< 歷代志下 18 >
1 [南北聯婚齊戰阿蘭]約沙法特的財產豐富,尊榮很大,且與阿哈布聯婚。
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.
2 幾年內以後,他到撒瑪黎雅去見阿哈布。阿哈布為他和跟從他的隨員,宰殺了許多牛羊,慫恿他去攻打辣摩特基肋阿得。
After some years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.
3 以色列王阿哈布對猶大王約沙法特說:「你願意同我一起去攻打辣摩特基肋阿得嗎﹖」約沙法特回答說:「你我原不分彼此,我的人民就是你的人民;我必與你同去作戰。」[假先知預言勝利]
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”
4 約沙法特對以色列王說:「請你先求問上主的答話! 」
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the LORD’s word.”
5 以色列王於是召集了先知,共四百人,問他們說:「我們應該上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得﹖還是不去呢﹖」他們回答說:「上主,天主必將那地交於大王手中。」
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
6 但是約沙法特說:「這裏就沒有一位上只的先知,我們可以託他求問嗎﹖」
But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we may inquire of him?”
7 以色列王回答約沙法特說:「還有一個人,可以託他求問天主,不過我憎恨他,因為他對我說預言,總不說吉祥話,常說兇言;這人就是依默拉的兒子米加雅。」約沙法特對他說:「請大王別這樣說! 」
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.”
8 於是以色列王召來一個宦官,吩咐他說:「快去將依默拉的兒子米加雅召來! 」
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Get Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.”
9 當時以色列王和猶大王約沙法特在撒瑪黎雅城門前的廣場上,各穿朝服,坐在寶座上;所有的先知在他們面前說預言。
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
10 革納阿納的兒子漆德克雅帶了一些鐵角說:「上主這樣說:你要用這些鐵角刺殺阿蘭人,直到將他們消滅。」
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, “The LORD says, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’”
11 所有的先知也這樣預言說:「你上辣摩特基肋阿得去必會勝利,上主必將那地交於大王手中! 」[米加雅預言戰敗]
All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead, and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
12 那去召米加雅的使者對米加雅說:「看,先知們都異口同聲對君王說吉祥的話,希望你說的話也與他們每人說的話一樣,也是吉祥的話! 」
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”
13 米加雅回答說:「我指著永生的上主起誓:我的天主吩咐什麼,我就說什麼! 」
Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will say what my God says.”
14 米加雅來到王那裏,王就問他說:「米加雅,我們應該上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得,還是不去呢﹖」他回答說:「上去,必然勝利,他們必落在你們手中。」
When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” He said, “Go up, and prosper. They shall be delivered into your hand.”
15 君王對他說:「我應當多少次叫你宣誓,你纔奉上主的名,對我說實話呢﹖」
The king said to him, “How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the LORD’s name?”
16 米加雅答說:「我看見全以色列散在山上,好像沒有牧人的羊群。上主說:這些人既然沒有主人,更好各自平安回家去罷! 」
He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’”
17 以色列王對約沙法特說:「我不是告訴過你,他對我說預言,總不說吉祥話,只說兇言麼﹖」
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
18 米加雅答說:「請你們靜聽上主的話:我見上主坐在寶座上,天上的萬軍侍立在他左右。
Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the LORD’s word: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19 上主問說:誰去唆使以色列王阿哈布上去,叫他陣王在辣摩特基肋阿得呢﹖那時有的說這樣,有的說那樣。
The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way.
20 以後有一個神出來,立在上主面前說:我能唆使他。上主的問他說:用什麼方法﹖
A spirit came out, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “The LORD said to him, ‘How?’
21 那神答說:我去,在他所有先知們口中做虛言的神。上主回答說:你能唆使,也必會成功的,就去照樣辦罷!
“He said, ‘I will go, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “He said, ‘You will entice him, and will prevail also. Go and do so.’
22 現在上主將虛言的神放入你這些先知口中,上主已注定你必遭殃。」
“Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and the LORD has spoken evil concerning you.”
23 那時,革納阿納的兒子漆德克雅前來,打米加雅的臉說:「上主的神由那條路離開了我,而同你說話呢﹖」
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the LORD’s Spirit go from me to speak to you?”
24 米加雅答說:「在你進入最嚴密的室內隱藏的那一天,你就會知道了! 」
Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”
25 以色列王吩咐說:「將米加雅帶去,交給阿孟市長和約阿布王子,
The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
26 說君王這樣吩咐:將這人下在監裏,少給他吃的喝的,等我平安回來。」
and say, ‘The king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.”’”
27 米加雅說:「你如果能平安回來,那麼,上主就沒藉我說過話。」又說:「眾百姓! 你們要聽清楚啊! 」[阿哈布陣亡]
Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” He said, “Listen, you people, all of you!”
28 以色列王遂與猶大王約沙法特上去進攻辣摩特基肋阿得。
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
29 以色列王對約沙法特說:「我要改裝上陣,你可仍穿朝服。」於是以色列王改裝上了陣。
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
30 阿蘭王曾吩咐自己的戰車隊長說:「你們不必與大小將士交戰,只攻打以色列王。」
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Don’t fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel.”
31 戰車隊長一看見約沙法特,便說:「這必是以色列王! 」遂將他包圍,向他進攻;約沙法特連聲叫苦,上主援助了他,天主使敵人遠離了他。
When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel!” Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
33 有人偶然一箭,正射入以色列王的鎧甲與腰帶中,君王對駕車的人說:「轉回,載我離開陣地,我已受傷。」
A certain man drew his bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.”
34 但那天戰事越來越激烈,以色列王仍立在車上,抵抗阿蘭人,直到晚上;日落的時後,王就死了。
The battle increased that day. However, the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the evening; and at about sunset, he died.