Numbers 17
1 And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,
上主訓示梅瑟說：
2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and take a rod from each of them, for a father’s house, from all their princes, for the house of their fathers—twelve rods; you write the name of each on his rod,
「你吩咐以色列子民，叫他們每一家族拿一根棍杖，就是每一個領袖為自己家族拿一根，共十二根棍杖，把各人的名字寫在自己的棍杖上；
3 and you write Aaron’s name on the tribe of Levi; for one rod [is] for the head of their fathers’ house.
但在肋未的棍杖上，要寫亞郎的名字，因為為肋未的族長亦應有一根棍杖。
4 And you have placed them in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.
你將這些棍放在會幕內，放在約證前，即在我與你常相會的地方。
5 And it has come to pass, the man’s rod on whom I fix flourishes, and I have caused the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they are murmuring against you, to cease from off Me.”
誰約證開花，誰就是我所選擇的人；這樣，我就平息了以色列子民在我面前抱怨你們的怨言」。
6 And Moses speaks to the sons of Israel, and all their princes give to him one rod for a prince, one rod for a prince, for their fathers’ house—twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron [is] in the midst of their rods;
梅瑟於是告訴了以色列子民；他們所有的領袖都交給了他一根棍杖，每一家族中，每個領袖一根，共十二根棍杖；在他們的棍杖中，也有亞郎的棍杖。
7 and Moses places the rods before YHWH in the Tent of the Testimony.
梅瑟就將棍杖放在約幕內，放在上主面前。
8 And it comes to pass, on the next day, that Moses goes into the Tent of the Testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron has flourished for the house of Levi, and brings out a bud, and blossoms [with] a blossom, and produces almonds;
次日，梅瑟進入約幕內，看，肋未家族的亞郎的棍杖發了芽；不但發了芽，並且也開了花，結了成熟的杏。
9 and Moses brings out all the rods from before YHWH to all the sons of Israel, and they look, and each takes his rod.
梅瑟就由上主面前取出所有的棍杖，給以色列子民觀看；以後各人取回了自己的棍杖。
10 And YHWH says to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the Testimony, for a charge, for a sign to the sons of rebellion, and you remove their murmurings from off Me, and they do not die”;
上主對梅瑟說：「收回亞郎的棍杖來，放在約證前；給叛逆之徒當作鑑戒，為平息他們對我發的怨言，免得他們死亡」。
11 and Moses does as YHWH has commanded him; so he has done.
梅瑟就這樣做了。
12 And the sons of Israel speak to Moses, saying, “Behold, we have expired, we have perished, all of us have perished!
以色列子民對梅瑟申訴說：「看，我們要死了，我們完了! 我們全完了!
13 Any who is at all drawing near to the Dwelling Place of YHWH dies; have we not been consumed—to expire?”
凡接近上主會幕的都該死；我們豈不都該死﹖」
