今日讀經

伯沙撒的筵席

¹伯沙撒王為他的一千大臣設擺盛筵，與這一千人對面飲酒。Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

²伯沙撒歡飲之間，吩咐人將他父（或譯：祖；下同）尼布甲尼撒從耶路撒冷殿中所掠的金銀器皿拿來，王與大臣、皇后、妃嬪好用這器皿飲酒。Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

³於是他們把耶路撒冷　神殿庫房中所掠的金器皿拿來，王和大臣、皇后、妃嬪就用這器皿飲酒。Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

⁴他們飲酒，讚美金、銀、銅、鐵、木、石所造的神。As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

牆上寫字的指頭

⁵當時，忽有人的指頭顯出，在王宮與燈臺相對的粉牆上寫字。王看見寫字的指頭At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,

⁶就變了臉色，心意驚惶，腰骨好像脫節，雙膝彼此相碰，his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

⁷大聲吩咐將用法術的和迦勒底人並觀兆的領進來，對巴比倫的哲士說，誰能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，他必身穿紫袍，項帶金鍊，在我國中位列第三。The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

⁸於是王的一切哲士都進來，卻不能讀那文字，也不能把講解告訴王。So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

⁹伯沙撒王就甚驚惶，臉色改變，他的大臣也都驚奇。Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

太后推薦但以理

¹⁰太后（或譯：皇后；下同）因王和他大臣所說的話，就進入宴宮，說：「願王萬歲！你心意不要驚惶，臉面不要變色。Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

¹¹在你國中有一人，他裡頭有聖神的靈，你父在世的日子，這人心中光明，又有聰明智慧，好像神的智慧。你父尼布甲尼撒王，就是王的父，立他為術士、用法術的，和迦勒底人，並觀兆的領袖。There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,

¹²在他裡頭有美好的靈性，又有知識聰明，能圓夢，釋謎語，解疑惑。這人名叫但以理，尼布甲尼撒王又稱他為伯提沙撒，現在可以召他來，他必解明這意思。」did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

¹³但以理就被領到王前。王問但以理說：「你是被擄之猶大人中的但以理嗎？就是我父王從猶大擄來的嗎？So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

¹⁴我聽說你裡頭有神的靈，心中光明，又有聰明和美好的智慧。I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

¹⁵現在哲士和用法術的都領到我面前，為叫他們讀這文字，把講解告訴我，無奈他們都不能把講解說出來。Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.

¹⁶我聽說你善於講解，能解疑惑；現在你若能讀這文字，把講解告訴我，就必身穿紫袍，項戴金鍊，在我國中位列第三。」But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

但以理責備王

¹⁷但以理在王面前回答說：「你的贈品可以歸你自己，你的賞賜可以歸給別人；我卻要為王讀這文字，把講解告訴王。In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

¹⁸王啊，至高的　神曾將國位、大權、榮耀、威嚴賜與你父尼布甲尼撒；As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.

¹⁹因　神所賜他的大權，各方、各國、各族的人都在他面前戰兢恐懼。他可以隨意生殺，隨意升降。Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

²⁰但他心高氣傲，靈也剛愎，甚至行事狂傲，就被革去王位，奪去榮耀。But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

²¹他被趕出離開世人，他的心變如獸心，與野驢同居，吃草如牛，身被天露滴濕，等他知道至高的　神在人的國中掌權，憑自己的意旨立人治國。He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

²²伯沙撒啊，你是他的兒子（或譯：孫子），你雖知道這一切，你心仍不自卑，But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

²³竟向天上的主自高，使人將他殿中的器皿拿到你面前，你和大臣、皇后、妃嬪用這器皿飲酒。你又讚美那不能看、不能聽、無知無識、金、銀、銅、鐵、木、石所造的神，卻沒有將榮耀歸與那手中有你氣息，管理你一切行動的　神。Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

²⁴因此從　神那裡顯出指頭來寫這文字。Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

彌尼，彌尼，提客勒，烏法珥新

²⁵「所寫的文字是：『彌尼，彌尼，提客勒，烏法珥新。』Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

²⁶講解是這樣：彌尼，就是　神已經數算你國的年日到此完畢。And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷提客勒，就是你被稱在天平裡，顯出你的虧欠。TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

²⁸毘勒斯（與烏法珥新同義），就是你的國分裂，歸與瑪代人和波斯人。」PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹伯沙撒下令，人就把紫袍給但以理穿上，把金鍊給他戴在頸項上，又傳令使他在國中位列第三。Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

當夜伯沙撒被殺

³⁰當夜，迦勒底王伯沙撒被殺。That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain,

³¹米底亞人大利烏年六十二歲，取了迦勒底國。and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.

但以理超乎眾官

¹大利烏隨心所願，立一百二十個總督，治理通國。Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,

²又在他們以上立總長三人（但以理在其中），使總督在他們三人面前回覆事務，免得王受虧損。and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss.

³因這但以理有美好的靈性，所以顯然超乎其餘的總長和總督，王又想立他治理通國。Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

眾官設計陷害

⁴那時，總長和總督尋找但以理誤國的把柄，為要參他；只是找不著他的錯誤過失，因他忠心辦事，毫無錯誤過失。Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.

⁵那些人便說：「我們要找參這但以理的把柄，除非在他　神的律法中就尋不著。」Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

⁶於是，總長和總督紛紛聚集來見王，說：「願大利烏王萬歲！So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!

⁷國中的總長、欽差、總督、謀士，和巡撫彼此商議，要立一條堅定的禁令（或譯：求王下旨要立一條……），三十日內，不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求甚麼，就必扔在獅子坑中。All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions.

⁸王啊，現在求你立這禁令，加蓋玉璽，使禁令決不更改；照瑪代和波斯人的例是不可更改的。」Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

⁹於是大利烏王立這禁令，加蓋玉璽。Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

照常一日三次禱告

¹⁰但以理知道這禁令蓋了玉璽，就到自己家裡（他樓上的窗戶開向耶路撒冷），一日三次，雙膝跪在他　神面前，禱告感謝，與素常一樣。Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

¹¹那些人就紛紛聚集，見但以理在他　神面前祈禱懇求。Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

¹²他們便進到王前，提王的禁令，說：「王啊，三十日內不拘何人，若在王以外，或向神或向人求甚麼，必被扔在獅子坑中。王不是在這禁令上蓋了玉璽麼？」王回答說：「實有這事，照瑪代和波斯人的例是不可更改的。」So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

¹³他們對王說：「王啊，那被擄之猶大人中的但以理不理你，也不遵你蓋了玉璽的禁令，他竟一日三次祈禱。」Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

¹⁴王聽見這話，就甚愁煩，一心要救但以理，籌劃解救他，直到日落的時候。As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

¹⁵那些人就紛紛聚集來見王，說：「王啊，當知道瑪代人和波斯人有例，凡王所立的禁令和律例都不可更改。」Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

扔在獅子坑中

¹⁶王下令，人就把但以理帶來，扔在獅子坑中。王對但以理說：「你所常事奉的　神，他必救你。」So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

¹⁷有人搬石頭放在坑口，王用自己的璽和大臣的印，封閉那坑，使懲辦但以理的事毫無更改。A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

¹⁸王回宮，終夜禁食，無人拿樂器到他面前，並且睡不著覺。Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

神封住獅子的口

¹⁹次日黎明，王就起來，急忙往獅子坑那裡去。At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.

²⁰臨近坑邊，哀聲呼叫但以理，對但以理說：「永生　神的僕人但以理啊，你所常事奉的　神能救你脫離獅子嗎？」When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

²¹但以理對王說：「願王萬歲！Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever!

²²我的　神差遣使者，封住獅子的口，叫獅子不傷我；因我在　神面前無辜，我在王面前也沒有行過虧損的事。」My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

²³王就甚喜樂，吩咐人將但以理從坑裡繫上來。於是但以理從坑裡被繫上來，身上毫無傷損，因為信靠他的　神。The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁴王下令，人就把那些控告但以理的人，連他們的妻子兒女都帶來，扔在獅子坑中。他們還沒有到坑底，獅子就抓住（原文是勝了）他們，咬碎他們的骨頭。At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

大利烏的詔令

²⁵那時，大利烏王傳旨，曉諭住在全地各方、各國、各族的人說：「願你們大享平安！Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.

²⁶現在我降旨曉諭我所統轄的全國人民，要在但以理的　神面前，戰兢恐懼。因為他是永遠長存的活　神，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will never end.

²⁷他護庇人，搭救人，在天上地下施行神蹟奇事，救了但以理脫離獅子的口。」He delivers and rescues; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

²⁸如此，這但以理，當大利烏王在位的時候和波斯王古列在位的時候，大享亨通。So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

勝過世界的信心

⁴因為凡從　神生的，就勝過世界；使我們勝了世界的，就是我們的信心。because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

⁵勝過世界的是誰呢？不是那信耶穌是　神兒子的嗎？Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

水、血和聖靈的見證

⁶這藉著水和血而來的，就是耶穌基督；不是單用水，乃是用水又用血，This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.

⁷並且有聖靈作見證，因為聖靈就是真理。For there are three that testify:

⁸作見證的原來有三：就是聖靈、水，與血，這三樣也都歸於一。the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.

神為祂兒子作的見證

⁹我們既領受人的見證，　神的見證更該領受（該領受：原文是大）了，因　神的見證是為他兒子作的。Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.

¹⁰信　神兒子的，就有這見證在他心裡；不信　神的，就是將　神當作說謊的，因不信　神為他兒子作的見證。Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

¹¹這見證就是　神賜給我們永生；這永生也是在他兒子裡面。And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

¹²人有了　神的兒子就有生命，沒有　神的兒子就沒有生命。Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

知道自己有永生

¹³我將這些話寫給你們信奉　神兒子之名的人，要叫你們知道自己有永生。I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

照祂的旨意祈求

¹⁴我們若照他的旨意求甚麼，他就聽我們，這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

¹⁵既然知道他聽我們一切所求的，就知道我們所求於他的，無不得著。And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

為犯罪的弟兄祈求

¹⁶人若看見弟兄犯了不至於死的罪，就當為他祈求，　神必將生命賜給他；有至於死的罪，我不說當為這罪祈求。If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.

¹⁷凡不義的事都是罪，也有不至於死的罪。All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.

我們知道

¹⁸我們知道凡從　神生的，必不犯罪，從　神生的，必保守自己（有古卷：那從　神生的必保護他），那惡者也就無法害他。We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

¹⁹我們知道，我們是屬　神的，全世界都臥在那惡者手下。We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

²⁰我們也知道，　神的兒子已經來到，且將智慧賜給我們，使我們認識那位真實的，我們也在那位真實的裡面，就是在他兒子耶穌基督裡面。這是真神，也是永生。And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

遠避偶像

²¹小子們哪，你們要自守，遠避偶像！Little children, keep yourselves from idols.