Joshua 9
1 Now When these things were heard of, all the kings beyond the Jordan, that dwelt in the mountains and in the plains, in the places near the sea, and on the coasts of the great sea, they also that dwell by Libanus, the Hethite and the Amorrhite, the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, and the Hevite, 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, to fight against Josue and Israel with one mind, and one resolution.
就都聚集，同心合意地要与约书亚和以色列人争战。
3 But they that dwelt in Gabaon, hearing all that Josue had done to Jericho and Hai:
基遍的居民听见约书亚向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
4 Cunningly devising took for themselves provisions, laying old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles rent and sewed up again,
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 very old shoes, which for a show of age were clouted with patches, and old garments upon them: the leaves also, which they carried for provisions by the way, 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 went to Josue, who then abode in the camp at Galgal, and said to him, and to all Israel with him: We are come from a far country, desiring to make peace with you. And the children of Israel answered 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 you dwell in the land which falls to our lot; if so, we can make no league 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 Josue: We are thy servants. Josue said to them: Who are you? and whence came you?
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 answered: From a very far country thy servants are come in the name of the Lord thy God. For we have heard the fame of his power, all the things that he did 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 Amorrhites that were beyond the Jordan, Sehon king of Hesebon, and Og king of Basan, that was in Astaroth:
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 ancients, and all the inhabitants of our country said to us: Take with you victuals for a long way, and go meet them, and say: We are your servants, make ye a league 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 Behold, these leaves we took hot, when we set out from our houses to come to you, now they are become dry, and broken in pieces, by being exceeding old.
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 bottles of wine when we filled them were new, now they are rent and burst. These garments we have on, and the shoes we have on our feet, by reason of the very long journey are worn out, and almost 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 They took therefore of their victuals, and consulted not 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 Josue made peace with them, and entering into a league promised that they should not be slain: the princes also of the multitude 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 Now three days after the league was made, they heard that they dwelt nigh, and they should 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 the children of Israel removed the camp, and came into their cities on the third day, the names of which are Gabaon, and Caphira, and Beroth, and Cariathiarim.
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 slew them not, because the princes of the multitude had sworn in the name of the Lord the God of Israel. Then all the common people murmured against the princes.
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 answered them: We have sworn to them in the name of the Lord the God of Israel, and therefore we may not 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 this we mill do to them: Let their lives be saved, lest the wrath of the Lord be stirred up against us, if we should be forsworn.
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 so let them live, as to serve the whole multitude in hewing wood, and bringing in water. As they were speaking 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 Josue called the Gabaonites and said to them: Why would you impose upon us, saying: We dwell far off from you, whereas you are in the midst of us?
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 race shall always be hewers of wood, and carriers of water unto 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 They answered: It was told us thy servants, that the Lord thy God had promised his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants thereof. Therefore we feared exceedingly and provided for our lives. compelled by the dread we had of you and we took 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 thy hand: deal with us as it seemeth good and right unto thee.
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 So Josue did as he had said, and delivered them from the hand of the children of Israel, that they should not be slain.
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 gave orders in that day that they should be in the service of all the people, and of the altar of the Lord, hewing wood and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which the Lord hath 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。
