今日讀經

神的使者遇見雅各

¹雅各仍舊行路，　神的使者遇見他。Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

²雅各看見他們就說：「這是　神的軍兵」，於是給那地方起名叫瑪哈念（就是二軍兵的意思）。When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God.” So he named that place Mahanaim.

打發人去見以掃

³雅各打發人先往西珥地去，就是以東地，見他哥哥以掃，Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

⁴吩咐他們說：「你們對我主以掃說：『你的僕人雅各這樣說：我在拉班那裡寄居，直到如今。He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.

⁵我有牛、驢、羊群、僕婢，現在打發人來報告我主，為要在你眼前蒙恩。』」I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, menservants, and maidservants. I have sent this message to inform my master, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”

⁶所打發的人回到雅各那裡，說：「我們到了你哥哥以掃那裡，他帶著四百人，正迎著你來。」When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you—he and four hundred men with him.”

⁷雅各就甚懼怕，而且愁煩，便把那與他同在的人口和羊群、牛群、駱駝分做兩隊，In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.

⁸說：「以掃若來擊殺這一隊，剩下的那一隊還可以逃避。」He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can escape.”

雅各的禱告

⁹雅各說：「耶和華─我祖亞伯拉罕的　神，我父親以撒的　神啊，你曾對我說：『回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。』Then Jacob declared, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, the LORD who told me, ‘Go back to your country and to your kindred, and I will make you prosper,’

¹⁰你向僕人所施的一切慈愛和誠實，我一點也不配得；我先前只拿著我的杖過這約旦河，如今我卻成了兩隊了。I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps.

相關經文 ›

¹¹求你救我脫離我哥哥以掃的手；因為我怕他來殺我，連妻子帶兒女一同殺了。Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me.

¹²你曾說：『我必定厚待你，使你的後裔如同海邊的沙，多得不可勝數。』」But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”

預備禮物送給以掃

¹³當夜，雅各在那裡住宿，就從他所有的物中拿禮物要送給他哥哥以掃：Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

¹⁴母山羊二百隻，公山羊二十隻，母綿羊二百隻，公綿羊二十隻，200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams,

¹⁵奶崽子的駱駝三十隻─各帶著崽子，母牛四十隻，公牛十隻，母驢二十匹，驢駒十匹；30 milk camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys.

¹⁶每樣各分一群，交在僕人手下，就對僕人說：「你們要在我前頭過去，使群群相離，有空閒的地方」；He entrusted them to his servants in separate herds and told them, “Go on ahead of me, and keep some distance between the herds.”

¹⁷又吩咐儘先走的說：「我哥哥以掃遇見你的時候，問你說：『你是哪家的人？要往哪裡去？你前頭這些是誰的？』He instructed the one in the lead, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, where are you going, and whose animals are these before you?’

¹⁸你就說：『是你僕人雅各的，是送給我主以掃的禮物；他自己也在我們後邊。』」then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’”

¹⁹又吩咐第二、第三，和一切趕群畜的人說：「你們遇見以掃的時候也要這樣對他說；He also instructed the second, the third, and all those following behind the herds: “When you meet Esau, you are to say the same thing to him.

²⁰並且你們要說：『你僕人雅各在我們後邊。』」因雅各心裡說：「我藉著在我前頭去的禮物解他的恨，然後再見他的面，或者他容納我。」You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I will appease Esau with the gift that is going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.”

²¹於是禮物先過去了；那夜，雅各在隊中住宿。So Jacob’s gifts went on before him, while he spent the night in the camp.

在雅博渡口摔跤

²²他夜間起來，帶著兩個妻子，兩個使女，並十一個兒子，都過了雅博渡口，During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

²³先打發他們過河，又打發所有的都過去，He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

²⁴只剩下雅各一人。有一個人來和他摔跤，直到黎明。So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

²⁵那人見自己勝不過他，就將他的大腿窩摸了一把，雅各的大腿窩正在摔跤的時候就扭了。When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled.

²⁶那人說：「天黎明了，容我去吧！」雅各說：「你不給我祝福，我就不容你去。」Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

改名以色列

²⁷那人說：「你名叫甚麼？」他說：「我名叫雅各。」“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied.

²⁸那人說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列；因為你與　神與人較力，都得了勝。」Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

²⁹雅各問他說：「請將你的名告訴我。」那人說：「何必問我的名？」於是在那裡給雅各祝福。And Jacob requested, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.

面對面見了神

³⁰雅各便給那地方起名叫毘努伊勒（就是　神之面的意思），意思說：「我面對面見了　神，我的性命仍得保全。」So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

³¹日頭剛出來的時候，雅各經過毘努伊勒，他的大腿就瘸了。The sun rose above him as he passed by Penuel, and he was limping because of his hip.

³²故此，以色列人不吃大腿窩的筋，直到今日，因為那人摸了雅各大腿窩的筋。Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was struck near that tendon.

兄弟相見和好

¹雅各舉目觀看，見以掃來了，後頭跟著四百人，他就把孩子們分開交給利亞、拉結，和兩個使女，Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

²並且叫兩個使女和她們的孩子在前頭，利亞和她的孩子在後頭，拉結和約瑟在儘後頭。He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

³他自己在他們前頭過去，一連七次俯伏在地才就近他哥哥。But Jacob himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

⁴以掃跑來迎接他，將他抱住，又摟著他的頸項，與他親嘴，兩個人就哭了。Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

⁵以掃舉目看見婦人孩子，就說：「這些和你同行的是誰呢？」雅各說：「這些孩子是　神施恩給你的僕人的。」When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

⁶於是兩個使女和她們的孩子前來下拜；Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.

⁷利亞和她的孩子也前來下拜；隨後約瑟和拉結也前來下拜。Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

⁸以掃說：「我所遇見的這些群畜是甚麼意思呢？」雅各說：「是要在我主面前蒙恩的。」“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered.

⁹以掃說：「兄弟啊，我的已經夠了，你的仍歸你吧！」“I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.”

¹⁰雅各說：「不然，我若在你眼前蒙恩，就求你從我手裡收下這禮物；因為我見了你的面，如同見了　神的面，並且你容納了我。But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably.

¹¹求你收下我帶來給你的禮物；因為　神恩待我，使我充足。」雅各再三地求他，他才收下了。Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.

以掃回西珥

¹²以掃說：「我們可以起身前往，我在你前頭走。」Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”

¹³雅各對他說：「我主知道孩子們年幼嬌嫩，牛羊也正在乳養的時候，若是催趕一天，群畜都必死了。But Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and I must care for sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard for even a day, all the animals will die.

¹⁴求我主在僕人前頭走，我要量著在我面前群畜和孩子的力量慢慢地前行，直走到西珥我主那裡。」Please let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a comfortable pace for the livestock and children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

¹⁵以掃說：「容我把跟隨我的人留幾個在你這裡。」雅各說：「何必呢？只要在我主眼前蒙恩就是了。」“Let me leave some of my people with you,” Esau said. But Jacob replied, “Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”

¹⁶於是，以掃當日起行，回往西珥去了。So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir,

雅各在疏割和示劍

¹⁷雅各就往疏割去，在那裡為自己蓋造房屋，又為牲畜搭棚；因此那地方名叫疏割（就是棚的意思）。but Jacob went on to Succoth, where he built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

¹⁸雅各從巴旦‧亞蘭回來的時候，平平安安地到了迦南地的示劍城，在城東支搭帳棚，After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.

¹⁹就用一百塊銀子向示劍的父親、哈抹的子孫買了支帳棚的那塊地，And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, he purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver.

²⁰在那裡築了一座壇，起名叫伊利‧伊羅伊‧以色列（就是　神、以色列　神的意思）。There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

相關經文 ›

底拿受辱

¹利亞給雅各所生的女兒底拿出去，要見那地的女子們。Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land.

²那地的主─希未人、哈抹的兒子示劍看見她，就拉住她，與她行淫，玷辱她。When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.

³示劍的心繫戀雅各的女兒底拿，喜愛這女子，甜言蜜語地安慰她。And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.

⁴示劍對他父親哈抹說：「求你為我聘這女子為妻。」So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.”

⁵雅各聽見示劍玷污了他的女兒底拿。那時他的兒子們正和群畜在田野，雅各就閉口不言，等他們回來。Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.

⁶示劍的父親哈抹出來見雅各，要和他商議。Meanwhile, Shechem’s father Hamor came to speak with Jacob.

⁷雅各的兒子們聽見這事，就從田野回來，人人忿恨，十分惱怒；因示劍在以色列家做了醜事，與雅各的女兒行淫，這本是不該做的事。When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

哈抹求親

⁸哈抹和他們商議說：「我兒子示劍的心戀慕這女子，求你們將她給我的兒子為妻。But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.

⁹你們與我們彼此結親；你們可以把女兒給我們，也可以娶我們的女兒。Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.

¹⁰你們與我們同住吧！這地都在你們面前，只管在此居住，做買賣，置產業。」You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”

¹¹示劍對女兒的父親和弟兄們說：「但願我在你們眼前蒙恩，你們向我要甚麼，我必給你們。Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask.

¹²任憑向我要多重的聘金和禮物，我必照你們所說的給你們；只要把女子給我為妻。」Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

雅各兒子們的詭計

¹³雅各的兒子們因為示劍玷污了他們的妹子底拿，就用詭詐的話回答示劍和他父親哈抹，But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob’s sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully.

¹⁴對他們說：「我們不能把我們的妹子給沒有受割禮的人為妻，因為那是我們的羞辱。“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.

¹⁵惟有一件才可以應允：若你們所有的男丁都受割禮，和我們一樣，We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.

¹⁶我們就把女兒給你們，也娶你們的女兒；我們便與你們同住，兩下成為一樣的人民。Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people.

¹⁷倘若你們不聽從我們受割禮，我們就帶著妹子走了。」But if you will not agree to be circumcised, then we will take our sister and go.”

¹⁸哈抹和他的兒子示劍喜歡這話。Their offer seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.

¹⁹那少年人做這事並不遲延，因為他喜愛雅各的女兒；他在他父親家中也是人最尊重的。The young man, who was the most respected of all his father’s household, did not hesitate to fulfill this request, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.

²⁰哈抹和他兒子示劍到本城的門口，對本城的人說：So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and addressed the men of their city:

²¹「這些人與我們和睦，不如許他們在這地居住，做買賣；這地也寬闊，足可容下他們。我們可以娶他們的女兒為妻，也可以把我們的女兒嫁給他們。“These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them.

²²惟有一件事我們必須做，他們才肯應允和我們同住，成為一樣的人民：就是我們中間所有的男丁都要受割禮，和他們一樣。But only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us and be one people: if all our men are circumcised as they are.

²³他們的群畜、貨財，和一切的牲口豈不都歸我們嗎？只要依從他們，他們就與我們同住。」Will not their livestock, their possessions, and all their animals become ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell among us.”

²⁴凡從城門出入的人就都聽從哈抹和他兒子示劍的話；於是凡從城門出入的男丁都受了割禮。All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.

西緬和利未屠城

²⁵到第三天，眾人正在疼痛的時候，雅各的兩個兒子，就是底拿的哥哥西緬和利未，各拿刀劍，趁著眾人想不到的時候來到城中，把一切男丁都殺了，Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.

²⁶又用刀殺了哈抹和他兒子示劍，把底拿從示劍家裡帶出來就走了。They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.

²⁷雅各的兒子們因為他們的妹子受了玷污，就來到被殺的人那裡，擄掠那城，Jacob’s other sons came upon the slaughter and looted the city, because their sister had been defiled.

²⁸奪了他們的羊群、牛群，和驢，並城裡田間所有的；They took their flocks and herds and donkeys, and everything else in the city or in the field.

²⁹又把他們一切貨財、孩子、婦女，並各房中所有的，都擄掠去了。They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.

³⁰雅各對西緬和利未說：「你們連累我，使我在這地的居民中，就是在迦南人和比利洗人中，有了臭名。我的人丁既然稀少，他們必聚集來擊殺我，我和全家的人都必滅絕。」Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

³¹他們說：「他豈可待我們的妹子如同妓女嗎？」But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

約翰差人問耶穌

²約翰在監裡聽見基督所做的事，就打發兩個門徒去，Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples

³問他說：「那將要來的是你嗎？還是我們等候別人呢？」to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

⁴耶穌回答說：「你們去，把所聽見、所看見的事告訴約翰。Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:

⁵就是瞎子看見，瘸子行走，長大痲瘋的潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人有福音傳給他們。The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

⁶凡不因我跌倒的就有福了！」Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

相關經文 ›

耶穌論施洗約翰

⁷他們走的時候，耶穌就對眾人講論約翰說：「你們從前出到曠野是要看甚麼呢？要看風吹動的蘆葦嗎？As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

⁸你們出去到底是要看甚麼？要看穿細軟衣服的人嗎？那穿細軟衣服的人是在王宮裡。Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.

⁹你們出去究竟是為甚麼？是要看先知嗎？我告訴你們，是的，他比先知大多了。What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

¹⁰經上記著說：『我要差遣我的使者在你前面預備道路』，所說的就是這個人。This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

相關經文 ›

¹¹我實在告訴你們，凡婦人所生的，沒有一個興起來大過施洗約翰的；然而天國裡最小的比他還大。Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

相關經文 ›

¹²從施洗約翰的時候到如今，天國是努力進入的，努力的人就得著了。From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.

¹³因為眾先知和律法說預言，到約翰為止。For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

相關經文 ›

¹⁴你們若肯領受，這人就是那應當來的以利亞。And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

¹⁵有耳可聽的，就應當聽！He who has ears, let him hear.

這世代像街上的孩童

¹⁶我可用甚麼比這世代呢？好像孩童坐在街市上招呼同伴，說：To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

¹⁷我們向你們吹笛，你們不跳舞；我們向你們舉哀，你們不捶胸。‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

¹⁸約翰來了，也不吃也不喝，人就說他是被鬼附著的；For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

¹⁹人子來了，也吃也喝，人又說他是貪食好酒的人，是稅吏和罪人的朋友。但智慧之子總以智慧為是（有古卷：但智慧在行為上就顯為是）。」The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

相關經文 ›

責備不肯悔改的城

²⁰耶穌在諸城中行了許多異能，那些城的人終不悔改，就在那時候責備他們，說：Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

²¹「哥拉汛哪，你有禍了！伯賽大啊，你有禍了！因為在你們中間所行的異能，若行在泰爾、西頓，他們早已披麻蒙灰悔改了。“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

²²但我告訴你們，當審判的日子，泰爾、西頓所受的，比你們還容易受呢！But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

²³迦百農啊，你已經升到天上（或譯：你將要升到天上嗎），將來必墜落陰間；因為在你那裡所行的異能，若行在所多瑪，它還可以存到今日。And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

²⁴但我告訴你們，當審判的日子，所多瑪所受的，比你還容易受呢！」But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

相關經文 ›

向嬰孩顯出來

²⁵那時，耶穌說：「父啊，天地的主，我感謝你！因為你將這些事向聰明通達人就藏起來，向嬰孩就顯出來。At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

²⁶父啊，是的，因為你的美意本是如此。Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

²⁷一切所有的，都是我父交付我的；除了父，沒有人知道子；除了子和子所願意指示的，沒有人知道父。All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

相關經文 ›

到我這裡來得安息

²⁸凡勞苦擔重擔的人可以到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息。Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

²⁹我心裡柔和謙卑，你們當負我的軛，學我的樣式；這樣，你們心裡就必得享安息。Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

³⁰因為我的軛是容易的，我的擔子是輕省的。」For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”