周观看；我睡得很香甜。”（26节，新译本）

What causes your tears? Know that God sees and understands them.

什么事让你伤心流泪呢？上帝都看到，祂了解一切。

整理：于姊妹