< 民數記 24 >
1 巴郎見祝福以色列,為上主所喜悅,就不再像前幾次一樣先去探求預示,只轉面向曠野。
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
2 巴郎一舉目,看見了按支派紮營的以色列人;那時天主的神降在他身上,
When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
3 他遂吟詩說:「貝敖爾的兒子巴郎的神諭,明眼男子的神諭,
and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
4 那聽到天主木話,得見全能者的神視,在沉睡中開了神眼的神視:
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
5 雅各伯,你的帳幕,何其壯觀! 以色列,你的居住,何其美好!
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
6 如擴展的棕林,似河畔的花園,像牆上上主栽種的沉香,似臨水的香柏。
They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
7 英雄由他的 後裔而出,他將治理許多民族;他的君王超越阿加格,他的王國必受舉揚。
Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 領他出埃及的天主,為他有如野牛的角。他要吞滅那敵對他的人民,粉碎他們的骨骸,折斷他們的箭矢。
God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
9 他蹲伏臥下有如雄獅,又似母獅;誰敢令他起立﹖祝福你的,必受祝福;咒罵你的,必受咒罵」。
He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 巴拉克對巴郎大發憤怒,拍手向他說:「我請你來是為咒罵我的仇敵;看,你反而祝福他們,且已三次。
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
11 現在你快回你故鄉去! 我原想豐富地酬謝你,但是,上主奪去了你的酬報」。
Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
12 巴郎回答巴拉克說:「我不是已對你遺來的使者聲明過:
Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
13 既使巴拉克給我滿屋金銀,我也不能違犯上主的命令,任意去行善或作惡,而只能說上主所吩咐的嗎﹖
that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.
14 現在我就要回到我民族那裏去;來,讓我告訴你這民族日後對你的民族所要做事」。
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”
15 於是他吟詩 u金敖爾的兒子巴郎的神諭,明眼男子的神諭,
Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
16 那聽到天主的話,深知至高者的思慮,得見全能者的神視,在沉睡中開了神眼的神諭:
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
17 我看見衪,卻不是在現在;卻不是在近處:由雅各伯將出現一顆星,由以色列將興起一權杖,擊碎摩阿布木頍角,粉碎特一切子民的腦蓋。
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
18 厄東將成為他的屬地,色依爾將成為他的轄境;以色列必行使威權。
Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
19 由雅各伯將山生一位統治仇敵者,衪要除滅依爾的遺民」。
A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
20 以後他望見阿肋瑪克,遂吟詩說:「阿肋瑪克原是眾民之首,但他的結局是永遠的滅亡」。
Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”
21 後又望見刻尼人,遂吟詩說:「你的居住固然鞏固,你的巢穴縱然建在磐石間;
Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
22 但刻尼人仍要被毀滅,到何時亞述才將你擄去﹖」
Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
23 他又吟詩說:「嗚呼! 若天主履行此事,誰還能生存!
Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
24 從基廷有船來,征服亞述,征服厄貝爾;他們也要永遠滅亡」。
Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.