< Joshua 7 >

1 The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.
以色列子民在應毀滅之物上犯了罪;那是因為猶大支派中,則辣黑的曾孫,匝貝狄的孫子,加爾米的兒子阿干,取了應毀滅之物,上主對以色列子民發了大怒。
2 Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
若蘇厄從耶利哥派人到哈依去,──這城位於貝特耳東方貝特阿文附近──吩咐他們說:「你們上去,偵察那地。」那些人便上去偵察了哈衣。
3 On returning to Joshua, they reported, “There is no need to send all the people; two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, you need not wear out all our people there.”
他們回來對若蘇厄說:「不需要眾百姓都上去,只派兩三人去攻打哈依就夠了,不必勞動全體百姓,因為他們人數不多。」
4 So about three thousand men went up, but they fled before the men of Ai.
這樣百姓中約有三千人上去攻打哈依,不料他們由哈依人面前避跑了。
5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
哈依人出擊,殺了他們約有三十六人,從城門前追擊他們,直追到舍巴陵,在斜坡上又殺敗了他們,因此百姓的勇氣像水一樣消散了。
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
若蘇厄撕破自己自己的衣服,和以色列的長老,在上主約櫃前俯伏在地,一直到晚上,各在頭上撒上灰土。
7 “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
若蘇厄說:「唉,我主上主! 你為什麼領這百姓渡過約旦河,是為將我們交於阿摩黎人手中,讓我們消滅嗎﹖巴不得我們住在約旦河那邊倒好!
8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?
唉我主! 以色列人既然由敵人前轉身逃跑,我還說什麼呢﹖
9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”
當客納罕人和這地方所有的居民聽說這事,必來圍攻我們,從地上將我們的名字抹去,那時你對你的大名要怎樣辦呢。」
10 But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
上主對若蘇厄說:「起來,為什麼老是伏在地上﹖
11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
以色列犯了罪,違背了我在盟約上給他們規定的,取了應毀滅之物,又偷又騙,並將應毀滅之物放在自己行囊裏。
12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.
以色列所以扺擋不了敵人,由敵人前轉身逃跑,是因為他們成了應詛咒,除非你們將那應毀滅之物,由你們中間除掉,我不再與你們同在。
13 Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
起來,叫百姓聖潔自己,吩咐他們說:你們明天要聖潔自己,因為上主以色列的天主這樣說:以色列! 你們中間有應毀滅之物,除非將應毀滅之物,由你們中間除掉,你們決抵擋不住敵人
14 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man.
所以明早你們應按支派前來。上主使那支派中籤,這支派的宗族都應前來;上主使那宗族中籤,這家族的宗族都應前來;上主使那家室中籤,這家的男子應一個一個地前來。
15 The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’”
若藏有應毀滅之物火人中了籤,他和他所有的一切都應用火焚燒,因為他違犯了上主的約定,在以色列中間做了糊塗的事。」
16 So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
若蘇厄清早起來,命以色列按著支派一一前來,猶大支派中了籤。
17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected.
他叫猶大支派前來,則辣黑宗族中了籤;遂叫則辣黑宗族前來,則貝狄家室前來,宗族中了籤;
18 And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.
此後,又叫他的家室前來,叫男丁一個一個地前來,阿干中了籤──阿干是加爾米的兒子,加爾米是匝貝狄的兒子,匝貝狄是則辣黑的兒子,屬猶大支派。
19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
若蘇厄遂對阿干說:「我兒,你應歸光榮於上主,以色列的天主,向衪認罪。請告訴我,你作了什麼事,不要隱瞞我。」
20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
阿干回答若蘇厄說:「我實在得罪了上主,以色列的天主。我是如此這般作的;
21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
我在戰利品中,見了一件美麗的史納爾外氅,二百「協刻耳」銀子,一條重五十「協刻耳」的金條,我因貪愛便拿走了,現在藏在我帳幕中的地下,銀子在這些東西的下面。」
22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.
若蘇厄即刻派差役跑到他帳幕裏面,果然那些東西在帳幕內藏著,銀子在下面。
23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD.
差役便從帳幕裏拿出來,帶到若蘇厄和所有以色列子民那裏,擺在上主面前。
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor.
若蘇厄和所有以色列人,將則辣黑的曾孫阿干和那銀子、外氅、金條,並他的子女、牛、驢、羊、帳幕,以及他所有的一切,都帶到阿苛爾山谷。
25 “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
若蘇厄說:「你為什麼給我們招來禍患﹖今天上主必要叫你招禍。」以色列民眾於是用石頭將他砸死。眾人用石頭砸死以後,將一切用火燒了。
26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
以後,又在阿干身上堆上了一大堆石頭,這堆石頭一直存到今日;上主於是撤回了盛怒,因此那地方直到今日叫做阿苛爾山谷。

< Joshua 7 >