Joshua 9
1 Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites—
約旦河西，住在山地和平原並沿大海一帶直到黎巴嫩山上的眾王子，即赫特人、阿摩黎人、客納罕人、堷黎齊人、希威人和耶步斯人，聽見了這些事，
2 these joined together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
聯合起來，同心協力對抗若蘇厄和以色人。
3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
基貝紅居民聽說若蘇厄對耶利哥和哈依所行的事，
4 they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired.
便設詭許帶著行糧上路將一些舊布袋和破裂縫補的舊酒囊馱在驢上；
5 They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy.
腳上穿著補過的破鞋，身上穿著襤褸的衣服；所帶的食物，又乾又碎，
6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant with us.”
來到基耳加耳營中見若蘇厄；對他和以色列人說：「我們是遠方來的，現在請你們與我們立約。」
7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?”
以色列對這些希威人說：「你們也許是我們附近的居民，我們怎能同你們立約﹖」
8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where did you come from?”
他們回答若蘇厄說：「我們是你的僕人。」若蘇厄問他們說：「你們是什麼人﹖是從那裏來的﹖」
9 They said to him, “Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the name of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything that he did in Egypt—
他們答說：「你的僕人是因為聽了上主你們天主的名聲，由極遠的地方來的，因為我們聽見人 談及衪的聲望，和衪在埃及所行的一切，
10 and everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
以及衪對住在約旦河東的的兩阿摩黎王：即赫市朋王息紅和阿市塔洛特的巴商王敖格所行的一切。
11 Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Make a treaty with us.”
為此，我們的長老和我們本地的居民，對我們說：你們手中拿些路用的食物，去迎接以色列人；對他們說：我們是你們的僕人，現在請你們與我們立約。
12 This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy.
看，這是我們的食物，我們從家中帶出來，要到你們這裏來的那天還熱，看，現在又乾又碎；
13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn-out from a very long journey.'”
這就是我們的酒囊，才盛酒的時候還新，看，現在都破裂了；這是我們的衣服和鞋，為了路途遙遠，都穿爛了。」
14 So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance.
以色列的首領便取了他們的行糧，並沒有請求上主的諭示；
15 Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also made a vow to them.
若蘇厄便與他們修好，與他們立了約，讓他們生存，會眾的首領也向他們起了誓。
16 Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.
但是，與他們立約後才過了三天，以色列人就聽說，他們是住在自己附近的居民。
17 Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
以色列子民於是動身，第三天便到了他們的城市：就是基貝紅、革非辣、貝洛特和克黎雅特耶阿陵。
18 The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the Israelites were grumbling against their leaders.
但以色列子民沒有擊殺他們，因為會眾的首領指著上主，以色列的天主，對他們起過誓；但全會眾對他們的首領不滿。
19 But all the leaders said to all the people, “We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.
眾首領對全會眾說：「我們既已指著上主以色列的天主對他們起誓，那麼我們決不能加害他們，
20 This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live.”
只有這樣做，就是讓他們生存下去，免得因我們對他們所起的誓，為我們招來上主的義怒。」
21 The leaders said to their people, “Let them live.” So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.
首領又對民眾說：「讓他們生存下去，但他們應為全會眾劈柴挑水。」全會眾便遵照首領的話而行。
22 Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?
若蘇厄將基貝紅人召來，對他們說：「你們為什麼欺騙我們說：我們離你們很遠，其實你們就住在我們附近﹖
23 Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God.”
從此你們應受詛咒，你們中間，決不斷有人在我天主的殿內，做劈柴挑水的勞役。」
24 They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.
他們回答若蘇厄說：「你的僕人確實聽說：上主你的天主，曾吩咐衪的僕人梅瑟，要把這整塊土地賜給你們，並在你們面前，將這地方上的一切居民消滅；我們見你們前來，我們實在為我們的生命擔憂，所以才做了這事。
25 Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it.”
現在，我們都在你手裏，你以為怎樣好，怎樣對，就怎樣對待我們吧! 」
26 So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the Israelites did not kill them.
若蘇厄就這樣對待了他們：將他們由以色列人手中救出，不讓人加害他們。
27 That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.
當天就派定他們在上主選定的地方，為會眾，為上主的祭壇，劈柴挑水，直到今日。
