Joshua 9
1 And when these things were heard, all the kings across the Jordan, who lived among the mountains and plains, along the coastline and shores of the great sea, also those who were living near Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,
约旦河西，住山地、高原，并对着黎巴嫩山沿大海一带的诸王，就是赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的诸王，听见这事，
2 gathered themselves together, so that they might fight against Joshua and Israel, with one mind and with the same resolve.
就都聚集，同心合意地要与约书亚和以色列人争战。
3 But those who were living in Gibeon, hearing all that Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
基遍的居民听见约书亚向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
4 planning cleverly, took for themselves provisions, placing old sacks upon their donkeys, and wineskins that had torn and been sewed up,
就设诡计，假充使者，拿旧口袋和破裂缝补的旧皮酒袋驮在驴上，
5 and having very old shoes, which had been sewn with patches indicating their age, and being clothed in old garments, having also loaves, which they carried as food for the journey, which were hard and broken into pieces.
将补过的旧鞋穿在脚上，把旧衣服穿在身上；他们所带的饼都是干的，长了霉了。
6 And they traveled to Joshua, who at that time was staying in the camp at Gilgal. And they said to him, and to all of Israel with him, “We have come from a far away land, desiring to make peace with you.” And the sons of Israel responded to them, and said,
他们到吉甲营中见约书亚，对他和以色列人说：“我们是从远方来的，现在求你与我们立约。”
7 “Perhaps instead, you live in the land which ought to be ours by lot, and we would be unable to form a pact with you.”
以色列人对这些希未人说：“只怕你们是住在我们中间的；若是这样，怎能和你们立约呢？”
8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them: “But who are you? And where are you from?”
他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的仆人。”约书亚问他们说：“你们是什么人？是从哪里来的？”
9 They responded: “Your servants have arrived, from a very far away land, in the name of the Lord, your God. For we have heard about the fame of his power, all the things that he has done in Egypt,
他们回答说：“仆人从极远之地而来，是因听见耶和华—你 神的名声和他在埃及所行的一切事，
10 and to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan: Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
并他向约旦河东的两个亚摩利王，就是希实本王西宏和在亚斯他录的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
11 And our elders, and all the inhabitants of our land, have said to us: ‘Take in hand provisions for the very long journey, and meet with them, and say: We are your servants; form a pact with us.’
我们的长老和我们那地的一切居民对我们说：‘你们手里要带着路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，对他们说：我们是你们的仆人；现在求你们与我们立约。’
12 Lo, the loaves were taken up warm when we departed from our houses, so that we might come to you. Now they have become dry and broken, due to age.
我们出来要往你们这里来的日子，从家里带出来的这饼还是热的；看哪，现在都干了，长了霉了。
13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, now they are torn and broken. The garments we are wearing, and the shoes we have on our feet, due to the great length of the distance, have become worn and are nearly consumed.”
这皮酒袋，我们盛酒的时候还是新的；看哪，现在已经破裂。我们这衣服和鞋，因为道路甚远，也都穿旧了。”
14 And so they accepted this, because of their provisions, and they did not consult the mouth of the Lord.
以色列人受了他们些食物，并没有求问耶和华。
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and entering into a pact, he promised that they would not be put to death. The leaders of the multitude also swore to them.
于是约书亚与他们讲和，与他们立约，容他们活着；会众的首领也向他们起誓。
16 Then, three days after the pact was formed, they heard that they lived in the vicinity, and that they would soon be among them.
以色列人与他们立约之后，过了三天才听见他们是近邻，住在以色列人中间的。
17 And so the sons of Israel moved the camp, and they arrived at their cities on the third day, those which are called: Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
以色列人起行，第三天到了他们的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比录、基列·耶琳。
18 And they did not strike them, because the leaders of the multitude had sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. And so all of the common people murmured against the leaders.
因为会众的首领已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，所以以色列人不击杀他们；全会众就向首领发怨言。
19 And they responded to them: “We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, and for that reason, we are not able to touch them.
众首领对全会众说：“我们已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，现在我们不能害他们。
20 But we shall do this to them: Certainly, let them be preserved so that they may live, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, since we would have sworn falsely.
我们要如此待他们，容他们活着，免得有忿怒因我们所起的誓临到我们身上。”
21 But though they live, let them serve the entire multitude by cutting wood and carrying water.” And while they were discussing these things,
首领又对会众说：“要容他们活着。”于是他们为全会众作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首领对他们所说的话。
22 Joshua called the Gibeonites, and he said to them: “Why would you be willing to deceive us by fraud, saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when you are in our midst?
约书亚召了他们来，对他们说：“为什么欺哄我们说‘我们离你们甚远’呢？其实你们是住在我们中间。
23 Therefore, you shall be under a curse, and your stock shall not cease to be cutters of wood and carriers of water, into the house of my God.”
现在你们是被咒诅的！你们中间的人必断不了作奴仆，为我 神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。”
24 And they responded: “It was reported to us, your servants, that the Lord your God had promised his servant Moses that he would give you the entire land, and that he would destroy all its inhabitants. Therefore, we were very afraid, and we made a provision for our lives, compelled by the dread of you, and we undertook this counsel.
他们回答约书亚说：“因为有人实在告诉你的仆人，耶和华—你的 神曾吩咐他的仆人摩西，把这全地赐给你们，并在你们面前灭绝这地的一切居民，所以我们为你们的缘故甚怕丧命，就行了这事。
25 And now we are in your hand. Act toward us as it seems good and right to you.”
现在我们在你手中，你以怎样待我们为善为正，就怎样做吧！”
26 Therefore, Joshua did just as he had said, and he freed them from the hand of the sons of Israel, so that they would not be killed.
于是约书亚这样待他们，救他们脱离以色列人的手，以色列人就没有杀他们。
27 And he decreed on that day, that they would be in the ministry of all the people and of the altar of the Lord, cutting wood and carrying water, even until this present time, in the place which the Lord had chosen.
当日约书亚使他们在耶和华所要选择的地方，为会众和耶和华的坛作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。
