< Exodus 13 >
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
奉獻長子的法律1. 上主訓示梅瑟說:「
2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
以色列子民中,無論是人或牲畜,凡是開胎首生的,都應祝聖於我,屬於我。」
3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
梅瑟向百姓說:「你們應當記念從埃及,從為奴之家出來的這一天,因為上主在這一天用強有力的手臂,從那裡領出了你們,故此不可吃有酵的食物。
4 This day ye go forth in the month Abib.
今天你們出來正在「阿彼布」月。
5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
幾時上主領你們進了客納罕人、赫特人、阿摩黎人、希威人和耶步斯人的地方,就是他同你的祖先起誓應許給你那流奶流蜜之地,你應在這一月舉行此禮:
6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
七天之內應吃無酵餅,第七天是敬禮上主的節日。
7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders.
七天之內吃無酵餅,在你面前不可有發酵之物,在你四境之內也不可見有酵母。
8 And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.
在那一天要告訴你們的兒子說:因為上主在我出埃及時,為我所行的事。
9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
應把這事做你手上的記號,做你額上的記念,好使上主的法律常在你口中,因為上主用強有力的手臂,領你出了埃及。
10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
所以你應年年按照定期遵守這規定。
11 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
當上主照他起誓向你和你祖先所許的話,領你到了客納罕人的地方,將那地給了你之後,
12 that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
你應將一切開胎首生者歸於上主;你牲畜中,凡開胎首生的牲畜,亦應歸於上主。
13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.
凡首生的驢,應用羊贖回;你若不贖回,應打斷牠的頸項。你的子孫中,凡是長子,你應贖回。
14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
將來若你的兒子問你:這是什麼意思﹖你要回答他說:這是因為上主用強有力的手臂領我們出離了埃及,出離了為奴之家。
15 and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
原來法朗頑固,不釋放我們,上主就把埃及國一切首生者,不拘是人或牲畜的首生者都殺了,為此我把一切首開母胎的雄性都祭獻於上主;但首生的男孩,我卻要贖回。
16 And it shall be for a sign upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
應將這事作你手上的記號,作你額上的標誌,記念上主用強有力的手臂領我們出了埃及。」往紅海進行
17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
法朗放走百姓以後,天主沒有領他們走培肋舍特地的近路,因為上主想:「怕百姓遇見戰爭而後悔,再回到埃及。」
18 but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.
因此天主領百姓繞道,走向靠紅海的曠野。以色列子民都武裝著離開了埃及。
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
梅瑟也帶了若瑟的骨骸,因為若瑟曾叫以色列的兒子們起誓說:「天主必要眷顧你們,那時你們應把我的骨骸從此地帶回去。」
20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
他從穌苛特起程前行,就在位於曠野邊緣的厄堂安了營。
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night:
上主在他們前面行,白天在雲柱裏給他們領路,夜間在火柱裏光照他們,為叫他們白天黑夜都能走路:
22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.
白天的雲柱,黑夜的火柱,總不離開百姓面前。