< 約書亞記 7 >

1 以色列子民在應毀滅之物上犯了罪;那是因為猶大支派中,則辣黑的曾孫,匝貝狄的孫子,加爾米的兒子阿干,取了應毀滅之物,上主對以色列子民發了大怒。
However, the Israelites had not been faithful regarding those things set apart for the Lord. Achan had taken some of them which made the Lord very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.
2 若蘇厄從耶利哥派人到哈依去,──這城位於貝特耳東方貝特阿文附近──吩咐他們說:「你們上去,偵察那地。」那些人便上去偵察了哈衣。
Joshua sent men from the camp near Jericho to the town of Ai, which is near Bethaven, east of Bethel. “Go and explore the land,” he told them. So they went and explored around Ai.
3 他們回來對若蘇厄說:「不需要眾百姓都上去,只派兩三人去攻打哈依就夠了,不必勞動全體百姓,因為他們人數不多。」
When they returned they told Joshua, “The whole army isn't needed. Two or three thousand men is enough to go and attack Ai. Don't bother sending everyone—there's only a few of them.”
4 這樣百姓中約有三千人上去攻打哈依,不料他們由哈依人面前避跑了。
So around three thousand men went to fight, but they were beaten by the men of Ai and they ran away.
5 哈依人出擊,殺了他們約有三十六人,從城門前追擊他們,直追到舍巴陵,在斜坡上又殺敗了他們,因此百姓的勇氣像水一樣消散了。
The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing the Israelites from the town gate until they were defeated, killing them on their way down. At this the Israelites became afraid, losing all their courage.
6 若蘇厄撕破自己自己的衣服,和以色列的長老,在上主約櫃前俯伏在地,一直到晚上,各在頭上撒上灰土。
Joshua ripped his clothes and fell down with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord until the evening. The elders did likewise, and he and the elders threw dust on their heads.
7 若蘇厄說:「唉,我主上主! 你為什麼領這百姓渡過約旦河,是為將我們交於阿摩黎人手中,讓我們消滅嗎﹖巴不得我們住在約旦河那邊倒好!
Joshua cried, “Why, oh why, Lord God, did you bring us across the Jordan River only to hand us over to the Amorites for them to destroy us? We should have been satisfied to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
8 唉我主! 以色列人既然由敵人前轉身逃跑,我還說什麼呢﹖
Excuse me, Lord, but what can I say now that Israel has turned tail and run away from its enemies?
9 當客納罕人和這地方所有的居民聽說這事,必來圍攻我們,從地上將我們的名字抹去,那時你對你的大名要怎樣辦呢。」
The Canaanites and everyone living in the land will come and surround us and wipe us out so completely that even our name will be forgotten. Then what will happen to your great reputation?”
10 上主對若蘇厄說:「起來,為什麼老是伏在地上﹖
But the Lord replied to Joshua, “Stand up! What do you think you're doing lying on your face like that?
11 以色列犯了罪,違背了我在盟約上給他們規定的,取了應毀滅之物,又偷又騙,並將應毀滅之物放在自己行囊裏。
Israel has sinned and has broken my agreement that I ordered them to keep. They have taken some of the things set apart for me; they have acted dishonestly; they have hidden the stolen items with their own belongings.
12 以色列所以扺擋不了敵人,由敵人前轉身逃跑,是因為他們成了應詛咒,除非你們將那應毀滅之物,由你們中間除掉,我不再與你們同在。
That's why the Israelites can't stand up to their enemies. That's why they turn and run from their enemies, and have themselves become set apart for destruction. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you have removed from among you those things set apart for destruction.
13 起來,叫百姓聖潔自己,吩咐他們說:你們明天要聖潔自己,因為上主以色列的天主這樣說:以色列! 你們中間有應毀滅之物,除非將應毀滅之物,由你們中間除掉,你們決抵擋不住敵人
Get up, and make sure the people are pure. Tell them, ‘Make yourselves pure in readiness for tomorrow, because this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, There are things set apart for me that are hidden among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove all of them.
14 所以明早你們應按支派前來。上主使那支派中籤,這支派的宗族都應前來;上主使那宗族中籤,這家族的宗族都應前來;上主使那家室中籤,這家的男子應一個一個地前來。
In the morning, you will come forward, tribe by tribe. Whichever tribe the Lord chooses will come forward clan by clan. The clan that the Lord chooses will come forward family by family. The family that the Lord chooses will come forward man by man.
15 若藏有應毀滅之物火人中了籤,他和他所有的一切都應用火焚燒,因為他違犯了上主的約定,在以色列中間做了糊塗的事。」
The one who is caught with what was set apart for destruction will be burned by fire, along with all that is his, for he broke the Lord's agreement and committed a terrible act in Israel.’”
16 若蘇厄清早起來,命以色列按著支派一一前來,猶大支派中了籤。
Joshua got up early the next morning and called Israel forward, tribe by tribe.
17 他叫猶大支派前來,則辣黑宗族中了籤;遂叫則辣黑宗族前來,則貝狄家室前來,宗族中了籤;
The tribe of Judah was chosen. The clans of Judah came forward and the Zerahites were chosen. The clan of Zerahites came forward, and the family of Zabdi was chosen.
18 此後,又叫他的家室前來,叫男丁一個一個地前來,阿干中了籤──阿干是加爾米的兒子,加爾米是匝貝狄的兒子,匝貝狄是則辣黑的兒子,屬猶大支派。
The family of Zabdi came forward, and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.
19 若蘇厄遂對阿干說:「我兒,你應歸光榮於上主,以色列的天主,向衪認罪。請告訴我,你作了什麼事,不要隱瞞我。」
Joshua said to Achan, “My son, honor the Lord, the God of Israel, and confess. Tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me.”
20 阿干回答若蘇厄說:「我實在得罪了上主,以色列的天主。我是如此這般作的;
“It's true!” Achan replied. “I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did.
21 我在戰利品中,見了一件美麗的史納爾外氅,二百「協刻耳」銀子,一條重五十「協刻耳」的金條,我因貪愛便拿走了,現在藏在我帳幕中的地下,銀子在這些東西的下面。」
Among the plunder I saw a beautiful cloak from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I really wanted them, so I took them. They're hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver buried deeper.”
22 若蘇厄即刻派差役跑到他帳幕裏面,果然那些東西在帳幕內藏著,銀子在下面。
Joshua sent men who ran over to search the tent. They found what had been hidden, with the silver buried deeper.
23 差役便從帳幕裏拿出來,帶到若蘇厄和所有以色列子民那裏,擺在上主面前。
The men took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. There they spread them out before the Lord.
24 若蘇厄和所有以色列人,將則辣黑的曾孫阿干和那銀子、外氅、金條,並他的子女、牛、驢、羊、帳幕,以及他所有的一切,都帶到阿苛爾山谷。
Then Joshua, with all the Israelites, took Achan, the son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, and the bar of gold, together with his sons and daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, and his tent—everything he had—and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25 若蘇厄說:「你為什麼給我們招來禍患﹖今天上主必要叫你招禍。」以色列民眾於是用石頭將他砸死。眾人用石頭砸死以後,將一切用火燒了。
Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why did you bring so much trouble down on us? Today the Lord will bring trouble down on you.” All the Israelites stoned Achan. Then when they had stoned the rest they burned their bodies.
26 以後,又在阿干身上堆上了一大堆石頭,這堆石頭一直存到今日;上主於是撤回了盛怒,因此那地方直到今日叫做阿苛爾山谷。
They set up a great pile of stones over him which remains to this day. The Lord was no longer angry. This is why the place was called the Valley of Achor ever since.

< 約書亞記 7 >