< 歷代志下 32 >
1 [亞述來犯]這些忠貞之事作完之後,亞述王散乃黑黎布來進攻猶大,包圍一切堅城,企圖攻破,佔為己有。
After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to break into them.
2 希則克雅見散乃黑黎市前來,決意要進攻耶路撒冷,
And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was minded to fight against Jerusalem,
3 便與自己的將領和勇士商議,將城外的水泉杜塞;他們都贊成;
he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the fountains of waters that were outside the city; and they helped him.
4 於是召集許多人,將水泉和通過田間的水渠都杜塞,說:「為什麼讓亞述王來,得到這樣多的水! 」
And there was gathered together much people, and they stopped all the fountains, and the torrent that flows through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?
5 希則克雅遂加強防禦工事,重修所有破裂的城牆,上面建上城樓,城外又築了一道牆,加強達味城的米羅,製造了許多箭矢和盾牌。
And he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and [built] another wall outside, and fortified the Millo of the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
6 然後派了將官率領軍民,將他們集合到城門廣場他自己面前,鼓勵他們說:「
And he set captains of war over the people, and assembled them to him on the open place at the gate of the city, and spoke consolingly to them saying,
7 你們應該勇敢大膽,不要害怕,不要因亞述王和他所統領的大軍而膽怯,因為那與我們同在的比與他同在的,更有能力。
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him:
8 那與他同在的只是血肉的手臂,那與我們同在的卻是天主,我們的天主,他必要協助我們,為我們作戰。」眾人都因猶大王希則克雅這番話而得到鼓勵。[亞述王的侮辱]
with him is an arm of flesh, but with us is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people depended upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
9 此後,亞述王散乃黑黎布派自己的臣僕到耶路撒冷來,─他本人偕全軍駐在拉基士─向猶大王希則克雅,和在耶路撒冷所有的猶大人說:「
After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem (but he himself was before Lachish, and all his power with him), unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,
10 亞述王散乃黑黎布這樣說:你們在耶路撒冷受困,還依靠什麼呢﹖
Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: On what do ye rely that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
11 希則克雅曾對你們說過:雅威我們的天主必要救我們脫離亞述王的手,這豈不是誘惑你們,使你們餓死渴死嗎﹖
Does not Hezekiah persuade you, to give yourselves over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
12 希則克雅豈不是將高丘和鄉壇推翻,且吩咐猶大和耶路撒冷人說:你們應在一個壇前朝拜,單在這上面焚香嗎﹖
Has not the same Hezekiah removed his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
13 難道你們不知道我與我的祖先,對各列邦民所作的事嗎﹖列邦各地的神,是否曾能拯救自己的國土,脫離我的手﹖
Do ye not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the countries? Were the gods of the nations of the countries in any wise able to deliver their country out of my hand?
14 我祖先所消滅的那些邦國的諸神中,有那一個曾能夠拯救自己的百姓,脫離我的手﹖難道你們的神就能拯救你們脫離我的手嗎﹖
Who is there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers have utterly destroyed, that was able to deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?
15 所以現在,不要讓希則克雅這樣欺騙你們,迷惑你們;你們也不要相信他,因為任何一個國家,一個民族的神,都不能拯救自己的百姓,脫離我的手,和我祖先的手;何況你們的神﹖他更不能拯救你們脫離我的手! 」
And now, let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you in this manner, neither yet believe him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, nor out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?
16 散乃黑黎布的臣僕,還說了許多譭謗上主天主,和他僕人希則克雅的話。
And his servants spoke yet more against Jehovah, the [true] God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
17 散乃黑黎布也寫信嘲笑上主以色列的天主,侮辱他說:「就如列邦民族的神沒有拯救自己的百姓脫離我的手,同樣希則克雅的神也不能救自己的百姓脫離我的手。」
And he wrote a letter to rail at Jehovah the God of Israel, and to speak against him saying, As the gods of the nations of the countries have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.
18 隨後,他們用猶大方言向耶路撒冷城牆上的軍民呼喊,想驚嚇他們,令他們恐懼,以便奪取京城。
And they cried with a loud voice in the Jewish [language] to the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to frighten them and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
19 他們論及耶路撒冷的天主,好似論及列邦民族的神一樣,當作了人手的造物。[希則克雅祈禱獲允]
And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of man's hand.
20 希則克雅王與阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知為此巷天祈求呼籲。
And because of this, king Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven.
21 上主便派一位天使進入亞述王的營爭,將所有的兵士、將軍和統帥,予以殲滅,使亞述王含羞回了本國。當他進入自己的神廟時,為他親生的兒子用劍所殺。
And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the princes and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. And he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels made him fall there with the sword.
22 這樣,上主救了希則克雅和耶路撒冷的居民,脫離了亞述王散乃黑黎布和所有敵人的手,使他們四境獲得了安寧。
And Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all, and protected them on every side.
23 眾人就都到耶路撒冷向上主獻上禮品也贈予猶大王希則克雅禮物;從此以後,希則克雅乃為個國所敬重。
And many brought gifts unto Jehovah to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; and he was thenceforth magnified in the sight of all the nations.
24 那時,希則克雅害病要死,他哀求了上主,上主便應允了他,給了他一個異兆。
In those days Hezekiah was sick unto death, and he prayed to Jehovah; and he spoke to him and gave him a sign.
25 但是,希則克雅不但沒有照他所受的恩惠還報,反而心高氣傲,於是上主的怒火降於他和猶大並耶路撒冷。
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit [done] to him, for his heart was lifted up; and there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
26 以後,希則克雅抑制了自己的驕傲,他和耶路撒冷居民都自謙自卑,因此上主的怒氣,在希則克雅生時,沒有向他們發作。[希則克雅一生概略]
And Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
27 希則克雅享盡富貴榮華,建造了府庫,儲藏金銀、寶石、香料、盾牌和各種珍器;
And Hezekiah had very much riches and honour; and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant vessels;
28 修建了倉廩,儲藏五穀、新酒和油;修蓋了棚欄,為養各類牲畜;為羊群修了羊棧;
storehouses also for the increase of corn and new wine and oil, and stalls for all manner of beasts, and [he procured] flocks for the stalls.
29 又畜養了驢,以及許多大小牲畜;天主實在賜給了他極多的財物。
And he provided for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God gave him very much substance.
30 希則克雅堵住基紅泉上邊的水,將水直引到達味城西。希則克雅所作所為無不順利。
And he, Hezekiah, stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31 甚至巴比倫王公大人派使者來見希則克雅,詢問他國內發生的奇事時,天主也讓他自由,藉以考驗他,好知道他心中的一切。
However in [the matter of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.
32 希則克雅其餘的事蹟,以及他的善行,都記載在阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知的神視錄及猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 希則克雅與他的祖先同眠,葬在達味子孫墓地的斜坡上;他死了,全猶大和耶路撒冷居民都為他舉哀致敬;他的兒子默納舍繼位為王。
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest place of the sepulchres of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.