< 約書亞記 23 >
1 以後上主使以色列同四周敵人平安無事,這樣過弓很長的時間,若蘇厄已年老,上了年紀,
After many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
2 便將全以色列人,他們的長老、首領、判官和官長召來,對他們說:「我已年老,上了年紀
Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, “I am old and well advanced in years.
3 你們都親眼見了上主你們的天主,為了你們對有的民族所做的一切;因為是上你們的天主在替你們作戰。
You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.
4 你們看,我己用抽籤方式,將由約旦河起,直到日落之處的大海之間,所消滅和所剩下的各民族的土地,按照你們各支派,都分了你們作產業。
Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea towards the going down of the sun.
5 上主你們的天主入將他們由你們面前趕走,使他們離開你們,叫你們承受他們的土地,一如上主你們的天主向你們所應許的。
The LORD your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as the LORD your God spoke to you.
6 因此,你們要更忠實謹守奉行梅瑟法律書上所記載的一切,不可偏左偏右,
“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;
7 不可與你們中間的異族往來,不可提起你們的神名,不可指著他們起誓,不可事奉那些神袛,也不可在你們面前跪拜。
that you not come amongst these nations, these that remain amongst you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
8 反之,你們應依照你們直到到今天所行的,依附上主你們的天主,
but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
9 因為是上主從你們中間趕走了那些強大的異族,直到今天,沒有人能抵抗你們,
“For the LORD has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.
10 你們一人能趕走千人,是因為上主你們的天主,照衪所應許的,親自為你們作戰。
One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.
12 如果你們背棄上主,依戀你們中間所剩餘的異族,同他們結婚,互相往來,
“But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain amongst you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;
13 你們就當知道,上主你們的天主必不從你們面前,趕走這個異族,你們必將成為你們的羅網和陷阱,打你們腰的鞭子,扎你們眼的芒刺,直到從上主你們的天主所賜給你們的這福地上,全被消滅。
know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
14 看我今天就要走世人必走的路,你們要一心一意地承認,上主你們的天主應許所賜給你們的話,沒有一句落空。
“Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.
15 上主你們的天主對你們所應許的一切幸福,怎樣實行在你們身上,直到將你們從上主你們天主所賜與你們的這土地上消滅。
It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which the LORD your God spoke to you, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you,
16 如果你們違犯上主你們的天主與你們訂立的盟約,去事奉敬其他的神,上主必向你們大發忿怒,使你們迅速從你們的福地上消滅。
when you disobey the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the LORD’s anger will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.”