今日讀經

築壇獻祭、守住棚節

¹到了七月，以色列人住在各城；那時他們如同一人，聚集在耶路撒冷。By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns, and the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.

²約薩達的兒子耶書亞和他的弟兄眾祭司，並撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯與他的弟兄，都起來建築以色列　神的壇，要照神人摩西律法書上所寫的，在壇上獻燔祭。Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.

³他們在原有的根基上築壇，因懼怕鄰國的民，又在其上向耶和華早晚獻燔祭，They set up the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD—both the morning and evening burnt offerings—even though they feared the people of the land.

⁴又照律法書上所寫的守住棚節，按數照例獻每日所當獻的燔祭；They also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in accordance with what is written, and they offered burnt offerings daily based on the number prescribed for each day.

⁵其後獻常獻的燔祭，並在月朔與耶和華的一切聖節獻祭，又向耶和華獻各人的甘心祭。After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings and those for New Moons and for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as all the freewill offerings brought to the LORD.

⁶從七月初一日起，他們就向耶和華獻燔祭。但耶和華殿的根基尚未立定。On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, although the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.

預備建殿的材料

⁷他們又將銀子給石匠、木匠，把糧食、酒、油給西頓人、泰爾人，使他們將香柏樹從黎巴嫩運到海裡，浮海運到約帕，是照波斯王塞魯士所允准的。They gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to Joppa by sea, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.

興工建造聖殿

⁸百姓到了耶路撒冷　神殿的地方。第二年二月，撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯，約薩達的兒子耶書亞和其餘的弟兄，就是祭司、利未人，並一切被擄歸回耶路撒冷的人，都興工建造；又派利未人，從二十歲以外的，督理建造耶和華殿的工作。In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity, began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years of age or older to supervise the construction of the house of the LORD.

⁹於是猶大（在二章四十節作何達威雅）的後裔，就是耶書亞和他的子孫與弟兄，甲篾和他的子孫，利未人希拿達的子孫與弟兄，都一同起來，督理那在　神殿做工的人。So Jeshua and his sons and brothers, Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Yehudah), and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together to supervise those working on the house of God.

立根基時的歡呼與哭號

¹⁰匠人立耶和華殿根基的時候，祭司皆穿禮服吹號，亞薩的子孫利未人敲鈸，照以色列王大衛所定的例，都站著讚美耶和華。When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their positions to praise the LORD, as David king of Israel had prescribed.

¹¹他們彼此唱和，讚美稱謝耶和華說：他本為善，他向以色列人永發慈愛。他們讚美耶和華的時候，眾民大聲呼喊，因耶和華殿的根基已經立定。And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.

¹²然而有許多祭司、利未人、族長，就是見過舊殿的老年人，現在親眼看見立這殿的根基，便大聲哭號，也有許多人大聲歡呼，But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully.

¹³甚至百姓不能分辨歡呼的聲音和哭號的聲音；因為眾人大聲呼喊，聲音聽到遠處。The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise. And the sound was heard from afar.

敵人要求一同建造

¹猶大和便雅憫的敵人聽說被擄歸回的人為耶和華─以色列的　神建造殿宇，When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel,

²就去見所羅巴伯和以色列的族長，對他們說：「請容我們與你們一同建造；因為我們尋求你們的　神，與你們一樣。自從亞述王以撒哈頓帶我們上這地以來，我們常祭祀　神。」they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of the families, saying, “Let us build with you because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time of King Esar-haddon of Assyria, who brought us here.”

³但所羅巴伯、耶書亞，和其餘以色列的族長對他們說：「我們建造　神的殿與你們無干，我們自己為耶和華─以色列的　神協力建造，是照波斯王塞魯士所吩咐的。」But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”

敵人擾亂、賄買謀士

⁴那地的民，就在猶大人建造的時候，使他們的手發軟，擾亂他們；Then the people of the land set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to build.

⁵從波斯王塞魯士年間，直到波斯王大流士登基的時候，賄買謀士，要敗壞他們的謀算。They hired counselors against them to frustrate their plans throughout the reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

歷代波斯王時的控告

⁶在亞哈隨魯才登基的時候，上本控告猶大和耶路撒冷的居民。At the beginning of the reign of Xerxes, an accusation was lodged against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

⁷亞達薛西年間，比施蘭、米特利達、他別，和他們的同黨上本奏告波斯王亞達薛西。本章是用亞蘭文字，亞蘭方言。And in the days of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his associates wrote a letter to Artaxerxes. It was written in Aramaic and then translated.

⁸省長利宏、書記伸帥要控告耶路撒冷人，也上本奏告亞達薛西王。Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:

⁹省長利宏、書記伸帥，和同黨的底拿人、亞法薩提迦人、他毘拉人、亞法撒人、亞基衛人、巴比倫人、書珊迦人、底亥人、以攔人，From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates—the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon, the Elamites of Susa,

¹⁰和尊大的亞斯那巴所遷移、安置在撒馬利亞城，並大河西一帶地方的人等，and the rest of the peoples whom the great and honorable Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and elsewhere west of the Euphrates.

給亞達薛西王的奏本

¹¹上奏亞達薛西王說：「河西的臣民云云：(This is the text of the letter they sent to him.) To King Artaxerxes, From your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:

¹²王該知道，從王那裡上到我們這裡的猶大人，已經到耶路撒冷重建這反叛惡劣的城，築立根基，建造城牆。Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are restoring its walls and repairing its foundations.

¹³如今王該知道，他們若建造這城，城牆完畢就不再與王進貢，交課，納稅，終久王必受虧損。Let it now be known to the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, they will not pay tribute, duty, or toll, and the royal treasury will suffer.

¹⁴我們既食御鹽，不忍見王吃虧，因此奏告於王。Now because we are in the service of the palace and it is not fitting for us to allow the king to be dishonored, we have sent to inform the king

¹⁵請王考察先王的實錄，必在其上查知這城是反叛的城，與列王和各省有害；自古以來，其中常有悖逆的事，因此這城曾被拆毀。that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and verify that the city is a rebellious city, harmful to kings and provinces, inciting sedition from ancient times. That is why this city was destroyed.

¹⁶我們謹奏王知，這城若再建造，城牆完畢，河西之地王就無分了。」We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are restored, you will have no dominion west of the Euphrates.

亞達薛西王下令停工

¹⁷那時王諭覆省長利宏、書記伸帥，和他們的同黨，就是住撒馬利亞並河西一帶地方的人，說：「願你們平安云云。Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.

¹⁸你們所上的本，已經明讀在我面前。The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

¹⁹我已命人考查，得知此城古來果然背叛列王，其中常有反叛悖逆的事。I issued a decree, and a search was conducted. It was discovered that this city has revolted against kings from ancient times, engaging in rebellion and sedition.

²⁰從前耶路撒冷也有大君王統管河西全地，人就給他們進貢，交課，納稅。And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

²¹現在你們要出告示命這些人停工，使這城不得建造，等我降旨。Now, therefore, issue an order for these men to stop, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.

²²你們當謹慎，不可遲延，為何容害加重，使王受虧損呢？」See that you do not neglect this matter. Why allow this threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?

²³亞達薛西王的上諭讀在利宏和書記伸帥，並他們的同黨面前，他們就急忙往耶路撒冷去見猶大人，用勢力強迫他們停工。When the text of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and forcibly stopped them.

建殿工程停止

²⁴於是，在耶路撒冷　神殿的工程就停止了，直停到波斯王大流士第二年。Thus the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

在以哥念傳道，城裡分黨

¹二人在以哥念同進猶太人的會堂，在那裡講的，叫猶太人和希臘人信的很多。At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

²但那不順從的猶太人聳動外邦人，叫他們心裡惱恨弟兄。But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

³二人在那裡住了多日，倚靠主放膽講道；主藉他們的手施行神蹟奇事，證明他的恩道。So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

⁴城裡的眾人就分了黨，有附從猶太人的，有附從使徒的。The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.

逃往路司得、特庇

⁵那時，外邦人和猶太人，並他們的官長，一齊擁上來，要凌辱使徒，用石頭打他們。But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them,

⁶使徒知道了，就逃往呂高尼的路司得、特庇兩個城和周圍地方去，they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

⁷在那裡傳福音。where they continued to preach the gospel.

治好生來瘸腿的人

⁸路司得城裡坐著一個兩腳無力的人，生來是瘸腿的，從來沒有走過。In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.

⁹他聽保羅講道，保羅定睛看他，見他有信心，可得痊癒，This man was listening to the words of Paul, who looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed.

¹⁰就大聲說：「你起來，兩腳站直！」那人就跳起來，而且行走。In a loud voice Paul called out, “Stand up on your feet!” And the man jumped up and began to walk.

眾人要向使徒獻祭

¹¹眾人看見保羅所做的事，就用呂高尼的話大聲說：「有　神藉著人形降臨在我們中間了。」When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!”

¹²於是稱巴拿巴為宙斯，稱保羅為希耳米，因為他說話領首。Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

¹³有城外宙斯廟的祭司牽著牛，拿著花圈，來到門前，要同眾人向使徒獻祭。The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

我們也是人

¹⁴巴拿巴、保羅二使徒聽見，就撕開衣裳，跳進眾人中間，喊著說：But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,

¹⁵「諸君，為甚麼做這事呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣。我們傳福音給你們，是叫你們離棄這些虛妄，歸向那創造天、地、海，和其中萬物的永生　神。“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.

¹⁶他在從前的世代，任憑萬國各行其道；In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.

¹⁷然而為自己未嘗不顯出證據來，就如常施恩惠，從天降雨，賞賜豐年，叫你們飲食飽足，滿心喜樂。」Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

¹⁸二人說了這些話，僅僅地攔住眾人不獻祭與他們。Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from sacrificing to them.

保羅被石頭打

¹⁹但有些猶太人從安提阿和以哥念來，挑唆眾人，就用石頭打保羅，以為他是死了，便拖到城外。Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

²⁰門徒正圍著他，他就起來，走進城去。第二天，同巴拿巴往特庇去，But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

回頭堅固門徒、選立長老

²¹對那城裡的人傳了福音，使好些人作門徒，就回路司得、以哥念、安提阿去，They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,

²²堅固門徒的心，勸他們恆守所信的道；又說：「我們進入　神的國，必須經歷許多艱難。」strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

²³二人在各教會中選立了長老，又禁食禱告，就把他們交託所信的主。Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

回到安提阿報告

²⁴二人經過彼西底，來到旁非利亞。After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

²⁵在別加講了道，就下亞大利去，And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

²⁶從那裡坐船，往安提阿去。當初，他們被眾人所託、蒙　神之恩、要辦現在所做之工，就是在這地方。From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.

²⁷到了那裡，聚集了會眾，就述說　神藉他們所行的一切事，並　神怎樣為外邦人開了信道的門。When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

²⁸二人就在那裡同門徒住了多日。And they spent a long time there with the disciples.