士師記 9
1 耶路‧巴力的兒子亞比米勒到了示劍見他的眾母舅，對他們和他外祖全家的人說：
And Abimelech son of Jerobaal went to Sychem to his mother's brethren; and he spoke to them and to all the kindred of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 「請你們問示劍的眾人說，是耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都管理你們好呢？還是一人管理你們好呢？你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。」
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Sychem, saying, Which [is] better for you, that seventy men, even all the sons of Jerobaal, should reign over you, or that one man should reign over you? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.
3 他的眾母舅便將這一切話為他說給示劍人聽，示劍人的心就歸向亞比米勒。他們說：「他原是我們的弟兄」；
And his mother's brethren spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Sychem all these words; and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
4 就從巴力‧比利土的廟中取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒；亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。
And they gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men, and they went after him.
5 他往俄弗拉到他父親的家，將他弟兄、耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都殺在一塊磐石上；只剩下耶路‧巴力的小兒子約坦，因為他躲藏了。
And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and killed his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself.
6 示劍人和米羅人都一同聚集，往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裏，立亞比米勒為王。
And all the men of Sicima, and all the house of Bethmaalo, were gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak of Sedition, which was at Sicima.
7 有人將這事告訴約坦，他就去站在基利心山頂上，向眾人大聲喊叫說：「示劍人哪，你們要聽我的話，上帝也就聽你們的話。
And it was reported to Joatham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Garizin, and lifted up his voice, and wept, and said to them, Hear me, you men of Sicima, and God shall hear you.
8 有一時，樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你作我們的王。』
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive, Reign over us.
9 橄欖樹回答說：『我豈肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
But the olives said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which men shall glorify God, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10 樹木對無花果樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come, reign over us.
11 無花果樹回答說：『我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
But the fig tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness an my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12 樹木對葡萄樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.
13 葡萄樹回答說：『我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14 眾樹對荊棘說：『請你來作我們的王。』
Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come you and [reign] over us.
15 荊棘回答說：『你們若誠誠實實地膏我為王，就要投在我的蔭下；不然，願火從荊棘裏出來，燒滅黎巴嫩的香柏樹。』
And the bramble said to the trees, If you in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.
16 「現在你們立亞比米勒為王，若按誠實正直善待耶路‧巴力和他的全家，這就是酬他的勞。
And now, if you have done it in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if you have wrought well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and if you have done to him according to the reward of his hand,
17 從前我父冒死為你們爭戰，救了你們脫離米甸人的手。
as my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy, and delivered you out of the hand of Madiam;
18 你們如今起來攻擊我的父家，將他眾子七十人殺在一塊磐石上，又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒為示劍人的王；他原是你們的弟兄。
and you are risen up this day against the house of my father, and have slain his sons, being seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his bondwoman king over the men of Sicima, because he is your brother:
19 你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路‧巴力和他的家，就可因亞比米勒得歡樂，他也可因你們得歡樂；
if then you have done truly and faithfully with Jerobaal, and with his house this day, rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice over you:
20 不然，願火從亞比米勒發出，燒滅示劍人和米羅眾人，又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來，燒滅亞比米勒。」
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Sicima, and the house of Bethmaalo; and let fire come out from the men of Sicima and from the house of Bethmaalo, and devour Abimelech.
21 約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裏。
And Joatham fled, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and lived there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.
22 亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。
And Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
23 上帝使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間，示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:
24 這是要叫耶路‧巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒，又叫那流他們血的罪歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。
to bring the injury done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and to lay their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and upon the men of Sicima, because they strengthened his hands to kill his brethren.
25 示劍人在山頂上設埋伏，等候亞比米勒。凡從他們那裏經過的人，他們就搶奪。有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。
And the men of Sicima set liers in wait against him on the top of the mountains, and robbed every one who passed by them on the way; and it was reported to the king Abimelech.
26 以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄來到示劍，示劍人都信靠他。
And Gaal son of Jobel came, and his brethren, and passed by Sicima, and the men of Sicima trusted in him.
27 示劍人出城到田間去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，設擺筵宴，進他們神的廟中吃喝，咒詛亞比米勒。
And they went out into the field, and gathered their grapes, and trod them, and made merry; and they brought [the grapes] into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28 以別的兒子迦勒說：「亞比米勒是誰？示劍是誰？使我們服事他呢？他不是耶路‧巴力的兒子嗎？他的幫手不是西布勒嗎？你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔。我們為何服事亞比米勒呢？
And Gaal the son of Jobel said, Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Sychem, that we should serve him? [Is he] not the son of Jerobaal, and [is] not Zebul his steward, his servant with the son of Emmor the father of Sychem? and why should we serve him?
29 惟願這民歸我的手下，我就除掉亞比米勒。」迦勒又對亞比米勒說：「增添你的軍兵出來吧。」
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply your host, and come out.
30 邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，
And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.
31 悄悄地打發人去見亞比米勒，說：「以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍，煽惑城中的民攻擊你。
And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Jobel and his brethren are come to Sychem; and behold, they have besieged the city against you.
32 現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。
And now rise up by night, you and the people with you, and lay wait in the field.
33 到早晨太陽一出，你就起來闖城。迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候，你便向他們見機而做。」
And it shall come to pass in the morning at sunrising, you shall rise up early and draw towards the city; and behold, he and the people with him will come forth against you, and you shall do to him according to your power.
34 於是，亞比米勒和跟隨他的眾人夜間起來，分作四隊，埋伏等候示劍人。
And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.
35 以別的兒子迦勒出去，站在城門口。亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。
And Gaal the son of Jobel went forth, and stood by the door of the gate of the city: and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from the ambuscade.
36 迦勒看見那些人，就對西布勒說：「看哪，有人從山頂上下來了。」西布勒說：「你看見山的影子，以為是人。」
And Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, a people comes down from the top of the mountains: and Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as men.
37 迦勒又說：「看哪，有人從高處下來，又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。」
And Gaal continued to speak and said, Behold, a people comes down westward from the part bordering on the middle of the land, and another company comes by the way of Helon Maonenim.
38 西布勒對他說：「你曾說，亞比米勒是誰，叫我們服事他？你所誇的口在哪裏呢？這不是你所藐視的民嗎？你現在出去，與他們交戰吧！」
And Zebul said to him, And where is your mouth as you spoke, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? [Is] not this the people whom you despised? go forth now, and set the battle in array against him.
39 於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。
And Gaal went forth before the men of Sychem, and set the battle in array against Abimelech.
40 亞比米勒追趕迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有許多受傷仆倒的，直到城門。
And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him; and many fell down slain as far as the door of the gate.
41 亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪。西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他們住在示劍。
And Abimelech entered into Arema, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so that they should not dwell in Sychem.
42 次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；
And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and [one] brought word to Abimelech.
43 他就把他的人分作三隊，埋伏在田間，看見示劍人從城裏出來，就起來擊殺他們。
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and formed an ambush in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people went forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and struck them.
44 亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去，站在城門口；那兩隊直闖到田間，擊殺了眾人。
And Abimelech and the chiefs of companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood by the door of the gate of the city; and the two [other] companies rushed forward upon all that were in the field, and struck them.
45 亞比米勒整天攻打城，將城奪取，殺了其中的居民，將城拆毀，撒上了鹽。
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city, and killed the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力‧比利土廟的衛所。
And all the men of the tower of Sychem heard, and came to the gathering of Baethel-berith.
47 有人告訴亞比米勒說：「示劍樓的人都聚在一處。」
And it was reported to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Sychem were gathered together.
48 亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山。亞比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根樹枝，扛在肩上，對跟隨他的人說：「你們看我所行的，也當趕緊照樣行。」
And Abimelech went up to the mount of Selmon, and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch of a tree, and took it, and laid it on his shoulders; and said to the people that were with him, What you see me doing, do quickly as I.
49 眾人就各砍一枝，跟隨亞比米勒，把樹枝堆在衛所的四圍，放火燒了衛所，以致示劍樓的人都死了，男女約有一千。
And they cut down likewise even every man a branch, and went after Abimelech, and laid them against the place of gathering, and burnt the place of gathering over them with fire; and they died, even all the men of the tower of Sicima, about a thousand men and women.
50 亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。
And Abimelech went out of Baethel-berith, and encamped against Thebes, and took it.
51 城中有一座堅固的樓；城裏的眾人，無論男女，都逃進樓去，關上門，上了樓頂。
And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city; and there all the men and the women of the city fled, and shut [the door] without them, and went up on the roof of the tower.
52 亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。
And Abimelech drew near to the tower, and they besieged it; and Abimelech drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上，打破了他的腦骨。
And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54 他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，對他說：「拔出你的刀來，殺了我吧！免得人議論我說，他為一個婦人所殺。」於是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
And he cried out quickly to the young man his armour-bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword, and kill me, lest at any time they should say, A woman killed him: and his young man thrust him through and he died.
55 以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead; and they went each to his place.
56 這樣，上帝報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡，就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。
So God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he wrought against his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.
57 示劍人的一切惡，上帝也都報應在他們頭上；耶路‧巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛歸到他們身上了。
And all the wickedness of the men of Sychem God requited upon their head; and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
