今日讀經

以色列人再次背道

⁶以色列人又行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，去事奉諸巴力和亞斯她錄，並亞蘭的神、西頓的神、摩押的神、亞捫人的神、非利士人的神，離棄耶和華，不事奉他。And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

⁷耶和華的怒氣向以色列人發作，就把他們交在非利士人和亞捫人的手中。So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,

⁸從那年起，他們擾害欺壓約旦河那邊、住亞摩利人之基列地的以色列人，共有十八年。who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and they did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.

⁹亞捫人又渡過約旦河去攻打猶大和便雅憫，並以法蓮族。以色列人就甚覺窘迫。The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.

認罪並除掉外邦神

¹⁰以色列人哀求耶和華說：「我們得罪了你；因為離棄了我們　神，去事奉諸巴力。」Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”

¹¹耶和華對以色列人說：「我豈沒有救過你們脫離埃及人、亞摩利人、亞捫人，和非利士人嗎？The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,

¹²西頓人、亞瑪力人、馬雲人也都欺壓你們；你們哀求我，我也拯救你們脫離他們的手。Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands?

¹³你們竟離棄我，事奉別神！所以我不再救你們了。But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you.

¹⁴你們去哀求所選擇的神；你們遭遇急難的時候，讓他救你們吧！」Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

¹⁵以色列人對耶和華說：「我們犯罪了，任憑你隨意待我們吧！只求你今日拯救我們。」“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”

¹⁶以色列人就除掉他們中間的外邦神，事奉耶和華。耶和華因以色列人受的苦難，就心中擔憂。So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

基列人尋找領袖

¹⁷當時亞捫人聚集，安營在基列。以色列人也聚集，安營在米斯巴。Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

¹⁸基列的民和眾首領彼此商議說：「誰能先去攻打亞捫人，誰必作基列一切居民的領袖。」And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

被趕逐的耶弗他

¹基列人耶弗他是個大能的勇士，是妓女的兒子。耶弗他是基列所生的。Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father.

²基列的妻也生了幾個兒子：他妻所生的兒子長大了，就趕逐耶弗他，說：「你不可在我們父家承受產業，因為你是妓女的兒子。」And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”

³耶弗他就逃避他的弟兄，去住在陀伯地，有些匪徒到他那裡聚集，與他一同出入。So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where worthless men gathered around him and traveled with him.

基列長老請回耶弗他

⁴過了些日子，亞捫人攻打以色列。Some time later, when the Ammonites fought against Israel

⁵亞捫人攻打以色列的時候，基列的長老到陀伯地去，要叫耶弗他回來；and made war with them, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.

⁶對耶弗他說：「請你來作我們的元帥，我們好與亞捫人爭戰。」“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.”

⁷耶弗他回答基列的長老說：「從前你們不是恨我、趕逐我出離父家嗎？現在你們遭遇急難為何到我這裡來呢？」Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?”

⁸基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「現在我們到你這裡來，是要你同我們去，與亞捫人爭戰；你可以作基列一切居民的領袖。」They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”

⁹耶弗他對基列的長老說：「你們叫我回去，與亞捫人爭戰，耶和華把他交給我，我可以作你們的領袖嗎？」But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”

¹⁰基列的長老回答耶弗他說：「有耶和華在你我中間作見證，我們必定照你的話行。」And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”

¹¹於是耶弗他同基列的長老回去，百姓就立耶弗他作領袖、作元帥。耶弗他在米斯巴將自己的一切話陳明在耶和華面前。So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

耶弗他與亞捫王的辯論

¹²耶弗他打發使者去見亞捫人的王，說：「你與我有甚麼相干，竟來到我國中攻打我呢？」Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”

¹³亞捫人的王回答耶弗他的使者說：「因為以色列人從埃及上來的時候佔據我的地，從亞嫩河到雅博河，直到約旦河。現在你要好好地將這地歸還吧！」The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”

¹⁴耶弗他又打發使者去見亞捫人的王，Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites

¹⁵對他說：「耶弗他如此說，以色列人並沒有佔據摩押地和亞捫人的地。to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.

¹⁶以色列人從埃及上來乃是經過曠野到紅海，來到加低斯，But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.

¹⁷就打發使者去見以東王，說：『求你容我從你的地經過。』以東王卻不應允。又照樣打發使者去見摩押王，他也不允准。以色列人就住在加低斯。Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.

¹⁸他們又經過曠野，繞著以東和摩押地，從摩押地的東邊過來，在亞嫩河邊安營，並沒有入摩押的境內，因為亞嫩河是摩押的邊界。Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

¹⁹以色列人打發使者去見亞摩利王西宏，就是希實本的王，對他說：『求你容我們從你的地經過，往我們自己的地方去。』And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’

²⁰西宏卻不信服以色列人，不容他們經過他的境界，乃招聚他的眾民在雅雜安營，與以色列人爭戰。But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

²¹耶和華─以色列的　神將西宏和他的眾民都交在以色列人手中，以色列人就擊殺他們，得了亞摩利人的全地：Then the LORD, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, who defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country,

²²從亞嫩河到雅博河，從曠野直到約旦河。seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

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²³耶和華─以色列的　神在他百姓以色列面前趕出亞摩利人，你竟要得他們的地嗎？Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it?

²⁴你的神基抹所賜你的地你不是得為業嗎？耶和華─我們的　神在我們面前所趕出的人，我們就得他的地。Do you not possess whatever your god Chemosh grants you? So also, we possess whatever the LORD our God has granted us.

²⁵難道你比摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒還強嗎？他曾與以色列人爭競，或是與他們爭戰嗎？Are you now so much better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?

²⁶以色列人住希實本和屬希實本的鄉村，亞羅珥和屬亞羅珥的鄉村，並沿亞嫩河的一切城邑，已經有三百年了；在這三百年之內，你們為甚麼沒有取回這些地方呢？For three hundred years Israel has lived in Heshbon, Aroer, and their villages, as well as all the cities along the banks of the Arnon. Why did you not take them back during that time?

²⁷原來我沒有得罪你，你卻攻打我，惡待我。願審判人的耶和華今日在以色列人和亞捫人中間判斷是非。」I have not sinned against you, but you have done me wrong by waging war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

²⁸但亞捫人的王不肯聽耶弗他打發人說的話。But the king of the Ammonites paid no heed to the message Jephthah sent him.

耶弗他許願

²⁹耶和華的靈降在耶弗他身上，他就經過基列和瑪拿西，來到基列的米斯巴，又從米斯巴來到亞捫人那裡。Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

³⁰耶弗他就向耶和華許願，說：「你若將亞捫人交在我手中，Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,

³¹我從亞捫人那裡平平安安回來的時候，無論甚麼人，先從我家門出來迎接我，就必歸你，我也必將他獻上為燔祭。」then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

擊敗亞捫人

³²於是耶弗他往亞捫人那裡去，與他們爭戰；耶和華將他們交在他手中，So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hand.

³³他就大大殺敗他們，從亞羅珥到米匿，直到亞備勒‧基拉明，攻取了二十座城。這樣亞捫人就被以色列人制伏了。With a great blow he devastated twenty cities from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.

耶弗他的女兒

³⁴耶弗他回米斯巴到了自己的家，不料，他女兒拿著鼓跳舞出來迎接他，是他獨生的，此外無兒無女。And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.

³⁵耶弗他看見她，就撕裂衣服，說：「哀哉！我的女兒啊，你使我甚是愁苦，叫我作難了；因為我已經向耶和華開口許願，不能挽回。」As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

³⁶他女兒回答說：「父啊，你既向耶和華開口，就當照你口中所說的向我行，因耶和華已經在仇敵亞捫人身上為你報仇」；“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me as you have said, for the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.”

³⁷又對父親說：「有一件事求你允准：容我去兩個月，與同伴在山上，好哀哭我終為處女。」She also said to her father, “Let me do this one thing: Let me wander for two months through the mountains with my friends and mourn my virginity.”

³⁸耶弗他說：「你去吧！」就容她去兩個月。她便和同伴去了，在山上為她終為處女哀哭。“Go,” he said. And he sent her away for two months. So she left with her friends and mourned her virginity upon the mountains.

³⁹兩月已滿，她回到父親那裡，父親就照所許的願向她行了。女兒終身沒有親近男子。After two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she had never had relations with a man. So it has become a custom in Israel

⁴⁰此後以色列中有個規矩，每年以色列的女子去為基列人耶弗他的女兒哀哭四天。that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

基列人與以法蓮人內鬥

¹以法蓮人聚集，到了北方，對耶弗他說：「你去與亞捫人爭戰，為甚麼沒有招我們同去呢？我們必用火燒你和你的房屋。」Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

²耶弗他對他們說：「我和我的民與亞捫人大大爭戰；我招你們來，你們竟沒有來救我脫離他們的手。But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands.

³我見你們不來救我，我就拚命前去攻擊亞捫人，耶和華將他們交在我手中。你們今日為甚麼上我這裡來攻打我呢？」When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

⁴於是耶弗他招聚基列人，與以法蓮人爭戰。基列人擊殺以法蓮人，是因他們說：「你們基列人在以法蓮、瑪拿西中間，不過是以法蓮逃亡的人。」Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

⁵基列人把守約旦河的渡口，不容以法蓮人過去。以法蓮逃走的人若說：「容我過去。」基列人就問他說：「你是以法蓮人不是？」他若說：「不是」，The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

⁶就對他說：「你說『示播列』。」以法蓮人因為咬不真字音，便說「西播列」。基列人就將他拿住，殺在約旦河的渡口。那時以法蓮人被殺的有四萬二千人。they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

⁷耶弗他作以色列的士師六年。基列人耶弗他死了，葬在基列的一座城裡。Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

以比讚、以倫、押頓

⁸耶弗他以後，有伯利恆人以比讚作以色列的士師。After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

⁹他有三十個兒子，三十個女兒；女兒都嫁出去了。他給眾子從外鄉娶了三十個媳婦。他作以色列的士師七年。He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years.

¹⁰以比讚死了，葬在伯利恆。Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.

¹¹以比讚之後，有西布倫人以倫，作以色列的士師十年。After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years.

¹²西布倫人以倫死了，葬在西布倫地的亞雅崙。Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

¹³以倫之後，有比拉頓人希列的兒子押頓作以色列的士師。After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.

¹⁴他有四十個兒子，三十個孫子，騎著七十匹驢駒。押頓作以色列的士師八年。He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.

¹⁵比拉頓人希列的兒子押頓死了，葬在以法蓮地的比拉頓，在亞瑪力人的山地。Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

把火丟在地上

⁴⁹「我來要把火丟在地上，倘若已經著起來，不也是我所願意的嗎？I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

⁵⁰我有當受的洗還沒有成就，我是何等地迫切呢？But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

不是太平，乃是紛爭

⁵¹你們以為我來，是叫地上太平嗎？我告訴你們，不是，乃是叫人紛爭。Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

⁵²從今以後，一家五個人將要紛爭：三個人和兩個人相爭，兩個人和三個人相爭；From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

⁵³父親和兒子相爭，兒子和父親相爭；母親和女兒相爭，女兒和母親相爭；婆婆和媳婦相爭，媳婦和婆婆相爭。」They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

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分辨這時候

⁵⁴耶穌又對眾人說：「你們看見西邊起了雲彩，就說：『要下一陣雨』；果然就有。Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

⁵⁵起了南風，就說：『將要燥熱』；也就有了。And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.

⁵⁶假冒為善的人哪，你們知道分辨天地的氣色，怎麼不知道分辨這時候呢？」You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

趁在路上與對頭和解

⁵⁷「你們又為何不自己審量甚麼是合理的呢？And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

⁵⁸你同告你的對頭去見官，還在路上，務要盡力地和他了結；恐怕他拉你到官面前，官交付差役，差役把你下在監裡。Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

⁵⁹我告訴你，若有半文錢沒有還清，你斷不能從那裡出來。」I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

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