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：
Abimelech son of Jerub Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
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。”
“Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' 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”；
His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow 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。
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire men of lawless and reckless character, who followed 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。
Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub Baal, 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。
All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak near the pillar which is in Shechem.
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。
When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to 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 once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, '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 olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my oil, which is used to honor gods and mankind, so I may go return, just to sway over the other trees?'
10 树木对无花果树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and 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, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other trees?'
12 树木对葡萄树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
The trees said to the vine, 'Come and 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？’
The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which cheers gods and mankind, and return and sway over the other trees?'
14 众树对荆棘说：‘请你来作我们的王。’
Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come 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。’
The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find safety under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
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。
Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelech king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—
17 从前我父冒死为你们争战，救了你们脱离米甸人的手。
—and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian—
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。
but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.
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 you acted with honesty and integrity with Jerub Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in 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 burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelech.”
21 约坦因怕他弟兄亚比米勒，就逃跑，来到比珥，住在那里。
Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
22 亚比米勒管理以色列人三年。
Abimelech ruled over Israel for 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。
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with 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。
God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub Baal might be avenged, and Abimelech their brother would be held responsible for murdering them, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder his brothers.
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。
So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported to 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。
Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence 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。
They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they 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？
Gaal son of Ebed, said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub Baal? Is Zebul not his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
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。”
I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Call out all your army.'”
30 邑宰西布勒听见以别的儿子迦勒的话，就发怒，
When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
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。
He sent messengers to Abimelech in order to deceive, saying, “See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32 现在你和跟随你的人今夜起来，在田间埋伏。
Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
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。”
Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”
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。
So Abimelech got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units.
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。
Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelech and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.
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。”
When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are 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。”
Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners.”
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！”
Then Zebul said to him, “Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them.”
39 于是迦勒率领示剑人出去，与亚比米勒交战。
Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought 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。
Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city 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。
Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
42 次日，民出到田间，有人告诉亚比米勒；
On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported 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。
He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed 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。
Abimelech and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed 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。
Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He tore down the city walls and spread salt over it.
46 示剑楼的人听见了，就躲入巴力·比利土庙的卫所。
When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
47 有人告诉亚比米勒说：“示剑楼的人都聚在一处。”
Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
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。”
Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelech took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.”
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。
So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set it on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, 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。
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured 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。
But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to 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。
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
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。
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked 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。
Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'” So his young man pierced 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。
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
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 avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
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。
God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub Baal.
