今日讀經

百姓求羅波安減輕重擔

¹羅波安往示劍去；因為以色列人都到了示劍要立他作王。Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

²尼八的兒子耶羅波安先前躲避所羅門王，逃往埃及，住在那裡（他聽見這事。）When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.

³以色列人打發人去請他來，他就和以色列會眾都來見羅波安，對他說：So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

⁴「你父親使我們負重軛，做苦工，現在求你使我們做的苦工、負的重軛輕鬆些，我們就事奉你。」“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

⁵羅波安對他們說：「你們暫且去，第三日再來見我。」民就去了。Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people departed.

老年人與少年人的主意

⁶羅波安之父所羅門在世的日子，有侍立在他面前的老年人，羅波安王和他們商議，說：「你們給我出個甚麼主意，我好回覆這民。」Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

⁷老年人對他說：「現在王若服事這民如僕人，用好話回答他們，他們就永遠作王的僕人。」They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

⁸王卻不用老年人給他出的主意，就和那些與他一同長大、在他面前侍立的少年人商議，But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

⁹說：「這民對我說：『你父親使我們負重軛，求你使我們輕鬆些。』你們給我出個甚麼主意，我好回覆他們。」He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

¹⁰那同他長大的少年人說：「這民對王說：『你父親使我們負重軛，求你使我們輕鬆些。』王要對他們如此說：『我的小拇指頭比我父親的腰還粗。The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!

¹¹我父親使你們負重軛，我必使你們負更重的軛！我父親用鞭子責打你們，我要用蠍子鞭責打你們！』」Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

羅波安的嚴厲回答

¹²耶羅波安和眾百姓遵著羅波安王所說「你們第三日再來見我」的那話，第三日他們果然來了。After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”

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¹³王用嚴厲的話回答百姓，不用老年人給他所出的主意，And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

¹⁴照著少年人所出的主意對民說：「我父親使你們負重軛，我必使你們負更重的軛！我父親用鞭子責打你們，我要用蠍子鞭責打你們！」and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

¹⁵王不肯依從百姓，這事乃出於耶和華，為要應驗他藉示羅人亞希雅對尼八的兒子耶羅波安所說的話。So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

北方支派背叛

¹⁶以色列眾民見王不依從他們，就對王說：我們與大衛有甚麼分兒呢？與耶西的兒子並沒有關涉。以色列人哪，各回各家去吧！大衛家啊，自己顧自己吧！於是，以色列人都回自己家裡去了，When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,

¹⁷惟獨住猶大城邑的以色列人，羅波安仍作他們的王。but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

¹⁸羅波安王差遣掌管服苦之人的亞多蘭往以色列人那裡去，以色列人就用石頭打死他。羅波安王急忙上車，逃回耶路撒冷去了。Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.

¹⁹這樣，以色列人背叛大衛家，直到今日。So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

²⁰以色列眾人聽見耶羅波安回來了，就打發人去請他到會眾面前，立他作以色列眾人的王。除了猶大支派以外，沒有順從大衛家的。When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

神禁止羅波安攻打以色列

²¹羅波安來到耶路撒冷，招聚猶大全家和便雅憫支派的人共十八萬，都是挑選的戰士，要與以色列家爭戰，好將國奪回，再歸所羅門的兒子羅波安。And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

²²但　神的話臨到神人示瑪雅，說：But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:

²³「你去告訴所羅門的兒子猶大王羅波安和猶大、便雅憫全家，並其餘的民說：“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people

²⁴『耶和華如此說：你們不可上去與你們的弟兄以色列人爭戰。各歸各家去吧！因為這事出於我。』」眾人就聽從耶和華的話，遵著耶和華的命回去了。that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.

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耶羅波安的金牛犢

²⁵耶羅波安在以法蓮山地建築示劍，就住在其中；又從示劍出去，建築毘努伊勒。Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.

²⁶耶羅波安心裡說：「恐怕這國仍歸大衛家；Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David.

²⁷這民若上耶路撒冷去，在耶和華的殿裡獻祭，他們的心必歸向他們的主─猶大王羅波安，就把我殺了，仍歸猶大王羅波安。」If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

²⁸耶羅波安王就籌劃定妥，鑄造了兩個金牛犢，對眾民說：「以色列人哪，你們上耶路撒冷去實在是難；這就是領你們出埃及地的　神。」After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

²⁹他就把牛犢一隻安在伯特利，一隻安在但。One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.

³⁰這事叫百姓陷在罪裡，因為他們往但去拜那牛犢。And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

³¹耶羅波安在邱壇那裡建殿，將那不屬利未人的凡民立為祭司。Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.

³²耶羅波安定八月十五日為節期，像在猶大的節期一樣，自己上壇獻祭。他在伯特利也這樣向他所鑄的牛犢獻祭，又將立為邱壇的祭司安置在伯特利。And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

³³他在八月十五日，就是他私自所定的月日，為以色列人立作節期的日子，在伯特利上壇燒香。On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel. So he ordained a feast for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.

神人斥責伯特利的壇

¹那時，有一個神人奉耶和華的命從猶大來到伯特利。耶羅波安正站在壇旁要燒香；Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.

²神人奉耶和華的命向壇呼叫，說：「壇哪，壇哪！耶和華如此說：大衛家裡必生一個兒子，名叫約西亞，他必將邱壇的祭司，就是在你上面燒香的，殺在你上面，人的骨頭也必燒在你上面。」And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, O altar, this is what the LORD says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense upon you, and human bones will be burned upon you.’”

³當日，神人設個預兆，說：「這壇必破裂，壇上的灰必傾撒，這是耶和華說的預兆。」That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’”

⁴耶羅波安王聽見神人向伯特利的壇所呼叫的話，就從壇上伸手，說：「拿住他吧！」王向神人所伸的手就枯乾了，不能彎回；Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.

⁵壇也破裂了，壇上的灰傾撒了，正如神人奉耶和華的命所設的預兆。And the altar was split apart, and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

⁶王對神人說：「請你為我禱告，求耶和華─你　神的恩典使我的手復原。」於是神人祈禱耶和華，王的手就復了原，仍如尋常一樣。Then the king responded to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before.

⁷王對神人說：「請你同我回去吃飯，加添心力，我也必給你賞賜。」Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”

⁸神人對王說：「你就是把你的宮一半給我，我也不同你進去，也不在這地方吃飯喝水；But the man of God replied, “If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.

⁹因為有耶和華的話囑咐我，說不可在伯特利吃飯喝水，也不可從你去的原路回來。」For this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’”

¹⁰於是神人從別的路回去，不從伯特利來的原路回去。So the man of God went another way and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

老先知誆哄神人

¹¹有一個老先知住在伯特利，他兒子們來，將神人當日在伯特利所行的一切事和向王所說的話都告訴了父親。Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king.

¹²父親問他們說：「神人從哪條路去了呢？」兒子們就告訴他；原來他們看見那從猶大來的神人所去的路。“Which way did he go?” their father asked. And his sons showed him the way taken by the man of God, who had come from Judah.

¹³老先知就吩咐他兒子們說：「你們為我備驢。」他們備好了驢，他就騎上，So the prophet said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” Then they saddled the donkey for him, and he mounted it

¹⁴去追趕神人，遇見他坐在橡樹底下，就問他說：「你是從猶大來的神人不是？」他說：「是。」and went after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” “I am,” he replied.

¹⁵老先知對他說：「請你同我回家吃飯。」So the prophet said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some bread.”

¹⁶神人說：「我不可同你回去進你的家，也不可在這裡同你吃飯喝水；But the man replied, “I cannot go home with you, and I will not eat bread or drink water with you in this place.

¹⁷因為有耶和華的話囑咐我說：『你在那裡不可吃飯喝水，也不可從你去的原路回來。』」For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

¹⁸老先知對他說：「我也是先知，和你一樣。有天使奉耶和華的命對我說：『你去把他帶回你的家，叫他吃飯喝水。』」這都是老先知誆哄他。Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,

¹⁹於是神人同老先知回去，在他家裡吃飯喝水。but the man of God went back with him, ate bread in his house, and drank water.

神人被獅子咬死

²⁰二人坐席的時候，耶和華的話臨到那帶神人回來的先知，While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back,

²¹他就對那從猶大來的神人說：「耶和華如此說：你既違背耶和華的話，不遵守耶和華─你　神的命令，and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you,

²²反倒回來，在耶和華禁止你吃飯喝水的地方吃了喝了，因此你的屍身不得入你列祖的墳墓。」but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to do so, your body shall never reach the tomb of your fathers.’”

²³吃喝完了，老先知為所帶回來的先知備驢。And after the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet who had brought him back saddled the donkey for him.

²⁴他就去了，在路上有個獅子遇見他，將他咬死，屍身倒在路上，驢站在屍身旁邊，獅子也站在屍身旁邊。As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.

²⁵有人從那裡經過，看見屍身倒在路上，獅子站在屍身旁邊，就來到老先知所住的城裡述說這事。And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived.

²⁶那帶神人回來的先知聽見這事，就說：「這是那違背了耶和華命令的神人，所以耶和華把他交給獅子；獅子抓傷他，咬死他，是應驗耶和華對他說的話。」When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.”

²⁷老先知就吩咐他兒子們說：「你們為我備驢。」他們就備了驢。Then the old prophet instructed his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled it,

²⁸他去了，看見神人的屍身倒在路上，驢和獅子站在屍身旁邊，獅子卻沒有吃屍身，也沒有抓傷驢。and he went and found the body lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or mauled the donkey.

老先知葬埋神人

²⁹老先知就把神人的屍身馱在驢上，帶回自己的城裡，要哀哭他，葬埋他；So the old prophet lifted up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to his own city to mourn for him and bury him.

³⁰就把他的屍身葬在自己的墳墓裡，哀哭他，說：「哀哉！我兄啊。」Then he laid the body in his own tomb, and they lamented over him, “Oh, my brother!”

³¹安葬之後，老先知對他兒子們說：「我死了，你們要葬我在神人的墳墓裡，使我的屍骨靠近他的屍骨，After he had buried him, the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, you must bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones,

³²因為他奉耶和華的命指著伯特利的壇和撒馬利亞各城有邱壇之殿所說的話必定應驗。」for the message that he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria will surely come to pass.”

從天上來的真糧

³²耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，那從天上來的糧不是摩西賜給你們的，乃是我父將天上來的真糧賜給你們。Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

³³因為　神的糧就是那從天上降下來、賜生命給世界的。」For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴他們說：「主啊，常將這糧賜給我們！」“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”

我就是生命的糧

³⁵耶穌說：「我就是生命的糧。到我這裡來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴。Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.

³⁶只是我對你們說過，你們已經看見我，還是不信。But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.

³⁷凡父所賜給我的人必到我這裡來；到我這裡來的，我總不丟棄他。Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

³⁸因為我從天上降下來，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

³⁹差我來者的意思就是：他所賜給我的，叫我一個也不失落，在末日卻叫他復活。And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.

⁴⁰因為我父的意思是叫一切見子而信的人得永生，並且在末日我要叫他復活。」For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

猶太人私下議論

⁴¹猶太人因為耶穌說「我是從天上降下來的糧」，就私下議論他，At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

⁴²說：「這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎？他的父母我們豈不認得嗎？他如今怎麼說『我是從天上降下來的』呢？」They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

⁴³耶穌回答說：「你們不要大家議論。“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.

⁴⁴若不是差我來的父吸引人，就沒有能到我這裡來的；到我這裡來的，在末日我要叫他復活。“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

⁴⁵在先知書上寫著說：『他們都要蒙　神的教訓。』凡聽見父之教訓又學習的，就到我這裡來。It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—

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⁴⁶這不是說有人看見過父，惟獨從　神來的，他看見過父。not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

⁴⁷我實實在在地告訴你們，信的人有永生。Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.

⁴⁸我就是生命的糧。I am the bread of life.

⁴⁹你們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，還是死了。Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.

⁵⁰這是從天上降下來的糧，叫人吃了就不死。This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.

⁵¹我是從天上降下來生命的糧；人若吃這糧，就必永遠活著。我所要賜的糧就是我的肉，為世人之生命所賜的。」I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

吃人子的肉、喝人子的血

⁵²因此，猶太人彼此爭論說：「這個人怎能把他的肉給我們吃呢？」At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

⁵³耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，你們若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就沒有生命在你們裡面。So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.

⁵⁴吃我肉、喝我血的人就有永生，在末日我要叫他復活。Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

⁵⁵我的肉真是可吃的，我的血真是可喝的。For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.

⁵⁶吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我裡面，我也常在他裡面。Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.

⁵⁷永活的父怎樣差我來，我又因父活著；照樣，吃我肉的人也要因我活著。Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

⁵⁸這就是從天上降下來的糧。吃這糧的人就永遠活著，不像你們的祖宗吃過嗎哪還是死了。」This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

⁵⁹這些話是耶穌在迦百農會堂裡教訓人說的。Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

許多門徒退去

⁶⁰他的門徒中有好些人聽見了，就說：「這話甚難，誰能聽呢？」On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”

⁶¹耶穌心裡知道門徒為這話議論，就對他們說：「這話是叫你們厭棄（原文是跌倒）嗎？Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?

⁶²倘或你們看見人子升到他原來所在之處，怎麼樣呢？Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?

⁶³叫人活著的乃是靈，肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈，就是生命。The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

⁶⁴只是你們中間有不信的人。」耶穌從起頭就知道誰不信他，誰要賣他。However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)

⁶⁵耶穌又說：「所以我對你們說過，若不是蒙我父的恩賜，沒有人能到我這裡來。」Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”

⁶⁶從此，他門徒中多有退去的，不再和他同行。From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

你有永生之道

⁶⁷耶穌就對那十二個門徒說：「你們也要去嗎？」So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

⁶⁸西門•彼得回答說：「主啊，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.

⁶⁹我們已經信了，又知道你是　神的聖者。」We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”

⁷⁰耶穌說：「我不是揀選了你們十二個門徒嗎？但你們中間有一個是魔鬼。」Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

⁷¹耶穌這話是指著加略人西門的兒子猶大說的；他本是十二個門徒裡的一個，後來要賣耶穌的。He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.