今日讀經

亞捫人圍困基列．雅比

¹亞捫人的王拿轄上來，對著基列．雅比安營。雅比眾人對拿轄說：「你與我們立約，我們就服事你。」Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”

²亞捫人拿轄說：「你們若由我剜出你們各人的右眼，以此凌辱以色列眾人，我就與你們立約。」But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”

³雅比的長老對他說：「求你寬容我們七日，等我們打發人往以色列的全境去；若沒有人救我們，我們就出來歸順你。」“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”

⁴使者到了掃羅住的基比亞，將這話說給百姓聽，百姓就都放聲而哭。When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.

⁵掃羅正從田間趕牛回來，問說：「百姓為甚麼哭呢？」眾人將雅比人的話告訴他。Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.

掃羅被神的靈感動

⁶掃羅聽見這話，就被　神的靈大大感動，甚是發怒。When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

⁷他將一對牛切成塊子，託付使者傳送以色列的全境，說：「凡不出來跟隨掃羅和撒母耳的，也必這樣切開他的牛。」於是耶和華使百姓懼怕，他們就都出來，如同一人。He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out together as one man.

⁸掃羅在比色數點他們：以色列人有三十萬，猶大人有三萬。And when Saul numbered them at Bezek, there were 300,000 Israelites and 30,000 men of Judah.

⁹眾人對那使者說：「你們要回覆基列．雅比人說，明日太陽近午的時候，你們必得解救。」使者回去告訴雅比人，他們就歡喜了。So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.

¹⁰於是雅比人對亞捫人說：「明日我們出來歸順你們，你們可以隨意待我們。」Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”

掃羅大敗亞捫人

¹¹第二日，掃羅將百姓分為三隊，在晨更的時候入了亞捫人的營，擊殺他們直到太陽近午，剩下的人都逃散，沒有二人同在一處的。The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

掃羅不許殺人

¹²百姓對撒母耳說：「那說『掃羅豈能管理我們』的是誰呢？可以將他交出來，我們好殺死他。」Then the people said to Samuel, “Who said that Saul should not reign over us? Bring those men here so we can kill them!”

¹³掃羅說：「今日耶和華在以色列中施行拯救，所以不可殺人。」But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

在吉甲立掃羅為王

¹⁴撒母耳對百姓說：「我們要往吉甲去，在那裡立國。」Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.”

¹⁵眾百姓就到了吉甲那裡，在耶和華面前立掃羅為王，又在耶和華面前獻平安祭。掃羅和以色列眾人大大歡喜。So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

撒母耳表明自己清白

¹撒母耳對以色列眾人說：「你們向我所求的，我已應允了，為你們立了一個王；Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king.

²現在有這王在你們前面行。我已年老髮白，我的兒子都在你們這裡。我從幼年直到今日都在你們前面行。Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.

³我在這裡，你們要在耶和華和他的受膏者面前給我作見證。我奪過誰的牛，搶過誰的驢，欺負過誰，虐待過誰，從誰手裡受過賄賂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必償還。」Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

⁴眾人說：「你未曾欺負我們，虐待我們，也未曾從誰手裡受過甚麼。」“You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

⁵撒母耳對他們說：「你們在我手裡沒有找著甚麼，有耶和華和他的受膏者今日為證。」他們說：「願他為證。」Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

回顧神拯救的歷史

⁶撒母耳對百姓說：「從前立摩西、亞倫，又領你們列祖出埃及地的是耶和華。Then Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

⁷現在你們要站住，等我在耶和華面前對你們講論耶和華向你們和你們列祖所行一切公義的事。Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.

⁸從前雅各到了埃及，後來你們列祖呼求耶和華，耶和華就差遣摩西、亞倫領你們列祖出埃及，使他們在這地方居住。When Jacob went to Egypt, your fathers cried out to the LORD, and He sent them Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.

⁹他們卻忘記耶和華─他們的　神，他就把他們付與夏瑣將軍西西拉的手裡，和非利士人並摩押王的手裡。於是這些人常來攻擊他們。But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them.

¹⁰他們就呼求耶和華說：『我們離棄耶和華，事奉巴力和亞斯她錄，是有罪了。現在求你救我們脫離仇敵的手，我們必事奉你。』Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’

¹¹耶和華就差遣耶路．巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你們脫離四圍仇敵的手，你們才安然居住。So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

¹²你們見亞捫人的王拿轄來攻擊你們，就對我說：『我們定要一個王治理我們。』其實耶和華─你們的　神是你們的王。But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

王與百姓都要順從耶和華

¹³現在，你們所求所選的王在這裡。看哪，耶和華已經為你們立王了。Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

¹⁴你們若敬畏耶和華，事奉他，聽從他的話，不違背他的命令，你們和治理你們的王也都順從耶和華─你們的　神就好了。If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

¹⁵倘若不聽從耶和華的話，違背他的命令，耶和華的手必攻擊你們，像從前攻擊你們列祖一樣。But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

割麥時打雷降雨

¹⁶現在你們要站住，看耶和華在你們眼前要行一件大事。Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes.

¹⁷這不是割麥子的時候嗎？我求告耶和華，他必打雷降雨，使你們又知道又看出，你們求立王的事是在耶和華面前犯大罪了。」Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

¹⁸於是撒母耳求告耶和華，耶和華就在這日打雷降雨，眾民便甚懼怕耶和華和撒母耳。So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

¹⁹眾民對撒母耳說：「求你為僕人們禱告耶和華─你的　神，免得我們死亡；因為我們求立王的事正是罪上加罪了。」They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

不要偏離耶和華

²⁰撒母耳對百姓說：「不要懼怕！你們雖然行了這惡，卻不要偏離耶和華，只要盡心事奉他。“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

²¹若偏離耶和華去順從那不能救人的虛神是無益的。Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

²²耶和華既喜悅選你們作他的子民，就必因他的大名不撇棄你們。Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

²³至於我，斷不停止為你們禱告，以致得罪耶和華。我必以善道正路指教你們。As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.

²⁴只要你們敬畏耶和華，誠誠實實地盡心事奉他，想念他向你們所行的事何等大。Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

²⁵你們若仍然作惡，你們和你們的王必一同滅亡。」But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

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撒該爬上桑樹

¹耶穌進了耶利哥，正經過的時候，Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

²有一個人名叫撒該，作稅吏長，是個財主。And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.

³他要看看耶穌是怎樣的人；只因人多，他的身量又矮，所以不得看見，He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.

⁴就跑到前頭，爬上桑樹，要看耶穌，因為耶穌必從那裡經過。So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.

耶穌住進撒該家

⁵耶穌到了那裡，抬頭一看，對他說：「撒該，快下來！今天我必住在你家裡。」When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”

⁶他就急忙下來，歡歡喜喜地接待耶穌。So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully.

⁷眾人看見，都私下議論說：「他竟到罪人家裡去住宿。」And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”

救恩到了這家

⁸撒該站著對主說：「主啊，我把所有的一半給窮人；我若訛詐了誰，就還他四倍。」But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

⁹耶穌說：「今天救恩到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫。Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

¹⁰人子來，為要尋找、拯救失喪的人。」For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

交託銀子的比喻

¹¹眾人正在聽見這些話的時候，耶穌因為將近耶路撒冷，又因他們以為　神的國快要顯出來，就另設一個比喻，說：While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.

¹²「有一個貴冑往遠方去，要得國回來，So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.

¹³便叫了他的十個僕人來，交給他們十錠（錠：原文是彌拿，一彌拿約銀十兩）銀子，說：『你們去做生意，直等我回來。』Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.

¹⁴他本國的人卻恨他，打發使者隨後去，說：『我們不願意這個人作我們的王。』But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

主人回來算帳

¹⁵他既得國回來，就吩咐叫那領銀子的僕人來，要知道他們做生意賺了多少。When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.

¹⁶頭一個上來，說：『主啊，你的一錠銀子已經賺了十錠。』The first servant came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten more minas.’

¹⁷主人說：『好！良善的僕人，你既在最小的事上有忠心，可以有權柄管十座城。』His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

¹⁸第二個來，說：『主啊，你的一錠銀子已經賺了五錠。』The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

¹⁹主人說：『你也可以管五座城。』And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities.’

把銀子包在手巾裡的僕人

²⁰又有一個來說：『主啊，看哪，你的一錠銀子在這裡，我把它包在手巾裡存著。Then another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.

²¹我原是怕你，因為你是嚴厲的人；沒有放下的，還要去拿，沒有種下的，還要去收。』For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

²²主人對他說：『你這惡僕，我要憑你的口定你的罪。你既知道我是嚴厲的人，沒有放下的，還要去拿，沒有種下的，還要去收，His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

²³為甚麼不把我的銀子交給銀行，等我來的時候，連本帶利都可以要回來呢？』Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴就對旁邊站著的人說：『奪過他這一錠來，給那有十錠的。』Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵他們說：『主啊，他已經有十錠了。』‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶主人說：『我告訴你們，凡有的，還要加給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪過來。He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

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處置不要他作王的仇敵

²⁷至於我那些仇敵，不要我作他們王的，把他們拉來，在我面前殺了吧！』」And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”