< Ezra 9 >

1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
這些事完畢後,眾首領來到我面前說:「以色列民眾、司祭和肋未人可的事上,並沒有離開當地的人民:客納罕人、希威人、培黎齊人、耶步斯人、阿孟人、摩阿布人、埃及人和阿摩黎人,
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this trespass.
因為他們為自己和自己是兒子,娶了他們的女子,以致聖潔的曲裔,與當地的人民合;尤其首長和官,是這罪孽的魁首」。
3 And when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down appalled.
我一聽這話,便撕裂了我的衣服和外氅,拔我的頭髮和鬍鬚,絕望地坐下。
4 Then were assembled to me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.
當時凡對以色列天主的誡命起敬起畏的人,為了充軍歸的罪孽,都聚集在我周圍,我絕望地坐著,直到晚祭。
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose from my heaviness; and having torn my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,
到了獻晚祭時,我悲憤人起來,仍穿著撕碎的衣服和外氅,雙膝跪下,伸手向上主我的天主說:
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up to the heavens.
「我的天主,我實覺慚愧! 我的天主! 我不敢向你仰面,因為我們的邪惡,積累得高過了我們的頭頂,我們的罪孽上達於天。
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
自從我們的祖先時代,直到今日,我們犯了重大的罪孽;為了我們的罪惡,我們連我們的君王司祭,都被交在異地的君王手中,喪身刀下,被俘擄,遭劫,丟臉受辱,就像今日一樣。
8 And now for a little moment grace hath been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
但是現在,轉瞬之間,上主我們的天主,對我們施了仁慈,留給了我們一些殘存的人,又在聖地給了我們居所;並且我們的天主,還使我們的眼目明亮,在我們為奴隸期中,使我們尚有少許生氣。
9 For we were slaves; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
我們原是奴隸,但我們在為奴隸期中,我們的天主沒有離棄我們,反而使我們在波斯王,獲得了寵遇,使我們有了生氣,得以重建天主的殿宇,修廢壚,我們在猶大和耶路撒冷,得了保障。
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
現今,我們的天主! 在這些事後,我們還有什麼可說的呢﹖只能說我們又遺棄了你的誡命,
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, where ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
因你曾藉你的僕人眾先知,吩咐說:『你們要去佔領的地方,因各地異民的卑污行為,成了不潔之地;他們的醜行和罪孽,充滿了那地方的各個角落,
12 Now therefore give not your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
所以你們絕不可將你們的女兒嫁給他們的兒子;也不給你們的兒子,他們的女兒為妻,也永不可他們共謀平安和福利:這樣你們才會強盛,才能吃那地方的出產,將這地留給你們的子孫,作為永遠基業」。
13 And after all that hath come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
為了我們的許多罪行和重大的罪孽,這一切降到了我們身上之後,──我們的天主! 其實你估了我們的罪惡,還給我們留下了這些亡命的人,──
14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in marriage with the people of these abominations? wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
我們還敢破壞你的誡命,而同這些不潔的民族聯婚嗎﹖難道還要你向我們發怒,一直將我們完全消滅,不一個遺民或亡命的人嗎﹖
15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we having escaped, remain yet, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
上主,以色列的天主! 因你仁慈,才剩下了我們這些亡的人,像今天一樣;看,我們在你面前都帶有罪孽,因此,沒有一個能在你面前站得住。

< Ezra 9 >