< 撒母耳記下 15 >
1 這事以後,阿貝沙隆準備了車輛和駿馬,並叫五十個為他開道。
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 阿貝沙隆常清早起來,站在進城門的大路旁;凡有爭訟,要到君王前去要裁判的人,阿貝沙隆就把他叫到自己跟前來問說:「你是那一城裏的人﹖」他答說:「你僕人是以色列某支派的人」。
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3 阿貝沙隆就向他說:「看你的案件是正直有理的,但是君王沒有派人來聽取你的案件」。
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4 阿貝沙隆又接著說:「唉! 誰若立我作了國家的判官,凡是有訴和案件的,來到我這裏,我必使他獲得公正的裁判」。
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 若有人前來叩拜他,他就伸手將他抱住,與他親吻。
And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
6 凡是要到君王前去告狀的以色列人,阿貝沙隆總是這樣對待他們;如此他獲得了以色列人的心。
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 四年以後,阿貝沙隆向君王說:「我要求大王讓我去赫貝龍,向上主所許的願,
And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.
8 因為你的僕人住在阿蘭革叔爾時,曾願許說:若上主領我再回耶路撒冷,我要在赫貝龍崇拜上主」。
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.
9 君王向他說:「你平安去吧! 」阿貝沙隆便往赫貝龍去了。
And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10 阿貝沙隆打發特務到以色列各支派說:「你們一聽見號聲,就喊說:阿貝沙隆在赫貝龍為王了! 」
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.
11 由耶路撒冷與阿貝沙隆同來的,還有二百人,他們因為被請,就好心好意的來了,對於事情的真相,卻一點不知道。
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.
12 當阿貝沙隆祭獻時,就派人將達味的參謀,基羅人阿希托費耳由他的本城基羅請來參與祭祀。這樣,叛亂就更形擴大,隨從阿貝沙隆的民眾也逐漸加多。
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 有報信的人來到達味前說:「以色列人的心都歸向阿貝沙隆了」。
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14 達味就對所有跟他在耶路撒冷的臣僕說:「我們趕快逃跑,不然,我們就來不及逃避阿貝沙隆了。你們趕快上路,免得他忽然趕到,殘害我們,用刀屠殺全城的人」。
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15 王的臣僕向君王說:「凡我主大王所決定的,你的臣僕必都照辦」。
And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.
16 君王帶著全家徒步出走,只留下十個嬪妃看守王宮。
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.
17 君王徒步前行,他的軍民都跟著他;到了最後的住宅區,君王站住了。
And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.
18 所有的軍民都由他身邊走過,所有的革勒提人和培肋提人,還有從加特跟隨依泰來的六百人,也都由君王面前過去。
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 君王逐向加特人依泰說:「你m口我們一起出走﹖你回去協同新王國吧! 因為你是個離鄉背井的,流徙在外的僑民。
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to thine own place.
20 你昨天來了,今天我就要你同我們一起漂流嗎﹖我還不知道我要往哪裏去﹖你領著你的兄弟們一起回去吧! 願上主仁慈忠誠對待你! 」
Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.
21 依泰回答君王說:「上主永在! 我主大王萬歲! 在我主大王所在的地方,無論生死,你的僕人也必在那裏! 」
And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 達味向依泰說:「好,你過去吧! 」加特人依泰與他率領的人民,和他全家也都過去了。
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 人民過去時,遍地一片哭聲;君王停在克德龍谷中,人民在他面前過去,向曠野的路上走去。
And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 匝多克和所有的肋未人抬著天主的結約之櫃來了,他們把天主的約櫃放在厄貝雅塔爾面前,等由城中出來的人民全都走過。
And, lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 君王對匝多克說:「你將天主的約櫃抬回城去,放在原處! 若我在上主眼中蒙恩,衪必會領我回來,再能見約櫃和衪的聖所。
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
26 但若上主說:我不喜歡你,看,我在這裏,衪看著怎樣好,就怎樣處置 吧! 」
but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 君王又向匝多克司祭「看,你 和厄貝雅塔爾可以平安回城,你的兒子阿希瑪茲和厄貝雅塔爾的兒子約納堂,你們的兩個兒子,也應隨你們回去。
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou [not] a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 我願在曠野中的渡口暫並住下,等侯你們來給我報告消息」。
See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾抬著天主的約櫃回了耶路撒冷,且住在那裏。
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.
30 以後,達味上了橄欖山:一邊上,一邊哭,蒙著頭赤著腳;隨著人民也都蒙著頭,哭著上山。
And David went up by the ascent of the [mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 忽有人報告達味說:「阿希托費耳也跟隨了阿貝沙隆,雜在叛黨中」。 根遂說:「上主,我求你使阿希托費耳的計謀轉為愚策」。
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32 達味一到了山頂,敬拜天主的地方,見他的朋友阿爾基人胡瑟穿著撕裂的衣服,頭上頂灰,出來迎接他。
And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.
And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me:
34 但你若回去,向阿貝沙隆說:大王,我願作你的僕人,先我是你父親的人,如今我作你的僕人;這樣你反能為我破壞阿希托費耳的計謀。
but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
35 在那裏同你一起的,還有司祭匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾司祭。
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 與他們在一起的,還有他們的兩個兒子,匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲和厄貝雅塔爾的兒子約納堂,託他們把你們所聽到的傳報給我」。
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.
37 達味的朋友胡瑟就回了城,同時也到了耶路撒冷。
So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.