< Chronicles II 32 >
1 And after these things and this faithful dealing, came Sennacherim king of the Assyrians, and he came to Juda, and encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to take them for himself.
[亞述來犯]這些忠貞之事作完之後,亞述王散乃黑黎布來進攻猶大,包圍一切堅城,企圖攻破,佔為己有。
2 And Ezekias saw that Sennacherim was come, and [that] his face [was set] to fight against Jerusalem.
希則克雅見散乃黑黎市前來,決意要進攻耶路撒冷,
3 And he took counsel with his elders and his mighty [men] to stop the wells of water which were without the city: and they helped him.
便與自己的將領和勇士商議,將城外的水泉杜塞;他們都贊成;
4 And he collected many people, and stopped the wells of water, and the river that flowed through the city, saying, Lest the king of Assyria come, and find much water, and strengthen [himself].
於是召集許多人,將水泉和通過田間的水渠都杜塞,說:「為什麼讓亞述王來,得到這樣多的水! 」
5 And Ezekias strengthened [himself], and built all the wall that had been pulled down, and the towers, and another wall in front without, and fortified the strong place of the city of David, and prepared arms in abundance.
希則克雅遂加強防禦工事,重修所有破裂的城牆,上面建上城樓,城外又築了一道牆,加強達味城的米羅,製造了許多箭矢和盾牌。
6 And he appointed captains of war over the people, and they were gathered to [meet] him to the open place of the gate of the valley, and he encouraged them, saying,
然後派了將官率領軍民,將他們集合到城門廣場他自己面前,鼓勵他們說:「
7 Be strong and courageous, and fear not, neither be dismayed before the King of Assyria, and before all the nation that [is] with him: for [there are] more with us than with him.
你們應該勇敢大膽,不要害怕,不要因亞述王和他所統領的大軍而膽怯,因為那與我們同在的比與他同在的,更有能力。
8 With him [are] arms of flesh; but with us [is] the Lord our God to save [us], and to fight our battle. And the people were encouraged at the words of Ezekias king of Juda.
那與他同在的只是血肉的手臂,那與我們同在的卻是天主,我們的天主,他必要協助我們,為我們作戰。」眾人都因猶大王希則克雅這番話而得到鼓勵。[亞述王的侮辱]
9 And afterward Sennacherim king of the Assyrians sent his servants to Jerusalem; and [he went] himself against Lachis, and all his army with him, and sent to Ezekias king of Juda, and to all Juda that [was] in Jerusalem, saying,
此後,亞述王散乃黑黎布派自己的臣僕到耶路撒冷來,─他本人偕全軍駐在拉基士─向猶大王希則克雅,和在耶路撒冷所有的猶大人說:「
10 Thus says Sennacherim king of the Assyrians, On what do you trust, that you will remain in the siege in Jerusalem?
亞述王散乃黑黎布這樣說:你們在耶路撒冷受困,還依靠什麼呢﹖
11 Does not Ezekias deceive you, to deliver you to death and famine and thirst, saying, The Lord our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
希則克雅曾對你們說過:雅威我們的天主必要救我們脫離亞述王的手,這豈不是誘惑你們,使你們餓死渴死嗎﹖
12 Is not this Ezekias who has taken down his altars and his high places and has spoken to Juda and the dwellers in Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before this altar and burn incense upon it?
希則克雅豈不是將高丘和鄉壇推翻,且吩咐猶大和耶路撒冷人說:你們應在一個壇前朝拜,單在這上面焚香嗎﹖
13 Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the nations of the countries? Could the gods of the nations of all the earth at all rescue their people out of my hand?
難道你們不知道我與我的祖先,對各列邦民所作的事嗎﹖列邦各地的神,是否曾能拯救自己的國土,脫離我的手﹖
14 Who is there amongst all the gods of those nations whom my fathers utterly destroyed, [worthy of trust]? Could they deliver their people out of my hand, that your God should deliver you out of my hand?
我祖先所消滅的那些邦國的諸神中,有那一個曾能夠拯救自己的百姓,脫離我的手﹖難道你們的神就能拯救你們脫離我的手嗎﹖
15 Now then, let not Ezekias deceive you, and let him not make you thus confident, and believe him not: for no god of any kingdom or nation is at all able to deliver his people out of my hand, or the hand of my fathers: therefore your God shall not deliver you out of my hand.
所以現在,不要讓希則克雅這樣欺騙你們,迷惑你們;你們也不要相信他,因為任何一個國家,一個民族的神,都不能拯救自己的百姓,脫離我的手,和我祖先的手;何況你們的神﹖他更不能拯救你們脫離我的手! 」
16 And his servants continued to speak against the Lord God, and against his servant Ezekias.
散乃黑黎布的臣僕,還說了許多譭謗上主天主,和他僕人希則克雅的話。
17 And he wrote a letter to reproach the Lord God of Israel, and spoke concerning him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the earth have not delivered their people out of my hand, so the God of Ezekias shall by no means deliver his people out of my hand.
散乃黑黎布也寫信嘲笑上主以色列的天主,侮辱他說:「就如列邦民族的神沒有拯救自己的百姓脫離我的手,同樣希則克雅的神也不能救自己的百姓脫離我的手。」
18 And he cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language to the people of Jerusalem on the wall, [calling them] to assist them, and pull down [the walls], that they might take the city.
隨後,他們用猶大方言向耶路撒冷城牆上的軍民呼喊,想驚嚇他們,令他們恐懼,以便奪取京城。
19 And he spoke against the God of Jerusalem, even as against the gods of the nations of the earth, the works of the hands of men.
他們論及耶路撒冷的天主,好似論及列邦民族的神一樣,當作了人手的造物。[希則克雅祈禱獲允]
20 And king Ezekias and Esaias the prophet the son of Amos prayed concerning these things, and they cried to heaven.
希則克雅王與阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知為此巷天祈求呼籲。
21 And the Lord sent an angel, and he destroyed every mighty man and warrior, and leader and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria: and he returned with shame of face to his own land and came into the house of his god: and [some] of them that came out of his bowels killed him with the sword.
上主便派一位天使進入亞述王的營爭,將所有的兵士、將軍和統帥,予以殲滅,使亞述王含羞回了本國。當他進入自己的神廟時,為他親生的兒子用劍所殺。
22 So the Lord delivered Ezekias and the dwellers in Jerusalem out of the hand of Sennacherim King of Assyria, and out of the hand of all [his enemies], and gave them rest round about.
這樣,上主救了希則克雅和耶路撒冷的居民,脫離了亞述王散乃黑黎布和所有敵人的手,使他們四境獲得了安寧。
23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem, and presents to Ezekias king of Juda; and he was exalted in the eyes of all the nations after these things.
眾人就都到耶路撒冷向上主獻上禮品也贈予猶大王希則克雅禮物;從此以後,希則克雅乃為個國所敬重。
24 In those days Ezekias was sick even to death, and prayed to the Lord: and he listened to him, and gave him a sign.
那時,希則克雅害病要死,他哀求了上主,上主便應允了他,給了他一個異兆。
25 But Ezekias did not recompense the Lord according to the return which he made him, but his heart was lifted up: and wrath came upon him, and upon Juda and Jerusalem.
但是,希則克雅不但沒有照他所受的恩惠還報,反而心高氣傲,於是上主的怒火降於他和猶大並耶路撒冷。
26 And Ezekias humbled himself after the exaltation of his heart, he and the dwellers in Jerusalem; and the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Ezekias.
以後,希則克雅抑制了自己的驕傲,他和耶路撒冷居民都自謙自卑,因此上主的怒氣,在希則克雅生時,沒有向他們發作。[希則克雅一生概略]
27 And Ezekias had wealth and very great glory: and he made for himself treasuries of gold, and silver, and precious stones, also for spices, and stores for arms, and for precious vessels;
希則克雅享盡富貴榮華,建造了府庫,儲藏金銀、寶石、香料、盾牌和各種珍器;
28 and cities for the produce of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls and mangers for every [kind of] cattle, and folds for flocks;
修建了倉廩,儲藏五穀、新酒和油;修蓋了棚欄,為養各類牲畜;為羊群修了羊棧;
29 and cities which he built for himself, and store of sheep and oxen in abundance, for the Lord gave him a very great store.
又畜養了驢,以及許多大小牲畜;天主實在賜給了他極多的財物。
30 The same Ezekias stopped up the course of the water of Gion above, and brought the water down straight south of the city of David. And Ezekias prospered in all his works.
希則克雅堵住基紅泉上邊的水,將水直引到達味城西。希則克雅所作所為無不順利。
31 Notwithstanding, in regard to the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who were sent to him to enquire of him [concerning] the prodigy which came upon the land, the Lord left him, to try him, to know what was in his heart.
甚至巴比倫王公大人派使者來見希則克雅,詢問他國內發生的奇事時,天主也讓他自由,藉以考驗他,好知道他心中的一切。
32 And the rest of the acts of Ezekias, and his kindness, behold, they are written in the prophecy of Esaias the son of Amos the prophet, and in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel.
希則克雅其餘的事蹟,以及他的善行,都記載在阿摩茲的兒子依撒意亞先知的神視錄及猶大和以色列列王實錄上。
33 And Ezekias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in a high place amongst the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Juda and the dwellers in Jerusalem gave him glory and honour at his death. And Manasses his son reigned in his stead.
希則克雅與他的祖先同眠,葬在達味子孫墓地的斜坡上;他死了,全猶大和耶路撒冷居民都為他舉哀致敬;他的兒子默納舍繼位為王。