Judges

Cycles of apostasy and deliverance in pre-monarchic Israel

A series of stories about charismatic deliverers — Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and others — who arose during the turbulent centuries between Joshua and the rise of the monarchy. The book frames Israelite history as a recurring cycle of apostasy, oppression, and rescue.

第1章

約書亞死後、以色列人求問耶和華說、我們中間誰當首先上去攻擊迦南人、與他們爭戰。

And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel asked of Jehovah, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?

耶和華說、猶大當先上去．我已將那地交在他手中。

And Jehovah said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

猶大對他哥哥西緬說、請你同我到拈鬮所得之地去、好與迦南人爭戰．以後我也同你到你拈鬮所得之地去．於是西緬與他同去。

And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

猶大就上去．耶和華將迦南人和比利洗人交在他們手中．他們在比色擊殺了一萬人。

And Judah went up; and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they smote of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

又在那裏遇見亞多尼比色、與他爭戰、殺敗迦南人和比利洗人。

And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

亞多尼比色逃跑．他們追趕、拿住他、砍斷他手腳的大姆指。

But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

亞多尼比色說、從前有七十個王、手腳的大姆指都被我砍斷、在我桌子底下拾取零碎食物．現在神按着我所行的報應我了。於是他們將亞多尼比色帶到耶路撒冷、他就死在那裏。

And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their food] under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

猶大人攻打耶路撒冷、將城攻取、用刀殺了城內的人、並且放火燒城。

And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

後來猶大人下去、與住山地南地和高原的迦南人爭戰。

And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites that dwelt in the hill-country, and in the South, and in the lowland.

猶大人去攻擊住希伯崙的迦南人、殺了示篩、亞希幔、撻買．希伯崙從前名叫基列亞巴。

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba); and they smote Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

他們從那裏去攻擊底璧的居民．底璧從前名叫基列西弗。

And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.)

迦勒說、誰能攻打基列西弗、將城奪取、我就把我女兒押撒給他爲妻。

And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kiriath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

迦勒兄弟基納斯的兒子俄陀聶、奪取了那城．迦勒就把女兒押撒給他爲妻。

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

押撒過門的時候、勸丈夫向他父親求一塊田．押撒一下驢、迦勒問他說、你要甚麼．

And it came to pass, when she came [unto him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

他說、求你賜福給我．你旣將我安置在南地、求你也給我水泉．迦勒就把上泉下泉賜給他。

And she said unto him, Give me a blessing; for that thou hast set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

摩西的內兄〈或作岳父〉是基尼人、他的子孫與猶大人一同離了棕樹城、往亞拉得以南的猶大曠野去、就住在民中。

And the children of the Kenite, Moses` brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm-trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt with the people.

猶大和他哥哥西緬同去、擊殺了住洗法的迦南人、將城盡行毀滅。那城的名便叫何珥瑪。

And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they smote the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

猶大又取了迦薩和迦薩的四境、亞實基倫和亞實基倫的四境、以革倫和以革倫的四境。

Also Judah took Gaza with the border thereof, and Ashkelon with the border thereof, and Ekron with the border thereof.

耶和華與猶大同在、猶大就趕出山地的居民．只是不能趕出平原的居民、因爲他們有鐵車。

And Jehovah was with Judah; and drove out [the inhabitants of] the hill-country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

以色列人照摩西所說的、將希伯崙給了迦勒．迦勒就從那裏趕出亞衲族的三個族長。

And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.

便雅憫人沒有趕出住耶路撒冷的耶布斯人．耶布斯人仍在耶路撒冷與便雅憫人同住、直到今日。

And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

約瑟家也上去攻打伯特利、耶和華與他們同在。

And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el; and Jehovah was with them.

約瑟家打發人去窺探伯特利。那城起先名叫路斯。

And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)

窺探的人看見一個人從城裏出來、就對他說、求你將進城的路指示我們、我們必恩待你。

And the watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with thee.

那人將進城的路指示他們、他們就用刀擊殺了城中的居民、但將那人和他全家放去。

And he showed them the entrance into the city; and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.

那人往赫人之地去、築了一座城、起名叫路斯、那城到如今還叫這名。

And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.

瑪拿西沒有趕出伯善和屬伯善鄉村的居民、他納和屬他納鄉村的居民、多珥和屬多珥鄉村的居民、以伯蓮和屬以伯蓮鄉村的居民、米吉多和屬米吉多鄉村的居民．迦南人卻執意住在那些地方。

And Manasseh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beth-shean and its towns, nor [of] Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

及至以色列強盛了、就使迦南人作苦工、沒有把他們全然趕出。

And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.

以法蓮沒有趕出住基色的迦南人．於是迦南人仍住在基色、在以法蓮中間。

And Ephraim drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

西布倫沒有趕出基倫的居民、和拿哈拉的居民．於是迦南人仍住在西布倫中間、成了服苦的人。

Zebulun drove not out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became subject to taskwork.

亞設沒有趕出亞柯和西頓的居民、亞黑拉和亞革悉的居民、黑巴、亞弗革與利合的居民．

Asher drove not out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;

於是亞設因爲沒有趕出那地的迦南人、就住在他們中間。

but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

拿弗他利沒有趕出伯示麥和伯亞納的居民．於是拿弗他利就住在那地的迦南人中間．然而伯示麥和伯亞納的居民、成了服苦的人。

Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to taskwork.

亞摩利人強逼但人住在山地、不容他們下到平原．

And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country; for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley;

亞摩利人卻執意住在希烈山和亞雅倫、並沙賓、然而約瑟家勝了他們、使他們成了服苦的人。

but the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to taskwork.

亞摩利人的境界、是從亞克拉濱坡、從西拉而上。

And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

第2章

耶和華的使者從吉甲上到波金、對以色列人說、我使你們從埃及上來、領你們到我向你們列祖起誓應許之地．我又說、我永不廢棄與你們所立的約。

And the angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you:

你們也不可與這地的居民立約．要拆毀他們的祭壇．你們竟沒有聽從我的話．爲何這樣行呢。

and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this?

因此我又說、我必不將他們從你們面前趕出．他們必作你們肋下的荊棘．他們的神、必作你們的網羅。

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

耶和華的使者、向以色列衆人說這話的時候、百姓就放聲而哭。

And it came to pass, when the angel of Jehovah spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

於是給那地方起名叫波金〈就是哭的意思〉．衆人在那裏向耶和華獻祭。

And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah.

從前約書亞打發以色列百姓去的時候、他們各歸自己的地業、佔據地土。

Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

約書亞在世和約書亞死後、那些見耶和華爲以色列人所行大事的長老還在的時候、百姓都事奉耶和華。

And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel.

耶和華的僕人、嫩的兒子約書亞、正一百一十歲就死了。

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

以色列人將他葬在他地業的境內、就是在以法蓮山地的亭拿希烈、在迦實山的北邊。

And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

那世代的人、也都歸了自己的列祖．後來有別的世代興起、不知道耶和華、也不知道耶和華爲以色列人所行的事。

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.

以色列人行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事、去事奉諸巴力．

And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim;

離棄了領他們出埃及地的耶和華、他們列祖的神、去叩拜別神、就是四圍列國的神、惹耶和華發怒。

and they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them: and they provoked Jehovah to anger.

並離棄耶和華、去事奉巴力和亞斯他錄。

And they forsook Jehovah, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.

耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作、就把他們交在搶奪他們的人手中．又將他們付與四圍仇敵的手中、甚至他們在仇敵面前再不能站立得住。

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

他們無論往何處去、耶和華都以災禍攻擊他們、正如耶和華所說的話、又如耶和華向他們所起的誓．他們便極其困苦。

Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had spoken, and as Jehovah had sworn unto them: and they were sore distressed.

耶和華興起士師、士師就拯救他們脫離搶奪他們人的手。

And Jehovah raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those that despoiled them.

他們卻不聽從士師、竟隨從叩拜別神、行了邪淫、速速的偏離他們列祖所行的道、不如他們列祖順從耶和華的命令。

And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; [but] they did not so.

耶和華爲他們興起士師、就與那士師同在．士師在世的一切日子、耶和華拯救他們脫離仇敵的手．他們因受欺壓擾害、就哀聲歎氣、所以耶和華後悔了。

And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

及至士師死後、他們就轉去行惡、比他們列祖更甚、去事奉叩拜別神．總不斷絕頑梗的惡行。

But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.

於是耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作．他說、因這民違背我吩咐他們列祖所守的約、不聽從我的話、

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

所以約書亞死的時候所剩下的各族、我必不再從他們面前趕出．

I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;

爲要藉此試驗以色列人、看他們肯照他們列祖謹守遵行我的道不肯。

that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

這樣耶和華留下各族、不將他們速速趕出、也沒有交付約書亞的手。

So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

第3章

耶和華留下這幾族、爲要試驗那不曾知道與迦南爭戰之事的以色列人．

Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;

好叫以色列的後代、又知道又學習未曾曉得的戰事。

only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:

所留下的、就是非利士的五個首領、和一切迦南人、西頓人、並住利巴嫩山的希未人、從巴力黑們山、直到哈馬口。

[namely], the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entrance of Hamath.

留下這幾族、爲要試驗以色列人、知道他們肯聽從耶和華藉摩西吩咐他們列祖的誡命不肯。

And they were [left], to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.

以色列人竟住在迦南人、赫人、亞摩利人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人中間、

And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:

娶他們的女兒爲妻、將自己的女兒嫁給他們的兒子、並事奉他們的神。

and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.

以色列人行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事、忘記耶和華他們的神、去事奉諸巴力和亞舍拉。

And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth.

所以耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作、就把他們交在米所波大米王古珊利薩田的手中．以色列人服事古珊利薩田八年。

Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

以色列人呼求耶和華的時候、耶和華就爲他們興起一位拯救者救他們、就是迦勒兄弟、基納斯的兒子俄陀聶。

And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother.

耶和華的靈降在他身上、他就作了以色列的士師、出去爭戰．耶和華將米所波大米王古珊利薩田交在他手中、他便勝了古珊利薩田。

And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.

於是國中太平四十年。基納斯的兒子俄陀聶死了。

And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

以色列人又行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事、耶和華就使摩押王伊磯倫強盛、攻擊以色列人。

And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.

伊磯倫招聚亞捫人和亞瑪力人、去攻打以色列人、佔據棕樹城。

And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees.

於是以色列人服事摩押王伊磯倫十八年。

And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

以色列人呼求耶和華的時候、耶和華就爲他們興起一位拯救者、就是便雅憫人基拉的兒子以笏、他是左手便利的．以色列人託他送禮物給摩押王伊磯倫。

But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab.

以笏打了一把兩刃的劍、長一肘、帶在右腿上衣服裏面。

And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

他將禮物獻給摩押王伊磯倫、原來伊磯倫極其肥胖。

And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.

以笏獻完禮物、便將抬禮物的人打發走了。

And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bare the tribute.

自己卻從靠近吉甲鑿石之地回來、說、王阿、我有一件機密事奏告你．王說、迴避罷．於是左右侍立的人都退去了。

But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

以笏來到王面前．王獨自一人坐在涼樓上。以笏說、我奉神的命報告你一件事．王就從座位上站起來。

And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

以笏便伸左手、從右腿上拔出劍來、刺入王的肚腹．

And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:

連劍把都刺進去了．劍被肥肉夾住、他沒有從王的肚腹拔出來、且穿通了後身。

and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for he drew not the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.

以笏就出到遊廊、將樓門盡都關鎖。

Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room upon him, and locked them.

以笏出來之後、王的僕人到了、看見樓門關鎖、就說、他必是在樓上大解。

Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber.

他們等煩了、見仍不開樓門、就拿鑰匙開了．不料、他們的主人已死、倒在地上。

And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened [them], and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

他們躭延的時候以笏就逃跑了．經過鑿石之地、逃到西伊拉。

And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah.

到了、就在以法蓮山地吹角．以色列人隨着他下了山地。他在前頭引路、

And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them.

對他們說、你們隨我來、因爲耶和華已經把你們的仇敵摩押人交在你們手中。於是他們跟着他下去、把守約但河的渡口、不容摩押一人過去。

And he said unto them, Follow after me; for Jehovah hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.

那時擊殺了摩押人約有一萬、都是強壯的勇士、沒有一人逃脫。

And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man.

這樣、摩押就被以色列人制伏了。國中太平八十年。

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

以笏之後、有亞拿的兒子珊迦、他用趕牛的棍子打死六百非利士人、他也救了以色列人。

And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.

第4章

以笏死後、以色列人又行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事。

And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, when Ehud was dead.

耶和華就把他們付與在夏瑣作王的迦南王耶賓手中．他的將軍是西西拉、住在外邦人的夏羅設。

And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

耶賓王有鐵車九百輛．他大大欺壓以色列人二十年、以色列人就呼求耶和華。

And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

有一位女先知名叫底波拉、是拉比多的妻、當時作以色列的士師。

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

他住在以法蓮山地拉瑪和伯特利中間、在底波拉的棕樹下．以色列人都上他那裏去聽判斷。

And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

他打發人從拿弗他利的基低斯、將亞比挪菴的兒子巴拉召了來、對他說、耶和華以色列的神吩咐你說、你率領一萬拿弗他利和西布倫人、上他泊山去。

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded, [saying], Go and draw unto mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

我必使耶賓的將軍西西拉率領他的車輛和全軍、往基順河、到你那裏去．我必將他交在你手中。

And I will draw unto thee, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin`s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thy hand.

巴拉說、你若同我去、我就去．你若不同我去、我就不去。

And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.

底波拉說、我必與你同去、只是你在所行的路上、得不着榮耀．因爲耶和華要將西西拉交在一個婦人手裏。於是底波拉起來、與巴拉一同往基低斯去了。

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding, the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

巴拉就招聚西布倫人和拿弗他利人到基低斯．跟他上去的有一萬人．底波拉也同他上去。

And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

摩西嶽父〈或作內兄〉何巴的後裔基尼人希百、曾離開基尼族、到靠近基低斯撒拿音的橡樹旁、支搭帳棚。

Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.

有人告訴西西拉說、亞比挪菴的兒子巴拉已經上他泊山了。

And they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

西西拉就聚集所有的鐵車九百輛、和跟隨他的全軍、從外邦人的夏羅設出來、到了基順河。

And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, unto the river Kishon.

底波拉對巴拉說、你起來、今日就是耶和華將西西拉交在你手的日子．耶和華豈不在你前頭行麼．於是巴拉下了他泊山．跟隨他有一萬人。

And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand; is not Jehovah gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

耶和華使西西拉和他一切車輛全軍潰亂、在巴拉面前被刀殺敗．西西拉下車步行逃跑。

And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

巴拉追趕車輛、軍隊、直到外邦人的夏羅設．西西拉的全軍、都倒在刀下、沒有留下一人。

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.

只有西西拉步行逃跑、到了基尼人希百之妻雅億的帳棚．因爲夏瑣王耶賓與基尼人希百家和好。

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

雅億出來迎接西西拉、對他說、請我主進來、不要懼怕．西西拉就進了他的帳棚．雅億用被將他遮蓋。

And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And he turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.

西西拉對雅億說、我渴了．求你給我一點水喝．雅億就打開皮袋、給他奶子喝、仍舊把他遮蓋。

And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

西西拉又對雅億說、請你站在帳棚門口．若有人來問你說、有人在這裏沒有．你就說沒有。

And he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

西西拉疲乏沉睡．希百的妻雅億、取了帳棚的橛子、手裏拿着錘子、輕悄悄的到他旁邊、將橛子從他鬢邊釘進去、釘入地裏．西西拉就死了。

Then Jael Heber`s wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.

巴拉追趕西西拉的時候、雅億出來迎接他說、來罷、我將你所尋找的人給你看．他就進入帳棚、看見西西拉已經死了、倒在地上、橛子還在他鬢中。

And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And he came unto her; and, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples.

這樣、神使迦南王耶賓、被以色列人制伏了。

So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

從此以色列人的手、越發有力、勝了迦南王耶賓、直到將他滅絕了。

And the hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

第5章

那時底波拉和亞比挪菴的兒子巴拉作歌、說、

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

因爲以色列中有軍長率領、百姓也甘心犧牲自己、你們應當頌讚耶和華。

For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.

君王阿、要聽．王子阿、要側耳而聽．我要向耶和華歌唱．我要歌頌耶和華以色列的神。

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.

耶和華阿、你從西珥出來、由以東地行走、那時地震天漏、雲也落雨。

Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.

山見耶和華的面、就震動．西乃山見耶和華以色列神的面、也是如此。

The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

在亞拿之子珊迦的時候、又在雅億的日子、大道無人行走、都是繞道而行。

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways.

以色列中的官長停職、直到我底波拉興起、等我興起作以色列的母。

The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.

以色列人選擇新神、爭戰的事就臨到城門．那時以色列四萬人中豈能見籐牌槍矛呢。

They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?

我心傾向以色列的首領．他們在民中甘心犧牲自己．你們應當頌讚耶和華。

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah.

騎白驢的、坐繡花毯子的、行路的、你們都當傳揚。

Tell [of it], ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way.

在遠離弓箭響聲打水之處、人必述說耶和華公義的作爲、就是他治理以色列公義的作爲。那時耶和華的民下到城門。

Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.

底波拉阿、興起、興起、你當興起、興起、唱歌．亞比挪菴的兒子巴拉阿、你當奮興、擄掠你的敵人。

Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.

那時有餘剩的貴胄、和百姓一同下來．耶和華降臨、爲我攻擊勇士。

Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.

有根本在亞瑪力人的地、從以法蓮下來的。便雅憫在民中跟隨你．有掌權的從瑪吉下來．有持杖檢點民數的從西布倫下來。

Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal`s staff.

以薩迦的首領與底波拉同來．以薩迦怎樣、巴拉也怎樣．衆人都跟隨巴拉、衝下平原。在流便的溪水旁有心中定大志的。

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.

你爲何坐在羊圈內、聽羣中吹笛的聲音呢．在流便的溪水旁有心中設大謀的。

Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.

基列人安居在約但河外．但人爲何等在船上．亞設人在海口靜坐、在港口安居．

Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.

西布倫人是拚命敢死的、拿弗他利人在田野的高處、也是如此。

Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.

君王都來爭戰．那時迦南諸王在米吉多水旁的他納爭戰．卻未得擄掠銀錢。

The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money.

星宿從天上爭戰、從其軌道攻擊西西拉。

From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera.

基順古河、把敵人沖沒．我的靈阿、應當努力前行。

The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.

那時壯馬馳驅、踢跳、奔騰。

Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.

耶和華的使者說、應當咒詛米羅斯、大大咒詛其中的居民．因爲他們不來幫助耶和華、不來幫助耶和華攻擊勇士。

Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty.

願基尼人希百的妻雅億、比衆婦人多得福氣、比住帳棚的婦人更蒙福祉。

Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

西西拉求水、雅億給他奶子、用寶貴的盤子、給他奶油。

He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

雅億左手拿着帳棚的橛子、右手拿着匠人的錘子、擊打西西拉、打傷他的頭、把他的鬢角打破穿通。

She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen`s hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples.

西西拉在他腳前曲身仆倒、在他腳前曲身倒臥．在那裏曲身、就在那裏死亡。

At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

西西拉的母親、從窗戶裏往外觀看、從窗櫺中呼叫說、他的戰車、爲何躭延不來呢。他的車輪、爲何行得慢呢。

Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?

聰明的宮女安慰他〈原文作回答他〉、他也自言自語的說、

Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,

他們莫非得財而分．每人得了一兩個女子．西西拉得了彩衣爲擄物、得繡花的彩衣爲掠物．這彩衣兩面繡花。乃是披在被擄之人頸項上的。

Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?

耶和華阿、願你的仇敵、都這樣滅亡、願愛你的人如日頭出現、光輝烈烈。這樣國中太平四十年。

So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

第6章

以色列人又行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事．耶和華就把他們交在米甸人手裏七年。

And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

米甸人壓制以色列人、以色列人因爲米甸人、就在山中挖穴、挖洞、建造營寨。

And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.

以色列人每逢撒種之後、米甸人、亞瑪力人、和東方人都上來攻打他們、

And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;

對着他們安營、毀壞土產、直到迦薩、沒有給以色列人留下食物．牛羊驢也沒有留下。

and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

因爲那些人帶着牲畜帳棚來、像蝗蟲那樣多．人和駱駝無數、都進入國內、毀壞全地。

For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.

以色列人因米甸人的緣故、極其窮乏、就呼求耶和華。

And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.

以色列人因米甸人的緣故、呼求耶和華、

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah because of Midian,

耶和華就差遣先知到以色列人那裏、對他們說、耶和華以色列的神、如此說、我曾領你們從埃及上來、出了爲奴之家．

that Jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of Israel: and he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;

救你們脫離埃及人的手、並脫離一切欺壓你們之人的手、把他們從你們面前趕出、將他們的地賜給你們．

and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;

又對你們說、我是耶和華你們的神．你們住在亞摩利人的地、不可敬畏他們的神．你們竟不聽從我的話。

and I said unto you, I am Jehovah your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice.

耶和華的使者到了俄弗拉、坐在亞比以謝族人約阿施的橡樹下。約阿施的兒子基甸正在酒醡那裏打麥子、爲要防備米甸人。

And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

耶和華的使者向基甸顯現、對他說、大能的勇士阿、耶和華與你同在。

And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

基甸說、主阿、耶和華若與我們同在、我們何至遭遇這一切事呢．我們的列祖不是向我們說、耶和華領我們從埃及上來麼．他那樣奇妙的作爲在哪裏呢．現在他卻丟棄我們、將我們交在米甸人手裏。

And Gideon said unto him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? but now Jehovah hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.

耶和華觀看基甸、說、你靠着你這能力去從米甸人手裏拯救以色列人．不是我差遣你去的麼。

And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?

基甸說、主阿、我有何能拯救以色列人呢．我家在瑪拿西支派中、是至貧窮的．我在我父家是至微小的。

And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father`s house.

耶和華對他說、我與你同在、你就必擊打米甸人、如擊打一人一樣。

And Jehovah said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

基甸說、我若在你眼前蒙恩、求你給我一個證據、使我知道與我說話的就是主．

And he said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, then show me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me.

求你不要離開這裏、等我歸回、將禮物帶來供在你面前．主說、我必等你回來。

Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and lay it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

基甸去豫備了一隻山羊羔、用一伊法細麵作了無酵餅、將肉放在筐內、把湯盛在壺中、帶到橡樹下、獻在使者面前。

And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

神的使者吩咐基甸說、將肉和無酵餅放在這磐石上、把湯倒出來．他就這樣行了。

And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

耶和華的使者伸出手內的杖、杖頭挨了肉和無酵餅、就有火從磐石中出來、燒盡了肉和無酵餅．耶和華的使者也就不見了。

Then the angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.

基甸見他是耶和華的使者、就說、哀哉、主耶和華阿、我不好了、因爲我覿面看見耶和華的使者。

And Gideon saw that he was the angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of Jehovah face to face.

耶和華對他說、你放心、不要懼怕、你必不至死。

And Jehovah said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

於是基甸在那裏爲耶和華築了一座壇、起名叫耶和華沙龍〈就是耶和華賜平安的意思〉這壇在亞比以謝族的俄弗拉直到如今。

Then Gideon built an altar there unto Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

當那夜耶和華吩咐基甸說、你取你父親的牛來、就是〈或作和〉那七歲的第二隻牛、並拆毀你父親爲巴力所築的壇、砍下壇旁的木偶。

And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father`s bullock, even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;

在這磐石〈原文作保障〉上、整整齊齊的爲耶和華你的神築一座壇、將第二隻牛獻爲燔祭、用你所砍下的木偶作柴。

and build an altar unto Jehovah thy God upon the top of this stronghold, in the orderly manner, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah which thou shalt cut down.

基甸就從他僕人中挑了十個人、照着耶和華吩咐他的行了．他因怕父家和本城的人、不敢在白晝行這事、就在夜間行了。

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father`s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

城裏的人清早起來、見巴力的壇拆毀、壇旁的木偶砍下、第二隻牛獻在新築的壇上、

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

就彼此說、這事是誰作的呢．他們訪查之後、就說、這是約阿施的兒子基甸作的。

And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

城裏的人對約阿施說、將你兒子交出來、好治死他、因爲他拆毀了巴力的壇、砍下壇旁的木偶。

Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.

約阿施回答站着攻擊他的衆人說、你們是爲巴力爭論麼．你們要救他麼．誰爲他爭論、趁早將誰治死．巴力若果是神、有人拆毀他的壇、讓他爲自己爭論罷。

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? Or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.

所以當日人稱基甸爲耶路巴力、意思說、他拆毀巴力的壇、讓巴力與他爭論。

Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.

那時米甸人亞瑪力人和東方人、都聚集過河、在耶斯列平原安營。

Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.

耶和華的靈降在基甸身上、他就吹角．亞比以謝族都聚集跟隨他。

But the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together after him.

他打發人走徧瑪拿西地、瑪拿西人也聚集跟隨他．又打發人去見亞設人、西布倫人、拿弗他利人他們也都出來與他們會合。

And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

基甸對神說、你若果照着所說的話、藉我手拯救以色列人、

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken,

我就把一團羊毛放在禾塲上、若單是羊毛上有露水、別的地方都是乾的、我就知道你必照着所說的話、藉我手拯救以色列人。

behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken.

次日早晨基甸起來、見果然是這樣．將羊毛擠一擠、從羊毛中擰出滿盆的露水來。

And it was so; for he rose up early on the morrow, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.

基甸又對神說、求你不要向我發怒、我再說這一次．讓我將羊毛再試一次．但願羊毛是乾的、別的地方都有露水。

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: let me make trial, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

這夜神也如此行．獨羊毛上是乾的、別的地方都有露水。

And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

第7章

耶路巴力、就是基甸、他和一切跟隨的人、早晨起來、在哈律泉旁安營．米甸營在他們北邊的平原、靠近摩利岡。

Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

耶和華對基甸說、跟隨你的人過多、我不能將米甸人交在他們手中、免得以色列人向我誇大、說、是我們自己的手救了我們。

And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

現在你要向這些人宣告說、凡懼怕膽怯的、可以離開基列山回去．於是有二萬二千人回去．只剩下一萬。

Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

耶和華對基甸說、人還是過多．你要帶他們下到水旁、我好在那裏爲你試試他們．我指點誰說、這人可以同你去、他就可以同你去．我指點誰說、這人不可同你去、他就不可同你去。

And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

基甸就帶他們下到水旁．耶和華對基甸說、凡用舌頭餂水、像狗餂的、要使他單站在一處．凡跪下喝水的、也要使他單站在一處。

So he brought down the people unto the water: and Jehovah said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

於是用手捧着餂水的有三百人．其餘的都跪下喝水。

And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

耶和華對基甸說、我要用這餂水的三百人拯救你們、將米甸人交在你手中．其餘的人、都可以各歸各處去。

And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place.

這三百人就帶着食物和角．其餘的以色列人、基甸都打發他們各歸各的帳棚、只留下這三百人。米甸營在他下邊的平原裏。

So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

當那夜耶和華吩咐基甸說、起來、下到米甸營裏去．因我已將他們交在你手中。

And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Arise, get thee down into the camp; for I have delivered it into thy hand.

倘若你怕下去、就帶你的僕人普拉下到那營裏去．

But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Purah thy servant down to the camp:

你必聽見他們所說的、然後你就有膽量下去攻營．於是基甸帶着僕人普拉下到營旁。

and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thy hands be strengthened to go down into the camp. Then went he down with Purah his servant unto the outermost part of the armed men that were in the camp.

米甸人亞瑪力人和一切東方人、都布散在平原、如同蝗蟲那樣多．他們的駱駝無數、多如海邊的沙。

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is upon the sea-shore for multitude.

基甸到了、就聽見一人將夢告訴同伴說、我作了一夢、夢見一個大麥餅輥入米甸營中、到了帳幕、將帳幕撞倒、帳幕就翻轉傾覆了。

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man telling a dream unto his fellow; and he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream; and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent, and smote it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.

那同伴說、這不是別的、乃是以色列人約阿施的兒子基甸的刀．神已將米甸、和全軍、都交在他的手中。

And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: into his hand God hath delivered Midian, and all the host.

基甸聽見這夢、和夢的講解、就敬拜神、回到以色列營中、說、起來罷．耶和華已將米甸的軍隊交在你們手中了。

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for Jehovah hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

於是基甸將三百人分作三隊、把角和空瓶交在各人手裏、瓶內都藏着火把．

And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.

吩咐他們說、你們要看我行事．我到了營的旁邊怎樣行、你們也要怎樣行。

And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

我和一切跟隨我的人吹角的時候、你們也要在營的四圍吹角、喊叫說、耶和華和基甸的刀。

When I blow the trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For Jehovah and for Gideon.

基甸和跟隨他的一百人、在三更之初、纔換更的時候、來到營旁、就吹角、打破手中的瓶。

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.

三隊的人、就都吹角、打破瓶子、左手拿着火把、右手拿着角、喊叫說、耶和華和基甸的刀。

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands wherewith to blow; and they cried, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon.

他們在營的四圍各站各的地方．全營的人都亂竄．三百人吶喊、使他們逃跑。

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put [them] to flight.

三百人就吹角．耶和華使全營的人用刀互相擊殺、逃到西利拉的伯哈示他、直逃到靠近他巴的亞伯米何拉。

And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Jehovah set every man`s sword against his fellow, and against all the host; and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

以色列人就從拿弗他利、亞設、和瑪拿西全地聚集來追趕米甸人。

And the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.

基甸打發人走徧以法蓮山地、說、你們下來攻擊米甸人、爭先把守約但河的渡口、直到伯巴拉。於是以法蓮的衆人聚集、把守約但河的渡口、直到伯巴拉．

And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill-country of Ephraim, saying, Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters, as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan. So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan.

捉住了米甸人的兩個首領、一名俄立、一名西伊伯．將俄立殺在俄立磐石上．將西伊伯殺在西伊伯酒醡那裏、又追趕米甸人、將俄立和西伊伯的首級帶過約但河、到基甸那裏。

And they took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian: and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.

第8章

以法蓮人對基甸說、你去與米甸人爭戰、沒有招我們同去、爲甚麼這樣待我們呢．他們就與基甸大大的爭吵。

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.

基甸對他們說、我所行的豈能比你們所行的呢．以法蓮拾取剩下的葡萄、不強過亞比以謝所摘的葡萄麼。

And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

神已將米甸人的兩個首領、俄立和西伊伯、交在你們手中．我所行的、豈能比你們所行的呢．基甸說了這話、以法蓮人的怒氣就消了。

God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

基甸和跟隨他的三百人、到約但河過渡、雖然疲乏、還是追趕。

And Gideon came to the Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.

基甸對疎割人說、求你們拿餅來給跟隨我的人喫．因爲他們疲乏了、我們追趕米甸人的兩個王西巴和撒慕拿。

And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.

疎割人的首領回答說、西巴和撒慕拿已經在你手裏、你使我們將餅給你的軍兵麼．

And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

基甸說、耶和華將西巴和撒慕拿交在我手之後、我就用野地的荊條和枳棘打傷你們。

And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

基甸從那裏上到毘努伊勒、對那裏的人也是這樣說．毘努伊勒人也與疎割人回答他的話一樣。

And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them in like manner; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

他向毘努伊勒人說、我平平安安回來的時候、我必拆毀這樓。

And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

那時西巴和撒慕拿、並跟隨他們的軍隊都在加各、約有一萬五千人、就是東方人全軍所剩下的．已經被殺約有十二萬拿刀的。

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

基甸就由挪巴和約比哈東邊、從住帳棚人的路上去、殺敗了米甸人的軍兵．因爲他們坦然無懼。

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.

西巴和撒慕拿逃跑．基甸追趕他們、捉住米甸的二王西巴和撒慕拿、驚散全軍。

And Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

約阿施的兒子基甸、由希列斯坡從陣上回來、

And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.

捉住疎割的一個少年人、問他疎割的首領長老是誰．他就將首領長老七十七個人的名字寫出來。

And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.

基甸到了疎割、對那裏的人說、你們從前譏誚我說、西巴和撒慕拿已經在你手裏、你使我們將餅給跟隨你的疲乏人麼．現在西巴和撒慕拿在這裏。

And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom ye did taunt me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?

於是捉住那城內的長老、用野地的荊條和枳棘責打〈原文作指教〉疎割人。

And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

又拆了毘努伊勒的樓、殺了那城裏的人。

And he brake down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

基甸問西巴和撒慕拿說、你們在他泊山所殺的人是甚麼樣式．回答說、他們好像你、各人都有王子的樣式。

Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

基甸說、他們是我同母的弟兄．我指着永生的耶和華起誓、你們從前若存留他們的性命、我如今就不殺你們了。

And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother: as Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

於是對他的長子益帖說、你起來殺他們。但益帖因爲是童子、害怕、不敢拔刀。

And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

西巴和撒慕拿說、你自己起來殺我們罷．因爲人如何、力量也是如何。基甸就起來、殺了西巴和撒慕拿、奪獲他們駱駝項上戴的月牙圈。

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels` necks.

以色列人對基甸說、你旣救我們脫離米甸人的手、願你和你的兒孫管理我們。

Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son`s son also; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian.

基甸說、我不管理你們、我的兒子也不管理你們．惟有耶和華管理你們。

And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah shall rule over you.

基甸又對他們說、我有一件事求你們．請你們各人將所奪的耳環給我．原來仇敵是以實瑪利人、都是戴金耳環的。

And Gideon said unto them, I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

他們說、我們情願給你．就鋪開一件外衣、各人將所奪的耳環丟在其上。

And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his spoil.

基甸所要出來的金耳環、重一千七百舍客勒金子．此外還有米甸王所戴的月環、耳墜、和所穿的紫色衣服、並駱駝項上的金鍊子。

And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels` necks.

基甸以此製造了一個以弗得、設立在本城俄弗拉．後來以色列人拜那以弗得行了邪淫．這就作了基甸和他全家的網羅。

And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the harlot after it there; and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

這樣、米甸人被以色列人制伏了、不敢再抬頭．基甸還在的日子國中太平四十年。

So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

約阿施的兒子耶路巴力回去、住在自己家裏。

And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

基甸有七十個親生的兒子．因爲他有許多的妻。

And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten; for he had many wives.

他的妾住在示劍、也給他生了一個兒子．基甸與他起名叫亞比米勒。

And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.

約阿施的兒子基甸、年紀老邁而死、葬在亞比以謝族的俄弗拉、在他父親約阿施的墳墓裏。

And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

基甸死後、以色列人又去隨從諸巴力行邪淫、以巴力比利土爲他們的神。

And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the harlot after the Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.

以色列人不記念耶和華他們的神、就是拯救他們脫離四圍仇敵之手的．

And the children of Israel remembered not Jehovah their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;

也不照着耶路巴力、就是基甸向他們所施的恩惠、厚待他的家。

neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, [who is] Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.

第9章

耶路巴力的兒子亞比米勒、到了示劍見他的衆母舅、對他們、和他外祖全家的人、說、

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother`s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother`s father, saying,

請你們問示劍的衆人說、是耶路巴力的衆子七十人都管理你們好呢、還是一人管理你們好呢．你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

他的衆母舅、便將這一切話、爲他說給示劍人聽．示劍人的心、就歸向亞比米勒．他們說、他原是我們的弟兄。

And his mother`s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

就從巴力比利土的廟中、取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒．亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。

And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.

他往俄弗拉到他父親的家、將他弟兄耶路巴力的衆子七十人、都殺在一塊磐石上．只剩下耶路巴力的小兒子約坦、因爲他躱藏了。

And he went unto his father`s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

示劍人和米羅人、都一同聚集、往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裏、立亞比米勒爲王。

And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.

有人將這事告訴約坦、他就去站在基利心山頂上、向衆人大聲喊叫、說、示劍人哪、你們要聽我的話、神也就聽你們的話。

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

有一時樹木要膏一樹爲王、管理他們、就去對橄欖樹說、請你作我們的王。

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

橄欖樹回答說、我豈肯止住供奉。神和尊重人的油、飄颻在衆樹之上呢。

But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

樹木對無花果樹說、請你來作我們的王。

And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

無花果樹回答說、我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子、飄颻在衆樹之上呢。

But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

樹木對葡萄樹說、請你來作我們的王。

And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

葡萄樹回答說、我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒、飄颻在衆樹之上呢。

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

衆樹對荊棘說、請你來作我們的王。

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

荊棘回答說、你們若誠誠實實的膏我爲王、就要投在我的蔭下．不然、願火從荊棘裏出來、燒滅利巴嫩的香柏樹。

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

現在你們立亞比米勒爲王．若按誠實正直善待耶路巴力和他的全家、這就是酬他的勞。

Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands

從前我父冒死、爲你們爭戰、救了你們脫離米甸人的手。

(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

你們如今起來攻擊我的父家、將他衆子七十人殺在一塊磐石上、又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒爲示劍人的王．他原是你們的弟兄。

and ye are risen up against my father`s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);

你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路巴力和他的家、就可因亞比米勒得歡樂、他也可因你們得歡樂。

if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

不然、願火從亞比米勒發出、燒滅示劍人、和米羅衆人．又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來、燒滅亞比米勒。

but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

約坦、因怕他弟兄亞比米勒、就逃跑、來到比珥住在那裏。

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。

And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.

神使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間、示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

這是要叫耶路巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害、歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒．又叫那流他們血的罪、歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。

that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

示劍人在山頂上設埋伏、等候亞比米勒．凡從他們那裏經過的人、他們就搶奪．有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。

And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

以別的兒子迦勒、和他的弟兄來到示劍．示劍人都信靠他。

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

示劍人出城到田間去、摘下葡萄、踹酒、設擺筵宴、進他們神的廟中喫喝、咒詛亞比米勒。

And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

以別的兒子迦勒說、亞比米勒是誰、示劍是誰、使我們服事他呢、他不是耶路巴力的兒子麼．他的幫手不是西布勒麼．你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔．我們爲何服事亞比米勒呢。

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?

惟願這民歸我的手下、我就除掉亞比米勒．迦勒又對亞比米勒說、增添你的軍兵出來罷。

And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話、就發怒、

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

悄悄的打發人去見亞比米勒、說、以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍、煽惑城中的民攻擊你。

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.

現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來、在田間埋伏。

Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

到早晨太陽一出、你就起來、闖城．迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候、你便向他們見機而作。

and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

於是亞比米勒和跟隨他的衆人夜間起來、分作四隊、埋伏等候示劍人。

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

以別的兒子迦勒出去、站在城門口．亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.

迦勒看見那些人、就對西布勒說、看哪、有人從山頂上下來了。西布勒說、你看見山的影子、以爲是人。

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

迦勒又說、看那、有人從高處下來、又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。

And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.

西布勒對他說、你曾說、亞比米勒是誰、叫我們服事他．你所誇的口在哪裏呢．這不是你所藐視的民嗎．你現在出去、與他們交戰罷。

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.

於是迦勒率領示劍人出去、與亞比米勒交戰。

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

亞比米勒追趕迦勒．迦勒在他面前逃跑．有許多受傷仆倒的、直到城門。

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.

亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪．西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄、不准他們住在示劍。

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

次日民出到田間．有人告訴亞比米勒。

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

他就把他的人分作三隊、埋伏在田間．看見示劍人從城裏出來、就起來擊殺他們。

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.

亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去、站在城門口．那兩隊直闖到田間、擊殺了衆人。

And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.

亞比米勒整天攻打城、將城奪取、殺了其中的居民．將城拆毀、撒上了鹽。

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

示劍樓的人聽見了、就躱入巴力比利土廟的衞所。

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.

有人告訴亞比米勒、說、示劍樓的人都聚在一處。

And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山．亞比米勒手拿斧子、砍下一根樹枝、扛在肩上、對跟隨他的人說、你們看我所行的、也當趕緊照樣行。

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

衆人就各砍一枝、跟隨亞比米勒、把樹枝堆在衞所的四圍、放火燒了衞所．以致示劍樓的人都死了、男女約有一千。

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

亞比米勒到提備斯、向提備斯安營、就攻取了那城。

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

城中有一座堅固的樓．城裏的衆人、無論男女、都逃進樓去、關上門、上了樓頂。

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.

亞比米勒到了樓前攻打、挨近樓門、要用火焚燒。

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上、打破了他的腦骨。

And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech`s head, and brake his skull.

他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人、對他說、拔出你的刀來、殺了我罷．免得人議論我說、他爲一個婦人所殺。於是少年人把他刺透、他就死了。

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

以色列人見亞比米勒死了、便各回自己的地方去了。

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

這樣、神報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡、就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。

Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;

示劍人的一切惡、神也都報應在他們頭上．耶路巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛、歸到他們身上了。

and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

第10章

亞比米勒以後、有以薩迦人朶多的孫子、普瓦的兒子陀拉興起、拯救以色列人．他住在以法蓮山地的沙密。

And after Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim.

陀拉作以色列的士師二十三年、就死了、葬在沙密。

And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

在他以後有基列人睚珥興起、作以色列的士師二十二年。

And after him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty and two years.

他有三十個兒子騎着三十匹驢駒．他們有三十座城邑、叫作哈倭特睚珥、直到如今、都是在基列地。

And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

睚珥死了、就葬在加們。

And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

以色列人又行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事、去事奉諸巴力、和亞斯他錄、並亞蘭的神、西頓的神、摩押的神、亞捫人的神、非利士人的神．離棄耶和華、不事奉他。

And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Jehovah, and served him not.

耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作、就把他們交在非利士人和亞捫人的手中。

And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

從那年起、他們擾害欺壓約但河那邊住亞摩利人之基列地的以色列人、共有十八年。

And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years [oppressed they] all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

亞捫人又渡過約但河去攻打猶大和便雅憫、並以法蓮族．以色列人就甚覺窘迫。

And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

以色列人哀求耶和華、說、我們得罪了你、因爲離棄了我們神、去事奉諸巴力。

And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, saying, We have sinned against thee, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim.

耶和華對以色列人說、我豈沒有救過你們、脫離埃及人、亞摩利人、亞捫人、和非利士人麼。

And Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, [Did] not [I save you] from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

西頓人、亞瑪力人、馬雲人也都欺壓你們．你們哀求我、我也拯救你們脫離他們的手。

The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried unto me, and I saved you out of their hand.

你們竟離棄我、事奉別神．所以我不再救你們了。

Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more.

你們去哀求所選擇的神．你們遭遇急難的時候、讓他救你們罷。

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.

以色列人對耶和華說、我們犯罪了．任憑你隨意待我們罷．只求你今日拯救我們。

And the children of Israel said unto Jehovah, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day.

以色列人就除掉他們中間的外邦神、事奉耶和華、耶和華因以色列人受的苦難、就心中擔憂。

And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

當時亞捫人聚集、安營在基列．以色列人也聚集、安營在米斯巴。

Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.

基列的民和衆首領、彼此商議說、誰能先去攻打亞捫人、誰必作基列一切居民的領袖。

And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

第11章

基列人耶弗他是個大能的勇士、是妓女的兒子。耶弗他是基列所生的。

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

基列的妻也生了幾個兒子．他妻所生的兒子長大了、就趕逐耶弗他說、你不可在我們父家承受產業、因爲你是妓女的兒子。

And Gilead`s wife bare him sons; and when his wife`s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father`s house; for thou art the son of another woman.

耶弗他就逃避他的弟兄、去住在陀伯地、有些匪徒到他那裏聚集、與他一同出入。

Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

過了些日子亞捫人攻打以色列。

And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

亞捫人攻打以色列的時候、基列的長老到陀伯地去、要叫耶弗他回來．

And it was so, that, when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob;

對耶弗他說、請你來作我們的元帥、我們好與亞捫人爭戰。

and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

耶弗他回答基列的長老說、從前你們不是恨我、趕逐我出離父家麼．現在你們遭遇急難爲何到我這裏來呢。

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father`s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

基列的長老回答耶弗他、說、現在我們到你這裏來、是要你同我們去、與亞捫人爭戰．你可以作基列一切居民的領袖。

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and thou shalt be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

耶弗他對基列的長老說、你們叫我回去、與亞捫人爭戰、耶和華把他交給我、我可以作你們的領袖麼。

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Jehovah deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

基列的長老回答耶弗他說、有耶和華在你我中間作見證、我們必定照你的話行。

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.

於是耶弗他同基列的長老回去、百姓就立耶弗他作領袖、作元帥．耶弗他在米斯巴將自己的一切話、陳明在耶和華面前。

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spake all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.

耶弗他打發使者去見亞捫人的王、說、你與我有甚麼相干、竟來到我國中攻打我呢。

And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come unto me to fight against my land?

亞捫人的王回答耶弗他的使者說、因爲以色列人從埃及上來的時候、佔據我的地、從亞嫩河到雅博河、直到約但河．現在你要好好的將這地歸還罷。

And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and unto the Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably.

耶弗他又打發使者去見亞捫人的王、

And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon;

對他說、耶弗他如此說、以色列人並沒有佔據摩押地、和亞捫人的地．

and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,

以色列人從埃及上來、乃是經過曠野到紅海、來到加低斯．

but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;

就打發使者去見以東王、說、求你容我從你的地經過．以東王卻不應允。又照樣打發使者去見摩押王．他也不允准、以色列人就住在加低斯。

then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom hearkened not. And in like manner he sent unto the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

他們又經過曠野、繞着以東和摩押地、從摩押地的東邊過來、在亞嫩河邊安營、並沒有入摩押的境內、因爲亞嫩河是摩押的邊界。

Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.

以色列人打發使者去見亞摩利王西宏、就是希實本的王、對他說、求你容我們從你的地經過、往我們自己的地方去。

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place.

西宏卻不信服以色列人、不容他們經過他的境界．乃招聚他的衆民、在雅雜安營、與以色列人爭戰。

But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

耶和華以色列的神、將西宏和他的衆民都交在以色列人手中、以色列人就擊殺他們、得了亞摩利人的全地、

And Jehovah, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

從亞嫩河到雅博河、從曠野直到約但河。

And they possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto the Jordan.

耶和華以色列的神、在他百姓以色列面前趕出亞摩利人、你竟要得他們的地麼．

So now Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?

你的神基抹所賜你的地你不是得爲業麼。耶和華我們的神在我們面前所趕出的人我們就得他的地。

Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever Jehovah our God hath dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.

難道你比摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒還強麼．他曾與以色列人爭競、或是與他們爭戰麼。

And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

以色列人住希實本和屬希實本的鄉村、亞羅珥和屬亞羅珥的鄉村、並沿亞嫩河的一切城邑、已經有三百年了．在這三百年之內你們爲甚麼沒有取回這些地方呢．

While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; wherefore did ye not recover them within that time?

原來我沒有得罪你、你卻攻打我、惡待我．願審判人的耶和華、今日在以色列人和亞捫人中間、判斷是非。

I therefore have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

但亞捫人的王不肯聽耶弗他打發人說的話。

Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

耶和華的靈降在耶弗他身上、他就經過基列和瑪拿西、來到基列的米斯巴、又從米斯巴來到亞捫人那裏。

Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

耶弗他就向耶和華許願、說、你若將亞捫人交在我手中、

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

我從亞捫人那裏平平安安回來的時候、無論甚麼人、先從我家門出來迎接我、就必歸你、我也必將他獻上爲燔祭。

then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Jehovah`s, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.

於是耶弗他往亞捫人那裏去、與他們爭戰．耶和華將他們交在他手中。

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Jehovah delivered them into his hand.

他就大大殺敗他們、從亞羅珥到米匿、直到亞備勒基拉明、攻取了二十座城．這樣亞捫人就被以色列人制伏了。

And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

耶弗他回米斯巴到了自己的家．不料、他女兒拿着鼓跳舞出來迎接他、是他獨生的．此外無兒無女。

And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

耶弗他看見他、就撕裂衣服、說、哀哉、我的女兒阿、你使我甚是愁苦、叫我作難了．因爲我已經向耶和華開口許願、不能挽回。

And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back.

他女兒回答說、父阿、你旣向耶和華開口、就當照你口中所說的向我行、因耶和華已經在仇敵亞捫人身上爲你報仇。

And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah; do unto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as Jehovah hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies, even on the children of Ammon.

又對父親說、有一件事求你允准．容我去兩個月、與同伴在山上、好哀哭我終爲處女。

And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.

耶弗他說、你去罷．就容他去兩個月．他便和同伴去了、在山上爲他終爲處女哀哭。

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

兩月已滿、他回到父親那裏、父親就照所許的願向他行了．女兒終身沒有親近男子。

And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew not man. And it was a custom in Israel,

此後以色列中有個規矩．每年以色列的女子去爲基列人耶弗他的女兒哀哭四天。

that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

第12章

以法蓮人聚集、到了北方、對耶弗他說、你去與亞捫人爭戰、爲甚麼沒有招我們同去呢．我們必用火燒你和你的房屋。

And the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thy house upon thee with fire.

耶弗他對他們說、我和我的民與亞捫人大大爭戰．我招你們來、你們竟沒有來救我脫離他們的手。

And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye saved me not out of their hand.

我見你們不來救我、我就拚命前去攻擊亞捫人、耶和華將他們交在我手中．你們今日爲甚麼上我這裏來攻打我呢。

And when I saw that ye saved me not, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Jehovah delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

於是耶弗他招聚基列人、與以法蓮人爭戰．基列人擊殺以法蓮人、是因他們說、你們基列人在以法蓮瑪拿西中間、不過是以法蓮逃亡的人。

Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye are fugitives of Ephraim, ye Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, [and] in the midst of Manasseh.

基列人把守約但河的渡口、不容以法蓮人過去。以法蓮逃走的人若說、容我過去、基列人就問他說、你是以法蓮人不是．他若說、不是、

And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And it was so, that, when [any of] the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

就對他說、你說示播列．以法蓮人因爲咬不眞字音、便說西播列．基列人就將他拿住、殺在約但河的渡口。那時以法蓮人被殺的、有四萬二千人。

then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth; for he could not frame to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty and two thousand.

耶弗他作以色列的士師六年。基列人耶弗他死了、葬在基列的一座城裏。

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.

耶弗他以後、有伯利恆人以比讚作以色列的士師。

And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.

他有三十個兒子、三十個女兒、女兒都嫁出去了．他給衆子從外鄉娶了三十個媳婦。他作以色列的士師七年。

And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

以比讚死了、葬在伯利恆。

And Ibzan died, and was buried at Beth-lehem.

以比讚之後、有西布倫人以倫、作以色列的士師十年。

And after him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

西布倫人以倫死了、葬在西布倫地的亞雅崙。

And Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

以倫之後、有比拉頓人希列的兒子押頓、作以色列的士師。

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

他有四十個兒子、三十個孫子、騎着七十匹驢駒．押頓作以色列的士師八年。

And he had forty sons and thirty sons` sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

比拉頓人希列的兒子押頓死了、葬在以法蓮地的比拉頓、在亞瑪力人的山地。

And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill-country of the Amalekites.

第13章

以色列人又行耶和華眼中看爲惡的事、耶和華將他們交在非利士人手中四十年。

And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

那時有一個瑣拉人、是屬但族的、名叫瑪挪亞．他的妻不懷孕、不生育。

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

耶和華的使者向那婦人顯現、對他說、向來你不懷孕、不生育、如今你必懷孕生一個兒子．

And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

所以你當謹愼、清酒濃酒都不可喝、一切不潔之物也不可喫。

Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

你必懷孕生一個兒子、不可用剃頭刀剃他的頭、因爲這孩子一出胎就歸神作拿細耳人．他必起首拯救以色列人脫離非利士人的手。

for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

婦人就回去對丈夫說、有一個神人到我面前來、他的相貌如神使者的相貌、甚是可畏、我沒有問他從那裏來、他也沒有將他的名告訴我、

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; and I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

卻對我說、你要懷孕生一個兒子、所以清酒濃酒都不可喝、一切不潔之物也不可喫、因爲這孩子從出胎一直到死必歸神作拿細耳人。

but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to the day of his death.

瑪挪亞就祈求耶和華說、主阿、求你再差遣那神人到我們這裏來、好指教我們怎樣待這將要生的孩子。

Then Manoah entreated Jehovah, and said, Oh, Lord, I pray thee, let the man of God whom thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.

神應允瑪挪亞的話．婦人正坐在田間的時候、神的使者又到他那裏、他丈夫瑪挪亞卻沒有同他在一處。

And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.

婦人急忙跑去告訴丈夫說、那日到我面前來的人、又向我顯現。

And the woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the [other] day.

瑪挪亞起來跟隨他的妻來到那人面前、對他說、與這婦人說話的就是你麼．他說、是我。

And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

瑪挪亞說、願你的話應驗．我們當怎樣待這孩子、他後來當怎樣呢。

And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and [how] shall we do unto him?

耶和華的使者對瑪挪亞說、我告訴婦人的一切事、他都當謹愼。

And the angel of Jehovah said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

葡萄樹所結的都不可喫．清酒濃酒都不可喝．一切不潔之物也不可喫．凡我所吩咐的他都當遵守。

She may not eat of anything that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe.

瑪挪亞對耶和華的使者說、求你容我們款留你、好爲你豫備一隻山羊羔。

And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, I pray thee, let us detain thee, that we may make ready a kid for thee.

耶和華的使者對瑪挪亞說、你雖然款留我、我卻不喫你的食物．你若豫備燔祭就當獻與耶和華。原來瑪挪亞不知道他是耶和華的使者。

And the angel of Jehovah said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt make ready a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto Jehovah. For Manoah knew not that he was the angel of Jehovah.

瑪挪亞對耶和華的使者說、請將你的名告訴我、到你話應驗的時候、我們好尊敬你。

And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that, when thy words come to pass, we may do thee honor?

耶和華的使者對他說、你何必問我的名、我名是奇妙的。

And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?

瑪挪亞將一隻山羊羔和素祭、在磐石上獻與耶和華．使者行奇妙的事、瑪挪亞和他的妻觀看．

So Manoah took the kid with the meal-offering, and offered it upon the rock unto Jehovah: and [the angel] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.

見火燄從壇上往上升、耶和華的使者在壇上的火燄中也升上去了．瑪挪亞和他的妻看見、就俯伏於地。

For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.

耶和華的使者不再向瑪挪亞和他的妻顯現．瑪挪亞纔知道他是耶和華的使者。

But the angel of Jehovah did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Jehovah.

瑪挪亞對他的妻說、我們必要死、因爲看見了神。

And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

他的妻卻對他說、耶和華若要殺我們、必不從我們手裏收納燔祭和素祭、並不將這一切事指示我們、今日也不將這些話告訴我們。

But his wife said unto him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.

後來婦人生了一個兒子、給他起名叫參孫．孩子長大、耶和華賜福與他。

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and Jehovah blessed him.

在瑪哈尼但、就是瑣拉和以實陶中間、耶和華的靈纔感動他。

And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

第14章

參孫下到亭拿、在那裏看見一個女子、是非利士人的女兒。

And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.

參孫上來稟告他父母說、我在亭拿看見一個女子、是非利士人的女兒、願你們給我娶來爲妻。

And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

他父母說、在你弟兄的女兒中、或在本國的民中、豈沒有一個女子、何至你去在未受割禮的非利士人中娶妻呢．參孫對他父親說、願你給我娶那女子、因我喜悅他。

Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

他的父母卻不知道這事是出於耶和華、因爲他找機會攻擊非利士人．那時非利士人轄制以色列人。

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of Jehovah; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.

參孫跟他父母下亭拿去、到了亭拿的葡萄園、見有一隻少壯獅子向他吼叫．

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

耶和華的靈大大感動參孫、他雖然手無器械、卻將獅子撕裂、如同撕裂山羊羔一樣．他行這事並沒有告訴父母。

And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid; and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

參孫下去與女子說話、就喜悅他。

And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.

過了些日子、再下去要娶那女子、轉向道旁要看死獅、見有一羣蜂子和蜜在死獅之內、

And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.

就用手取蜜、且喫且走、到了父母那裏、給他父母、他們也喫了．只是沒有告訴這蜜是從死獅之內取來的。

And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.

他父親下去見女子．參孫在那裏設擺筵宴、因爲向來少年人都有這個規矩。

And his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

衆人看見參孫、就請了三十個人陪伴他。

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

參孫對他們說、我給你們出一個謎語、你們在七日筵宴之內、若能猜出意思告訴我、我就給你們三十件裏衣、三十套衣裳．

And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;

你們若不能猜出意思告訴我、你們就給我三十件裏衣、三十套衣裳．他們說、請將謎語說給我們聽。

but if ye cannot declare it unto me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

參孫對他們說、喫的從喫者出來、甜的從強者出來．他們三日不能猜出謎語的意思。

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

到第七天、他們對參孫的妻說、你誆哄你丈夫、探出謎語的意思告訴我們、免得我們用火燒你和你父家．你們請了我們來、是要奪我們所有的麼。

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson`s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father`s house with fire: have ye called us to impoverish us? is it not [so]?

參孫的妻在丈夫面前啼哭說、你是恨我、不是愛我、你給我本國的人出謎語、卻沒有將意思告訴我．參孫回答說、連我父母我都沒有告訴、豈可告訴你呢。

And Samson`s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee?

七日筵宴之內、他在丈夫面前啼哭、到第七天逼着他、他纔將謎語的意思告訴他妻、他妻就告訴本國的人。

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him sore; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

到第七天、日頭未落以前、那城裏的人對參孫說、有甚麼比蜜還甜呢、有甚麼比獅子還強呢．參孫對他們說、你們若非用我的母牛犢耕地、就猜不出我謎語的意思來。

And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.

耶和華的靈大大感動參孫、他就下到亞實基倫擊殺了三十個人、奪了他們的衣裳、將衣裳給了猜出謎語的人．參孫發怒、就上父家去了。

And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes [of raiment] unto them that declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father`s house.

參孫的妻便歸了參孫的陪伴、就是作過他朋友的。

But Samson`s wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

第15章

過了些日子、到割麥子的時候、參孫帶着一隻山羊羔去看他的妻、說、我要進內室見我的妻．他岳父不容他進去、

But it came to pass after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.

說、我估定你是極其恨他、因此我將他給了你的陪伴．他的妹子不是比他還美麗麼、你可以娶來代替他罷。

And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

參孫說、這回我加害於非利士人不算有罪。

And Samson said unto them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.

於是參孫去捉了三百隻狐狸〈或作野狗〉、將狐狸尾巴一對一對的捆上、將火把捆在兩條尾巴中間、

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.

點着火把、就放狐狸進入非利士人站着的禾稼、將堆集的禾捆、和未割的禾稼、並橄欖園盡都燒了。

And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the oliveyards.

非利士人說、這事是誰作的呢．有人說、是亭拿人的女婿參孫、因爲他岳父將他的妻給了他的陪伴．於是非利士人上去、用火燒了婦人和他的父親。

Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

參孫對非利士人說、你們旣然這樣行、我必向你們報仇纔肯罷休。

And Samson said unto them, If ye do after this manner, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.

參孫就大大擊殺他們、連腿帶腰都砍斷了．他便下去住在以坦磐的穴內。

And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

非利士人上去安營在猶大、布散在利希。

Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.

猶大人說、你們爲何上來攻擊我們呢．他們說、我們上來是要捆綁參孫、他向我們怎樣行、我們也要向他怎樣行。

And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they said, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.

於是有三千猶大人下到以坦磐的穴內、對參孫說、非利士人轄制我們、你不知道麼．你向我們行的是甚麼事呢。他回答說、他們向我怎樣行、我也要向他們怎樣行。

Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what then is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.

猶大人對他說、我們下來是要捆綁你、將你交在非利士人手中．參孫說、你們要向我起誓、應承你們自己不害死我。

And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.

他們說、我們斷不殺你、只要將你捆綁交在非利士人手中．於是用兩條新繩捆綁參孫、將他從以坦磐帶上去。

And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

參孫到了利希、非利士人都迎着喧嚷．耶和華的靈大大感動參孫、他臂上的繩就像火燒的麻一樣、他的綁繩都從他手上脫落下來。

When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.

他見一塊未乾的驢腮骨、就伸手拾起來用以擊殺一千人。

And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.

參孫說、我用驢腮骨殺人成堆、用驢腮骨殺了一千人。

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.

說完這話、就把那腮骨從手裏拋出去了．那地便叫拉末利希。

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath-lehi.

參孫甚覺口渴、就求告耶和華說、你旣藉僕人的手施行這麼大的拯救、豈可任我渴死、落在未受割禮的人手中呢。

And he was sore athirst, and called on Jehovah, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.

神就使利希的窪處裂開、有水從其中湧出來、參孫喝了精神復原．因此那泉名叫隱哈歌利、那泉直到今日還在利希。

But God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore the name thereof was called En-hakkore, which is in Lehi, unto this day.

當非利士人轄制以色列人的時候、參孫作以色列的士師二十年。

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

第16章

參孫到了迦薩、在那裏看見一個妓女、就與他親近。

And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her.

有人告訴迦薩人說、參孫到這裏來了．他們就把他團團圍住、終夜在城門悄悄埋伏、說、等到天亮我們便殺他。

[And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, [Let be] till morning light, then we will kill him.

參孫睡到半夜、起來、將城門的門扇、門框、門閂、一齊拆下來、扛在肩上、扛到希伯崙前的山頂上。

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.

後來參孫在梭烈谷喜愛一個婦人、名叫大利拉。

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

非利士人的首領上去見那婦人、對他說、求你誆哄參孫、探探他因何有這麼大的力氣、我們用何法能勝他、捆綁尅制他、我們就每人給你一千一百舍客勒銀子。

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver.

大利拉對參孫說、求你告訴我、你因何有這麼大的力氣、當用何法捆綁尅制你。

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

參孫回答說、人若用七條未乾的青繩子捆綁我、我就輭弱像別人一樣。

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

於是非利士人的首領拿了七條未乾的青繩子來、交給婦人、他就用繩子捆綁參孫。

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

有人豫先埋伏在婦人的內室裏．婦人說、參孫哪、非利士人拿你來了。參孫就掙斷繩子、如掙斷經火的麻線一般．這樣他力氣的根由人還是不知道。

Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

大利拉對參孫說、你欺哄我、向我說謊言．現在求你告訴我當用何法捆綁你。

And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

參孫回答說、人若用沒有使過的新繩捆綁我、我就輭弱像別人一樣。

And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

大利拉就用新繩捆綁他、對他說、參孫哪、非利士人拿你來了。有人豫先埋伏在內室裏．參孫將臂上的繩掙斷了、如掙斷一條線一樣。

So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he brake them off his arms like a thread.

大利拉對參孫說、你到如今還是欺哄我、向我說謊言．求你告訴我、當用何法捆綁你。參孫回答說、你若將我頭上的七條髮綹、與緯線同織就可以了。

And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

於是大利拉將他的髮綹與緯線同織、用橛子釘住、對他說、參孫哪、非利士人拿你來了。參孫從睡中醒來、將機上的橛子、和緯線、一齊都拔出來了。

And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.

大利拉對參孫說、你旣不與我同心、怎麼說你愛我呢．你這三次欺哄我、沒有告訴我、你因何有這麼大的力氣。

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

大利拉天天用話催逼他、甚至他心裏煩悶要死。

And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death.

參孫就把心中所藏的都告訴了他、對他說、向來人沒有用剃頭刀剃我的頭、因爲我自出母胎就歸神作拿細耳人．若剃了我的頭髮、我的力氣就離開我、我便輭弱像別人一樣。

And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite unto God from my mother`s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

大利拉見他把心中所藏的都告訴了他、就打發人到非利士人的首領那裏、對他們說、他已經把心中所藏的都告訴了我、請你們再上來一次。於是非利士人的首領手裏拿着銀子、上到婦人那裏。

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the money in their hand.

大利拉使參孫枕着他的膝睡覺、叫了一個人來剃除他頭上的七條髮綹。於是大利拉尅制他、他的力氣就離開他了。

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

大利拉說、參孫哪、非利士人拿你來了。參孫從睡中醒來、心裏說、我要像前幾次出去活動身體．他卻不知道耶和華已經離開他了。

And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.

非利士人將他拿住、剜了他的眼睛、帶他下到迦薩、用銅鍊拘索他．他就在監裏推磨。

And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.

然而他的頭髮被剃之後、又漸漸長起來了。

Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

非利士人的首領聚集、要給他們的神大袞獻大祭、並且歡樂、因爲他們說、我們的神將我們的仇敵參孫交在我們手中了。

And the lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

衆人看見參孫、就讚美他們的神、說、我們的神將毀壞我們地、殺害我們許多人的仇敵、交在我們手中了。

And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who hath slain many of us.

他們正宴樂的時候、就說、叫參孫來、在我們面前戲耍戲耍。於是將參孫從監裏提出來、他就在衆人面前戲耍。他們使他站在兩柱中間。

And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:

參孫向拉他手的童子說、求你讓我摸着托房的柱子、我要靠一靠。

and Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them.

那時房內充滿男女．非利士人的衆首領也都在那裏。房的平頂上約有三千男女觀看參孫戲耍。

Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

參孫求告耶和華說、主耶和華阿、求你眷念我．神阿、求你賜我這一次的力量、使我在非利士人身上報那剜我雙眼的仇。

And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

參孫就抱住托房的那兩根柱子．左手抱一根、右手抱一根、

And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.

說、我情願與非利士人同死．就盡力屈身、房子倒塌、壓住首領和房內的衆人。這樣、參孫死時所殺的人、比活着所殺的還多。

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.

參孫的弟兄和他父的全家、都下去取他的屍首、抬上來葬在瑣拉和以實陶中間、在他父瑪挪亞的墳墓裏。參孫作以色列的士師二十年。

Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

第17章

以法蓮山地有一個人名叫米迦、

And there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

他對母親說、你那一千一百舍客勒銀子被人拿去、你因此咒詛、並且告訴了我、看哪、這銀子在我這裏、是我拿去了．他母親說、我兒阿、願耶和華賜福與你。

And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [pieces] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou didst utter a curse, and didst also speak it in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son of Jehovah.

米迦就把這一千一百舍客勒銀子還他母親．他母親說我分出這銀子來爲你獻給耶和華、好雕刻一個像、鑄成一個像、現在我還是交給你。

And he restored the eleven hundred [pieces] of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver unto Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

米迦將銀子還他母親、他母親將二百舍客勒銀子交給銀匠、雕刻一個像、鑄成一個像、安置在米迦的屋內。

And when he restored the money unto his mother, his mother took two hundred [pieces] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.

這米迦有了神堂、又製造以弗得、和家中的神像、分派他一個兒子作祭司。

And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

那時以色列中沒有王、各人任意而行。

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

猶大伯利恆有一個少年人、是猶大族的利未人、他在那裏寄居。

And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.

這人離開猶大伯利恆城、要找一個可住的地方．行路的時候、到了以法蓮山地、走到米迦的家。

And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place], and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

米迦問他說、你從那裏來．他回答說、從猶大伯利恆來、我是利未人、要找一個可住的地方。

And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].

米迦說、你可以住在我這裏、我以你爲父爲祭司．我每年給你十舍客勒銀子、一套衣服、和度日的食物．利未人就進了他的家。

And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [pieces] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

利未人情願與那人同住．那人看這少年人如自己的兒子一樣。

And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

米迦分派這少年的利未人作祭司、他就住在米迦的家裏。

And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

米迦說、現在我知道耶和華必賜福與我、因我有一個利未人作祭司。

Then said Micah, Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

第18章

那時以色列中沒有王．但支派的人仍是尋地居住、因爲到那日子、他們還沒有在以色列支派中得地爲業。

In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day [their] inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

但人從瑣拉和以實陶、打發本族中的五個勇士、去仔細窺探那地．吩咐他們說、你們去窺探那地．他們來到以法蓮山地、進了米迦的住宅、就在那裏住宿。

And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.

他們臨近米迦的住宅、聽出那少年利未人的口音來、就進去問他說、誰領你到這裏來、你在這裏作甚麼、你在這裏得甚麼。

When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

他回答說、米迦待我如此如此、請我作祭司。

And he said unto them, Thus and thus hath Micah dealt with me, and he hath hired me, and I am become his priest.

他們對他說、請你求問神、使我們知道所行的道路、通達不通達。

And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

祭司對他們說、你們可以平平安安的去、你們所行的道路是在耶和華面前的。

And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before Jehovah is your way wherein ye go.

五人就走了、來到拉億、見那裏的民安居無慮、如同西頓人安居一樣．在那地沒有人掌權擾亂他們．他們離西頓人也遠、與別人沒有來往。

Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.

五人回到瑣拉和以實陶見他們的弟兄．弟兄問他們說、你們有甚麼話。

And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What [say] ye?

他們回答說、起來、我們上去攻擊他們罷．我們已經窺探那地、見那地甚好．你們爲何靜坐不動呢．要急速前往得那地爲業、不可遲延。

And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.

你們到了那裏、必看見安居無慮的民、地也寬闊．神已將那地交在你們手中．那地百物俱全、一無所缺。

When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large; for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.

於是但族中的六百人、各帶兵器、從瑣拉和以實陶前往。

And there set forth from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

上到猶大的基列耶琳、在基列耶琳後邊安營．因此那地方名叫瑪哈尼但、直到今日。

And they went up, and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, unto this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.

他們從那裏往以法蓮山地去、來到米迦的住宅。

And they passed thence unto the hill-country of Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.

從前窺探拉億地的五個人、對他們的弟兄說、這宅子裏有以弗得、和家中的神像、並雕刻的像、與鑄成的像、你們知道麼．現在你們要想一想當怎樣行。

Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

五人就進入米迦的住宅、到了那少年利未人的房內問他好。

And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

那六百但人、各帶兵器、站在門口。

And the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.

窺探地的五個人走進去、將雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像、並鑄成的像、都拿了去．祭司和帶兵器的六百人、一同站在門口。

And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

那五個人進入米迦的住宅、拿出雕刻的像、以弗得、家中的神像、並鑄成的像、祭司就問他們說、你們作甚麼呢。

And when these went into Micah`s house, and fetched the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said unto them, What do ye?

他們回答說、不要作聲、用手摀口、跟我們去罷、我們必以你爲父、爲祭司．你作一家的祭司好呢、還是作以色列一族一支派的祭司好呢。

And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be priest unto the house of one man, or to be priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

祭司心裏喜悅、便拿着以弗得和家中的神像、並雕刻的像、進入他們中間。

And the priest`s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

他們就轉身離開那裏、妻子、兒女、牲畜、財物、都在前頭。

So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.

離米迦的住宅已遠、米迦的近鄰都聚集來、追趕但人、

When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah`s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

呼叫但人．但人回頭問米迦說、你聚集這許多人來作甚麼呢。

And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

米迦說、你們將我所作的神像、和祭司都帶了去、我還有所剩的麼．怎麼還問我說、作甚麼呢。

And he said, ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and are gone away, and what have I more? and how then say ye unto me, What aileth thee?

但人對米迦說、你不要使我們聽見你的聲音、恐怕有性暴的人攻擊你、以致你和你的全家盡都喪命。

And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

但人還是走他們的路．米迦見他們的勢力比自己強盛、就轉身回家去了。

And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

但人將米迦所作的神像、和他的祭司都帶到拉億、見安居無慮的民、就用刀殺了那民、又放火燒了那城。

And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

並無人搭救、因爲離西頓遠、他們又與別人沒有來往、城在平原、那平原靠近伯利合．但人又在那裏修城居住、

And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built the city, and dwelt therein.

照着他們始祖以色列之子但的名字、給那城起名叫但．原先那城名叫拉億。

And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

但人就爲自己設立那雕刻的像．摩西的孫子、革舜的兒子約拿單、和他的子孫作但支派的祭司、直到那地遭擄掠的日子。

And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

神的殿在示羅多少日子、但人爲自己設立米迦所雕刻的像、也在但多少日子。

So they set them up Micah`s graven image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

第19章

當以色列中沒有王的時候、有住以法蓮山地那邊的一個利未人、娶了一個猶大伯利恆的女子爲妾。

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.

妾行淫離開丈夫、回猶大伯利恆、到了父家、在那裏住了四個月。

And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father`s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.

他丈夫起來、帶着一個僕人兩匹驢去見他、用好話勸他回來、女子就引丈夫進入父家．他父見了那人、便歡歡喜喜的迎接。

And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly unto her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father`s house; and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

那人的岳父、就是女子的父親、將那人留下住了三天．於是二人一同喫喝、住宿。

And his father-in-law, the damsel`s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

到第四天、利未人清早起來要走．女子的父親對女婿說、請你喫點飯、加添心力、然後可以行路。

And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the damsel`s father said unto his son-in-law, Strengthen thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward ye shall go your way.

於是二人坐下一同喫喝．女子的父親對那人說、請你再住一夜暢快你的心。

So they sat down, and did eat and drink, both of them together: and the damsel`s father said unto the man, Be pleased, I pray thee, to tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.

那人起來要走、他岳父強留他、他又住了一宿。

And the man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

到第五天、他清早起來要走．女子的父親說、請你喫點飯加添心力、等到日頭偏西再走．於是二人一同喫飯。

And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel`s father said, Strengthen thy heart, I pray thee, and tarry ye until the day declineth; and they did eat, both of them.

那人同他的妾和僕人起來要走、他岳父、就是女子的父親、對他說、看哪、日頭偏西了、請你再住一夜、天快晚了、可以在這裏住宿暢快你的心。明天早早起行回家去。

And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the damsel`s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

那人不願再住一夜、就備上那兩匹驢、帶着妾起身走了、來到耶布斯的對面、耶布斯就是耶路撒冷。

But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of asses saddled; his concubine also was with him.

臨近耶布斯的時候、日頭快要落了．僕人對主人說、我們不如進這耶布斯人的城裏住宿。

When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

主人回答說、我們不可進不是以色列人住的外邦城、不如過到基比亞去。

And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.

又對僕人說、我們可以到一個地方、或住在基比亞、或住在拉瑪。

And he said unto his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

他們就往前走．將到便雅憫的基比亞、日頭已經落了。

So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

他們進入基比亞要在那裏住宿、就坐在城裏的街上、因爲無人接他們進家住宿。

And they turned aside thither, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.

晚上有一個老年人、從田間作工回來、他原是以法蓮山地的人、住在基比亞、那地方的人卻是便雅憫人。

And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.

老年人舉目看見客人坐在城裏的街上、就問他說、你從那裏來、要往那裏去。

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

他回答說、我們從猶大伯利恆來、要往以法蓮山地那邊去、我原是那裏的人、到過猶大伯利恆、現在我往耶和華的殿去、在這裏無人接我進他的家。

And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah unto the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from thence am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am [now] going to the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that taketh me into his house.

其實我有糧草可以餧驢、我與我的妾、並我的僕人、有餅有酒、並不缺少甚麼。

Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man that is with thy servants: there is no want of anything.

老年人說、願你平安．你所需用的我都給你、只是不可在街上過夜。

And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

於是領他們到家裏．餧上驢．他們就洗腳喫喝。

So he brought him into his house, and gave the asses fodder; and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

他們心裏正歡暢的時候、城中的匪徒圍住房子、連連叩門、對房主老人說、你把那進你家的人帶出來、我們要與他交合。

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.

那房主出來對他們說、弟兄們哪、不要這樣作惡．這人旣然進了我的家、你們就不要行這醜事。

And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.

我有個女兒、還是處女、並有這人的妾、我將他們領出來任憑你們玷辱他們、只是向這人不可行這樣的醜事。

Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not any such folly.

那些人卻不聽從他的話．那人就把他的妾拉出去交給他們、他們便與他交合、終夜凌辱他、直到天色快亮纔放他去。

But the men would not hearken to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

天快亮的時候、婦人回到他主人住宿的房門前、就仆倒在地、直到天亮。

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man`s house where her lord was, till it was light.

早晨、他的主人起來開了房門、出去要行路、不料那婦人仆倒在房門前、兩手搭在門檻上。

And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands upon the threshold.

就對婦人說、起來、我們走罷．婦人卻不回答。那人便將他馱在驢上、起身回本處去了。

And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up upon the ass; and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

到了家裏、用刀將妾的屍身切成十二塊、使人拿着傳送以色列的四境。

And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.

凡看見的人都說、從以色列人出埃及地、直到今日、這樣的事沒有行過、也沒有見過．現在應當思想、大家商議當怎樣辦理。

And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.

第20章

於是以色列從但到別是巴、以及住基列地的衆人都出來如同一人、聚集在米斯巴耶和華面前。

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.

以色列民的首領、就是各支派的軍長、都站在神百姓的會中．拿刀的步兵共有四十萬。

And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

以色列人上到米斯巴．便雅憫人都聽見了。以色列人說、請你將這件惡事的情由對我們說明。

(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?

那利未人、就是被害之婦人的丈夫、回答說、我和我的妾到了便雅憫的基比亞住宿。

And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

基比亞人夜間起來、圍了我住的房子、想要殺我、又將我的妾強姦致死。

And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

我就把我妾的屍身切成塊子、使人拿着傳送以色列得爲業的全地．因爲基比亞人在以色列中行了凶淫醜惡的事。

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

你們以色列人、都當籌畫商議。

Behold, ye children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.

衆民都起來如同一人、說、我們連一人都不回自己帳棚、自己房屋去。

And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn unto his house.

我們向基比亞人必這樣行、照所掣的籤去攻擊他們。

But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we will go up] against it by lot;

我們要在以色列各支派中、一百人挑取十人、一千人挑取百人、一萬人挑取千人爲民運糧．等大衆到了便雅憫的基比亞、就照基比亞人在以色列中所行的醜事征伐他們。

and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

於是以色列衆人彼此連合如同一人、聚集攻擊那城。

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

以色列衆支派打發人去、問便雅憫支派的各家說、你們中間怎麼作了這樣的惡事呢。

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is come to pass among you?

現在你們要將基比亞的那些匪徒交出來、我們好治死他們、從以色列中除掉這惡．便雅憫人卻不肯聽從他們弟兄以色列人的話。

Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

便雅憫人從他們的各城裏出來、聚集到了基比亞、要與以色列人打仗。

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

那時便雅憫人、從各城裏點出拿刀的、共有二萬六千．另外還有基比亞人點出七百精兵。

And the children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

在衆軍之中有揀選的七百精兵、都是左手便利的、能用機絃甩石打人、毫髮不差。

Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

便雅憫人之外、點出以色列人拿刀的、共有四十萬、都是戰士。

And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

以色列人就起來、到伯特利去求問神、說、我們中間誰當首先上去與便雅憫人爭戰呢．耶和華說、猶大當先上去。

And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah [shall go up] first.

以色列人早晨起來、對着基比亞安營。

And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

以色列人出來、要與便雅憫人打仗、就在基比亞前擺陣。

And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

便雅憫人就從基比亞出來、當日殺死以色列人二萬二千。

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.

以色列人彼此奮勇、仍在頭一日擺陣的地方又擺陣。

And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

未擺陣之先、以色列人上去、在耶和華面前哭號直到晚上、求問耶和華說、我們再去與我們弟兄便雅憫人打仗可以不可以．耶和華說、可以上去攻擊他們。

And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until even; and they asked of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.

第二日、以色列人就上前攻擊便雅憫人。

And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

便雅憫人也在這日從基比亞出來、與以色列人接戰、又殺死他們一萬八千、都是拿刀的。

And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

以色列衆人就上到伯特利、坐在耶和華面前哭號、當日禁食直到晚上．又在耶和華面前獻燔祭和平安祭。

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

那時、神的約櫃在那裏．亞倫的孫子、以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈、侍立在約櫃前、以色列人問耶和華說、我們當再出去與我們弟兄便雅憫人打仗呢、還是罷兵呢．耶和華說、你們當上去、因爲明日我必將他們交在你們手中。

And the children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.

以色列人在基比亞的四圍、設下伏兵。

And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

第三日、以色列人又上去攻擊便雅憫人、在基比亞前擺陣、與前兩次一樣。

And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

便雅憫人也出來迎敵、就被引誘離城．在田間兩條路上、一通伯特利、一通基比亞、像前兩次、動手殺死以色列人約有三十個。

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

便雅憫人說、他們仍舊敗在我們面前．但以色列人說、我們不如逃跑引誘他們離開城到路上來。

And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city unto the highways.

以色列衆人都起來、在巴力他瑪擺陣．以色列的伏兵、從馬利迦巴埋伏的地方衝上前去。

And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers-in-wait of Israel brake forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.

有以色列人中的一萬精兵、來到基比亞前接戰、勢派甚是兇猛．便雅憫人卻不知道災禍臨近了。

And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was close upon them.

耶和華使以色列人殺敗便雅憫人．那日以色列人殺死便雅憫人二萬五千一百、都是拿刀的。

And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all these drew the sword.

於是便雅憫人知道自己敗了．先是以色列人、因爲靠着在基比亞前所設的伏兵、就在便雅憫人面前詐敗。

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.

伏兵急忙闖進基比亞、用刀殺死全城的人。

And the liers-in-wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

以色列人豫先同伏兵約定在城內放火、以煙氣上騰爲號。

Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

以色列人臨退陣的時候、便雅憫人動手殺死以色列人、約有三十個．就說、他們仍像前次被我們殺敗了。

And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

當煙氣如柱從城中上騰的時候、便雅憫人回頭觀看、見全城的煙氣沖天。

But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up [in smoke] to heaven.

以色列人又轉身回來．便雅憫人就甚驚惶、因爲看見災禍臨到自己了。

And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.

他們在以色列人面前、轉身往曠野逃跑、以色列人在後面追殺．那從各城裏出來的、也都夾攻殺滅他們。

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.

以色列人圍繞便雅憫人、追趕他們、在他們歇腳之處、對着日出之地的基比亞踐踏他們。

They inclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

便雅憫人死了的、有一萬八千．都是勇士。

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.

其餘的人轉身向曠野逃跑、往臨門磐去．以色列人在道路上殺了他們五千人、如拾取遺穗一樣．追到基頓又殺了他們二千人。

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them unto Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men.

那日便雅憫死了的、共有二萬五千人．都是拿刀的勇士。

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.

只剩下六百人、轉身向曠野逃跑、到了臨門磐、就在那裏住了四個月。

But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

以色列人又轉到便雅憫地、將各城的人和牲畜、並一切所遇見的、都用刀殺盡、又放火燒了一切城邑。

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

第21章

以色列人在米斯巴曾起誓說、我們都不將女兒給便雅憫人爲妻。

Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

以色列人來到伯特利坐在神面前直到晚上放聲痛哭、

And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.

說、耶和華以色列的神阿、爲何以色列中有這樣缺了一支派的事呢。

And they said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?

次日清早百姓起來、在那裏築了一座壇、獻燔祭和平安祭。

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

以色列人彼此問說、以色列各支派中、誰沒有同會衆上到耶和華面前來呢．先是以色列人起過大誓說、凡不上米斯巴到耶和華面前來的、必將他治死。

And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto Jehovah? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

以色列人爲他們的弟兄便雅憫後悔、說、如今以色列中絕了一個支派了。

And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

我們旣在耶和華面前起誓說、必不將我們的女兒給便雅憫人爲妻、現在我們當怎樣辦理、使他們剩下的人有妻呢。

How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

又彼此問說、以色列支派中誰沒有上米斯巴到耶和華面前來呢．他們就查出基列雅比沒有一人進營到會衆那裏．

And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

因爲百姓被數的時候、沒有一個基列雅比人在那裏。

For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

會衆就打發一萬二千大勇士、吩咐他們說、你們去用刀將基列雅比人連婦女帶孩子都擊殺了。

And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.

所當行的就是這樣、要將一切男子、和已嫁的女子盡行殺戮．

And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

他們在基列雅比人中、遇見了四百個未嫁的處女、就帶到迦南地的示羅營裏。

And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

全會衆打發人到臨門磐的便雅憫人那裏、向他們說和睦的話。

And the whole congregation sent and spake to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.

當時便雅憫人回來了、以色列人就把所存活基列雅比的女子給他們爲妻、還是不彀。

And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.

百姓爲便雅憫人後悔、因爲耶和華使以色列人缺了一個支派〈原文作使以色列中有了破口〉。

And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

會中的長老說、便雅憫中的女子旣然除滅了、我們當怎樣辦理、使那餘剩的人有妻呢。

Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

又說、便雅憫逃脫的人當有地業、免得以色列中塗抹了一個支派。

And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.

只是我們不能將自己的女兒給他們爲妻、因爲以色列人曾起誓說、有將女兒給便雅憫人爲妻的、必受咒詛。

Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

他們又說、在利波拿以南、伯特利以北、在示劍大路以東的示羅、年年有耶和華的節期。

And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

就吩咐便雅憫人說、你們去、在葡萄園中埋伏、

And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,

若看見示羅的女子出來跳舞、就從葡萄園出來、在示羅的女子中各搶一個爲妻．回便雅憫地去。

and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

他們的父親、或是弟兄若來與我們爭競、我們就說、求你們看我們的情面、施恩給這些人、因我們在爭戰的時候沒有給他們留下女子爲妻。這也不是你們將女子給他們的、若是你們給的、就算有罪。

And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain unto us, that we will say unto them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we took not for each man [of them] his wife in battle, neither did ye give them unto them, else would ye now be guilty.

於是便雅憫人照樣而行、按着他們的數目從跳舞的女子中搶去爲妻、就回自己的地業去、又重修城邑居住。

And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they carried off: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.

當時以色列人離開那裏、各歸本支派、本宗族、本地業去了。

And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

那時以色列中沒有王、各人任意而行。

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

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