Judges 9
1 And Abimelech son of Jerubba‘al goes to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and speaks to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
耶路‧巴力的兒子亞比米勒到了示劍見他的眾母舅，對他們和他外祖全家的人說：
2 “Now speak in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you—seventy men ruling over you (all the sons of Jerubba‘al), or one man ruling over you? And you have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.”
「請你們問示劍的眾人說，是耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都管理你們好呢？還是一人管理你們好呢？你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。」
3 And his mother’s brothers speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclines after Abimelech, for they said, “He [is] our brother”;
他的眾母舅便將這一切話為他說給示劍人聽，示劍人的心就歸向亞比米勒。他們說：「他原是我們的弟兄」；
4 and they give seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Ba‘al-Berith to him, and Abimelech hires vain and unstable men with them, and they go after him;
就從巴力‧比利土的廟中取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒；亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。
5 and he goes into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slays his brothers, sons of Jerubba‘al, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubba‘al, is left, for he was hidden.
他往俄弗拉到他父親的家，將他弟兄、耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都殺在一塊磐石上；只剩下耶路‧巴力的小兒子約坦，因為他躲藏了。
6 And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem;
示劍人和米羅人都一同聚集，往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裏，立亞比米勒為王。
7 and they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goes and stands on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifts up his voice, and calls, and says to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, and God listens to you:
有人將這事告訴約坦，他就去站在基利心山頂上，向眾人大聲喊叫說：「示劍人哪，你們要聽我的話，上帝也就聽你們的話。
8 The trees have diligently gone to anoint a king over them, and they say to the olive, Reign over us.
有一時，樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你作我們的王。』
9 And the olive says to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honor gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
橄欖樹回答說：『我豈肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
10 And the trees say to the fig, Come, reign over us.
樹木對無花果樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
11 And the fig says to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
無花果樹回答說：『我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
12 And the trees say to the vine, Come, reign over us.
樹木對葡萄樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
13 And the vine says to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is making gods and men glad, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
葡萄樹回答說：『我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』
14 And all the trees say to the bramble, Come, reign over us.
眾樹對荊棘說：『請你來作我們的王。』
15 And the bramble says to the trees, If in truth you are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not—fire comes out from the bramble, and devours the cedars of Lebanon.
荊棘回答說：『你們若誠誠實實地膏我為王，就要投在我的蔭下；不然，願火從荊棘裏出來，燒滅黎巴嫩的香柏樹。』
16 And now, if you have acted in truth and in sincerity when you make Abimelech king; and if you have done good with Jerubba‘al, and with his house; and if you have done to him according to the deed of his hands—
「現在你們立亞比米勒為王，若按誠實正直善待耶路‧巴力和他的全家，這就是酬他的勞。
17 because my father has fought for you, and casts his life away from [him], and delivers you from the hand of Midian;
從前我父冒死為你們爭戰，救了你們脫離米甸人的手。
18 and you have risen against the house of my father today, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother—
你們如今起來攻擊我的父家，將他眾子七十人殺在一塊磐石上，又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒為示劍人的王；他原是你們的弟兄。
19 indeed, if in truth and in sincerity you have acted with Jerubba‘al and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and he rejoices—even he—in you;
你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路‧巴力和他的家，就可因亞比米勒得歡樂，他也可因你們得歡樂；
20 and if not—fire comes out from Abimelech and devours the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire comes out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devours Abimelech.”
不然，願火從亞比米勒發出，燒滅示劍人和米羅眾人，又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來，燒滅亞比米勒。」
21 And Jotham hurries, and flees, and goes to Beer, and dwells there, from the face of his brother Abimelech.
約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裏。
22 And Abimelech is prince over Israel [for] three years,
亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。
23 and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,
上帝使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間，示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。
24 for [the] coming in of [the] violence [against] seventy sons of Jerubba‘al, and to place their blood on their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
這是要叫耶路‧巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒，又叫那流他們血的罪歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。
25 And the masters of Shechem set ambushes for him on the top of the hills, and rob everyone who passes over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.
示劍人在山頂上設埋伏，等候亞比米勒。凡從他們那裏經過的人，他們就搶奪。有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。
26 And Gaal son of Ebed comes—also his brothers—and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,
以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄來到示劍，示劍人都信靠他。
27 and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech.
示劍人出城到田間去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，設擺筵宴，進他們神的廟中吃喝，咒詛亞比米勒。
28 And Gaal son of Ebed says, “Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? Is [he] not son of Jerubba‘al? And his commander Zebul? The men of Hamor father of Shechem serve you, and why do we serve him—we?
以別的兒子迦勒說：「亞比米勒是誰？示劍是誰？使我們服事他呢？他不是耶路‧巴力的兒子嗎？他的幫手不是西布勒嗎？你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔。我們為何服事亞比米勒呢？
29 And oh that this people were in my hand—then I turn Abimelech aside”; and he says to Abimelech, “Increase your host, and come out.”
惟願這民歸我的手下，我就除掉亞比米勒。」迦勒又對亞比米勒說：「增添你的軍兵出來吧。」
30 And Zebul, prince of the city, hears the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burns,
邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，
31 and he sends messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming into Shechem, and behold, they are fortifying the city against you;
悄悄地打發人去見亞比米勒，說：「以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍，煽惑城中的民攻擊你。
32 and now, rise by night, you and the people who [are] with you, and lay wait in the field,
現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。
33 and it has been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, you rise early, and have pushed against the city; and behold, he and the people who [are] with him are going out to you—and you have done to him as your hand finds.”
到早晨太陽一出，你就起來闖城。迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候，你便向他們見機而做。」
34 And Abimelech rises, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem—four detachments;
於是，亞比米勒和跟隨他的眾人夜間起來，分作四隊，埋伏等候示劍人。
35 and Gaal son of Ebed goes out, and stands at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rises—also the people who [are] with him—from the ambush,
以別的兒子迦勒出去，站在城門口。亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。
36 and Gaal sees the people and says to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the top of the hills”; and Zebul says to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the hills like men.”
迦勒看見那些人，就對西布勒說：「看哪，有人從山頂上下來了。」西布勒說：「你看見山的影子，以為是人。」
37 And Gaal adds yet to speak and says, “Behold, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
迦勒又說：「看哪，有人從高處下來，又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。」
38 And Zebul says to him, “Where [is] your mouth now, in that you say, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? Is this not the people against which you have kicked? Please go out now and fight against it.”
西布勒對他說：「你曾說，亞比米勒是誰，叫我們服事他？你所誇的口在哪裏呢？這不是你所藐視的民嗎？你現在出去，與他們交戰吧！」
39 And Gaal goes out before the masters of Shechem, and fights against Abimelech,
於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。
40 and Abimelech pursues him, and he flees from his presence, and many fall wounded—to the opening of the gate.
亞比米勒追趕迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有許多受傷仆倒的，直到城門。
41 And Abimelech abides in Arumah, and Zebul casts out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem.
亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪。西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他們住在示劍。
42 And it comes to pass, on the next day, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,
次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；
43 and he takes the people, and divides them into three detachments, and lays wait in a field, and looks, and behold, the people are coming out from the city, and he rises against them, and strikes them.
他就把他的人分作三隊，埋伏在田間，看見示劍人從城裏出來，就起來擊殺他們。
44 And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and strike them,
亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去，站在城門口；那兩隊直闖到田間，擊殺了眾人。
45 and Abimelech has fought against the city all that day, and captures the city, and has slain the people who [are] in it, and he breaks down the city, and sows it [with] salt.
亞比米勒整天攻打城，將城奪取，殺了其中的居民，將城拆毀，撒上了鹽。
46 And all the masters of the Tower of Shechem hear, and go into the high place of the house of the god Berith,
示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力‧比利土廟的衛所。
47 and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the Tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,
有人告訴亞比米勒說：「示劍樓的人都聚在一處。」
48 and Abimelech goes up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech takes the great axe in his hand, and cuts off a bough of the trees, and lifts it up, and sets [it] on his shoulder, and says to the people who [are] with him, “What you have seen me do—hurry, do as I [have done].”
亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山。亞比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根樹枝，扛在肩上，對跟隨他的人說：「你們看我所行的，也當趕緊照樣行。」
49 And every one of the people cuts down his bough and goes after Abimelech, and sets [them] at the high place, and burns the high place with fire by these, and also all the men of the Tower of Shechem die—about one thousand men and women.
眾人就各砍一枝，跟隨亞比米勒，把樹枝堆在衛所的四圍，放火燒了衛所，以致示劍樓的人都死了，男女約有一千。
50 And Abimelech goes to Thebez, and encamps against Thebez, and captures it,
亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。
51 and a strong tower has been in the midst of the city, and all the men and the women flee there, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.
城中有一座堅固的樓；城裏的眾人，無論男女，都逃進樓去，關上門，上了樓頂。
52 And Abimelech comes to the tower, and fights against it, and draws near to the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。
53 and a certain woman casts a piece of a millstone on the head of Abimelech, and breaks his skull,
有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上，打破了他的腦骨。
54 and he calls quickly to the young man carrying his weapons and says to him, “Draw your sword, and you have put me to death, lest they say of me—A woman slew him”; and his young man pierced him through, and he dies.
他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，對他說：「拔出你的刀來，殺了我吧！免得人議論我說，他為一個婦人所殺。」於是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。
55 And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and each one goes to his place;
以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
56 and God turns back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brothers;
這樣，上帝報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡，就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。
57 and God has returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their [own] head, and the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubba‘al comes to them.
示劍人的一切惡，上帝也都報應在他們頭上；耶路‧巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛歸到他們身上了。
