< Joshua 3 >

1 Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
若蘇厄清早起來,同所有的以色列子民由史廷出發,來到弓約旦河,住在那裏,等候過河。
2 After three days the officers went through the camp
過了三天,官長走遍全營,
3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
吩咐百姓說:「你們一看見上主你們天主的約櫃,和抬約櫃的肋未人,他們便你們所住的地方起身,跟著它走,
4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”
好使你們知道你們應走的路,因為這條路你們從來沒有走過。但在你們與約櫃之間,相隔二千肘,不可走近約櫃。」
5 Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
若蘇厄對百姓說:「你們應該自潔,因為上主明天要在你們中間行神蹟。
6 And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
若蘇厄又吩咐司祭說:「你們抬起約櫃,在百姓前過河。」他們遂抬起約櫃,走在百姓前面。
7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.
上主對若蘇厄說:「今天我要開始在眾以色列眼前顯揚你,使他們知道,我要與你同在,有如過去我與梅瑟同在一樣。
8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”
你吩咐抬約櫃的司祭說:「你們一到約旦河的水邊,就停在約旦河邊。」
9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
若蘇厄又吩咐以色列子民說:「他們前來靜聽上主你們天主的話。」
10 He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
若蘇厄遂說:「你們由此可知道,永生的天主是在你們中間,衪必由你們面前,將客納罕人、赫特人、希威人、培黎齊人、基爾加士人、阿摩黎人和耶步斯人趕走。
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.
看,大地主宰的約櫃要在你們前面渡過約旦河。
12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
現在,你們應從以色列支派中,挑選十二人,每支派一人。
13 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”
當抬大地的主宰上主約櫃的司祭的腳掌,一踏入約旦河的水,約旦河的水就必中斷,由上流下的水要停,像一道堤。
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
當百姓起程離開帳幕要到約旦河時,司祭抬著約櫃,走在百姓的前面。
15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
當抬約櫃的司祭到了約旦河,他們的腳一踏入水邊,──原來約旦河在整個收割期間,水常漲至河岸──
16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
水就停住了:由上流下的水像一道堤,停在很遠的地方,遠至匝爾堂附近的阿當城;往下流入的水像一道堤,停在很遠的地方,遠至匝爾堂附近的阿當城;往下流入阿辣巴海,即鹽海的水,已全退去;於是百姓在耶利哥對面過了河。
17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.
當全以色列人在旱地上渡過時,抬上主約櫃的司祭穩立在約旦河中的旱地上直到全民眾都渡過約旦河。

< Joshua 3 >