< 以斯拉记 4 >

1 犹大和便雅悯的敌人听说被掳归回的人为耶和华—以色列的 神建造殿宇,
And adversaries of Judah and Benjamin hear that the sons of the captivity are building a temple to Jehovah, God of Israel,
2 就去见所罗巴伯和以色列的族长,对他们说:“请容我们与你们一同建造;因为我们寻求你们的 神,与你们一样。自从亚述王以撒哈顿带我们上这地以来,我们常祭祀 神。”
and they draw nigh unto Zerubbabel, and unto heads of the fathers, and say to them, 'Let us build with you; for, like you, we seek to your God, and we are not sacrificing since the days of Esar-Haddon king of Asshur, who brought us up hither.'
3 但所罗巴伯、耶书亚,和其余以色列的族长对他们说:“我们建造 神的殿与你们无干,我们自己为耶和华—以色列的 神协力建造,是照波斯王塞鲁士所吩咐的。”
And Zerubbabel saith to them, also Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel, 'Not for you, and for us, to build a house to our God; but we ourselves together do build to Jehovah God of Israel, as the king Cyrus, king of Persia, commanded us.'
4 那地的民,就在犹大人建造的时候,使他们的手发软,扰乱他们;
And it cometh to pass, the people of the land are making the hands of the people of Judah feeble, and troubling them in building,
5 从波斯王塞鲁士年间,直到波斯王大流士登基的时候,贿买谋士,要败坏他们的谋算。
and are hiring against them counsellors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even till the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 在亚哈随鲁才登基的时候,上本控告犹大和耶路撒冷的居民。
And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the commencement of his reign, they have written an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem;
7 亚达薛西年间,比施兰、米特利达、他别,和他们的同党上本奏告波斯王亚达薛西。本章是用亚兰文字,亚兰方言。
and in the days of Artaxerxes have Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions written unto Artaxerxes king of Persia, and the writing of the letter is written in Aramaean, and interpreted in Aramaean.
8 省长利宏、书记伸帅要控告耶路撒冷人,也上本奏告亚达薛西王。
Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe have written a letter concerning Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king, thus:
9 省长利宏、书记伸帅,和同党的底拿人、亚法萨提迦人、他毗拉人、亚法撒人、亚基卫人、巴比伦人、书珊迦人、底亥人、以拦人,
Then Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe, and the rest of their companions, Dinaites, and Apharsathchites, Tarpelites, Apharsites, Archevites, Babylonians, Susanchites, (who are Elamites),
10 和尊大的亚斯那巴所迁移、安置在撒马利亚城,并大河西一带地方的人等,
and the rest of the nations that the great and honourable Asnapper removed and set in the city of Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, and at such a time:
11 上奏亚达薛西王说:“河西的臣民云云:
This [is] a copy of a letter that they have sent unto him, unto Artaxerxes the king: 'Thy servants, men beyond the river, and at such a time;
12 王该知道,从王那里上到我们这里的犹大人,已经到耶路撒冷重建这反叛恶劣的城,筑立根基,建造城墙。
Be it known to the king, that the Jews who have come up from thee unto us, have come in to Jerusalem, the rebellious and base city they are building, and the walls they have finished, and the foundations they join.
13 如今王该知道,他们若建造这城,城墙完毕就不再与王进贡,交课,纳税,终久王必受亏损。
'Now, be it known to the king, that if this city be builded, and the walls finished, toll, tribute, and custom they do not give; and at length [to] the kings it doth cause loss.
14 我们既食御盐,不忍见王吃亏,因此奏告于王。
Now, because that the salt of the palace [is] our salt, and the nakedness of the king we have no patience to see, therefore we have sent and made known to the king;
15 请王考察先王的实录,必在其上查知这城是反叛的城,与列王和各省有害;自古以来,其中常有悖逆的事,因此这城曾被拆毁。
so that he doth seek in the book of the records of thy fathers, and thou dost find in the book of the records, and dost know, that this city [is] a rebellious city, and causing loss [to] kings and provinces, and makers of sedition [are] in its midst from the days of old, therefore hath this city been wasted.
16 我们谨奏王知,这城若再建造,城墙完毕,河西之地王就无分了。”
We are making known to the king that, if this city be builded and the walls finished, by this means a portion beyond the river thou hast none.'
17 那时王谕复省长利宏、书记伸帅,和他们的同党,就是住撒马利亚并河西一带地方的人,说:“愿你们平安云云。
An answer hath the king sent unto Rehum counsellor, and Shimshai scribe, and the rest of their companions who are dwelling in Samaria, and the rest beyond the river, 'Peace, and at such a time:
18 你们所上的本,已经明读在我面前。
The letter that ye sent unto us, explained, hath been read before me,
19 我已命人考查,得知此城古来果然背叛列王,其中常有反叛悖逆的事。
and by me a decree hath been made, and they sought, and have found that this city from the days of old against kings is lifting up itself, and rebellion and sedition is made in it,
20 从前耶路撒冷也有大君王统管河西全地,人就给他们进贡,交课,纳税。
and mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, even rulers over all beyond the river, and toll, tribute, and custom is given to them.
21 现在你们要出告示命这些人停工,使这城不得建造,等我降旨。
'Now, make ye a decree to cause these men to cease, and this city is not builded, till by me a decree is made.
22 你们当谨慎,不可迟延,为何容害加重,使王受亏损呢?”
And beware ye of negligence in doing this; why doth the hurt become great to the loss of the kings?'
23 亚达薛西王的上谕读在利宏和书记伸帅,并他们的同党面前,他们就急忙往耶路撒冷去见犹大人,用势力强迫他们停工。
Then from the time that a copy of the letter of king Artaxerxes is read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they have gone in haste to Jerusalem, unto the Jews, and caused them to cease by force and strength;
24 于是,在耶路撒冷 神殿的工程就停止了,直停到波斯王大流士第二年。
then ceased the service of the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem, and it ceased till the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

< 以斯拉记 4 >