约书亚记 9
1 约旦河西，住山地、高原，并对着黎巴嫩山沿大海一带的诸王，就是赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的诸王，听见这事，
And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof; ]
2 就都聚集，同心合意地要与约书亚和以色列人争战。
That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 基遍的居民听见约书亚向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 就设诡计，假充使者，拿旧口袋和破裂缝补的旧皮酒袋驮在驴上，
They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 将补过的旧鞋穿在脚上，把旧衣服穿在身上；他们所带的饼都是干的，长了霉了。
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.
6 他们到吉甲营中见约书亚，对他和以色列人说：“我们是从远方来的，现在求你与我们立约。”
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 以色列人对这些希未人说：“只怕你们是住在我们中间的；若是这样，怎能和你们立约呢？”
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的仆人。”约书亚问他们说：“你们是什么人？是从哪里来的？”
And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?
9 他们回答说：“仆人从极远之地而来，是因听见耶和华—你 神的名声和他在埃及所行的一切事，
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 并他向约旦河东的两个亚摩利王，就是希实本王西宏和在亚斯他录的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.
11 我们的长老和我们那地的一切居民对我们说：‘你们手里要带着路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，对他们说：我们是你们的仆人；现在求你们与我们立约。’
Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 我们出来要往你们这里来的日子，从家里带出来的这饼还是热的；看哪，现在都干了，长了霉了。
This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 这皮酒袋，我们盛酒的时候还是新的；看哪，现在已经破裂。我们这衣服和鞋，因为道路甚远，也都穿旧了。”
And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 以色列人受了他们些食物，并没有求问耶和华。
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.
15 于是约书亚与他们讲和，与他们立约，容他们活着；会众的首领也向他们起誓。
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 以色列人与他们立约之后，过了三天才听见他们是近邻，住在以色列人中间的。
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them.
17 以色列人起行，第三天到了他们的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比录、基列·耶琳。
And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.
18 因为会众的首领已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，所以以色列人不击杀他们；全会众就向首领发怨言。
And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 众首领对全会众说：“我们已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，现在我们不能害他们。
But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 我们要如此待他们，容他们活着，免得有忿怒因我们所起的誓临到我们身上。”
This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 首领又对会众说：“要容他们活着。”于是他们为全会众作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首领对他们所说的话。
And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 约书亚召了他们来，对他们说：“为什么欺哄我们说‘我们离你们甚远’呢？其实你们是住在我们中间。
And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23 现在你们是被咒诅的！你们中间的人必断不了作奴仆，为我 神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。”
Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 他们回答约书亚说：“因为有人实在告诉你的仆人，耶和华—你的 神曾吩咐他的仆人摩西，把这全地赐给你们，并在你们面前灭绝这地的一切居民，所以我们为你们的缘故甚怕丧命，就行了这事。
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 现在我们在你手中，你以怎样待我们为善为正，就怎样做吧！”
And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 于是约书亚这样待他们，救他们脱离以色列人的手，以色列人就没有杀他们。
And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 当日约书亚使他们在耶和华所要选择的地方，为会众和耶和华的坛作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。
And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
