Judges 9
1 Abimelech son of Jerub Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,
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 “Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' Remember 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 His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow 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 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to hire men of lawless and reckless character, who followed 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 Abimelech went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub Baal, for he hid himself.
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 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelech king, beside the oak near the pillar 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 When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen 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 once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, '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 But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my oil, which is used to honor gods and mankind, so I may go return, just to sway over the other 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 The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
樹木對無花果樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
11 But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other 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 The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
樹木對葡萄樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』
13 The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which cheers gods and mankind, and return and sway over the other 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 Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
眾樹對荊棘說：『請你來作我們的王。』
15 The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find safety under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up 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 Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelech king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—
「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 —and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of 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 but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.
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 If you acted with honesty and integrity with Jerub Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice 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 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up 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 Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelech, his brother.
約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裏。
22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。
23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had 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 God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub Baal might be avenged, and Abimelech their brother would be held responsible for murdering them, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder 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 So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported 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 Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence 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 They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they cursed 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 Gaal son of Ebed, said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub Baal? Is Zebul not his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech?
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 I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, 'Call out all your army.'”
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 When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled.
邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，
31 He sent messengers to Abimelech in order to deceive, saying, “See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up 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 Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields.
現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。
33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”
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 So Abimelech got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units.
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 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelech and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.
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 When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the hilltops!” Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are 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 Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners.”
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 Then Zebul said to him, “Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them.”
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 Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelech.
於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。
40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city 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 Abimelech stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of 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 On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelech.
次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；
43 He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed 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 Abimelech and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed 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 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He tore down the city walls and spread salt over it.
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 When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith.
示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力‧比利土廟的衛所。
47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
有人告訴亞比米勒說：「示劍樓的人都聚在一處。」
48 Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelech took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and 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 So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set it on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a 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 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it.
亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。
51 But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to 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 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it.
亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。
53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and it cracked 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 Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'” So his young man pierced him through, and he died.
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 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.
以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。
56 So God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by murdering 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 God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub Baal.
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。
