民长记 Judges Chapter 6
    Judges

    Chapter6

    1TheIsraelitesoffendedtheLORD,whothereforedeliveredthemintothepowerofMidianforsevenyears,

    以色列的子民又行了上主视为恶的事,上主把他们交于米德杨人手中七年之久。

    2sothatMidianheldIsraelsubject.ForfearofMidiantheIsraelitesestablishedthefiresignalsonthemountains,thecavesforrefuge,andthestrongholds.

    米德杨人的势力胜过了以色列,以色列子民为了防御米德杨人,修筑了山洞、地洞和山寨。

    3AnditusedtobethatwhentheIsraeliteshadcompletedtheirsowing,Midian,AmalekandtheKedemiteswouldcomeup,

    每逢以色列人撒种之后,米德杨人、阿玛肋克人和东方子民就上来攻打他们;

    4encampoppositethem,anddestroytheproduceofthelandasfarastheoutskirtsofGaza,leavingnosustenanceinIsrael,norsheep,oxenorasses.

    对着他们扎营,毁坏地产直到迦萨一带,没有给以色列留下一点食粮,连羊、牛、驴也没有留下;

    5Fortheywouldcomeupwiththeirlivestock,andtheirtentswouldbecomeasnumerousaslocusts;andneithertheynortheircamelscouldbenumbered,whentheycameintothelandtolayitwaste.

    因为他们总是带着家畜和帐棚上来,多如蝗虫;他们来的人和骆驼多得无数,踏入境内,毁坏田地。

    6ThuswasIsraelreducedtomiserybyMidian,andsotheIsraelitescriedouttotheLORD.

    以色列为了米德杨人的原故,很是穷困,因此以色列子民呼吁了上主。

    7WhenIsraelcriedouttotheLORDbecauseofMidian,

    当以色列子民为了米德杨的原故,呼吁上主时,

    8hesentaprophettotheIsraeliteswhosaidtothem,"TheLORD,theGodofIsrael,says:IledyouupfromEgypt;Ibroughtyououtoftheplaceofslavery.

    上主就派了一位先知到以色列子民那里,对他们说:"上主以色列的天主这样说:是我使你们由埃及上来,领你们离开了为奴之家;

    9IrescuedyoufromthepowerofEgyptandofallyourotheroppressors.Idrovethemoutbeforeyouandgaveyoutheirland.

    是我从埃及人的手中,从一切压迫你们的人手中救出你们来;是我从你们面前把他们赶走,把他们的地赐给你们。

    10AndIsaidtoyou:I,theLORD,amyourGod;youshallnotveneratethegodsoftheAmoritesinwhoselandyouaredwelling.Butyoudidnotobeyme."

    我曾对你们说过:我是上主你们的天主,你们在阿摩黎地方,切不可敬畏他们的神!但是你们没有听从我的话。"

    11ThentheangeloftheLORDcameandsatundertheterebinthinOphrahthatbelongedtoJoashtheAbiezrite.WhilehissonGideonwasbeatingoutwheatinthewinepresstosaveitfromtheMidianites,

    上主的使者来到,坐在敖弗辣的一棵属于阿彼厄则尔人约阿士的笃耨树下,当时他的儿子基德红正在酿酒池里打麦子,躲避米德杨人。

    12theangeloftheLORDappearedtohimandsaid,"TheLORDiswithyou,Ochampion!"

    上主的使者显现给他,对他说:"英勇的壮士,愿上主与你同在!"

    13"MyLord,"Gideonsaidtohim,"iftheLORDiswithus,whyhasallthishappenedtous?Wherearehiswondrousdeedsofwhichourfatherstolduswhentheysaid,'DidnottheLORDbringusupfromEgypt?'FornowtheLORDhasabandonedusandhasdeliveredusintothepowerofMidian."

    基德红回答他说:"我主,请原谅!如果上主与我们同在,我们怎会遭遇这些困难?我祖先给我们所讲过的那一切奇事,如今在那里?他们曾向我们说过:看,是上主领我们出离埃及,但是现在上主拋弃了我们,将我们交在米德杨人的掌握中。"

    14TheLORDturnedtohimandsaid,"GowiththestrengthyouhaveandsaveIsraelfromthepowerofMidian.ItisIwhosendyou."

    上主注视他说:"凭你这种力量,你去拯救以色列脱离米德杨人的掌握。看,是我派遣你。"

    15Butheansweredhim,"Please,mylord,howcanIsaveIsrael?MyfamilyisthemeanestinManasseh,andIamthemostinsignificantinmyfather'shouse."

    他回答说:"我主,请原谅!我凭什么拯救以色列?看,我家在默纳协支派中是最卑微的,我在我父亲家中又是最小的一个。"

    16"Ishallbewithyou,"theLORDsaidtohim,"andyouwillcutdownMidiantothelastman."

    上主对他说:"有我与你同在,你必击败米德杨人,如击一个人一样。"

    17Heansweredhim,"IfIfindfavorwithyou,givemeasignthatyouarespeakingwithme.

    基德红又向他说:"我若在你面前蒙恩,请你给我一个记号,证明与我说话的是你。

    18Donotdepartfromhere,Iprayyou,untilIcomebacktoyouandbringoutmyofferingandsetitbeforeyou."Heanswered,"Iwillawaityourreturn."

    请你不要离开此地,等我回到你这里,带来礼物,摆在你前。"他答应说:"我等你回来。"

    19SoGideonwentoffandpreparedakidandanephahofflourintheformofunleavenedcakes.Puttingthemeatinabasketandthebrothinapot,hebroughtthemouttohimundertheterebinthandpresentedthem.

    基德红就去预备了一只小公山羊,又用一"厄法"麦粉作了无酵饼,把肉放在筐里,把汤盛在罐里,带到笃耨树下献给他。

    20TheangelofGodsaidtohim,"Takethemeatandunleavenedcakesandlaythemonthisrock;thenpouroutthebroth."Whenhehaddoneso,

    天主的使者对他说:"拿出肉和无酵饼来,放在这盘石上,把汤倒出来!"他就照样作了。

    21theangeloftheLORDstretchedoutthetipofthestaffheheld,andtouchedthemeatandunleavenedcakes.Thereuponafirecameupfromtherockwhichconsumedthemeatandunleavenedcakes,andtheangeloftheLORDdisappearedfromsight.

    上主的使者遂伸出手中的棍杖,杖头一触及肉和无酵饼,盘石便起火,把肉和无酵饼吞噬了;上主的使者便从他眼前隐没了。

    22Gideon,nowawarethatithadbeentheangeloftheLORD,said,"Alas,LordGOD,thatIhaveseentheangeloftheLORDfacetoface!"

    基德红遂知道他是上主的使者说:"哎呀!我主上主,我竟然面对面地看见上主的使者!"

    23TheLORDansweredhim,"Becalm,donotfear.Youshallnotdie."

    但上主对他说:"你放心!不必害怕,你不会死!

    241SoGideonbuiltthereanaltartotheLORDandcalleditYahweh-shalom.TothisdayitisstillinOphrahoftheAbiezrites.

    基德红就在那里给上主立了一座祭坛,称为雅威沙隆;至今还在阿彼厄则耳人的敖弗辣那里。

    252ThatsamenighttheLORDsaidtohim,"Taketheseven-year-oldsparebullockanddestroyyourfather'saltartoBaalandcutdownthesacredpolethatisbyit.

    当夜上主对他说:"取你父亲的一只牛,即那只七岁的肥牛,以后拆毁你父亲的巴耳祭坛,打碎旁边的阿舍辣;

    26Youshallbuild,instead,theproperkindofaltartotheLORD,yourGod,ontopofthisstronghold.Thentakethesparebullockandofferitasaholocaustonthewoodfromthesacredpoleyouhavecutdown."

    给上主你的天主在这盘石顶上建一座祭坛,准备妥当,将那只肥牛献为全燔祭,用打碎的阿舍辣作木柴。"

    27SoGideontooktenofhisservantsanddidastheLORDhadcommandedhim.Butthroughfearofhisfamilyandofthetownspeople,hewouldnotdoitbyday,butdiditatnight.

    基德红就从仆人中选出十个人,照上主吩咐他的作了;但因为害怕父亲的家人和城里的人,不敢在白天行事,就在黑夜作了。

    28EarlythenextmorningthetownspeoplefoundthatthealtarofBaalhadbeendestroyed,thesacredpolenearitcutdown,andthesparebullockofferedonthealtarthatwasbuilt.

    城里的人早晨起来,看见巴耳的祭坛已毁,旁边所有的阿舍辣也被打碎,那只肥牛也献于新筑的祭坛上,

    29Theyaskedoneanother,"Whodidthis?"TheirinquiryledthemtotheconclusionthatGideon,sonofJoash,haddoneit.

    就彼此询问说:"谁作了这事?"经过考察追问之后,断定说:"必是约阿士的儿子基德红作了这事。"

    30SothetownspeoplesaidtoJoash,"Bringoutyoursonthathemaydie,forhehasdestroyedthealtarofBaalandhascutdownthesacredpolethatwasnearit."

    因此本城的人对约阿士说:"将你的儿子交出来,将他处死!因为他拆毁了巴耳的祭坛,打碎了旁边的阿舍辣。"

    31ButJoashrepliedtoallwhowerestandingaroundhim,"DoyouintendtoactinBaal'sstead,orbehischampion?Ifanyoneactsforhim,heshallbeputtodeathbymorning.Ifhewhosealtarhasbeendestroyedisagod,lethimactforhimself!"

    约阿士回答所有反对他的人说:"你们要为巴耳辩护么?或者你们要救助他吗?谁为他辩护,明天早晨便该处以死刑!他如果是神,让他为自己辩护罢!因为有人拆毁了他的祭坛。"

    323SoonthatdayGideonwascalledJerubbaal,becauseofthewords,"LetBaaltakeactionagainsthim,sincehedestroyedhisaltar."

    因此当天人就称基德红为"耶鲁巴耳,"好象说:"让巴耳与他争辩,因为基德红拆毁了他的祭坛。"

    33ThenallMidianandAmalekandtheKedemitesmusteredandcrossedoverintothevalleyofJezreel,wheretheyencamped.

    那时,米德杨、阿玛肋克和东方子民都聚集起来,过了河,在依次勒耳平原安了营。

    34ThespiritoftheLORDenvelopedGideon;heblewthehornthatsummonedAbiezertofollowhim.

    上主的神充满了基德红,他一吹号角,阿彼厄则尔人便应召前来跟随他;

    35Hesentmessengers,too,throughoutManasseh,whichalsoobeyedhissummons;throughAsher,ZebulunandNaphtali,likewise,hesentmessengersandthesetribesadvancedtomeettheothers.

    他又打发使者走遍默纳协,默纳协人也应召前来跟随他;他又打发使者往阿协尔、则步隆和纳斐塔里去,他们也都上来与他们会合。

    36GideonsaidtoGod,"IfindeedyouaregoingtosaveIsraelthroughme,asyoupromised,

    基德红就对天主说:"如果你按你所说的,真要借着我的手拯救以色列,

    37Iamputtingthiswoolenfleeceonthethreshingfloor.Ifdewcomesonthefleecealone,whileallthegroundisdry,IshallknowthatyouwillsaveIsraelthroughme,asyoupromised."

    看我将剪下的一把羊毛放在禾场上,若露水单单落在羊毛上,而遍地都是干的,那么我便晓得,如你所说的,你真要藉我的手拯救以色列。"

    38Thatiswhattookplace.Earlythenextmorninghewrungthedewfromthefleece,squeezingoutofitabowlfulofwater.

    次日清早起来,果然如此,基德红把羊毛一拧,从羊毛里拧出一碗露水。

    39GideonthensaidtoGod,"DonotbeangrywithmeifIspeakoncemore.Letmemakejustonemoretestwiththefleece.Letthefleecealonebedry,butlettherebedewonalltheground."

    基德红又向天主说:"如果我再说一次,求你别对我发怒!请让我用这羊毛再试一次:单单羊毛是干的,而遍地都是露水。"

    40ThatnightGoddidso;thefleecealonewasdry,buttherewasdewonalltheground.

    那一夜天主果然这样作了,单单羊毛是干的,而遍地都是露水。

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    Footnotes(注解)

    1[24]Yahweh-shalom:Hebrewfor"theLORDispeace,"areferencetotheLORD'swords,"Becalm,"literally,"Peacebetoyou!"

    2[25]Thesacredpole:seenoteonExodus34:13.

    3[32]Jerubbaal:similarinsoundtotheHebrewwordsmeaning,"LetBaaltakeaction."