< Numbers 24 >

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
巴蘭見耶和華喜歡賜福與以色列,就不像前兩次去求法術,卻面向曠野。
2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
巴蘭舉目,看見以色列人照着支派居住。上帝的靈就臨到他身上,
3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
他便題起詩歌說: 比珥的兒子巴蘭說, 眼目閉住的人說,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
得聽上帝的言語, 得見全能者的異象, 眼目睜開而仆倒的人說:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
雅各啊,你的帳棚何等華美! 以色列啊,你的帳幕何其華麗!
6 They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.
如接連的山谷, 如河旁的園子, 如耶和華所栽的沉香樹, 如水邊的香柏木。
7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.
水要從他的桶裏流出; 種子要撒在多水之處。 他的王必超過亞甲; 他的國必要振興。
8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
上帝領他出埃及; 他似乎有野牛之力。 他要吞吃敵國, 折斷他們的骨頭, 用箭射透他們。
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
他蹲如公獅, 臥如母獅,誰敢惹他? 凡給你祝福的,願他蒙福; 凡咒詛你的,願他受咒詛。
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
巴勒向巴蘭生氣,就拍起手來,對巴蘭說:「我召你來為我咒詛仇敵,不料,你這三次竟為他們祝福。
11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”
如今你快回本地去吧!我想使你得大尊榮,耶和華卻阻止你不得尊榮。」
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
巴蘭對巴勒說:「我豈不是對你所差遣到我那裏的使者說:
13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.
『巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我,我也不得越過耶和華的命,憑自己的心意行好行歹。耶和華說甚麼,我就要說甚麼』?」
14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”
「現在我要回本族去。你來,我告訴你這民日後要怎樣待你的民。」
15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
他就題起詩歌說: 比珥的兒子巴蘭說: 眼目閉住的人說,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:
得聽上帝的言語, 明白至高者的意旨, 看見全能者的異象, 眼目睜開而仆倒的人說:
17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
我看他卻不在現時; 我望他卻不在近日。 有星要出於雅各,有杖要興於以色列, 必打破摩押的四角,毀壞擾亂之子。
18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.
他必得以東為基業, 又得仇敵之地西珥為產業; 以色列必行事勇敢。
19 A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
有一位出於雅各的,必掌大權; 他要除滅城中的餘民。
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”
巴蘭觀看亞瑪力,就題起詩歌說: 亞瑪力原為諸國之首, 但他終必沉淪。
21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.
巴蘭觀看基尼人,就題起詩歌說: 你的住處本是堅固; 你的窩巢做在巖穴中。
22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”
然而基尼必至衰微, 直到亞述把你擄去。
23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?
巴蘭又題起詩歌說: 哀哉!上帝行這事,誰能得活?
24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”
必有人乘船從基提界而來, 苦害亞述,苦害希伯; 他也必至沉淪。
25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.
於是巴蘭起來,回他本地去;巴勒也回去了。

< Numbers 24 >