士師記 9
1 耶魯巴耳的兒子阿彼默肋客到舍根去見他的母舅們，對他們和他母家的人說：「
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
2 請你們問一問舍根所有的公民：是耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人治理你們好呢﹖還是一個人治理你們好呢﹖你們還要記得：我是你們的骨肉。」
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 他的母舅們就替他把這些話傳給舍根所有的公民；他們的心都傾向阿彼默肋客，因為他們說：「他確是我們的兄弟! 」
And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4 他們遂從巴耳貝黎特廟裏拿了七十塊銀錢給他，阿彼默肋客就用這些錢僱了一些放蕩無賴之徒跟隨他。
And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
5 他回到敖弗辣他父親家裏，在一塊石頭上把自己的兄弟，即耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人都殺了，只剩下耶魯巴耳的幼子約堂，因為他藏了起來。
And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6 於是舍根所有的公民和貝特米羅人都集合起來，在舍根的紀念碑前那棵橡樹下，立阿彼默肋客為王。約堂講寓言
And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 有人將此事告訴了約堂，約堂就上了革黎斤山頂，站在那裏，高聲向他們喊說：「舍根公民，請你們聽我，望天主也聽你們!
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8 有一次，眾樹要去立一樹為他們的君王，就對橄欖樹說：請你作我們的君王!
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.
9 橄欖樹回答說：人用我的油來敬禮神，尊崇人，難道要我放棄出油，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
10 眾樹又對無花果樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11 無花果樹回答說：難道要我捨掉我的甘甜和美果，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
12 眾樹又對葡萄樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 葡萄樹就回答說：我的新酒悅樂神人，難道要我放棄出產，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?
14 於是眾樹對荊棘說：請你來作我們的君王!
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15 荊棘對樹木答道：若你們真願立我作你們的君王，來罷! 躲在我的蔭下；否則，火必從荊棘冒出，吞滅黎巴嫩的香柏木。
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16 現在，你們立阿彼默肋客為王，如果你們認為作的真誠正直，如果你們認為是善待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族，如果你們認為你們這樣行事，對得起他一手所立的功勳，─
Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands
17 因為原是我父親為你們作戰而捨生，把你們由米德楊手中救出來。
(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18 然而你們今日卻來反對我父親的家族，在一塊石頭上殺了他的兒子七十人，立他婢女的兒子阿彼默肋客為舍根公民的君王，因為他是你們的弟兄。─
and ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
19 今天如果你們認為以真誠正直對待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族，那麼，你們就因阿彼默肋客而喜樂罷! 希望他有因你們而喜樂!
if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 不然，願火從阿彼默肋客發出，吞滅舍根的公民和貝特米羅! 也願火從舍根的公民和貝特米羅發出，吞滅阿彼默肋客! 」
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21 以後約堂出走，逃到貝爾去了，住在那裏，遠避他的哥哥阿彼默肋客。舍根叛變
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 阿彼默肋客治理以色列三年。
And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23 天主使惡神降在阿彼默肋客和舍根公民中間，舍根的公民便背叛了阿彼默肋客，
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 要報復對耶魯巴耳七十個兒子的罪行，將他們的血歸於他們的兄弟阿彼默肋客，因為是他殺害了他們；也歸於舍根的公民，因為他們曾鼓勵他殺害自己的兄弟。
that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
25 舍根公民為反抗他，就在山頂上設下伏兵，搶掠所有路過他們那裏的人：有人將這事報告給阿彼默肋客。
And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26 那時厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他同族的人遷徙到舍根，舍根的居民竟信任了他；
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 他們便到田間收葡萄，榨酒，開慶祝會，到他們的神廟裏又吃又喝，也咒罵了阿彼默肋客。
And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 厄貝得的兒子加阿耳說：「阿彼默肋客是誰，我們舍根人是誰，我們竟該服侍他﹖豈不是耶魯巴耳的兒子和官員則步耳，該服侍舍根的始祖哈摩爾的後人嗎﹖我們為什麼要服侍阿彼默肋客﹖
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
29 恨不得這百姓交於我手中，好把阿彼默肋客除掉。我要對阿彼默肋客說：增派你的軍隊出征罷! 」
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30 則步耳城尉聽到厄貝得的兒子加阿耳的話，大發忿怒，
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 遂打發使者去見在阿魯瑪的阿彼默肋客說：「看，厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他的同族人，來到舍根，挑唆全城反叛你。
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.
32 所以現在你和跟隨你的人夜裏要起來，埋伏在田野間，
Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33 明天早晨太陽一出來，就攻城。當他和隨從他的人出來抵抗你時，你看看怎樣好，就怎樣對付他。」
and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34 阿彼默肋客遂同所有跟隨他的人夜間起身，分作四隊，對著舍根設下埋伏。
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 當厄貝得的兒子加阿耳出來，站在城門口時，阿彼默肋客便與隨從他的人從埋伏的地方出來，
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
36 加阿耳一見這些人就對則步耳說：「看，有人從山頂下來! 」則步耳回答他說：「你看見山影，誤以為是人! 」
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37 加阿耳接著又說：「看，有人從高地出來，又有一隊沿巫士橡樹道上前來。」
And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
38 則步耳對他說：「現在你的口在那裏﹖不是你曾說過：阿彼默肋客是誰，要我們服侍他﹖這不是你所輕視的人嗎﹖現在請你出去攻打他罷! 」
Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
39 加阿耳就在舍根公民之前出去，攻打阿彼默肋客；
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40 a可是阿彼默肋客一追擊他，他就在他面前逃跑了；直到城門有許多傷亡的人。
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.
41 以後阿彼默肋客回到阿魯瑪；則步耳將加阿耳和他的同族人趕走，禁止他們住在舍根。舍根滅亡
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 第二天早晨，人民到田野裏去，有人告訴了阿彼默肋客，
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43 他於是把自己的人分作三隊，叫他們埋伏在田間；他自己窺望，當他看見百姓從城裏出來，就衝過去，擊殺了他們；
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44 當時阿彼默肋客與跟隨他的軍隊衝過去，把住城門口，而另兩隊衝向田間的眾人，殺了他們。
And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
45 那一天，阿彼默肋客整天攻打那城，把城攻下，殺了城中的居民，把城拆毀，撒上鹽。
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 舍根碉堡裏的人聽見此事，就躲到巴耳貝黎特廟裏的地穴裏。
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47 有人告訴阿彼默肋客，人民都聚集在舍根碉堡內。
And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48 阿彼默肋客和跟隨他的人就上了匝耳孟山；阿彼默肋客手裏拿著一把斧頭，砍了一根樹枝，拿起來放在肩上，然後向跟隨他的人說：「你們看我作什麼，你們也趕快照樣去作! 」
And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 於是眾人都各砍了根樹枝，隨著阿彼默肋客把樹枝堆在地穴上，在地穴上點了火，於是舍根碉堡裏所有的人都死了，男女約有一千人。阿彼默肋客的結局
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 此後阿彼默肋客往特貝茲去，安營攻打特貝茲，也佔據了那城。
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 在那城中有一座堅固的城堡，該城所有的公民，男男女女都跑到那裏躲避，關上門，上到碉堡頂上。
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.
52 阿彼默肋客來到碉堡前攻打；當他走近碉堡門口，要放火焚燒時，
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 有一個婦人拋下了一塊磨石，正落在阿彼默肋客頭上，打碎了他的頭蓋骨。
And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and brake his skull.
54 他急忙喊叫替他執戟的少年，向他說：「拔出你的刀殺了我罷! 免得人講論我說：一個女子殺了他! 」那少年就用刀刺死了他。
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55 以色列人一見阿彼默肋客死了，各回了本家。
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56 於是天主報復了阿彼默肋客對他父親所行的惡事，因為他殺了自己的七十個兄弟；
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;
57 並且天主也把舍根人的一切惡行歸在他們自己的頭上：這樣耶魯巴耳的兒子約堂的詛咒，也應驗在他們身上。
and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
