< 約書亞記 3 >

1 若蘇厄清早起來,同所有的以色列子民由史廷出發,來到弓約旦河,住在那裏,等候過河。
Then Ioshua rose very earely, and they remoued from Shittim, and came to Iorden, he, and all the children of Israel, and lodged there, before they went ouer.
2 過了三天,官長走遍全營,
And after three dayes the officers went throughout the hoste,
3 吩咐百姓說:「你們一看見上主你們天主的約櫃,和抬約櫃的肋未人,他們便你們所住的地方起身,跟著它走,
And commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Arke of the couenat of the Lord your God, and the Priestes of the Leuites bearing it, ye shall depart from your place, and goe after it.
4 好使你們知道你們應走的路,因為這條路你們從來沒有走過。但在你們與約櫃之間,相隔二千肘,不可走近約櫃。」
Yet there shalbe a space betweene you and it, about two thousande cubites by measure: ye shall not come neere vnto it, that ye may knowe the way, by the which ye shall goe: for ye haue not gone this way in times past.
5 若蘇厄對百姓說:「你們應該自潔,因為上主明天要在你們中間行神蹟。
(Nowe Ioshua had saide vnto the people, Sanctifie your selues: for to morowe the Lord will doe wonders among you)
6 若蘇厄又吩咐司祭說:「你們抬起約櫃,在百姓前過河。」他們遂抬起約櫃,走在百姓前面。
Also Ioshua spake vnto the Priestes, saying, Take vp the Arke of the couenant, and goe ouer before the people: so they tooke vp the Arke of the couenant, and went before the people.
7 上主對若蘇厄說:「今天我要開始在眾以色列眼前顯揚你,使他們知道,我要與你同在,有如過去我與梅瑟同在一樣。
Then the Lord saide vnto Ioshua, This day will I begin to magnifie thee in the sight of all Israel, which shall knowe, that as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee.
8 你吩咐抬約櫃的司祭說:「你們一到約旦河的水邊,就停在約旦河邊。」
Thou shalt therefore command the Priests that beare the Arke of the Couenant, saying, When ye are come to the brinke of the waters of Iorden, ye shall stande still in Iorden.
9 若蘇厄又吩咐以色列子民說:「他們前來靜聽上主你們天主的話。」
Then Ioshua said vnto the children of Israel, Come hither, and heare the wordes of the Lord your God.
10 若蘇厄遂說:「你們由此可知道,永生的天主是在你們中間,衪必由你們面前,將客納罕人、赫特人、希威人、培黎齊人、基爾加士人、阿摩黎人和耶步斯人趕走。
And Ioshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the liuing God is among you, and that he will certainely cast out before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hiuites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Iebusites.
11 看,大地主宰的約櫃要在你們前面渡過約旦河。
Beholde, the Arke of the couenant of the Lord of all the worlde passeth before you into Iorden.
12 現在,你們應從以色列支派中,挑選十二人,每支派一人。
Nowe therefore take from among you twelue men out of the tribes of Israel, out of euery tribe a man.
13 當抬大地的主宰上主約櫃的司祭的腳掌,一踏入約旦河的水,約旦河的水就必中斷,由上流下的水要停,像一道堤。
And assoone as the soles of the feete of the Priestes (that beare the Arke of the Lord God the Lord of all the worlde) shall stay in the waters of Iorden, the waters of Iorden shall be cut off: for the waters that come from aboue, shall stande still vpon an heape.
14 當百姓起程離開帳幕要到約旦河時,司祭抬著約櫃,走在百姓的前面。
Then when the people were departed from their tentes to goe ouer Iorden, the Priestes bearing the Arke of the Couenant, went before people.
15 當抬約櫃的司祭到了約旦河,他們的腳一踏入水邊,──原來約旦河在整個收割期間,水常漲至河岸──
And as they that bare the Arke came vnto Iorden, and the feete of the Priestes that bare the Arke were dipped in the brinke of the water, (for Iorden vseth to fill all his bankes all the time of haruest)
16 水就停住了:由上流下的水像一道堤,停在很遠的地方,遠至匝爾堂附近的阿當城;往下流入的水像一道堤,停在很遠的地方,遠至匝爾堂附近的阿當城;往下流入阿辣巴海,即鹽海的水,已全退去;於是百姓在耶利哥對面過了河。
Then the waters that came downe from aboue, stayed and rose vpon an heape and departed farre from the citie of Adam, that was beside Zaretan: but the waters that came downe towarde the Sea of the wildernes, euen the salt Sea, failed, and were cut off: so the people went right ouer against Iericho.
17 當全以色列人在旱地上渡過時,抬上主約櫃的司祭穩立在約旦河中的旱地上直到全民眾都渡過約旦河。
But the Priestes that bare the Arke of the couenant of the Lord, stoode drie within Iorden readie prepared, and all the Israelites went ouer dry, vntill all the people were gone cleane ouer through Iorden.

< 約書亞記 3 >