創世記 21
1 耶和華按着先前的話眷顧撒拉，便照他所說的給撒拉成就。
The Lord came to help Sarah as he'd said he would. The Lord did for Sarah what he'd promised.
2 當亞伯拉罕年老的時候，撒拉懷了孕；到上帝所說的日期，就給亞伯拉罕生了一個兒子。
She became pregnant and had a son for Abraham when he was old, at the exact time God said she would.
3 亞伯拉罕給撒拉所生的兒子起名叫以撒。
Abraham named their son Isaac.
4 以撒生下來第八日，亞伯拉罕照着上帝所吩咐的，給以撒行了割禮。
Abraham circumcised him when Isaac was eight days old, following God's command.
5 他兒子以撒生的時候，亞伯拉罕年一百歲。
Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born.
6 撒拉說：「上帝使我喜笑，凡聽見的必與我一同喜笑」；
Sarah declared, “God has made me laugh, and all those who hear about this will laugh with me.”
7 又說：「誰能預先對亞伯拉罕說『撒拉要乳養嬰孩』呢？因為在他年老的時候，我給他生了一個兒子。」
She also said, “Would anyone have announced to Abraham that Sarah was going to have children to nurse? But now I have had a son for Abraham even when he was old!”
8 孩子漸長，就斷了奶。以撒斷奶的日子，亞伯拉罕設擺豐盛的筵席。
The baby grew up, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a large feast.
9 當時，撒拉看見埃及人夏甲給亞伯拉罕所生的兒子戲笑，
But Sarah noticed that Ishmael, Hagar the Egyptian's son she'd had for Abraham, was making fun of Isaac.
10 就對亞伯拉罕說：「你把這使女和她兒子趕出去！因為這使女的兒子不可與我的兒子以撒一同承受產業。」
So she went to Abraham and told him, “You have to get rid of this slave woman and this son of hers! A slave woman's son is not going to be one of your heirs and inherit together with my son Isaac!”
11 亞伯拉罕因他兒子的緣故很憂愁。
Abraham felt very bad about it because Ishmael was his son.
12 上帝對亞伯拉罕說：「你不必為這童子和你的使女憂愁。凡撒拉對你說的話，你都該聽從；因為從以撒生的，才要稱為你的後裔。
But God told Abraham, “Don't feel bad about the boy and the slave woman. Do whatever Sarah tells you, because it's through Isaac that your descendants will be counted.
13 至於使女的兒子，我也必使他的後裔成立一國，因為他是你所生的。」
Don't worry—I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation because he's your son.”
14 亞伯拉罕清早起來，拿餅和一皮袋水，給了夏甲，搭在她的肩上，又把孩子交給她，打發她走。夏甲就走了，在別是巴的曠野走迷了路。
Abraham got up early the next morning. He packed up some food and a skin of water which he gave to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. Then he sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered through the Desert of Beersheba.
15 皮袋的水用盡了，夏甲就把孩子撇在小樹底下，
When the water ran out, she left the boy under one of the bushes.
16 自己走開約有一箭之遠，相對而坐，說：「我不忍見孩子死」，就相對而坐，放聲大哭。
She went and sat down some way off, a few hundred yards away, saying, “I can't bear to watch my son die!” As she sat down she burst into tears.
17 上帝聽見童子的聲音；上帝的使者從天上呼叫夏甲說：「夏甲，你為何這樣呢？不要害怕，上帝已經聽見童子的聲音了。
God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What's the matter, Hagar? Don't be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from where he is.
18 起來！把童子抱在懷中，我必使他的後裔成為大國。」
Get up, go over and help the boy up, and encourage him, for I will make him into a great nation.”
19 上帝使夏甲的眼睛明亮，她就看見一口水井，便去將皮袋盛滿了水，給童子喝。
God opened her eyes and she saw a well nearby. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 上帝保佑童子，他就漸長，住在曠野，成了弓箭手。
God blessed Ishmael and he grew up, living in the desert. He became a skilled archer.
21 他住在巴蘭的曠野；他母親從埃及地給他娶了一個妻子。
He lived in the Desert of Paran. His mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
22 當那時候，亞比米勒同他軍長非各對亞伯拉罕說：「凡你所行的事都有上帝的保佑。
Around this time Abimelech came with Phicol, the commander of his army, to see Abraham. “God blesses you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.
23 我願你如今在這裏指着上帝對我起誓，不要欺負我與我的兒子，並我的子孫。我怎樣厚待了你，你也要照樣厚待我與你所寄居這地的民。」
“So swear to me right here and now that you won't betray me, my children, or my descendants. In the same way I've proved I'm trustworthy to you, do the same to me and my country where you're currently living.”
24 亞伯拉罕說：「我情願起誓。」
“I so swear,” Abraham replied.
25 從前，亞比米勒的僕人霸佔了一口水井，亞伯拉罕為這事指責亞比米勒。
Then Abraham raised an issue with Abimelech of a well that Abimelech's servants had taken by force.
26 亞比米勒說：「誰做這事，我不知道，你也沒有告訴我，今日我才聽見了。」
“I don't know who did this, and you didn't mention it before. I haven't heard anything about it until today,” Abimelech responded.
27 亞伯拉罕把羊和牛給了亞比米勒，二人就彼此立約。
Then Abraham gave Abimelech some of his sheep and cattle, and the two of them made an agreement.
28 亞伯拉罕把七隻母羊羔另放在一處。
Abraham also separated out seven female lambs from the flock.
29 亞比米勒問亞伯拉罕說：「你把這七隻母羊羔另放在一處，是甚麼意思呢？」
“What are these seven female lambs for that you've separated from the flock?” Abimelech asked.
30 他說：「你要從我手裏受這七隻母羊羔，作我挖這口井的證據。」
“I'm giving you these seven female lambs in return for your admission that I dug this well,” Abraham replied.
31 所以他給那地方起名叫別是巴，因為他們二人在那裏起了誓。
That's why he called the place Beersheba, because the two of them swore and oath to each other.
32 他們在別是巴立了約，亞比米勒就同他軍長非各起身回非利士地去了。
After making the agreement at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army left and went home to the country of the Philistines.
33 亞伯拉罕在別是巴栽上一棵垂絲柳樹，又在那裏求告耶和華－永生上帝的名。
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.
34 亞伯拉罕在非利士人的地寄居了多日。
Abraham lived in the country of the Philistines for a long time.
