< Judges 9 >
1 and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
耶魯巴耳的兒子阿彼默肋客到舍根去見他的母舅們,對他們和他母家的人說:「
2 'Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which [is] good for you — the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? — and ye have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.'
請你們問一問舍根所有的公民:是耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人治理你們好呢﹖還是一個人治理你們好呢﹖你們還要記得:我是你們的骨肉。」
3 And his mother's brethren speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclineth after Abimelech, for they said, 'He [is] our brother;'
他的母舅們就替他把這些話傳給舍根所有的公民;他們的心都傾向阿彼默肋客,因為他們說:「他確是我們的兄弟! 」
4 and they give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after him;
他們遂從巴耳貝黎特廟裏拿了七十塊銀錢給他,阿彼默肋客就用這些錢僱了一些放蕩無賴之徒跟隨他。
5 and he goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden.
他回到敖弗辣他父親家裏,在一塊石頭上把自己的兄弟,即耶魯巴耳的兒子七十人都殺了,只剩下耶魯巴耳的幼子約堂,因為他藏了起來。
6 And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem;
於是舍根所有的公民和貝特米羅人都集合起來,在舍根的紀念碑前那棵橡樹下,立阿彼默肋客為王。約堂講寓言
7 and they declare [it] to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, 'Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto you:
有人將此事告訴了約堂,約堂就上了革黎斤山頂,站在那裏,高聲向他們喊說:「舍根公民,請你們聽我,望天主也聽你們!
8 'The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.
有一次,眾樹要去立一樹為他們的君王,就對橄欖樹說:請你作我們的君王!
9 And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
橄欖樹回答說:人用我的油來敬禮神,尊崇人,難道要我放棄出油,而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
10 And the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us.
眾樹又對無花果樹說:請你來作我們的君王!
11 And the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
無花果樹回答說:難道要我捨掉我的甘甜和美果,而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
12 'And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.
眾樹又對葡萄樹說:請你來作我們的君王!
13 And the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?
葡萄樹就回答說:我的新酒悅樂神人,難道要我放棄出產,而去搖搖在眾樹之上嗎﹖
14 And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.
於是眾樹對荊棘說:請你來作我們的君王!
15 And the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not — fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth the cedars of Lebanon.
荊棘對樹木答道:若你們真願立我作你們的君王,來罷! 躲在我的蔭下;否則,火必從荊棘冒出,吞滅黎巴嫩的香柏木。
16 'And, now, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted, when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done good with Jerubbaal, and with his house; and if according to the deed of his hands ye have done to him —
現在,你們立阿彼默肋客為王,如果你們認為作的真誠正直,如果你們認為是善待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族,如果你們認為你們這樣行事,對得起他一手所立的功勳,─
17 because my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from [him], and deliver you from the hand of Midian;
因為原是我父親為你們作戰而捨生,把你們由米德楊手中救出來。
18 and ye have risen against the house of my father to-day, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he [is] your brother —
然而你們今日卻來反對我父親的家族,在一塊石頭上殺了他的兒子七十人,立他婢女的兒子阿彼默肋客為舍根公民的君王,因為他是你們的弟兄。─
19 yea, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and he doth rejoice — even he — in you;
今天如果你們認為以真誠正直對待了耶魯巴耳和他的家族,那麼,你們就因阿彼默肋客而喜樂罷! 希望他有因你們而喜樂!
20 and if not — fire cometh out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devoureth Abimelech.'
不然,願火從阿彼默肋客發出,吞滅舍根的公民和貝特米羅! 也願火從舍根的公民和貝特米羅發出,吞滅阿彼默肋客! 」
21 And Jotham hasteth, and fleeth, and goeth to Beer, and dwelleth there, from the face of Abimelech his brother.
以後約堂出走,逃到貝爾去了,住在那裏,遠避他的哥哥阿彼默肋客。舍根叛變
22 And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,
阿彼默肋客治理以色列三年。
23 and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,
天主使惡神降在阿彼默肋客和舍根公民中間,舍根的公民便背叛了阿彼默肋客,
24 for the coming in of the violence [to] the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place [it] on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
要報復對耶魯巴耳七十個兒子的罪行,將他們的血歸於他們的兄弟阿彼默肋客,因為是他殺害了他們;也歸於舍根的公民,因為他們曾鼓勵他殺害自己的兄弟。
25 And the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.
舍根公民為反抗他,就在山頂上設下伏兵,搶掠所有路過他們那裏的人:有人將這事報告給阿彼默肋客。
26 And Gaal son of Ebed cometh — also his brethren — and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,
那時厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他同族的人遷徙到舍根,舍根的居民竟信任了他;
27 and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech.
他們便到田間收葡萄,榨酒,開慶祝會,到他們的神廟裏又吃又喝,也咒罵了阿彼默肋客。
28 And Gaal son of Ebed saith, 'Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we serve him? is [he] not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him — we?
厄貝得的兒子加阿耳說:「阿彼默肋客是誰,我們舍根人是誰,我們竟該服侍他﹖豈不是耶魯巴耳的兒子和官員則步耳,該服侍舍根的始祖哈摩爾的後人嗎﹖我們為什麼要服侍阿彼默肋客﹖
29 and oh that this people were in my hand — then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, 'Increase thy host, and come out.'
恨不得這百姓交於我手中,好把阿彼默肋客除掉。我要對阿彼默肋客說:增派你的軍隊出征罷! 」
30 And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,
則步耳城尉聽到厄貝得的兒子加阿耳的話,大發忿怒,
31 and he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, 'Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee;
遂打發使者去見在阿魯瑪的阿彼默肋客說:「看,厄貝得的兒子加阿耳和他的同族人,來到舍根,挑唆全城反叛你。
32 and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who [are] with thee, and lay wait in the field,
所以現在你和跟隨你的人夜裏要起來,埋伏在田野間,
33 and it hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who [are] with him are going out unto thee — and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.'
明天早晨太陽一出來,就攻城。當他和隨從他的人出來抵抗你時,你看看怎樣好,就怎樣對付他。」
34 And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem — four detachments;
阿彼默肋客遂同所有跟隨他的人夜間起身,分作四隊,對著舍根設下埋伏。
35 and Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth — also the people who [are] with him — from the ambush,
當厄貝得的兒子加阿耳出來,站在城門口時,阿彼默肋客便與隨從他的人從埋伏的地方出來,
36 and Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, 'Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, 'The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.'
加阿耳一見這些人就對則步耳說:「看,有人從山頂下來! 」則步耳回答他說:「你看見山影,誤以為是人! 」
37 And Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, 'Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.'
加阿耳接著又說:「看,有人從高地出來,又有一隊沿巫士橡樹道上前來。」
38 And Zebul saith unto him, 'Where [is] now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who [is] Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.'
則步耳對他說:「現在你的口在那裏﹖不是你曾說過:阿彼默肋客是誰,要我們服侍他﹖這不是你所輕視的人嗎﹖現在請你出去攻打他罷! 」
39 And Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech,
加阿耳就在舍根公民之前出去,攻打阿彼默肋客;
40 and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded — unto the opening of the gate.
a可是阿彼默肋客一追擊他,他就在他面前逃跑了;直到城門有許多傷亡的人。
41 And Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.
以後阿彼默肋客回到阿魯瑪;則步耳將加阿耳和他的同族人趕走,禁止他們住在舍根。舍根滅亡
42 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,
第二天早晨,人民到田野裏去,有人告訴了阿彼默肋客,
43 and he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth them.
他於是把自己的人分作三隊,叫他們埋伏在田間;他自己窺望,當他看見百姓從城裏出來,就衝過去,擊殺了他們;
44 And Abimelech and the detachments who [are] with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite them,
當時阿彼默肋客與跟隨他的軍隊衝過去,把住城門口,而另兩隊衝向田間的眾人,殺了他們。
45 and Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who [are] in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it [with] salt.
那一天,阿彼默肋客整天攻打那城,把城攻下,殺了城中的居民,把城拆毀,撒上鹽。
46 And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith,
舍根碉堡裏的人聽見此事,就躲到巴耳貝黎特廟裏的地穴裏。
47 and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,
有人告訴阿彼默肋客,人民都聚集在舍根碉堡內。
48 and Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who [are] with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth [it] on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who [are] with him, 'What ye have seen I have done — haste, do ye like it.'
阿彼默肋客和跟隨他的人就上了匝耳孟山;阿彼默肋客手裏拿著一把斧頭,砍了一根樹枝,拿起來放在肩上,然後向跟隨他的人說:「你們看我作什麼,你們也趕快照樣去作! 」
49 And all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set [them] at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women.
於是眾人都各砍了根樹枝,隨著阿彼默肋客把樹枝堆在地穴上,在地穴上點了火,於是舍根碉堡裏所有的人都死了,男女約有一千人。阿彼默肋客的結局
50 And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it,
此後阿彼默肋客往特貝茲去,安營攻打特貝茲,也佔據了那城。
51 and a strong tower hath been in the midst of the city, and thither flee do all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and they shut [it] behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.
在那城中有一座堅固的城堡,該城所有的公民,男男女女都跑到那裏躲避,關上門,上到碉堡頂上。
52 And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,
阿彼默肋客來到碉堡前攻打;當他走近碉堡門口,要放火焚燒時,
53 and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull,
有一個婦人拋下了一塊磨石,正落在阿彼默肋客頭上,打碎了他的頭蓋骨。
54 and he calleth hastily unto the young man bearing his weapons, and saith to him, 'Draw thy sword, and thou hast put me to death, lest they say of me — A woman slew him;' and his young man pierced him through, and he dieth.
他急忙喊叫替他執戟的少年,向他說:「拔出你的刀殺了我罷! 免得人講論我說:一個女子殺了他! 」那少年就用刀刺死了他。
55 And the men of Israel see that Abimelech [is] dead, and go each one to his place;
以色列人一見阿彼默肋客死了,各回了本家。
56 and God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren;
於是天主報復了阿彼默肋客對他父親所行的惡事,因為他殺了自己的七十個兄弟;
57 and all the evil of the men of Shechem hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.
並且天主也把舍根人的一切惡行歸在他們自己的頭上:這樣耶魯巴耳的兒子約堂的詛咒,也應驗在他們身上。