士师记 6
1 以色列人又行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，耶和华就把他们交在米甸人手里七年。
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 米甸人压制以色列人；以色列人因为米甸人，就在山中挖穴、挖洞、建造营寨。
The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
3 以色列人每逢撒种之后，米甸人、亚玛力人，和东方人都上来攻打他们，
So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
4 对着他们安营，毁坏土产，直到迦萨，没有给以色列人留下食物，牛、羊、驴也没有留下；
They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
5 因为那些人带着牲畜帐棚来，像蝗虫那样多，人和骆驼无数，都进入国内，毁坏全地。
For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 以色列人因米甸人的缘故，极其穷乏，就呼求耶和华。
Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to the LORD.
7 以色列人因米甸人的缘故，呼求耶和华，
When the children of Israel cried to the LORD because of Midian,
8 耶和华就差遣先知到以色列人那里，对他们说：“耶和华—以色列的 神如此说：‘我曾领你们从埃及上来，出了为奴之家，
The LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
9 救你们脱离埃及人的手，并脱离一切欺压你们之人的手，把他们从你们面前赶出，将他们的地赐给你们’；
I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10 又对你们说：‘我是耶和华—你们的 神。你们住在亚摩利人的地，不可敬畏他们的神。你们竟不听从我的话。’”
I said to you, “I am the LORD your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
11 耶和华的使者到了俄弗拉，坐在亚比以谢族人约阿施的橡树下。约阿施的儿子基甸正在酒榨那里打麦子，为要防备米甸人。
The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 耶和华的使者向基甸显现，对他说：“大能的勇士啊，耶和华与你同在！”
The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
13 基甸说：“主啊，耶和华若与我们同在，我们何至遭遇这一切事呢？我们的列祖不是向我们说‘耶和华领我们从埃及上来’吗？他那样奇妙的作为在哪里呢？现在他却丢弃我们，将我们交在米甸人手里。”
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14 耶和华观看基甸，说：“你靠着你这能力去从米甸人手里拯救以色列人，不是我差遣你去的吗？”
The LORD looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have not I sent you?”
15 基甸说：“主啊，我有何能拯救以色列人呢？我家在玛拿西支派中是至贫穷的。我在我父家是至微小的。”
He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16 耶和华对他说：“我与你同在，你就必击打米甸人，如击打一人一样。”
The LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17 基甸说：“我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你给我一个证据，使我知道与我说话的就是主。
He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
18 求你不要离开这里，等我归回将礼物带来供在你面前。”主说：“我必等你回来。”
Please do not go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19 基甸去预备了一只山羊羔，用一伊法细面做了无酵饼，将肉放在筐内，把汤盛在壶中，带到橡树下，献在使者面前。
Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
20 神的使者吩咐基甸说：“将肉和无酵饼放在这磐石上，把汤倒出来。”他就这样行了。
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
21 耶和华的使者伸出手内的杖，杖头挨了肉和无酵饼，就有火从磐石中出来，烧尽了肉和无酵饼。耶和华的使者也就不见了。
Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight.
22 基甸见他是耶和华的使者，就说：“哀哉！主耶和华啊，我不好了，因为我觌面看见耶和华的使者。”
Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!”
23 耶和华对他说：“你放心，不要惧怕，你必不至死。”
The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Do not be afraid. You shall not die.”
24 于是基甸在那里为耶和华筑了一座坛，起名叫“耶和华沙龙”。（这坛在亚比以谢族的俄弗拉直到如今。）
Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 当那夜，耶和华吩咐基甸说：“你取你父亲的牛来，就是那七岁的第二只牛，并拆毁你父亲为巴力所筑的坛，砍下坛旁的木偶，
That same night, the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
26 在这磐石上整整齐齐地为耶和华—你的 神筑一座坛，将第二只牛献为燔祭，用你所砍下的木偶作柴。”
Then build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
27 基甸就从他仆人中挑了十个人，照着耶和华吩咐他的行了。他因怕父家和本城的人，不敢在白昼行这事，就在夜间行了。
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
28 城里的人清早起来，见巴力的坛拆毁，坛旁的木偶砍下，第二只牛献在新筑的坛上，
When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29 就彼此说：“这事是谁做的呢？”他们访查之后，就说：“这是约阿施的儿子基甸做的。”
They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
30 城里的人对约阿施说：“将你儿子交出来，好治死他；因为他拆毁了巴力的坛，砍下坛旁的木偶。”
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
31 约阿施回答站着攻击他的众人说：“你们是为巴力争论吗？你们要救他吗？谁为他争论，趁早将谁治死！巴力若果是神，有人拆毁他的坛，让他为自己争论吧！”
Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
32 所以当日人称基甸为耶路·巴力，意思说：“他拆毁巴力的坛，让巴力与他争论。”
Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
33 那时，米甸人、亚玛力人，和东方人都聚集过河，在耶斯列平原安营。
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34 耶和华的灵降在基甸身上，他就吹角；亚比以谢族都聚集跟随他。
But the LORD’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
35 他打发人走遍玛拿西地，玛拿西人也聚集跟随他；又打发人去见亚设人、西布伦人、拿弗他利人，他们也都出来与他们会合。
He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 基甸对 神说：“你若果照着所说的话，借我手拯救以色列人，
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
37 我就把一团羊毛放在禾场上：若单是羊毛上有露水，别的地方都是干的，我就知道你必照着所说的话，借我手拯救以色列人。”
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
38 次日早晨基甸起来，见果然是这样；将羊毛挤一挤，从羊毛中拧出满盆的露水来。
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 基甸又对 神说：“求你不要向我发怒，我再说这一次：让我将羊毛再试一次。但愿羊毛是干的，别的地方都有露水。”
Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
40 这夜 神也如此行：独羊毛上是干的，别的地方都有露水。
God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
