民數記 17
1 耶和華對摩西說：
Adonai spoke to Moses [Drawn out], saying,
2 「你曉諭以色列人，從他們手下取杖，每支派一根；從他們所有的首領，按着支派，共取十二根。你要將各人的名字寫在各人的杖上，
“Speak to the children of Israel [God prevails], and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.
3 並要將亞倫的名字寫在利未的杖上，因為各族長必有一根杖。
You shall write Aaron [Light-bringer]’s name on the rod of Levi [United with]; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.
4 你要把這些杖存在會幕內法櫃前，就是我與你們相會之處。
You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
5 後來我所揀選的那人，他的杖必發芽。這樣，我必使以色列人向你們所發的怨言止息，不再達到我耳中。」
It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel [God prevails], which they murmur against you, cease from me.”
6 於是摩西曉諭以色列人，他們的首領就把杖交給他，按着支派，每首領一根，共有十二根；亞倫的杖也在其中。
Moses [Drawn out] spoke to the children of Israel [God prevails]; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods. Aaron [Light-bringer]’s rod was among their rods.
7 摩西就把杖存在法櫃的帳幕內，在耶和華面前。
Moses [Drawn out] laid up the rods before Adonai in the Tent of the Testimony.
8 第二天，摩西進法櫃的帳幕去。誰知利未族亞倫的杖已經發了芽，生了花苞，開了花，結了熟杏。
On the next day, Moses [Drawn out] went into the Tent of the Testimony; and behold, Aaron [Light-bringer]’s rod for the house of Levi [United with] had sprouted, budded, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
9 摩西就把所有的杖從耶和華面前拿出來，給以色列眾人看；他們看見了，各首領就把自己的杖拿去。
Moses [Drawn out] brought out all the rods from before Adonai to all the children of Israel [God prevails]. They looked, and each man took his rod.
10 耶和華吩咐摩西說：「把亞倫的杖還放在法櫃前，給這些背叛之子留作記號。這樣，你就使他們向我發的怨言止息，免得他們死亡。」
Adonai said to Moses [Drawn out], “Put back the rod of Aaron [Light-bringer] before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die.”
11 摩西就這樣行。耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就怎樣行了。
Moses [Drawn out] did so. As Adonai enjoined him, so he did.
12 以色列人對摩西說：「我們死啦！我們滅亡啦！都滅亡啦！
The children of Israel [God prevails] spoke to Moses [Drawn out], saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone!
13 凡挨近耶和華帳幕的是必死的。我們都要死亡嗎？」
Everyone who keeps approaching Adonai’s tabernacle, dies! Will we all perish?”
