民數記 17
1 上主訓示梅瑟說：
The Lord told Moses,
2 「你吩咐以色列子民，叫他們每一家族拿一根棍杖，就是每一個領袖為自己家族拿一根，共十二根棍杖，把各人的名字寫在自己的棍杖上；
“Tell the Israelites to bring twelve walking sticks, one from the leader of each tribe. Write the name of each man on the walking stick,
3 但在肋未的棍杖上，要寫亞郎的名字，因為為肋未的族長亦應有一根棍杖。
and write Aaron's name on the walking stick of the tribe of Levi, because there has to be a walking stick for the head of each tribe.
4 你將這些棍放在會幕內，放在約證前，即在我與你常相會的地方。
Place the walking sticks in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony where I meet with you.
5 誰約證開花，誰就是我所選擇的人；這樣，我就平息了以色列子民在我面前抱怨你們的怨言」。
The walking stick that belongs to the man I choose will sprout buds, and I will put a stop to the Israelites' constant complaints against you.”
6 梅瑟於是告訴了以色列子民；他們所有的領袖都交給了他一根棍杖，每一家族中，每個領袖一根，共十二根棍杖；在他們的棍杖中，也有亞郎的棍杖。
Moses explained this to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a walking stick, one for each of the leaders of their tribes. So there were twelve walking sticks including the one belonging to Aaron.
7 梅瑟就將棍杖放在約幕內，放在上主面前。
Moses placed the walking sticks before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.
8 次日，梅瑟進入約幕內，看，肋未家族的亞郎的棍杖發了芽；不但發了芽，並且也開了花，結了成熟的杏。
The next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's walking stick that represented the tribe of Levi, had sprouted and developed buds, flowered and produced almonds.
9 梅瑟就由上主面前取出所有的棍杖，給以色列子民觀看；以後各人取回了自己的棍杖。
Moses took all the walking sticks from the presence of the Lord and showed them to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man collected his own walking stick.
10 上主對梅瑟說：「收回亞郎的棍杖來，放在約證前；給叛逆之徒當作鑑戒，為平息他們對我發的怨言，免得他們死亡」。
The Lord told Moses, “Put Aaron's walking stick back in front of the Testimony, to be kept there as a reminder to warn anyone who wants to rebel, so that you may stop their complaining against me. Otherwise they'll die.”
11 梅瑟就這樣做了。
Moses did what the Lord ordered him to do.
12 以色列子民對梅瑟申訴說：「看，我們要死了，我們完了! 我們全完了!
Then the Israelites came and told Moses, “Can't you see we're all going to die? We'll be destroyed! We're all going to be killed!
13 凡接近上主會幕的都該死；我們豈不都該死﹖」
Anyone who dares to approach the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to be completely wiped out?”
