< 彌迦書 5 >
1 成群的民哪,現在你要聚集成隊; 因為仇敵圍攻我們, 要用杖擊打以色列審判者的臉。
“But now, [you people of Jerusalem, gather your troops together, ] [because even though] you have a wall [around your city to protect it], [enemy soldiers] are surrounding the city. And [soon] they will strike your leader on his face, with a rod.”
2 伯利恆的以法他啊, 你在猶大諸城中為小, 將來必有一位從你那裏出來, 在以色列中為我作掌權的; 他的根源從亙古,從太初就有。
But you [people of] [APO] Bethlehem in Ephrathah [district need to know that] even though your [town] is a very small one among all the towns in Judah, someone who will rule Israel will be born in your town. [He will be] someone whose family has existed a very long time ago [DOU].
3 耶和華必將以色列人交付敵人, 直等那生產的婦人生下子來。 那時掌權者其餘的弟兄 必歸到以色列人那裏。
[But now] you people of Israel will be conquered by your enemies; [but it will be for only a short time], like [MET] [the short time that] women have great pain while their babies are being born. After that, your fellow-countrymen who were (exiled/forced to go to other countries) will return to their own country.
4 他必起來,倚靠耶和華的大能, 並耶和華-他上帝之名的威嚴, 牧養他的羊群。 他們要安然居住; 因為他必日見尊大,直到地極。
And that man who will be ruling [there in Jerusalem] will stand and lead his people well, because Yahweh, his God, will cause him to be strong and greatly honored. Then the people whom he rules will live [in Jerusalem] safely; he will be greatly honored by people all over the earth, [so no one will dare to attack Jerusalem].
5 這位必作我們的平安。 當亞述人進入我們的地境, 踐踏宮殿的時候, 我們就立起七個牧者, 八個首領攻擊他。
And he will cause things to go well [for his people]. When [the army of] Assyria attacks our country and breaks though our fortresses, we will appoint (seven or eight/several) leaders [to lead our army] to fight against them.
6 他們必用刀劍毀壞亞述地 和寧錄地的關口。 亞述人進入我們的地境踐踏的時候, 他必拯救我們。
With their swords [our army] will defeat the [army of] Assyria, [whose capital was founded by] Nimrod [long ago]. So our army will rescue us from the Assyrian [army] when they invade our country [DOU].
7 雅各餘剩的人必在多國的民中, 如從耶和華那裏降下的露水, 又如甘霖降在草上; 不仗賴人力,也不等候世人之功。
The (descendants of Jacob/Israelis) who survive will be [a blessing] to the people of other nations, like [SIM] dew and rain sent by Yahweh do good to the grass. The Israelis will not trust in humans [to help them]; instead, they will rely on Yahweh.
8 雅各餘剩的人必在多國多民中, 如林間百獸中的獅子, 又如少壯獅子在羊群中。 他若經過就必踐踏撕裂, 無人搭救。
In the midst of [their enemies in] many people-groups [DOU], the descendants of Jacob who remain alive will be like [SIM] a lion among the [other] wild beasts of the forest, like [SIM] a young lion who goes among a flock of sheep and pounces [on one] and (mauls it/tears it to pieces), and no one will be able to rescue [that sheep].
9 願你的手舉起,高過敵人! 願你的仇敵都被剪除!
You Israelis will defeat [MTY] all your enemies and completely destroy them.
10 耶和華說:到那日, 我必從你中間剪除馬匹, 毀壞車輛,
Yahweh says, “At that time, I will destroy [you Israeli people’s] horses [that your soldiers use in war] and your chariots.
I will tear down your city [walls] and destroy all your fortified cities.
12 又必除掉你手中的邪術; 你那裏也不再有占卜的。
I will get rid of all those among you who practice magic and the (fortune-tellers/those who say that they can predict what will happen in the future).
13 我必從你中間除滅雕刻的偶像和柱像, 你就不再跪拜自己手所造的。
I will destroy [all] your idols and [sacred stone] pillars, and then you will no longer bow down [and worship] things that you yourselves [SYN] have made.
I will get rid of your poles [that represent the goddess] Asherah, and [I will also] destroy all your idols.
And because I will be very angry, I will [also] punish [the people of] all the nations who have not obeyed [me].”