民数記 24

1 バラムはイスラエルを祝福することが主の心にかなうのを見たので、今度はいつものように行って魔術を求めることをせず、顔を荒野にむけ、

Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,

2 目を上げて、イスラエルがそれぞれ部族にしたがって宿営しているのを見た。その時、神の霊が臨んだので、

And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel there, with their tents in the order of their tribes: and the spirit of God came on him.

3 彼はこの託宣を述べた。「ベオルの子バラムの言葉、目を閉じた人の言葉、

And moved by the spirit, he said, These are the words of Balaam, son of Beor, the words of the man whose eyes are open:

4 神の言葉を聞く者、全能者の幻を見る者、倒れ伏して、目の開かれた者の言葉。

He says, whose ears are open to the words of God, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down, but having his eyes open:

5 ヤコブよ、あなたの天幕は麗しい、イスラエルよ、あなたのすまいは、麗しい。

How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your houses, O Israel!

6 それは遠くひろがる谷々のよう、川べの園のよう、主が植えられた沈香樹のよう、流れのほとりの香柏のようだ。

They are stretched out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like flowering trees planted by the Lord, like cedar-trees by the waters.

7 水は彼らのかめからあふれ、彼らの種は水の潤いに育つであろう。彼らの王はアガグよりも高くなり、彼らの国はあがめられるであろう。

Peoples will be in fear before his strength, his arm will be on great nations: his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom made great in honour.

8 神は彼らをエジプトから導き出された、彼らは野牛の角のようだ。彼らは敵なる国々の民を滅ぼし、その骨を砕き、矢をもって突き通すであろう。

It is God who has taken him out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox; the nations warring against him will be his food, their bones will be broken, they will be wounded with his arrows.

9 彼らは雄じしのように身をかがめ、雌じしのように伏している。だれが彼らを起しえよう。あなたを祝福する者は祝福され、あなたをのろう者はのろわれるであろう」。

He took his sleep stretched out like a lion, and like a she-lion: by whom will his rest be broken? May a blessing be on everyone who gives you blessing, and a curse on everyone by whom you are cursed.

10 そこでバラクはバラムにむかって怒りを発し、手を打ち鳴らした。そしてバラクはバラムに言った、「敵をのろうために招いたのに、あなたはかえって三度までも彼らを祝福した。

Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing.

11 それで今あなたは急いで自分のところへ帰ってください。わたしはあなたを大いに優遇しようと思った。しかし、主はその優遇をあなたに得させないようにされました」。

Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.

12 バラムはバラクに言った、「わたしはあなたがつかわされた使者たちに言ったではありませんか、

Then Balaam said to Balak, Did I not say to the men you sent to me,

13 『たといバラクがその家に満ちるほどの金銀をわたしに与えようとも、主の言葉を越えて心のままに善も悪も行うことはできません。わたしは主の言われることを述べるだけです』。

Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to go outside the orders of the Lord, doing good or evil at the impulse of my mind; whatever the Lord says I will say?

14 わたしは今わたしの民のところへ帰って行きます。それでわたしはこの民が後の日にあなたの民にどんなことをするかをお知らせしましょう」。

So now I will go back to my people: but first let me make clear to you what this people will do to your people in days to come.

15 そしてこの託宣を述べた。「ベオルの子バラムの言葉、目を閉じた人の言葉。

Then he went on with his story and said, These are the words of Balaam, the son of Beor, the words of him whose eyes are open:

16 神の言葉を聞く者、いと高き者の知識をもつ者、全能者の幻を見、倒れ伏して、目の開かれた者の言葉。

He says, whose ear is open to the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who has seen the vision of the Ruler of all, falling down and having his eyes open:

17 わたしは彼を見る、しかし今ではない。わたしは彼を望み見る、しかし近くではない。ヤコブから一つの星が出、イスラエルから一本のつえが起り、モアブのこめかみと、セツのすべての子らの脳天を撃つであろう。

I see him, but not now: looking on him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a rod of authority out of Israel, sending destruction to the farthest limits of Moab and on the head of all the sons of Sheth.

18 敵のエドムは領地となり、セイルもまた領地となるであろう。そしてイスラエルは勝利を得るであろう。

Edom will be his heritage, and he will put an end to the last of the people of Seir.

19 権を執る者がヤコブから出、生き残った者を町から断ち滅ぼすであろう」。

And Israel will go on in strength, and Jacob will have rule over his haters.

20 バラムはまたアマレクを望み見て、この託宣を述べた。「アマレクは諸国民のうちの最初のもの、しかし、ついに滅び去るであろう」。

Then, turning his eyes to Amalek, he went on with his story and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but his part will be destruction for ever.

21 またケニびとを望み見てこの託宣を述べた。「お前のすみかは堅固だ、岩に、お前は巣をつくっている。

And looking on the Kenites he went on with his story and said, Strong is your living-place, and your secret place is safe in the rock.

22 しかし、カインは滅ぼされるであろう。アシュルはいつまでお前を捕虜とするであろうか」。

But still the Kenites will be wasted, till Asshur takes you away prisoner.

23 彼はまたこの託宣を述べた。「ああ、神が定められた以上、だれが生き延びることができよう。

Then he went on with his story and said, But who may keep his life when God does this?

24 キッテムの海岸から舟がきて、アシュルを攻めなやまし、エベルを攻めなやますであろう。そして彼もまたついに滅び去るであろう」。

But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur and troubling Eber, and like the others their fate will be destruction.

25 こうしてバラムは立ち上がって、自分のところへ帰っていった。バラクもまた立ち去った。

Then Balaam got up and went back to his place: and Balak went away.