撒母耳記下 18
1 達味檢閱了跟隨他的人，給他們委派了千夫長和百夫長，
And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 將軍人分為三隊：一隊由約阿布率領，一隊由責魯特的兒子，約阿布的兄弟阿彼瑟率領，一隊由加特人依泰率領；然後君王對軍人說：「我自己也要同你們一起出征」。
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 軍人回答說：「你萬不可去! 因為若我們逃散，無人對我們介意，既使我們死了一半，也無人對我們介意；但是，你一個卻抵我們一萬，所以，現今你更好留在城內，設法援助我們」。
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 君王對他們說：「你們看看怎樣好，我就怎樣做」。君王站在門旁，軍人整隊出發，或百人一阻，或千人一組﹖
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 君王命令約阿布、阿阿彼瑟和依泰說：「對少年阿貝沙隆，你們應給我留情」。軍人都聽見了君王關於阿貝沙隆，給眾將領所出的命令。
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 軍人出發，來到平原，攻打以色列；在厄弗辣因森林發生了戰事。
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 以色列人在那裏為達味的臣僕打敗，那天死傷慘重，陣亡的有二萬人。
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men].
8 戰爭蔓廷全境，樹林內死的人，比刀劍所殺的人還多。
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 阿貝沙隆正遇上了達味的臣僕，他那時騎著一匹驢子，由大橡樹的叢枝下經過，他的頭髮被橡樹枝纏住，身懸在天地間，所騎的驢子已跑走。
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him went away.
10 有一個人看見，就告訴約阿布說：「我看見阿貝沙隆懸在橡樹上」。
And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 約阿布對那向他報信的人說：「你看見了，為什麼不把他砍倒在地﹖那麼我必賞你十「協刻耳」銀子和一條腰帶」。
And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a girdle.
12 那人對約阿布說：「即使交在我手裏一千「協刻耳」銀子，我也不願伸手加害君王的兒子，因為我們親聽見君王吩咐你、阿彼瑟和依泰說：你們應為了我，保全少年阿貝沙隆。
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none [touch] the young man Absalom.
13 並且，若我冒性命的危險，做錯了事，也決不能瞞過君王，那時你也許不會保護我」。
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me].
14 約阿布說：「不願在你面前這樣耽擱時間! 」他就手裏拿了三根短箭，射在阿貝沙隆心中，那時，他在橡樹上還著。
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 約阿布的十個少年圍上前來，將阿貝沙隆擊斃。
And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 約阿布遂次起號角，軍人便回來，不再追趕以色列人，因為約阿布願顧惜人民。
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 人們取下阿貝沙隆，將他塊在樹林中的一個大坑內，在他上面堆了一大堆石頭。眾以色列人各自回本家去了。
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 阿貝沙隆活著時，在君王山谷就為自己建立一石柱說：「我沒有兒子，來懷念我的名字；」所他給那石柱起了自己的名字。直至今日，人還稱那石柱為阿貝沙隆記念碑。
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
19 匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲對約阿布說：「讓我跑去，將上主對王的仇敵替王伸冤的喜信，稟報給君王」。
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 約阿布卻對他說：「今日你不是報喜的人，改天再去報吧! 因為君王的兒子死了，今日你不可去報信」。
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21 約阿布遂對一個雇士人說：「你去將所見的事報告君王」。雇士人就拜別約阿布跑去信。
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲又對約阿布說：「無論如何，我得跟著雇士人去! 」約阿布答說：「為什麼你要去﹖我兒，為這喜訊你得到什麼報酬! 」
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 他說：「我無論如何要去! 」他答說：「去吧! 」阿希瑪茲就沿著約旦平原的大路跑去，跑過了雇士人。
But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 那時達味正坐在兩門中間，守衛士兵上了門樓頂。守衛兵舉目一望，見一人獨自跑來，
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 就大聲喊叫．君王君王。王說：「若是一人，必有喜訊傳報」。他越來越近了。
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 守衛又看見一個人跑來，守衛兵立刻對看門的大聲喊說：「看，又有一人獨自跑來」。王說：「這也是來報喜信的」。
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 守衛兵說：「我看見前一個人的跑法，像匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲的跑法」。王說：「他是個好人，必是來報喜信的」。
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 阿希瑪茲上前對君王說：「安好! 」就俯首至地，叩拜君王，接著說：「上主，你的天主是可讚美的，因為衪消滅了反抗我主大王的人」。
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 王問說：「少年阿貝沙隆是否無恙﹖」阿希瑪茲答說：「當大王的臣僕約阿布打發你的僕人時，我見有大騷動，但不是什麼事﹖」
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].
30 王說：「你退在一邊，站在那裏」。他便退在一邊，站在那裏。
And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 雇士人也來到了，雇士人說：「有喜信報告給我主大王! 上主今日對一切起來反抗你的的人為你伸了冤」。
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 王問雇士人說：「少年阿貝沙隆是否無恙﹖」雇士人答說：「願我主大王的仇敵，以及凡心懷惡意起來反抗你的人，都相似這個少年人! 」
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].
33 君王一聽這話，不勝悲傷，就上了門樓痛哭；他哭著說：我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒! 我兒阿貝沙隆，巴不得我替你死了，我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒! 」
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
