Judges 9
1 Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem, to his maternal brothers, and he spoke to them, and to all the relatives of the house of his maternal grandfather, saying:
耶魯巴耳的兒子阿彼默肋客到舍根去見他的母舅們，對他們和他母家的人說：「
2 “Speak to all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you: that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And consider also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
請你們問一問舍根所有的公民：是耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人治理你們好呢﹖還是一個人治理你們好呢﹖你們還要記得：我是你們的骨肉。」
3 And his maternal brothers spoke about him to all the men of Shechem, all these words, and they inclined their hearts after Abimelech, saying, “He is our brother.”
他的母舅們就替他把這些話傳給舍根所有的公民；他們的心都傾向阿彼默肋客，因為他們說：「他確是我們的兄弟! 」
4 And they gave to him the weight of seventy silver coins from the shrine of Baal-berith. With this, he hired for himself indigent and wandering men, and they followed him.
他們遂從巴耳貝黎特廟裏拿了七十塊銀錢給他，阿彼默肋客就用這些錢僱了一些放蕩無賴之徒跟隨他。
5 And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding.
他回到敖弗辣他父親家裏，在一塊石頭上把自己的兄弟，即耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人都殺了，只剩下耶魯巴耳的幼子約堂，因為他藏了起來。
6 Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem.
於是舍根所有的公民和貝特米羅人都集合起來，在舍根的紀念碑前那棵橡樹下，立阿彼默肋客為王。約堂講寓言
7 When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
有人將此事告訴了約堂，約堂就上了革黎斤山頂，站在那裏，高聲向他們喊說：「舍根公民，請你們聽我，望天主也聽你們!
8 The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
有一次，眾樹要去立一樹為他們的君王，就對橄欖樹說：請你作我們的君王!
9 And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’
橄欖樹回答說：人用我的油來敬禮神，尊崇人，難道要我放棄出油，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’
眾樹又對無花果樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
11 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’
無花果樹回答說：難道要我捨掉我的甘甜和美果，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
12 And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
眾樹又對葡萄樹說：請你來作我們的君王!
13 And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’
葡萄樹就回答說：我的新酒悅樂神人，難道要我放棄出產，而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
14 And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
於是眾樹對荊棘說：請你來作我們的君王!
15 And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
荊棘對樹木答道：若你們真願立我作你們的君王，來罷! 躲在我的蔭下；否則，火必從荊棘冒出，吞滅黎巴嫩的香柏木。
16 So now, if you are upright and without sin in appointing Abimelech as a king over you, and if you have acted well with Jerubbaal, and with his house, and if you have repaid, in turn, the benefits of him who fought on your behalf,
現在，你們立阿彼默肋客為王，如果你們認為作的真誠正直，如果你們認為是善待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族，如果你們認為你們這樣行事，對得起他一手所立的功勳，─
17 and who gave his life to dangers, so that he might rescue you from the hand of Midian,
因為原是我父親為你們作戰而捨生，把你們由米德楊手中救出來。
18 though you now have risen up against my father’s house, and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have appointed Abimelech, the son of his handmaid, as a king over the inhabitants of Shechem, since he is your brother,
然而你們今日卻來反對我父親的家族，在一塊石頭上殺了他的兒子七十人，立他婢女的兒子阿彼默肋客為舍根公民的君王，因為他是你們的弟兄。─
19 if therefore you are upright and have acted without fault with Jerubbaal and his house, then you should rejoice on this day in Abimelech, and he should rejoice in you.
今天如果你們認為以真誠正直對待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族，那麼，你們就因阿彼默肋客而喜樂罷! 希望他有因你們而喜樂!
20 But if you have acted perversely, may fire go forth from him and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the town of Millo. And may fire go forth from the men of Shechem and from the town of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”
不然，願火從阿彼默肋客發出，吞滅舍根的公民和貝特米羅! 也願火從舍根的公民和貝特米羅發出，吞滅阿彼默肋客! 」
21 And when he had said these things, he fled and went away to Beer. And he lived in that place, out of fear of Abimelech, his brother.
以後約堂出走，逃到貝爾去了，住在那裏，遠避他的哥哥阿彼默肋客。舍根叛變
22 And so Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.
阿彼默肋客治理以色列三年。
23 And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,
天主使惡神降在阿彼默肋客和舍根公民中間，舍根的公民便背叛了阿彼默肋客，
24 and to place blame for the crime of the killing of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for the shedding of their blood, upon Abimelech, their brother, and upon the rest of the leaders of the Shechemites, who assisted him.
要報復對耶魯巴耳七十個兒子的罪行，將他們的血歸於他們的兄弟阿彼默肋客，因為是他殺害了他們；也歸於舍根的公民，因為他們曾鼓勵他殺害自己的兄弟。
25 And they stationed an ambush against him at the summit of the mountains. And while they were waiting for his arrival, they committed robberies, taking spoils from those passing by. And this was reported to Abimelech.
舍根公民為反抗他，就在山頂上設下伏兵，搶掠所有路過他們那裏的人：有人將這事報告給阿彼默肋客。
26 Now Gaal, the son of Ebed, went with his brothers, and crossed over to Shechem. And the inhabitants of Shechem, uplifted by his arrival,
那時厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他同族的人遷徙到舍根，舍根的居民竟信任了他；
27 departed into the fields, laying waste to the vineyards, and trampling the grapes. And while singing and dancing, they entered into the shrine of their god. And while feasting and drinking, they cursed Abimelech.
他們便到田間收葡萄，榨酒，開慶祝會，到他們的神廟裏又吃又喝，也咒罵了阿彼默肋客。
28 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried out: “Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, who has appointed Zebul, his servant, as ruler over the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?
厄貝得的兒子加阿耳說：「阿彼默肋客是誰，我們舍根人是誰，我們竟該服侍他﹖豈不是耶魯巴耳的兒子和官員則步耳，該服侍舍根的始祖哈摩爾的後人嗎﹖我們為什麼要服侍阿彼默肋客﹖
29 I wish that someone would set this people under my hand, so that I might take away Abimelech from their midst.” And it was told to Abimelech, “Gather the multitude of an army, and approach.”
恨不得這百姓交於我手中，好把阿彼默肋客除掉。我要對阿彼默肋客說：增派你的軍隊出征罷! 」
30 For Zebul, the ruler of the city, upon hearing the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, became very angry.
則步耳城尉聽到厄貝得的兒子加阿耳的話，大發忿怒，
31 And he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying: “Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, has arrived at Shechem with his brothers, and he has set the city against you.
遂打發使者去見在阿魯瑪的阿彼默肋客說：「看，厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他的同族人，來到舍根，挑唆全城反叛你。
32 And so, rise up in the night, with the people who are with you, and lie hidden in the field.
所以現在你和跟隨你的人夜裏要起來，埋伏在田野間，
33 And at first light in the morning, as the sun is rising, rush upon the city. And when he goes out against you, with his people, do to him what you are able to do.”
明天早晨太陽一出來，就攻城。當他和隨從他的人出來抵抗你時，你看看怎樣好，就怎樣對付他。」
34 And so Abimelech rose up, with all his army, by night, and he set ambushes near Shechem in four places.
阿彼默肋客遂同所有跟隨他的人夜間起身，分作四隊，對著舍根設下埋伏。
35 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and he stood at the entrance to the gate of the city. Then Abimelech rose up, and all the army with him, from the places of the ambushes.
當厄貝得的兒子加阿耳出來，站在城門口時，阿彼默肋客便與隨從他的人從埋伏的地方出來，
36 And when Gaal had seen the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, a multitude is descending from the mountains.” And he responded to him, “You are seeing the shadows of the mountains, as if they were the heads of men, and so you are being deceived by this error.”
加阿耳一見這些人就對則步耳說：「看，有人從山頂下來! 」則步耳回答他說：「你看見山影，誤以為是人! 」
37 Again, Gaal said, “Behold, a people is descending from the middle of the land, and one company is arriving by the way that looks towards the oak.”
加阿耳接著又說：「看，有人從高地出來，又有一隊沿巫士橡樹道上前來。」
38 And Zebul said to him: “Where is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people that you were despising? Go out and fight against him.”
則步耳對他說：「現在你的口在那裏﹖不是你曾說過：阿彼默肋客是誰，要我們服侍他﹖這不是你所輕視的人嗎﹖現在請你出去攻打他罷! 」
39 Therefore, Gaal went out, with the people of Shechem watching, and he fought against Abimelech,
加阿耳就在舍根公民之前出去，攻打阿彼默肋客；
40 who pursued him, fleeing, and drove him into the city. And many were cut down on his side, even to the gate of the city.
a可是阿彼默肋客一追擊他，他就在他面前逃跑了；直到城門有許多傷亡的人。
41 And Abimelech made camp at Arumah. But Zebul expelled Gaal and his companions from the city, and he would not permit them to remain in it.
以後阿彼默肋客回到阿魯瑪；則步耳將加阿耳和他的同族人趕走，禁止他們住在舍根。舍根滅亡
42 Therefore, on the following day, the people departed into the field. And when this had been reported to Abimelech,
第二天早晨，人民到田野裏去，有人告訴了阿彼默肋客，
43 he took his army, and divided it into three companies, and he placed ambushes in the fields. And seeing that the people had departed from the city, he rose up and rushed upon them,
他於是把自己的人分作三隊，叫他們埋伏在田間；他自己窺望，當他看見百姓從城裏出來，就衝過去，擊殺了他們；
44 along with his own company, assaulting and besieging the city. But the two other companies pursued the enemies scattered in the field.
當時阿彼默肋客與跟隨他的軍隊衝過去，把住城門口，而另兩隊衝向田間的眾人，殺了他們。
45 Now Abimelech assaulted the city all that day. And he seized it, and he killed its inhabitants, and he destroyed it, so much so that he scattered salt in it.
那一天，阿彼默肋客整天攻打那城，把城攻下，殺了城中的居民，把城拆毀，撒上鹽。
46 And when those living in the tower of Shechem had heard about this, they entered the temple of their god, Berith, where they had formed a covenant with him. And it was because of this, that the place had taken its name. And it was greatly fortified.
舍根碉堡裏的人聽見此事，就躲到巴耳貝黎特廟裏的地穴裏。
47 Abimelech, also hearing that the men of the tower of Shechem had joined together,
有人告訴阿彼默肋客，人民都聚集在舍根碉堡內。
48 ascended to mount Zalmon, with all his people. And taking an axe, he cut down the branch of a tree. And laying it on his shoulder, and carrying it, he said to his companions, “What you see me do, you must do quickly.”
阿彼默肋客和跟隨他的人就上了匝耳孟山；阿彼默肋客手裏拿著一把斧頭，砍了一根樹枝，拿起來放在肩上，然後向跟隨他的人說：「你們看我作什麼，你們也趕快照樣去作! 」
49 And so, eagerly cutting down branches from the trees, they followed their leader. And surrounding the fortified place, they set it on fire. And so it happened that, by smoke and fire, one thousand persons died, men and women together, the occupants of the tower of Shechem.
於是眾人都各砍了根樹枝，隨著阿彼默肋客把樹枝堆在地穴上，在地穴上點了火，於是舍根碉堡裏所有的人都死了，男女約有一千人。阿彼默肋客的結局
50 Then Abimelech, setting out from there, arrived at the town of Thebez, which he surrounded and besieged with his army.
此後阿彼默肋客往特貝茲去，安營攻打特貝茲，也佔據了那城。
51 Now there was, in the midst of the city, a high tower, to which men and women were fleeing together, with all the leaders of the city. And, having very strongly sealed the gate, they were standing on the roof of the tower to defend themselves.
在那城中有一座堅固的城堡，該城所有的公民，男男女女都跑到那裏躲避，關上門，上到碉堡頂上。
52 And Abimelech, drawing near the tower, fought valiantly. And approaching the gate, he strove to set it on fire.
阿彼默肋客來到碉堡前攻打；當他走近碉堡門口，要放火焚燒時，
53 And behold, one woman, throwing a fragment of a millstone from above, struck the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
有一個婦人拋下了一塊磨石，正落在阿彼默肋客頭上，打碎了他的頭蓋骨。
54 And he quickly called to his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise it may be said that I was slain by a woman.” And, doing as he was ordered, he killed him.
他急忙喊叫替他執戟的少年，向他說：「拔出你的刀殺了我罷! 免得人講論我說：一個女子殺了他! 」那少年就用刀刺死了他。
55 And when he was dead, all those of Israel who were with him returned to their homes.
以色列人一見阿彼默肋客死了，各回了本家。
56 And so did God repay the evil that Abimelech had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.
於是天主報復了阿彼默肋客對他父親所行的惡事，因為他殺了自己的七十個兄弟；
57 The Shechemites also were given retribution for what they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, fell upon them.
並且天主也把舍根人的一切惡行歸在他們自己的頭上：這樣耶魯巴耳的兒子約堂的詛咒，也應驗在他們身上。
