< 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、
Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, [not curse them]. So he did not use magic/divination [like a shaman would do] to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
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、
He saw the Israeli people camped there [in their tents], with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of 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 enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak: “I, Balaam, the son of Beor, am giving this prophecy; I am speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
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。
I hear this message from God; I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
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。
You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful; they are truly lovely!
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。
Your tents are spread out [in front of me like groves of palm trees in] valleys, like gardens alongside a river. They are like strong aloe trees/plants that Yahweh has planted, like [strong] cedar trees [that grow] along the rivers.
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。
Your water buckets will always be full; the seeds [that you plant] will always have plenty of water [to make them grow]. The Israelis’ king will be greater than [King] Agag; the kingdom that he rules will be honored.
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。
God brought the Israelis out of Egypt, [leading them along] with his great power [MTY] like a wild ox has. He devastates all the nations that oppose him; he breaks all those people’s bones into pieces, and shoots them 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」。
The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, [ready to pounce on their prey] [SIM]. They are like lionesses [that are resting, but ready to attack]; no one [RHQ] would dare to arouse them! [God] will bless everyone who blesses you Israelis, and he will curse everyone who curses you.”
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 King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he [shouted at Balaam], “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have (blessed/asked God to bless) them three times!
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」。
So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money [if you cursed them], but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
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、
Balaam said to Balak, “[Do you not remember what] [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
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 would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good [that he does not approve of].’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.
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 yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
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。
So Balaam said this [to Balak]: “I, Balaam, son of Beor, am again giving a prophecy, speaking as a man who sees [what will happen in the future] clearly speaks.
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。
I hear a message from God; I know things that God, who lives in heaven, has [revealed to me]. I see a vision from him who is all-powerful. My eyes are open as I prostrate myself in front of him.
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。
The things that I see [in the vision] are not [going to happen] now; I see things [that God will cause to happen] in the future. A man who is [a descendant of] Jacob will appear like a star [MET]; a king who holds a scepter will be one of the Israeli people. He will crush the heads of you people of Moab; he will wipe out the descendants of Seth.
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。
The Israelis will occupy Edom, and they will conquer their enemies [who live near] Seir [Mountain]. The Israeli people will be victorious/strong.
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」。
A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come; he will get rid of the people who still live in the city [where Balaam first met Balak].”
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 Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “The Amalek people-group were the greatest nation, but they will be wiped out.”
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。
Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group [lived], and he prophesied this: “You [think that] the place where you live is secure/safe like a nest that is made in the cliffs [MET],
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 you will be wiped out when the army of Assyria conquers you.”
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。
Balaam ended his prophecies by saying, “Also, (who can (survive/escape) when God does all these things?/no one will be able to (survive/escape) when God does all these things!) [RHQ]
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」。
Ships will come from Cyprus [Island], and [the men in those ships] will defeat [the armies of] Assyria and Eber. But God will get rid of those men, too.”
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 and Balak returned to their homes.

< 民数記 24 >