今日讀經

糧食吃盡了

¹那地的饑荒甚大。Now the famine was still severe in the land.

²他們從埃及帶來的糧食吃盡了，他們的父親就對他們說：「你們再去給我糴些糧來。」So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

不帶小兄弟就不能見那人

³猶大對他說：「那人諄諄地告誡我們說：『你們的兄弟若不與你們同來，你們就不得見我的面。』But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’

⁴你若打發我們的兄弟與我們同去，我們就下去給你糴糧；If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

⁵你若不打發他去，我們就不下去，因為那人對我們說：『你們的兄弟若不與你們同來，你們就不得見我的面。』」But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

⁶以色列說：「你們為甚麼這樣害我，告訴那人你們還有兄弟呢？」“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”

⁷他們回答說：「那人詳細問到我們和我們的親屬，說：『你們的父親還在嗎？你們還有兄弟嗎？』我們就按著他所問的告訴他，焉能知道他要說『必須把你們的兄弟帶下來』呢？」They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?”

猶大為便雅憫作保

⁸猶大又對他父親以色列說：「你打發童子與我同去，我們就起身下去，好叫我們和你，並我們的婦人孩子，都得存活，不至於死。And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

⁹我為他作保；你可以從我手中追討，我若不帶他回來交在你面前，我情願永遠擔罪。I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

¹⁰我們若沒有耽擱，如今第二次都回來了。」If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

帶著禮物和便雅憫下埃及

¹¹他們的父親以色列說：「若必須如此，你們就當這樣行：可以將這地土產中最好的乳香、蜂蜜、香料、沒藥、榧子、杏仁都取一點，收在器具裡，帶下去送給那人作禮物，Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

¹²又要手裡加倍地帶銀子，並將歸還在你們口袋內的銀子仍帶在手裡；那或者是錯了。Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

¹³也帶著你們的兄弟，起身去見那人。Take your brother as well, and return to the man at once.

¹⁴但願全能的　神使你們在那人面前蒙憐憫，釋放你們的那弟兄和便雅憫回來。我若喪了兒子，就喪了吧！」May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

¹⁵於是，他們拿著那禮物，又手裡加倍地帶銀子，並且帶著便雅憫，起身下到埃及，站在約瑟面前。So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

被領進約瑟的屋裡

¹⁶約瑟見便雅憫和他們同來，就對家宰說：「將這些人領到屋裡。要宰殺牲畜，預備筵席，因為晌午這些人同我吃飯。」When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”

¹⁷家宰就遵著約瑟的命去行，領他們進約瑟的屋裡。The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

¹⁸他們因為被領到約瑟的屋裡，就害怕，說：「領我們到這裡來，必是因為頭次歸還在我們口袋裡的銀子，找我們的錯縫，下手害我們，強取我們為奴僕，搶奪我們的驢。」But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

¹⁹他們就挨近約瑟的家宰，在屋門口和他說話，So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

²⁰說：「我主啊，我們頭次下來實在是要糴糧。“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.

²¹後來到了住宿的地方，我們打開口袋，不料，各人的銀子，分量足數，仍在各人的口袋內，現在我們手裡又帶回來了。But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.

²²另外又帶下銀子來糴糧。不知道先前誰把銀子放在我們的口袋裡。」We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

²³家宰說：「你們可以放心，不要害怕，是你們的　神和你們父親的　神賜給你們財寶在你們的口袋裡；你們的銀子，我早已收了。」他就把西緬帶出來，交給他們。“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴家宰就領他們進約瑟的屋裡，給他們水洗腳，又給他們草料餵驢。And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

²⁵他們就預備那禮物，等候約瑟晌午來，因為他們聽見要在那裡吃飯。Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat a meal there, they prepared their gift for Joseph’s arrival at noon.

約瑟見到便雅憫

²⁶約瑟來到家裡，他們就把手中的禮物拿進屋去給他，又俯伏在地，向他下拜。When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.

²⁷約瑟問他們好，又問：「你們的父親─就是你們所說的那老人家平安嗎？他還在嗎？」He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?”

²⁸他們回答說：「你僕人─我們的父親平安；他還在。」於是他們低頭下拜。“Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

²⁹約瑟舉目看見他同母的兄弟便雅憫，就說：「你們向我所說那頂小的兄弟就是這位嗎？」又說：「小兒啊，願　神賜恩給你！」When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” Then he declared, “May God be gracious to you, my son.”

³⁰約瑟愛弟之情發動，就急忙尋找可哭之地，進入自己的屋裡，哭了一場。Joseph hurried out because he was moved to tears for his brother, and he went to a private room to weep.

和約瑟一同宴樂

³¹他洗了臉出來，勉強隱忍，吩咐人擺飯。Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”

³²他們就為約瑟單擺了一席，為那些人又擺了一席，也為和約瑟同吃飯的埃及人另擺了一席，因為埃及人不可和希伯來人一同吃飯；那原是埃及人所厭惡的。They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

³³約瑟使眾弟兄在他面前排列坐席，都按著長幼的次序，眾弟兄就彼此詫異。They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

³⁴約瑟把他面前的食物分出來，送給他們；但便雅憫所得的比別人多五倍。他們就飲酒，和約瑟一同宴樂。When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

銀杯藏在便雅憫的口袋裡

¹約瑟吩咐家宰說：「把糧食裝滿這些人的口袋，儘著他們的驢所能馱的，又把各人的銀子放在各人的口袋裡，Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.

²並將我的銀杯和那少年人糴糧的銀子一同裝在他的口袋裡。」家宰就照約瑟所說的話行了；Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.

³天一亮就打發那些人帶著驢走了。At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

⁴他們出城走了不遠，約瑟對家宰說：「起來，追那些人去，追上了就對他們說：『你們為甚麼以惡報善呢？They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

⁵這不是我主人飲酒的杯嗎？豈不是他占卜用的嗎？你們這樣行是作惡了。』」Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”

在便雅憫的口袋裡搜出銀杯

⁶家宰追上他們，將這些話對他們說了。When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.

⁷他們回答說：「我主為甚麼說這樣的話呢？你僕人斷不能做這樣的事。“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

⁸你看，我們從前在口袋裡所見的銀子，尚且從迦南地帶來還你，我們怎能從你主人家裡偷竊金銀呢？We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

⁹你僕人中無論在誰那裡搜出來，就叫他死，我們也作我主的奴僕。」If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

¹⁰家宰說：「現在就照你們的話行吧！在誰那裡搜出來，誰就作我的奴僕；其餘的都沒有罪。」“As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.”

¹¹於是他們各人急忙把口袋卸在地下，各人打開口袋。So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

¹²家宰就搜查，從年長的起到年幼的為止，那杯竟在便雅憫的口袋裡搜出來。The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest—and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

¹³他們就撕裂衣服，各人把馱子抬在驢上，回城去了。Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

回到約瑟面前

¹⁴猶大和他弟兄們來到約瑟的屋中，約瑟還在那裡，他們就在他面前俯伏於地。When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

¹⁵約瑟對他們說：「你們做的是甚麼事呢？你們豈不知像我這樣的人必能占卜嗎？」“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

¹⁶猶大說：「我們對我主說甚麼呢？還有甚麼話可說呢？我們怎能自己表白出來呢？　神已經查出僕人的罪孽了。我們與那在他手中搜出杯來的都是我主的奴僕。」“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”

¹⁷約瑟說：「我斷不能這樣行！在誰的手中搜出杯來，誰就作我的奴僕；至於你們，可以平平安安地上你們父親那裡去。」But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

猶大的懇求

¹⁸猶大挨近他，說：「我主啊，求你容僕人說一句話給我主聽，不要向僕人發烈怒，因為你如同法老一樣。Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

¹⁹我主曾問僕人們說：『你們有父親有兄弟沒有？』My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

²⁰我們對我主說：『我們有父親，已經年老，還有他老年所生的一個小孩子。他哥哥死了，他母親只撇下他一人，他父親疼愛他。』And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

²¹你對僕人說：『把他帶到我這裡來，叫我親眼看看他。』Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so that I can see him for myself.’

²²我們對我主說：『童子不能離開他父親，若是離開，他父親必死。』So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’

²³你對僕人說：『你們的小兄弟若不與你們一同下來，你們就不得再見我的面。』But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

²⁴我們上到你僕人─我們父親那裡，就把我主的話告訴了他。Now when we returned to your servant my father, we relayed your words to him.

²⁵我們的父親說：『你們再去給我糴些糧來。』Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’

²⁶我們就說：『我們不能下去。我們的小兄弟若和我們同往，我們就可以下去。因為，小兄弟若不與我們同往，我們必不得見那人的面。』But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

²⁷你僕人─我父親對我們說：『你們知道我的妻子給我生了兩個兒子。And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.

²⁸一個離開我出去了；我說他必是被撕碎了，直到如今我也沒有見他。When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

²⁹現在你們又要把這個帶去離開我，倘若他遭害，那便是你們使我白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘地下陰間去了。』Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

³⁰我父親的命與這童子的命相連。如今我回到你僕人─我父親那裡，若沒有童子與我們同在，So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,

³¹我們的父親見沒有童子，他就必死。這便是我們使你僕人─我們的父親白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘地下陰間去了。sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.

³²因為僕人曾向我父親為這童子作保，說：『我若不帶他回來交給父親，我便在父親面前永遠擔罪。』Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

猶大願意替便雅憫為奴

³³現在求你容僕人住下，替這童子作我主的奴僕，叫童子和他哥哥們一同上去。Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers.

³⁴若童子不和我同去，我怎能上去見我父親呢？恐怕我看見災禍臨到我父親身上。」For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

耶穌在家鄉被厭棄

⁵³耶穌說完了這些比喻，就離開那裡，When Jesus had finished these parables, He withdrew from that place.

⁵⁴來到自己的家鄉，在會堂裡教訓人，甚至他們都希奇，說：「這人從哪裡有這等智慧和異能呢？Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

⁵⁵這不是木匠的兒子嗎？他母親不是叫馬利亞嗎？他弟兄們不是叫雅各、約西（有古卷：約瑟）、西門、猶大嗎？“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

⁵⁶他妹妹們不是都在我們這裡嗎？這人從哪裡有這一切的事呢？」Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”

先知在本地不被尊敬

⁵⁷他們就厭棄他（厭棄他：原文是因他跌倒）。耶穌對他們說：「大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的。」And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

⁵⁸耶穌因為他們不信，就在那裡不多行異能了。And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

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希律以為約翰復活了

¹那時，分封的王希律聽見耶穌的名聲，At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

²就對臣僕說：「這是施洗的約翰從死裡復活，所以這些異能從他裡面發出來。」and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

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約翰因責備希律被囚

³起先，希律為他兄弟腓力的妻子希羅底的緣故，把約翰拿住，鎖在監裡。Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

⁴因為約翰曾對他說：「你娶這婦人是不合理的。」because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

⁵希律就想要殺他，只是怕百姓，因為他們以約翰為先知。Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

希律生日宴上的誓言

⁶到了希律的生日，希羅底的女兒在眾人面前跳舞，使希律歡喜。On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

⁷希律就起誓，應許隨她所求的給她。so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.

⁸女兒被母親所使，就說：「請把施洗約翰的頭放在盤子裡，拿來給我。」Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

⁹王便憂愁，但因他所起的誓，又因同席的人，就吩咐給她；The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

約翰被斬

¹⁰於是打發人去，在監裡斬了約翰，and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.

¹¹把頭放在盤子裡，拿來給了女子；女子拿去給她母親。John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

¹²約翰的門徒來，把屍首領去埋葬了，就去告訴耶穌。Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

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耶穌退到野地

¹³耶穌聽見了，就上船從那裡獨自退到野地裡去。眾人聽見，就從各城裡步行跟隨他。When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

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