士師記 8
1 以法蓮人對基甸說：「你去與米甸人爭戰，沒有招我們同去，為甚麼這樣待我們呢？」他們就與基甸大大地爭吵。
And the men of Ephraim said unto him, What is this thing that thou hast done unto us, not to call for us, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they quarrelled with him vehemently.
2 基甸對他們說：「我所行的豈能比你們所行的呢？以法蓮拾取剩下的葡萄不強過亞比以謝所摘的葡萄嗎？
And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi'ezer?
3 上帝已將米甸人的兩個首領俄立和西伊伯交在你們手中；我所行的豈能比你們所行的呢？」基甸說了這話，以法蓮人的怒氣就消了。
Into your hand God delivered the princes of Midian, 'Oreb and Zeeb: and what have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then was their anger abated from him, when he had spoken this speech.
4 基甸和跟隨他的三百人到約旦河過渡，雖然疲乏，還是追趕。
And Gid'on came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, and in pursuit.
5 基甸對疏割人說：「求你們拿餅來給跟隨我的人吃，因為他們疲乏了；我們追趕米甸人的兩個王西巴和撒慕拿。」
And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, a few loaves of bread unto the people that are in my train; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebach and Zalmunna,' the kings of Midian.
6 疏割人的首領回答說：「西巴和撒慕拿已經在你手裏，你使我們將餅給你的軍兵嗎？」
And the princes of Succoth said, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna' now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy army bread?
7 基甸說：「耶和華將西巴和撒慕拿交在我手之後，我就用野地的荊條和枳棘打傷你們。」
And Gid'on said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebach and Zalmunna' into my hand, then will I thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
8 基甸從那裏上到毗努伊勒，對那裏的人也是這樣說；毗努伊勒人也與疏割人回答他的話一樣。
And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke unto them in the same manner: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.
9 他向毗努伊勒人說：「我平平安安回來的時候，我必拆毀這樓。」
And he said also unto the men of Penuel thus, When I return again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10 那時西巴和撒慕拿，並跟隨他們的軍隊都在加各，約有一萬五千人，就是東方人全軍所剩下的；已經被殺約有十二萬拿刀的。
Now Zebach and Zalmunna' were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that had been left of all the camp of the children of the east; but those who had fallen were one hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.
11 基甸就由挪巴和約比哈東邊，從住帳棚人的路上去，殺敗了米甸人的軍兵，因為他們坦然無懼。
And Gid'on went up by the way of those that dwelt in tents, to the east of Nobach and Yogbehah, and smote the camp; but the camp thought itself secure.
12 西巴和撒慕拿逃跑；基甸追趕他們，捉住米甸的二王西巴和撒慕拿，驚散全軍。
And Zebach and Zalmunna' fled; but he pursued after them, and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebach and Zalmunna', and all the camp he discomfited.
13 約阿施的兒子基甸由希列斯坡從陣上回來，
And Gid'on the son of Joash returned from the battle before the rising of the sun,
14 捉住疏割的一個少年人，問他：「疏割的首領長老是誰？」他就將首領長老七十七個人的名字寫出來。
And he caught a young man of the people of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.
15 基甸到了疏割，對那裏的人說：「你們從前譏誚我說：『西巴和撒慕拿已經在你手裏，你使我們將餅給跟隨你的疲乏人嗎？』現在西巴和撒慕拿在這裏。」
And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold here are Zebach and Zalmunna', with whom ye derided me, saying, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna' now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy weary men bread?
16 於是捉住那城內的長老，用野地的荊條和枳棘責打 疏割人；
And he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and briers, and chastised with them the men of Succoth.
17 又拆了毗努伊勒的樓，殺了那城裏的人。
And the tower of Penuel he beat down, and slew the men of the city.
18 基甸問西巴和撒慕拿說：「你們在他泊山所殺的人是甚麼樣式？」回答說：「他們好像你，各人都有王子的樣式。」
And he said unto Zebach and Zalmunna', What kind of men were those whom ye slew at Tabor! And they answered, As thou art, so were they; one was in form like that of the children of a king.
19 基甸說：「他們是我同母的弟兄，我指着永生的耶和華起誓，你們從前若存留他們的性命，我如今就不殺你們了。」
And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the Lord liveth, if ye had spared them alive, I would not slay you.
20 於是對他的長子益帖說：「你起來殺他們。」但益帖因為是童子，害怕，不敢拔刀。
And he said unto Yether his first-born, Rise up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.
21 西巴和撒慕拿說：「你自己起來殺我們吧！因為人如何，力量也是如何。」基甸就起來，殺了西巴和撒慕拿，奪獲他們駱駝項上戴的月牙圈。
Then said Zebach and Zalmunna', Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gid'on arose, and slew Zebach and Zalmunna'; and he took away the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.
22 以色列人對基甸說：「你既救我們脫離米甸人的手，願你和你的兒孫管理我們。」
And the men of Israel said unto Gid'on, Rule thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy son's son also; for thou hast delivered us out of the hand of Midian.
23 基甸說：「我不管理你們，我的兒子也不管理你們，惟有耶和華管理你們。」
And Gid'on said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.
24 基甸又對他們說：「我有一件事求你們：請你們各人將所奪的耳環給我。」（原來仇敵是以實瑪利人，都是戴金耳環的。）
And Gid'on said unto them, I would ask one request of you, that ye should give me every man the earring of his booty; for they had had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.
25 他們說：「我們情願給你」，就鋪開一件外衣，各人將所奪的耳環丟在其上。
And they answered, We will willingly give. And they spread out a garment, and they cast therein every man the earring of his booty.
26 基甸所要出來的金耳環重一千七百舍客勒金子。此外還有米甸王所戴的月環、耳墜，和所穿的紫色衣服，並駱駝項上的金鍊子。
And the weight of the golden earrings that he had requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides the crescent ornaments, and ear-drops, and purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27 基甸以此製造了一個以弗得，設立在本城俄弗拉。後來以色列人拜那以弗得行了邪淫；這就作了基甸和他全家的網羅。
And Gid'on made thereof an ephod, and set it up in his city, in 'Ophrah: and all Israel went astray after it thither; and it became a snare unto Gid'on, and to his house.
28 這樣，米甸人被以色列人制伏了，不敢再抬頭。基甸還在的日子，國中太平四十年。
And Midian was humbled before the children of Israel, so that they lifted not up their head any more. And the country was quiet forty years in the days of Gid'on.
29 約阿施的兒子耶路‧巴力回去，住在自己家裏。
And Yerubba'al the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30 基甸有七十個親生的兒子，因為他有許多的妻。
And Gid'on had seventy sons begotten of his body; for he had many wives.
31 他的妾住在示劍，也給他生了一個兒子。基甸與他起名叫亞比米勒。
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name, Abimelech.
32 約阿施的兒子基甸，年紀老邁而死，葬在亞比以謝族的俄弗拉，在他父親約阿施的墳墓裏。
And Gid'on the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in 'Ophrah of the Abi'ezrites.
33 基甸死後，以色列人又去隨從諸巴力行邪淫，以巴力‧比利土為他們的神。
And it came to pass, when Gid'on was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went astray after the Be'alim, and made themselves Ba'al-berith for a god.
34 以色列人不記念耶和華－他們的上帝，就是拯救他們脫離四圍仇敵之手的，
And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.
35 也不照着耶路‧巴力，就是基甸向他們所施的恩惠厚待他的家。
Neither showed they kindness to the house of Yerubba'al, namely, Gid'on, in accordance with all the good which he had done unto Israel.
