< 2 Kings 5 >

1 [A man named] Naaman was the commander of the army of Syria. Yahweh had enabled him to win many victories/battles. He was a great warrior, and as a result the king of Syria greatly respected him. But he had (leprosy/a dreaded skin disease).
阿蘭王的軍長納阿曼在他的主上面前,是個很受尊重愛戴的人,因為上主曾藉他使阿蘭人獲得勝利;這人雖英勇有為,無奈患了癩病。
2 [Some time previously, ] groups of soldiers/marauders from Syria had raided/attacked the land of Israel, and they had captured a young girl [and taken her to Syria]. She became a servant for Naaman’s wife.
阿蘭人先前曾結隊出外劫掠,從以色列地擄來一個少女,這少女做了服侍納阿曼妻子的婢女;
3 One day, that girl said to her, “I wish that (my master/your husband) would go to see the prophet in Samaria. That prophet would heal your husband from his leprosy.”
她對自己的主母說:「哎! 如果我的主人去見撒瑪黎雅的先知,他一定會治好他的癩病。」
4 [Naaman’s wife told her husband] what the girl from Israel had said, [and] Naaman told [that] to the king.
納阿曼去告訴他的主上說:「以色列地的少女曾如此如此說。」
5 The king said to him, “Okay, go [and see the prophet]. I will [write] a letter for you to take to the king of Israel, [saying that I sent you].” The king wrote in the letter, “I am sending this letter with [my army commander] Naaman, who serves me [faithfully]. I want you to heal him of his disease.” So Naaman, [assuming/thinking that the king of Israel was the prophet, took the letter and] 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing, to give to the king of Israel, [and he went to Samaria, taking along several servants].
阿蘭王說:「你去! 我也給以色列王寫一封信。」納阿曼於是帶了十「塔冷通」銀子,六千「協刻耳」金子和十套禮服去了。
6
他給以色列王呈上信,信上說:「你收到這封信,就知道我打發我的臣僕納阿曼來見你,是要你醫好他的癩病。」
7 [When he arrived in Samaria, he gave the letter to the king] of Israel. The king read the letter. Then, being very dismayed, the king tore his clothes and said, “I am not God [RHQ]! I am not able to enable people to live or to die [RHQ]! Why does [the king] who wrote this letter request me to cure this man of his leprosy? I think that he is just wanting to start a fight with me!”
以色列王一念了這信,就撕裂自己的衣服說:「難道我是天主,能使人死使人活嗎﹖這人竟然給送這個人來,叫我醫好他的癩病! 你們只要想一想,便可看出,他是找機會來與我為難。」
8 But the prophet Elisha heard that the king of Israel had torn his robe [and said that]. So he sent a message to the king, saying, “Why are you upset/frustrated [RHQ]? Send Naaman to me, and he will find out that [because] I am a true prophet [here] in Israel, [I can help/heal him].”
天主的人厄里叟聽說以色列王撕裂了自己的衣服,叫他來見我,他就會知道在以色列有先知。」
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots to Elisha’s house and waited outside the door.
納阿曼於是乘坐車馬來到厄里叟的屋門口,就停下了。
10 But Elisha [did not come to the door. Instead, he] sent a messenger to Naaman, to tell him, “Go to the Jordan [River] and wash yourself seven times in the river. Then your skin will be restored/healed, and you will no longer have leprosy.”
厄里叟派了一個使者對他說:「你去,在約旦河裏洗七次,你的肌肉就會復原,得到潔淨。」
11 But Naaman became very angry. He said, “I thought that surely he would wave his hand over the leprosy, and pray to Yahweh his god, and heal me!
納阿曼生了氣,且走且說:「看,我原想他會出來見我,站在我面前,呼求上主他的天主的名,在患處揮動他的手,治好這癩病。
12 Surely the Abana River and the Pharpar River in Damascus [in my own country of Syria] are [RHQ] better than any of the rivers in Israel! Why can I not wash in those rivers and be healed?” [RHQ] So he turned and walked away with great anger/disgust.
大馬士革的阿巴納河和帕爾帕爾河,不比以色列所有的河水都好嗎﹖我不能在那裏洗得潔淨嗎﹖」他於是轉過車來,氣憤憤地走了。
13 But his servants came to him, and [one of them] said, “Sir, if that prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would certainly [RHQ] have done it. So you should certainly do what he says and wash [in the Jordan River] to be healed!” [RHQ]
他的僕人們前來對他說:「我父! 如果先知吩咐你作一件難事,你豈不是也要做嗎﹖何況他只對你說:你去洗洗,就潔淨了呢! 」
14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan [River] and washed himself seven times, as (the prophet/Elisha) told him to do. Then his skin was restored/healed, and it became healthy/smooth, like the skin of a young child.
納阿曼便下去,按照天主的人的話,在約旦河裏浸了七次;他的肌肉就復了原,如同嬰兒的肌肉一樣,完全潔淨了。
15 Then Naaman and those who were with him went back to talk to Elisha. They stood in front of him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there are no real gods anywhere else in the world, but there is a God here in Israel! So now please accept these gifts that I [have brought to you]!”
納阿曼於是同他的全體隨員,再回到天主的人那裏,站在他面前說:「現在我確實知道:全世界只在以色列有天主。現在,請你收下你僕人的禮物罷! 」
16 But Elisha replied, “Just as certainly as Yahweh, the one whom I serve, lives, I will not accept any gifts.” Naaman kept urging him [to accept the gifts], but Elisha kept refusing.
厄里叟回答說:「我指著我所服事的永生上主起誓:我決不接受。」納阿曼再三催促他接受,厄里叟只有拒絕。
17 Then Naaman said, “Okay, but [I have one request. This dirt here in Israel is holy, so] please allow me to take some dirt from this place and put it [in sacks] on two mules. Then I will take it back home with me [and make an altar on this dirt]. From now on, I will offer sacrifices to Yahweh [on that altar]. I will not offer sacrifices to any other god.
納阿曼遂說:「你既不接受,至少請你讓你的僕人裝去兩個驢子所能馱的土,因為你的僕人從此不再給別的神,只給上主奉獻全燔祭和祭祀;
18 However, when my master, [the king, ] goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship him/it there, and he is leaning on my arm, I hope/desire that Yahweh will forgive me because I will have to bow down, too.”
但有一件事,願上主寬赦你的僕人:就是當我的主上進入黎孟廟宇叩拜時,常是攙扶著我的手,這樣我也得隨他在黎孟廟宇參拜。當我在黎孟廟宇參拜時,願上主在這件事上赦免你的僕人! 」
19 Elisha replied, “Go home, and do not worry about that.” So Naaman [and his servants] started to travel home.
先知對他說:「你放心去罷! 」
20 But then Elisha’s servant Gehazi said to himself, “It is not good that my master allowed this Syrian man to leave like this. He should have accepted his gifts. So just as certainly as Yahweh lives, I will go and catch up with Naaman and get something from him.”
納阿曼離開先知,已走了一段路。 那時,天主的人厄里叟的僕人革哈齊心裏想。「我的主人白白放過了這個阿蘭人納阿曼,沒有接受他所贈送的禮物;我指著永生的上主起誓:我一定要去追上他,向他要點東西。」
21 So Gehazi hurried to catch up with Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running toward him, he [stopped] the chariot [in which he was riding, ] jumped out, and went to see what Gehazi wanted. He asked him, “Is everything all right?”
革哈齊遂去追趕納阿曼。納阿曼見他在後面追來,便下車迎接他說「都好嗎﹖」
22 Gehazi replied, “Yes, but two young prophets from the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim live have just arrived. Elisha has sent me to tell you that he would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.”
革哈齊回答說:「都好。我主人打發我來對你說:剛才有先知的兩個青年弟子,從厄弗辣因山地來看我,請你給他們一「塔冷通」銀子和兩套禮服。」
23 Naaman replied, “Certainly! You can have 150 pounds of silver!” He urged Gehazi to take it. He also gave him two sets of clothing. He tied up the silver in two bags and gave them to two of his servants to carry back to Elisha.
納阿曼說:「好,就請拿兩「塔冷通」罷! 」它再三催促革哈齊,將兩「塔冷通」銀子,放在兩個布袋裏;還有兩套禮服。將這些東西交給兩個僕人,叫他們在革哈齊前面拿著。
24 But when they arrived at the hill [where Elisha lived], Gehazi took the silver and the clothes from Naaman’s servants and sent the servants back to Naaman. Then he took those things into his house and hid them.
當革哈齊到了一座山崗上,便從他們手中接過來,藏在家裏;然後辭別他們兩人,讓他們回去了。
25 When he went to Elisha, Elisha asked him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” Gehazi replied, “I did not go anywhere.”
當革哈齊進去侍立在主人面前時,厄里叟問他說:「革哈齊,你從那裏來! 」他回答說:「你僕人那裏也沒有去。」
26 Elisha asked him, [“Do you not realize that] my spirit was there when Naaman got out of his chariot to talk with you? This is certainly not [RHQ] the time to accept gifts of money and clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and servants!
先知對他說:「那人下車轉來迎接你的時候,我的心豈沒有跟你去嗎﹖好罷! 現在你既然收下銀子,自然也可以買衣服、橄欖園、葡萄園、牛、羊、僕婢了。
27 Because you have done this, you and your children and all your descendants, forever, will have leprosy just like Naaman had!” And when Gehazi left the room, he was a leper! His skin was as white as snow!
但是,納阿曼的癲病也要附在你身上和你的後裔身上,直到永遠。」革哈齊從厄里叟面前出來,就患了癩病,像雪那樣白。

< 2 Kings 5 >