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：「
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
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。」
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
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 when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were 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。
So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow 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。
He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because 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
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
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!
When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to 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!
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign 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 replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 眾樹又對無花果樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come 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 replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 眾樹又對葡萄樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come 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﹖
But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 於是眾樹對荊棘說：請你來作我們的君王!
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come 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。
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume 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 if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
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 risked his life to deliver you from 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。─
but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders 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 you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he 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, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume 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
Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 阿彼默肋客治理以色列三年。
After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for 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，
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
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。
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
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。
The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to 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；
Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence 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 after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they 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﹖
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
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! 」
If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your 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，
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
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。
So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 所以現在你和跟隨你的人夜裏要起來，埋伏在田野間，
Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
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 in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
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。
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in 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，
Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
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! 」
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
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。」
Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
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! 」
“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
39 加阿耳就在舍根公民之前出去，攻打阿彼默肋客；
So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against 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。
but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to 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
Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 第二天早晨，人民到田野裏去，有人告訴了阿彼默肋客，
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to 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；
So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked 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。
Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
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 all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished 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。
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47 有人告訴阿彼默肋客，人民都聚集在舍根碉堡內。
And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
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! 」
he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
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
So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, 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 Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured 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 inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went 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，
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on 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。
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing 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。
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, 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 Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
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；
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
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 God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
