玛加伯下 2 Maccabees Chapter 3
2 Maccabees
Chapter 3

1 1 2 While the holy city lived in perfect peace and the laws were strictly observed because of the piety of the high priest Onias and his hatred of evil,

敖尼雅作大司祭的时候,因他的热诚和嫉恶的心,圣城安享太平,人民无不奉公守法,

2 the kings themselves honored the Place and glorified the temple with the most magnificent gifts.

各国君王都尊敬圣所,馈赠珍贵礼品,增添圣殿的光荣;

3 3 Thus Seleucus, king of Asia, defrayed from his own revenues all the expenses necessary for the sacrificial services.

连亚细亚王色娄苛也以私人的进项,来供给献祭时所需要的一切费用。

4 4 But a certain Simon, of the priestly course of Bilgah, who had been appointed superintendent of the temple, had a quarrel with the high priest about the supervision of the city market.

但是,有一个彼耳加族的息孟,本是圣殿的管理员,为了管理市场的事,与大司祭发生了冲突。

5 Since he could not prevail against Onias, he went to Apollonius of Tarsus, who at that time was governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia,

他既不能制胜敖尼雅,便投奔到塔尔索人阿颇罗尼那里,当时他正是切肋叙利亚和腓尼基的总督。

6 and reported to him that the treasury in Jerusalem was so full of untold riches that the total sum of money was incalculable and out of all proportion to the cost of the sacrifices, and that it would be possible to bring it all under the control of the king.

息盂便向他述说耶路撒冷宝库的财宝富不可言,进款多得无法统计,这一切与祭献的费用毫无关系,所以可收归王有。

7 When Apollonius had an audience with the king, he informed him about the riches that had been reported to him. The king chose his minister Heliodorus and sent him with instructions to expropriate the aforesaid wealth.

阿颇罗尼朝觐的时候,便把别人给他述说的这项财宝告诉了国王;王遂选派总理大臣赫略多洛,奉命去没收上述的钱财。

8 So Heliodorus immediately set out on his journey, ostensibly to visit the cities of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, but in reality to carry out the king's purpose.

赫略多洛便立时起程,名义上是为视察切肋叙利亚和腓尼基的各城市,其实是为执行国王的计划。

9 When he arrived in Jerusalem and had been graciously received by the high priest of the city, he told him about the information that had been given, and explained the reason for his presence, and he asked if these things were really true.

他到了耶路撒冷,受到大司祭和全城的欢迎,以后便说明他所得到的消息,并说明来意,继而询问这些事是否属实。

10 The high priest explained that part of the money was a care fund for widows and orphans,

大司祭声明说:库内的存款,都是寡妇孤儿所寄存的;

11 5 and a part was the property of Hyrcanus, son of Tobias, a man who occupied a very high position. Contrary to the calumnies of the impious Simon, the total amounted to four hundred talents of silver and two hundred of gold.

还有一部分是位高望重的托彼雅的后裔依尔卡诺所寄存的;至于全库的财宝,并没有象邪恶的息孟传报的那样多,只有银子四百"塔冷通"金子二百"塔冷通罢了。"

12 He added that it was utterly unthinkable to defraud those who had placed their trust in the sanctity of the Place and in the sacred inviolability of a temple venerated all over the world.

与其神圣不可侵犯的尊严受到侮辱,是万万不可的。

13 But because of the orders he had from the king, Heliodorus said that in any case the money must be confiscated for the royal treasury.

但是赫略多洛因为受了王命,坚决主张应将这些财宝收归国库。

14 So on the day he had set he went in to take an inventory of the funds. There was great distress throughout the city.

赫略多洛便于指定的日子进去清查这些宝物。这使全城大感忧伤。

15 Priests prostrated themselves in their priestly robes before the altar, and loudly begged him in heaven who had given the law about deposits to keep the deposits safe for those who had made them.

众司祭都穿上司祭祭服,俯伏在祭台前呼号上天,求存款的立法者,替那些存款的人安全保护这批财宝。

16 Whoever saw the appearance of the high priest was pierced to the heart, for the changed color of his face manifested the anguish of his soul.

凡看见大司祭面容的人,没有不心中悲伤的,因为他的神气和他面色的改变,都明显他心灵上的痛苦。

17 The terror and bodily trembling that had come over the man clearly showed those who saw him the pain that lodged in his heart.

他惊惶失措与全身战栗的态度,使人见了就明了他内心的忧伤。

18 People rushed out of their houses in crowds to make public supplication, because the Place was in danger of being profaned.

居民都成群结队的从房屋涌出。共同祈祷。因为圣所快要遭受污辱。

19 Women, girded with sackcloth below their breasts, filled the streets; maidens secluded indoors ran together, some to the gates, some to the walls, others peered through the windows,

妇女都苦带束胸,塞满了街道。连深居不出的处女。也有的跑到门口,有的爬上墙头,有的从窗卢向外观望;

20 all of them with hands raised toward heaven, making supplication.

大家都向上天举起双手哀祷。

21 It was pitiful to see the populace variously prostrated in prayer and the high priest full of dread and anguish.

看见群众一起伏地哀求,与大司祭的焦心不安,委实令人可怜。

22 While they were imploring the almighty Lord to keep the deposits safe and secure for those who had placed them in trust,

正当人民呼求全能的天主,保护存款的人所寄存的财宝绝对安全时,

23 Heliodorus went on with his plan.

赫略多洛就来执行他所决定的事。

24 But just as he was approaching the treasury with his bodyguards, the Lord of spirits who holds all power manifested himself in so striking a way that those who had been bold enough to follow Heliodorus were panic-stricken at God's power and fainted away in terror.

当他与卫兵走近宝库的时候,众神和全能的主忽然大显异象,使那些擅入圣殿的人受到天主威能的打击,惊惶失措,不省人事,

25 There appeared to them a richly caparisoned horse, mounted by a dreadful rider. Charging furiously, the horse attacked Heliodorus with its front hoofs. The rider was seen to be wearing golden armor.

因为在他们眼前出现了一匹配备华丽的骏马,上面骑着一位威严可怕的骑士,疾驰冲来,前蹄乱踏赫略多洛,骑马的人身穿金黄的铠甲;

26 Then two other young men, remarkably strong, strikingly beautiful, and splendidly attired, appeared before him. Standing on each side of him, they flogged him unceasingly until they had given him innumerable blows.

同时又出现了两位英勇的少年,光荣体面,穿戴华丽,立在赫略多洛的两旁,鞭打不停,使他身受重伤。

27 Suddenly he fell to the ground, enveloped in great darkness. Men picked him up and laid him on a stretcher.

赫略多洛忽然倒在地上昏迷不省。人将他扶起,放在床上,

28 The man who a moment before had entered that treasury with a great retinue and his whole bodyguard was carried away helpless, having clearly experienced the sovereign power of God.

这即是方才带着大批侍从和卫士来到宝库的人,现在却无能为力,为人抬出,公然承认了这是天主的大能。

29 While he lay speechless and deprived of all hope of aid, due to an act of God's power,

正当这人受天主大能的打击,哑口失声,绝望无救的时候,

30 the Jews praised the Lord who had marvelously glorified his holy Place; and the temple, charged so shortly before with fear and commotion, was filled with joy and gladness, now that the almighty Lord had manifested himself.

犹太人却同声赞颂上主,因为上主光荣了自己的圣所;方才还充满着恐怖惊慌的圣殿,如今却因全能上主的显现,充满了欢欣喜乐。

31 Soon some of the companions of Heliodorus begged Onias to invoke the Most High, praying that the life of the man who was about to expire might be spared.

赫略多洛的同僚便急忙恳请敖尼雅哀求至高者,使这奄奄待毙的人重获生命。

32 Fearing that the king might think that Heliodorus had suffered some foul play at the hands of the Jews, the high priest offered a sacrifice for the man's recovery.

大司祭害怕国王怀疑犹太人对赫略多洛下了毒手,所以就为这人献祭祈求痊愈。

33 While the high priest was offering the sacrifice of atonement, the same young men in the same clothing again appeared and stood before Heliodorus. "Be very grateful to the high priest Onias," they told him. "It is for his sake that the Lord has spared your life.

当大司祭奉献赎罪祭时,那两位少年又显现给赫略多洛,他们仍穿着同样的服装,站在他跟前说:"你应多谢大司祭敖尼雅,因为上主为了他才赏你活命。

34 Since you have been scourged by Heaven, proclaim to all men the majesty of God's power." When they had said this, they disappeared.

你这被上天鞭打的人该向一切人宣扬天主的大能。"他们说完这话,就不见了。

35 After Heliodorus had offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made most solemn vows to him who had spared his life, he bade Onias farewell, and returned with his soldiers to the king.

于是赫略多洛向上主献了牺牲,且向保全自己生命的上主许下大愿,和颜悦色地辞别敖尼雅,以后便率领部下回到国王那里。

36 Before all men he gave witness to the deeds of the most high God that he had seen with his own eyes.

他并向一切人作证,他亲眼见了伟大的天主的作为。

37 When the king asked Heliodorus who would be a suitable man to be sent to Jerusalem next, he answered:

国王问赫略多洛,下次派遣谁去耶路撒冷更相宜呢?他回答说:

38 "If you have an enemy or a plotter against the government, send him there, and you will receive him back well-flogged, if indeed he survives at all; for there is certainly some special divine power about the Place.

"你若有仇人或叛国之徒,可以派他到那里去,即使他能逃生,也必饱受一顿毒打,才能回来见你;那里确实有天主的能力,

39 He who has his dwelling in heaven watches over that Place and protects it, and he strikes down and destroys those who come to harm it."

因为那住在天上的是那地方的看守者和保护者,故此,凡存恶意去的,必遭受痛打和杀害。"

40 This was how the matter concerning Heliodorus and the preservation of the treasury turned out.

关于赫略多洛及保护圣库的事就是如此。

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Footnotes(注解)

1 [1-40] This legendary episode about Heliodorus is recounted here for the purpose of stressing the inviolability of the temple of Jerusalem; its later profanation was allowed by God because of the people's sins; cf 2 Macc 5:17-18.

2 [1] The high priest Onias: Onias III, who was high priest from 196 to 175 B.C., and died in 171 B.C. He was the son of Simon, whose praises are sung in Sirach 50:1-21.

3 [3] Seleucus: Seleucus IV Philopator, who reigned from 187 to 175 B.C.

4 [4] Bilgah: a priestly family mentioned in Nehemiah 12:5, 18.

5 [11] Son of Tobias: a member of the Tobiad family of Transjordan (Nehemiah 2:10; 6:17-19; 13:4-8). Hyrcanus' father was Joseph, whose mother was the sister of the high priest Onias II.