Joshua 9
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof; ]
約旦河西，住山地、高原，並對着黎巴嫩山沿大海一帶的諸王，就是赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的諸王，聽見這事，
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
就都聚集，同心合意地要與約書亞和以色列人爭戰。
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
基遍的居民聽見約書亞向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
就設詭計，假充使者，拿舊口袋和破裂縫補的舊皮酒袋馱在驢上，
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] mouldy.
將補過的舊鞋穿在腳上，把舊衣服穿在身上；他們所帶的餅都是乾的，長了霉了。
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
他們到吉甲營中見約書亞，對他和以色列人說：「我們是從遠方來的，現在求你與我們立約。」
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
以色列人對這些希未人說：「只怕你們是住在我們中間的；若是這樣，怎能和你們立約呢？」
8 And they said unto Joshua, We [are] thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who [are] ye? and from whence come ye?
他們對約書亞說：「我們是你的僕人。」約書亞問他們說：「你們是甚麼人？是從哪裏來的？」
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
他們回答說：「僕人從極遠之地而來，是因聽見耶和華－你上帝的名聲和他在埃及所行的一切事，
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which [was] at Ashtaroth.
並他向約旦河東的兩個亞摩利王，就是希實本王西宏和在亞斯他錄的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We [are] your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
我們的長老和我們那地的一切居民對我們說：『你們手裏要帶着路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，對他們說：我們是你們的僕人；現在求你們與我們立約。』
12 This our bread we took hot [for] our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
我們出來要往你們這裏來的日子，從家裏帶出來的這餅還是熱的；看哪，現在都乾了，長了霉了。
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, [were] new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
這皮酒袋，我們盛酒的時候還是新的；看哪，現在已經破裂。我們這衣服和鞋，因為道路甚遠，也都穿舊了。」
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not [counsel] at the mouth of the LORD.
以色列人受了他們些食物，並沒有求問耶和華。
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
於是約書亞與他們講和，與他們立約，容他們活着；會眾的首領也向他們起誓。
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they [were] their neighbours, and [that] they dwelt among them.
以色列人與他們立約之後，過了三天才聽見他們是近鄰，住在以色列人中間的。
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.
以色列人起行，第三天到了他們的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比錄、基列‧耶琳。
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
因為會眾的首領已經指着耶和華－以色列的上帝向他們起誓，所以以色列人不擊殺他們；全會眾就向首領發怨言。
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
眾首領對全會眾說：「我們已經指着耶和華－以色列的上帝向他們起誓，現在我們不能害他們。
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
我們要如此待他們，容他們活着，免得有忿怒因我們所起的誓臨到我們身上。」
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
首領又對會眾說：「要容他們活着。」於是他們為全會眾作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首領對他們所說的話。
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We [are] very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
約書亞召了他們來，對他們說：「為甚麼欺哄我們說『我們離你們甚遠』呢？其實你們是住在我們中間。
23 Now therefore ye [are] cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
現在你們是被咒詛的！你們中間的人必斷不了作奴僕，為我上帝的殿作劈柴挑水的人。」
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
他們回答約書亞說：「因為有人實在告訴你的僕人，耶和華－你的上帝曾吩咐他的僕人摩西，把這全地賜給你們，並在你們面前滅絕這地的一切居民，所以我們為你們的緣故甚怕喪命，就行了這事。
25 And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
現在我們在你手中，你以怎樣待我們為善為正，就怎樣做吧！」
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
於是約書亞這樣待他們，救他們脫離以色列人的手，以色列人就沒有殺他們。
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
當日約書亞使他們在耶和華所要選擇的地方，為會眾和耶和華的壇作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。
