< Numbers 22 >

1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho.
以色列人起行,在摩押平原、約旦河東,對着耶利哥安營。
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事,西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
3 And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
摩押人因以色列民甚多,就大大懼怕,心內憂急,
4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
對米甸的長老說:「現在這眾人要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡,就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。」那時西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。
5 And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me.
他差遣使者往大河邊的毗奪去,到比珥的兒子巴蘭本鄉那裏,召巴蘭來,說:「有一宗民從埃及出來,遮滿地面,與我對居。
6 And now come, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are mightier than I: perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
這民比我強盛,現在求你來為我咒詛他們,或者我能得勝,攻打他們,趕出此地。因為我知道,你為誰祝福,誰就得福;你咒詛誰,誰就受咒詛。」
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裏拿着卦金,到了巴蘭那裏,將巴勒的話都告訴了他。
8 And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, according as Jehovah shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
巴蘭說:「你們今夜在這裏住宿,我必照耶和華所曉諭我的回報你們。」摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裏住下了。
9 And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee?
上帝臨到巴蘭那裏,說:「在你這裏的人都是誰?」
10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me,
巴蘭回答說:「是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒打發人到我這裏來,說:
11 Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse me them: perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out.
『從埃及出來的民遮滿地面,你來為我咒詛他們,或者我能與他們爭戰,把他們趕出去。』」
12 And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
上帝對巴蘭說:「你不可同他們去,也不可咒詛那民,因為那民是蒙福的。」
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go into your land; for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you.
巴蘭早晨起來,對巴勒的使臣說:「你們回本地去吧,因為耶和華不容我和你們同去。」
14 And the princes of Moab rose up; and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam has refused to come with us.
摩押的使臣就起來,回巴勒那裏去,說:「巴蘭不肯和我們同來。」
15 Then sent Balak yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
巴勒又差遣使臣,比先前的又多又尊貴。
16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Suffer not thyself, I pray thee, to be restrained from coming to me;
他們到了巴蘭那裏,對他說:「西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說:『求你不容甚麼事攔阻你不到我這裏來,
17 for very highly will I honour thee, and whatever thou shalt say to me will I do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
因為我必使你得極大的尊榮。你向我要甚麼,我就給你甚麼;只求你來為我咒詛這民。』」
18 And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說:「巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我,我行大事小事也不得越過耶和華-我上帝的命。
19 And now, I pray you, abide ye also here this night, and I shall know what Jehovah will say to me further.
現在我請你們今夜在這裏住宿,等我得知耶和華還要對我說甚麼。」
20 Then God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do.
當夜,上帝臨到巴蘭那裏,說:「這些人若來召你,你就起來同他們去,你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
巴蘭早晨起來,備上驢,和摩押的使臣一同去了。
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Jehovah set himself in the way to withstand him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two young men were with him.
上帝因他去就發了怒;耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。他騎着驢,有兩個僕人跟隨他。
23 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field, and Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
驢看見耶和華的使者站在路上,手裏有拔出來的刀,就從路上跨進田間,巴蘭便打驢,要叫牠回轉上路。
24 And the Angel of Jehovah stood in a hollow of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
耶和華的使者就站在葡萄園的窄路上;這邊有牆,那邊也有牆。
25 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
驢看見耶和華的使者,就貼靠牆,將巴蘭的腳擠傷了;巴蘭又打驢。
26 Then the Angel of Jehovah went still further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
耶和華的使者又往前去,站在狹窄之處,左右都沒有轉折的地方。
27 And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
驢看見耶和華的使者,就臥在巴蘭底下,巴蘭發怒,用杖打驢。
28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
耶和華叫驢開口,對巴蘭說:「我向你行了甚麼,你竟打我這三次呢?」
29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee!
巴蘭對驢說:「因為你戲弄我,我恨不能手中有刀,把你殺了。」
30 And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No.
驢對巴蘭說:「我不是你從小時直到今日所騎的驢嗎?我素常向你這樣行過嗎?」巴蘭說:「沒有。」
31 Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face.
當時,耶和華使巴蘭的眼目明亮,他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上,手裏有拔出來的刀,巴蘭便低頭俯伏在地。
32 And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, it was I who came forth to withstand thee, for the way [thou walkest in] is for ruin before me.
耶和華的使者對他說:「你為何這三次打你的驢呢?我出來敵擋你,因你所行的,在我面前偏僻。
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; had she not turned from me, I had now certainly slain thee, and saved her alive.
驢看見我就三次從我面前偏過去;驢若沒有偏過去,我早把你殺了,留牠存活。」
34 And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again.
巴蘭對耶和華的使者說:「我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻擋我;你若不喜歡我去,我就轉回。」
35 And the Angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
耶和華的使者對巴蘭說:「你同這些人去吧!你只要說我對你說的話。」於是巴蘭同着巴勒的使臣去了。
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him, to the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is at the extremity of the border.
巴勒聽見巴蘭來了,就往摩押京城去迎接他;這城是在邊界上,在亞嫩河旁。
37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why didst thou not come to me? am I not surely able to honour thee?
巴勒對巴蘭說:「我不是急急地打發人到你那裏去召你嗎?你為何不到我這裏來呢?我豈不能使你得尊榮嗎?」
38 And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
巴蘭說:「我已經到你這裏來了!現在我豈能擅自說甚麼呢?上帝將甚麼話傳給我,我就說甚麼。」
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth.
巴蘭和巴勒同行,來到基列‧胡瑣。
40 And Balak offered oxen and small cattle, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him.
巴勒宰了牛羊,送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from thence the extremity of the people.
到了早晨,巴勒領巴蘭到巴力的高處;巴蘭從那裏觀看以色列營的邊界。

< Numbers 22 >