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。
Joshua [and all the other Israelis] got up early [the next] morning. They left [their camp at] Acacia and went [down] to the Jordan [River]. They camped there for two nights.
2 過了三天，官長走遍營中，
Then the leaders went throughout 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, “You will see some of the priests, who are descendants of Levi, carrying the chest that contains the Ten Commandments that Yahweh our God gave us. When you see them, leave the places where you are camped and follow them.
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。」
You have not been (here/along this road) before, [so you must follow the priests]. But do not walk close to the chest. Stay (1,000 yards/900 meters) from the chest. [The chest is sacred, so (God will punish you/you will be punished) if you come close to 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 told the people, “Perform the ceremonies needed to make yourselves acceptable to Yahweh, because tomorrow he is going to do things for you that will amaze 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。
Then Joshua said to the priests, “Carry the chest and go in front of the [rest of the] people.” So they lifted up the chest and went ahead.
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。
Then Yahweh said to Joshua, “This is the day that I will begin to show all the Israeli people that you are a great leader. Then they will honor you, and know that I am with/helping you as I (was with/helped) Moses.
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 who are carrying the chest that contains the Ten Commandments, ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan [River], stand in the water.’”
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。」
Then Joshua said to the Israeli people, “Come close to me in order that you can listen to what Yahweh, your God, is saying.”
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。
[When they came near], he said to them, “This is how you will know that God, who is all-powerful, is among you, and that he will expel for you the descendants of Canaan, Heth, Hiv, Periz, Girgash, Amor, and Jebus [who are now living in that land].
Keep in mind that Yahweh is the one who rules over all the earth. The chest belongs to him, and it will be carried into the Jordan River ahead of you.
12 你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
So choose twelve men, [one from each] of the tribes of Israel, [and I will tell you later what I want them to do].
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。」
As for the priests who are carrying the chest, as soon as they put their feet into the Jordan [River], the water will stop flowing. It will pile up because I will cause it to be blocked upstream.”
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 when the [Israeli] people packed up their tents in order to cross the river, the priests who were carrying the chest containing the Ten Commandments went in front 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），
[It was springtime], when people harvest their crops, [and] at that time the river floods over its banks. But as soon as the priests reached the edge of the river and stepped into the water,
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 stopped flowing. The water piled up far [upstream], at a town named Adam, near Zarethan. The water stopped flowing down to the Dead Sea. So the people were able to cross the river near 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 who were carrying the chest containing the Ten Commandments that Yahweh [had given them] stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan [riverbed], while the rest of the Israeli people crossed the river [as though they were crossing] dry ground.
