約書亞記 3
1 約書亞清早起來，和以色列眾人都離開什亭，來到約旦河，就住在那裏，等候過河。
Early the following morning Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim and arrived at the banks of the Jordan. There they all spent the night before crossing over.
2 過了三天，官長走遍營中，
Three days later those in charge of the people went through the camp
3 吩咐百姓說：「你們看見耶和華－你們上帝的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬着，就要離開所住的地方，跟着約櫃去。
telling the people, “When you see the Ark of the Agreement of the Lord your God carried by the priests, the Levites, you must leave the place where you are and follow it.
4 只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」
That way you'll know which way to go, since you haven't been here before. Leave about 3,000 feet between you and the Ark. Don't go near it!”
5 約書亞吩咐百姓說：「你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。」
Then Joshua said to the people, “Make sure you are pure, because tomorrow the Lord is going to do amazing things among you.”
6 約書亞又吩咐祭司說：「你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。」於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
Joshua spoke to the priests, “Pick up the Ark of the Agreement and go before the people.” So they picked up the Ark of the Agreement and went ahead of the people.
7 耶和華對約書亞說：「從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。
The Lord said to Joshua, “What I do today will confirm you as great leader in the sight of all the Israelites, so that they'll realize that just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：『你們到了約旦河的水邊上，就要在約旦河水裏站住。』」
Tell the priests carrying the Ark of the Agreement, ‘When you get to the edge of the Jordan, take a few steps into the water and then stop.’”
9 約書亞對以色列人說：「你們近前來，聽耶和華－你們上帝的話。」
So Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to what the Lord your God has to say to you.
10 約書亞說：「看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約旦河裏，因此你們就知道在你們中間有永生上帝；並且他必在你們面前趕出迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亞摩利人、耶布斯人。
This is how you will know that the living God is right here with you,” he told them. “You can be sure that he will drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
Just watch—the Ark of the Agreement of the Lord of all the earth will cross in front of you through the Jordan.
12 你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
Choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe.
13 等到抬普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約旦河水裏，約旦河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘。」
The moment the priests carrying the Ark step into the water the river will stop flowing and the water will pile up.”
14 百姓離開帳棚要過約旦河的時候，抬約櫃的祭司乃在百姓的前頭。
So the people broke camp and set out to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the Ark ahead of them.
15 他們到了約旦河，腳一入水（原來約旦河水在收割的日子漲過兩岸），
As it was harvest season, the Jordan was full of water, overflowing its banks. But at the very moment the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the water, the river stopped flowing.
16 那從上往下流的水便在極遠之地、撒拉但旁的亞當城那裏停住，立起成壘；那往亞拉巴的海，就是鹽海，下流的水全然斷絕。於是百姓在耶利哥的對面過去了。
The water piled up a long way upstream, at the town of Adam, near Zarethan, while downstream no more water flowed into the Dead Sea. So the people crossed over, opposite Jericho.
17 抬耶和華約櫃的祭司在約旦河中的乾地上站定，以色列眾人都從乾地上過去，直到國民盡都過了約旦河。
The priests carrying the Ark stood on the dried-up riverbed of the Jordan as all the people went by, staying there until everyone had crossed over on dry ground.
