士师记 9
1 耶路·巴力的儿子亚比米勒到了示剑见他的众母舅，对他们和他外祖全家的人说：
And Abimelech son of Jerobaal went to Sychem to his mother's brethren; and he spoke to them and to all the kindred of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 “请你们问示剑的众人说，是耶路·巴力的众子七十人都管理你们好呢？还是一人管理你们好呢？你们又要记念我是你们的骨肉。”
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Sychem, saying, Which [is] better for you, that seventy men, even all the sons of Jerobaal, should reign over you, or that one man should reign over you? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 他的众母舅便将这一切话为他说给示剑人听，示剑人的心就归向亚比米勒。他们说：“他原是我们的弟兄”；
And his mother's brethren spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Sychem all these words; and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
4 就从巴力·比利土的庙中取了七十舍客勒银子给亚比米勒；亚比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟随他。
And they gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men, and they went after him.
5 他往俄弗拉到他父亲的家，将他弟兄、耶路·巴力的众子七十人都杀在一块磐石上；只剩下耶路·巴力的小儿子约坦，因为他躲藏了。
And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and killed his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself.
6 示剑人和米罗人都一同聚集，往示剑橡树旁的柱子那里，立亚比米勒为王。
And all the men of Sicima, and all the house of Bethmaalo, were gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak of Sedition, which was at Sicima.
7 有人将这事告诉约坦，他就去站在基利心山顶上，向众人大声喊叫说：“示剑人哪，你们要听我的话， 神也就听你们的话。
And it was reported to Joatham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Garizin, and lifted up his voice, and wept, and said to them, Hear me, you men of Sicima, and God shall hear you.
8 有一时，树木要膏一树为王，管理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你作我们的王。’
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive, Reign over us.
9 橄榄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
But the olives said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which men shall glorify God, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 树木对无花果树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come, reign over us.
11 无花果树回答说：‘我岂肯止住所结甜美的果子，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
But the fig tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness an my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 树木对葡萄树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.
13 葡萄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住使神和人喜乐的新酒，飘摇在众树之上呢？’
And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 众树对荆棘说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come you and [reign] over us.
15 荆棘回答说：‘你们若诚诚实实地膏我为王，就要投在我的荫下；不然，愿火从荆棘里出来，烧灭黎巴嫩的香柏树。’
And the bramble said to the trees, If you in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.
16 “现在你们立亚比米勒为王，若按诚实正直善待耶路·巴力和他的全家，这就是酬他的劳。
And now, if you have done it in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if you have wrought well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and if you have done to him according to the reward of his hand,
17 从前我父冒死为你们争战，救了你们脱离米甸人的手。
as my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy, and delivered you out of the hand of Madiam;
18 你们如今起来攻击我的父家，将他众子七十人杀在一块磐石上，又立他婢女所生的儿子亚比米勒为示剑人的王；他原是你们的弟兄。
and you are risen up this day against the house of my father, and have slain his sons, being seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his bondwoman king over the men of Sicima, because he is your brother:
19 你们如今若按诚实正直待耶路·巴力和他的家，就可因亚比米勒得欢乐，他也可因你们得欢乐；
if then you have done truly and faithfully with Jerobaal, and with his house this day, rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice over you:
20 不然，愿火从亚比米勒发出，烧灭示剑人和米罗众人，又愿火从示剑人和米罗人中出来，烧灭亚比米勒。”
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Sicima, and the house of Bethmaalo; and let fire come out from the men of Sicima and from the house of Bethmaalo, and devour Abimelech.
21 约坦因怕他弟兄亚比米勒，就逃跑，来到比珥，住在那里。
And Joatham fled, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and lived there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.
22 亚比米勒管理以色列人三年。
And Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
23 神使恶魔降在亚比米勒和示剑人中间，示剑人就以诡诈待亚比米勒。
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:
24 这是要叫耶路·巴力七十个儿子所受的残害归与他们的哥哥亚比米勒，又叫那流他们血的罪归与帮助他杀弟兄的示剑人。
to bring the injury done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and to lay their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the men of Sicima, because they strengthened his hands to kill his brethren.
25 示剑人在山顶上设埋伏，等候亚比米勒。凡从他们那里经过的人，他们就抢夺。有人将这事告诉亚比米勒。
And the men of Sicima set liers in wait against him on the top of the mountains, and robbed every one who passed by them on the way; and it was reported to the king Abimelech.
26 以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄来到示剑，示剑人都信靠他。
And Gaal son of Jobel came, and his brethren, and passed by Sicima, and the men of Sicima trusted in him.
27 示剑人出城到田间去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，设摆筵宴，进他们神的庙中吃喝，咒诅亚比米勒。
And they went out into the field, and gathered their grapes, and trod them, and made merry; and they brought [the grapes] into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 以别的儿子迦勒说：“亚比米勒是谁？示剑是谁？使我们服事他呢？他不是耶路·巴力的儿子吗？他的帮手不是西布勒吗？你们可以服事示剑的父亲哈抹的后裔。我们为何服事亚比米勒呢？
And Gaal the son of Jobel said, Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Sychem, that we should serve him? [Is he] not the son of Jerobaal, and [is] not Zebul his steward, his servant with the son of Emmor the father of Sychem? and why should we serve him?
29 惟愿这民归我的手下，我就除掉亚比米勒。”迦勒又对亚比米勒说：“增添你的军兵出来吧。”
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply your host, and come out.
30 邑宰西布勒听见以别的儿子迦勒的话，就发怒，
And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.
31 悄悄地打发人去见亚比米勒，说：“以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示剑，煽惑城中的民攻击你。
And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Jobel and his brethren are come to Sychem; and behold, they have besieged the city against you.
32 现在你和跟随你的人今夜起来，在田间埋伏。
And now rise up by night, you and the people with you, and lay wait in the field.
33 到早晨太阳一出，你就起来闯城。迦勒和跟随他的人出来攻击你的时候，你便向他们见机而做。”
And it shall come to pass in the morning at sunrising, you shall rise up early and draw toward the city; and behold, he and the people with him will come forth against you, and you shall do to him according to your power.
34 于是，亚比米勒和跟随他的众人夜间起来，分作四队，埋伏等候示剑人。
And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.
35 以别的儿子迦勒出去，站在城门口。亚比米勒和跟随他的人从埋伏之处起来。
And Gaal the son of Jobel went forth, and stood by the door of the gate of the city: and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from the ambuscade.
36 迦勒看见那些人，就对西布勒说：“看哪，有人从山顶上下来了。”西布勒说：“你看见山的影子，以为是人。”
And Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, a people comes down from the top of the mountains: and Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as men.
37 迦勒又说：“看哪，有人从高处下来，又有一队从米恶尼尼橡树的路上而来。”
And Gaal continued to speak and said, Behold, a people comes down westward from the part bordering on the middle of the land, and another company comes by the way of Helon Maonenim.
38 西布勒对他说：“你曾说，亚比米勒是谁，叫我们服事他？你所夸的口在哪里呢？这不是你所藐视的民吗？你现在出去，与他们交战吧！”
And Zebul said to him, And where is your mouth as you spoke, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? [Is] not this the people whom you despised? go forth now, and set the battle in array against him.
39 于是迦勒率领示剑人出去，与亚比米勒交战。
And Gaal went forth before the men of Sychem, and set the battle in array against Abimelech.
40 亚比米勒追赶迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有许多受伤仆倒的，直到城门。
And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him; and many fell down slain as far as the door of the gate.
41 亚比米勒住在亚鲁玛。西布勒赶出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他们住在示剑。
And Abimelech entered into Arema, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so that they should not dwell in Sychem.
42 次日，民出到田间，有人告诉亚比米勒；
And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and [one] brought word to Abimelech.
43 他就把他的人分作三队，埋伏在田间，看见示剑人从城里出来，就起来击杀他们。
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and formed an ambush in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people went forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and struck them.
44 亚比米勒和跟随他的一队向前闯去，站在城门口；那两队直闯到田间，击杀了众人。
And Abimelech and the chiefs of companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood by the door of the gate of the city; and the two [other] companies rushed forward upon all that were in the field, and struck them.
45 亚比米勒整天攻打城，将城夺取，杀了其中的居民，将城拆毁，撒上了盐。
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 示剑楼的人听见了，就躲入巴力·比利土庙的卫所。
And all the men of the tower of Sychem heard, and came to the gathering of Baethel-berith.
47 有人告诉亚比米勒说：“示剑楼的人都聚在一处。”
And it was reported to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Sychem were gathered together.
48 亚比米勒和跟随他的人就都上撒们山。亚比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根树枝，扛在肩上，对跟随他的人说：“你们看我所行的，也当赶紧照样行。”
And Abimelech went up to the mount of Selmon, and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch of a tree, and took it, and laid it on his shoulders; and said to the people that were with him, What you see me doing, do quickly as I.
49 众人就各砍一枝，跟随亚比米勒，把树枝堆在卫所的四围，放火烧了卫所，以致示剑楼的人都死了，男女约有一千。
And they cut down likewise even every man a branch, and went after Abimelech, and laid them against the place of gathering, and burnt the place of gathering over them with fire; and they died, even all the men of the tower of Sicima, about a thousand men and women.
50 亚比米勒到提备斯，向提备斯安营，就攻取了那城。
And Abimelech went out of Baethel-berith, and encamped against Thebes, and took it.
51 城中有一座坚固的楼；城里的众人，无论男女，都逃进楼去，关上门，上了楼顶。
And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city; and there all the men and the women of the city fled, and shut [the door] without them, and went up on the roof of the tower.
52 亚比米勒到了楼前攻打，挨近楼门，要用火焚烧。
And Abimelech drew near to the tower, and they besieged it; and Abimelech drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 有一个妇人把一块上磨石抛在亚比米勒的头上，打破了他的脑骨。
And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，对他说：“拔出你的刀来，杀了我吧！免得人议论我说，他为一个妇人所杀。”于是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
And he cried out quickly to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword, and kill me, lest at any time they should say, A woman killed him: and his young man thrust him through and he died.
55 以色列人见亚比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead; and they went each to his place.
56 这样， 神报应亚比米勒向他父亲所行的恶，就是杀了弟兄七十个人的恶。
So God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he wrought against his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.
57 示剑人的一切恶， 神也都报应在他们头上；耶路·巴力的儿子约坦的咒诅归到他们身上了。
And all the wickedness of the men of Sychem God requited upon their head; and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
