今日讀經

基甸死後又拜巴力

³³基甸死後，以色列人又去隨從諸巴力行邪淫，以巴力‧比利土為他們的神。And as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals, and they set up Baal-berith as their god.

³⁴以色列人不記念耶和華─他們的　神，就是拯救他們脫離四圍仇敵之手的，The Israelites failed to remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

³⁵也不照著耶路‧巴力，就是基甸向他們所施的恩惠厚待他的家。They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for Israel.

亞比米勒殺眾弟兄自立為王

¹耶路‧巴力的兒子亞比米勒到了示劍見他的眾母舅，對他們和他外祖全家的人說：Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,

²「請你們問示劍的眾人說，是耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都管理你們好呢？還是一人管理你們好呢？你們又要記念我是你們的骨肉。」“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

³他的眾母舅便將這一切話為他說給示劍人聽，示劍人的心就歸向亞比米勒。他們說：「他原是我們的弟兄」；And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

⁴就從巴力‧比利土的廟中取了七十舍客勒銀子給亞比米勒；亞比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟隨他。So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

⁵他往俄弗拉到他父親的家，將他弟兄、耶路‧巴力的眾子七十人都殺在一塊磐石上；只剩下耶路‧巴力的小兒子約坦，因為他躲藏了。He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

⁶示劍人和米羅人都一同聚集，往示劍橡樹旁的柱子那裡，立亞比米勒為王。Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

約坦的寓言

⁷有人將這事告訴約坦，他就去站在基利心山頂上，向眾人大聲喊叫說：「示劍人哪，你們要聽我的話，　神也就聽你們的話。When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

⁸有一時，樹木要膏一樹為王，管理他們，就去對橄欖樹說：『請你作我們的王。』One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

⁹橄欖樹回答說：『我豈肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁰樹木對無花果樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹¹無花果樹回答說：『我豈肯止住所結甜美的果子，飄颻在眾樹之上呢？』But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹²樹木對葡萄樹說：『請你來作我們的王。』Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹³葡萄樹回答說：『我豈肯止住使神和人喜樂的新酒，飄颻在眾樹之上呢。』But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴眾樹對荊棘說：『請你來作我們的王。』Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹⁵荊棘回答說：『你們若誠誠實實地膏我為王，就要投在我的蔭下；不然，願火從荊棘裡出來，燒滅黎巴嫩的香柏樹。』But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

¹⁶「現在你們立亞比米勒為王，若按誠實正直善待耶路‧巴力和他的全家，這就是酬他的勞。Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—

¹⁷從前我父冒死為你們爭戰，救了你們脫離米甸人的手。for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

¹⁸你們如今起來攻擊我的父家，將他眾子七十人殺在一塊磐石上，又立他婢女所生的兒子亞比米勒為示劍人的王；他原是你們的弟兄。but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—

¹⁹你們如今若按誠實正直待耶路‧巴力和他的家，就可因亞比米勒得歡樂，他也可因你們得歡樂；if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

²⁰不然，願火從亞比米勒發出，燒滅示劍人和米羅眾人，又願火從示劍人和米羅人中出來，燒滅亞比米勒。」But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

²¹約坦因怕他弟兄亞比米勒，就逃跑，來到比珥，住在那裡。Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

三年後，示劍人背叛亞比米勒

²²亞比米勒管理以色列人三年。After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

²³神使惡魔降在亞比米勒和示劍人中間，示劍人就以詭詐待亞比米勒。God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

²⁴這是要叫耶路‧巴力七十個兒子所受的殘害歸與他們的哥哥亞比米勒，又叫那流他們血的罪歸與幫助他殺弟兄的示劍人。in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

²⁵示劍人在山頂上設埋伏，等候亞比米勒。凡從他們那裡經過的人，他們就搶奪。有人將這事告訴亞比米勒。The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

迦勒煽動叛變

²⁶以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄來到示劍，示劍人都信靠他。Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

²⁷示劍人出城到田間去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，設擺筵宴，進他們神的廟中吃喝，咒詛亞比米勒。And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

²⁸以別的兒子迦勒說：「亞比米勒是誰？示劍是誰？使我們服事他呢？他不是耶路‧巴力的兒子嗎？他的幫手不是西布勒嗎？你們可以服事示劍的父親哈抹的後裔。我們為何服事亞比米勒呢？Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

²⁹惟願這民歸我的手下，我就除掉亞比米勒。」迦勒又對亞比米勒說：「增添你的軍兵出來吧。」If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

³⁰邑宰西布勒聽見以別的兒子迦勒的話，就發怒，When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

³¹悄悄地打發人去見亞比米勒，說：「以別的兒子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示劍，煽惑城中的民攻擊你。So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

³²現在你和跟隨你的人今夜起來，在田間埋伏。Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.

³³到早晨太陽一出，你就起來闖城。迦勒和跟隨他的人出來攻擊你的時候，你便向他們見機而做。」And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

³⁴於是，亞比米勒和跟隨他的眾人夜間起來，分作四隊，埋伏等候示劍人。So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵以別的兒子迦勒出去，站在城門口。亞比米勒和跟隨他的人從埋伏之處起來。Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

³⁶迦勒看見那些人，就對西布勒說：「看哪，有人從山頂上下來了。」西布勒說：「你看見山的影子，以為是人。」When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

³⁷迦勒又說：「看哪，有人從高處下來，又有一隊從米惡尼尼橡樹的路上而來。」Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”

³⁸西布勒對他說：「你曾說，亞比米勒是誰，叫我們服事他？你所誇的口在哪裡呢？這不是你所藐視的民嗎？你現在出去，與他們交戰吧！」“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

³⁹於是迦勒率領示劍人出去，與亞比米勒交戰。So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

⁴⁰亞比米勒追趕迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有許多受傷仆倒的，直到城門。but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

⁴¹亞比米勒住在亞魯瑪。西布勒趕出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他們住在示劍。Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

亞比米勒毀滅示劍

⁴²次日，民出到田間，有人告訴亞比米勒；The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

⁴³他就把他的人分作三隊，埋伏在田間，看見示劍人從城裡出來，就起來擊殺他們。So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

⁴⁴亞比米勒和跟隨他的一隊向前闖去，站在城門口；那兩隊直闖到田間，擊殺了眾人。Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.

⁴⁵亞比米勒整天攻打城，將城奪取，殺了其中的居民，將城拆毀，撒上了鹽。And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

火燒示劍樓

⁴⁶示劍樓的人聽見了，就躲入巴力‧比利土廟的衛所。On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

⁴⁷有人告訴亞比米勒說：「示劍樓的人都聚在一處。」And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

⁴⁸亞比米勒和跟隨他的人就都上撒們山。亞比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根樹枝，扛在肩上，對跟隨他的人說：「你們看我所行的，也當趕緊照樣行。」he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

⁴⁹眾人就各砍一枝，跟隨亞比米勒，把樹枝堆在衛所的四圍，放火燒了衛所，以致示劍樓的人都死了，男女約有一千。So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

婦人的一塊磨石

⁵⁰亞比米勒到提備斯，向提備斯安營，就攻取了那城。Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

⁵¹城中有一座堅固的樓；城裡的眾人，無論男女，都逃進樓去，關上門，上了樓頂。But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

⁵²亞比米勒到了樓前攻打，挨近樓門，要用火焚燒。When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

⁵³有一個婦人把一塊上磨石拋在亞比米勒的頭上，打破了他的腦骨。But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

⁵⁴他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，對他說：「拔出你的刀來，殺了我吧！免得人議論我說，他為一個婦人所殺。」於是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

⁵⁵以色列人見亞比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

⁵⁶這樣，　神報應亞比米勒向他父親所行的惡，就是殺了弟兄七十個人的惡。In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

⁵⁷示劍人的一切惡，　神也都報應在他們頭上；耶路‧巴力的兒子約坦的咒詛歸到他們身上了。And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

士師陀拉和睚珥

¹亞比米勒以後，有以薩迦人朵多的孫子、普瓦的兒子陀拉興起，拯救以色列人。他住在以法蓮山地的沙密。After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

²陀拉作以色列的士師二十三年，就死了，葬在沙密。Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.

³在他以後有基列人睚珥興起，作以色列的士師二十二年。Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

⁴他有三十個兒子，騎著三十匹驢駒。他們有三十座城邑，叫作哈倭特‧睚珥，直到如今，都是在基列地。He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.

⁵睚珥死了，就葬在加們。When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

警醒等候主人回來

³⁵「你們腰裡要束上帶，燈也要點著，Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

³⁶自己好像僕人等候主人從婚姻的筵席上回來。他來到，叩門，就立刻給他開門。Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

³⁷主人來了，看見僕人警醒，那僕人就有福了。我實在告訴你們，主人必叫他們坐席，自己束上帶，進前伺候他們。Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

³⁸或是二更天來，或是三更天來，看見僕人這樣，那僕人就有福了。Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

家主與賊

³⁹家主若知道賊甚麼時候來，就必警醒，不容賊挖透房屋，這是你們所知道的。But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁰你們也要預備；因為你們想不到的時候，人子就來了。」You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

忠心有見識的管家

⁴¹彼得說：「主啊，這比喻是為我們說的呢？還是為眾人呢？」“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

⁴²主說：「誰是那忠心有見識的管家，主人派他管理家裡的人，按時分糧給他們呢？And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

⁴³主人來到，看見僕人這樣行，那僕人就有福了。Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

⁴⁴我實在告訴你們，主人要派他管理一切所有的。Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

不忠心的僕人

⁴⁵那僕人若心裡說：『我的主人必來得遲』，就動手打僕人和使女，並且吃喝醉酒；But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

⁴⁶在他想不到的日子，不知道的時辰，那僕人的主人要來，重重地處治他（或譯：把他腰斬了），定他和不忠心的人同罪。The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

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多給誰，就向誰多取

⁴⁷僕人知道主人的意思，卻不預備，又不順他的意思行，那僕人必多受責打；That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

⁴⁸惟有那不知道的，做了當受責打的事，必少受責打；因為多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。」But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.