今日讀經

各支派議論請王回來

⁸於是王起來，坐在城門口。眾民聽說王坐在城門口，就都到王面前。以色列人已經逃跑，各回各家去了。So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.

⁹以色列眾支派的人紛紛議論說：「王曾救我們脫離仇敵的手，又救我們脫離非利士人的手，現在他躲避押沙龍逃走了。And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.

¹⁰我們膏押沙龍治理我們，他已經陣亡。現在為甚麼不出一言請王回來呢？」But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

大衛爭取猶大人

¹¹大衛王差人去見祭司撒督和亞比亞他，說：「你們當向猶大長老說：『以色列眾人已經有話請王回宮，你們為甚麼落在他們後頭呢？Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

¹²你們是我的弟兄，是我的骨肉，為甚麼在人後頭請王回來呢？』You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’

¹³也要對亞瑪撒說：『你不是我的骨肉嗎？我若不立你替約押常作元帥，願　神重重地降罰與我！』」And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”

¹⁴如此就挽回猶大眾人的心，如同一人的心。他們便打發人去見王，說：「請王和王的一切臣僕回來。」So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

¹⁵王就回來，到了約旦河。猶大人來到吉甲，要去迎接王，請他過約旦河。So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.

示每求饒

¹⁶巴戶琳的便雅憫人、基拉的兒子示每急忙與猶大人一同下去迎接大衛王。Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,

¹⁷跟從示每的有一千便雅憫人，還有掃羅家的僕人洗巴和他十五個兒子，二十個僕人；他們都蹚過約旦河迎接王。along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king

¹⁸有擺渡船過去，渡王的家眷，任王使用。王要過約旦河的時候，基拉的兒子示每就俯伏在王面前，and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

¹⁹對王說：「我主我王出耶路撒冷的時候，僕人行悖逆的事，現在求我主不要因此加罪與僕人，不要記念，也不要放在心上。and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.

²⁰僕人明知自己有罪，所以約瑟全家之中，今日我首先下來迎接我主我王。」For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

²¹洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩說：「示每既咒罵耶和華的受膏者，不應當治死他嗎？」But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

²²大衛說：「洗魯雅的兒子，我與你們有何關涉，使你們今日與我反對呢？今日在以色列中豈可治死人呢？我豈不知今日我作以色列的王嗎？」And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

²³於是王對示每說：「你必不死。」王就向他起誓。So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

米非波設的申訴

²⁴掃羅的孫子米非波設也下去迎接王。他自從王去的日子，直到王平平安安地回來，沒有修腳，沒有剃鬍鬚，也沒有洗衣服。Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.

²⁵他來到耶路撒冷迎接王的時候，王問他說：「米非波設，你為甚麼沒有與我同去呢？」And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

²⁶他回答說：「我主我王，僕人是瘸腿的。那日我想要備驢騎上，與王同去，無奈我的僕人欺哄了我，“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,

²⁷又在我主我王面前讒毀我。然而我主我王如同　神的使者一般，你看怎樣好，就怎樣行吧！and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

²⁸因為我祖全家的人，在我主我王面前都算為死人，王卻使僕人在王的席上同人吃飯，我現在向王還能辨理訴冤嗎？」For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

²⁹王對他說：「你何必再提你的事呢？我說，你與洗巴均分地土。」The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

³⁰米非波設對王說：「我主我王既平平安安地回宮，就任憑洗巴都取了也可以。」And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

年老的巴西萊

³¹基列人巴西萊從羅基琳下來，要送王過約旦河，就與王一同過了約旦河。Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.

³²巴西萊年紀老邁，已經八十歲了。王住在瑪哈念的時候，他就拿食物來供給王；他原是大富戶。Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

³³王對巴西萊說：「你與我同去，我要在耶路撒冷那裡養你的老。」The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

³⁴巴西萊對王說：「我在世的年日還能有多少，使我與王同上耶路撒冷呢？But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

³⁵僕人現在八十歲了，還能嘗出飲食的滋味、辨別美惡嗎？還能聽男女歌唱的聲音嗎？僕人何必累贅我主我王呢？I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

³⁶僕人只要送王過約旦河，王何必賜我這樣的恩典呢？Your servant will go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?

³⁷求你准我回去，好死在我本城，葬在我父母的墓旁。這裡有王的僕人金罕，讓他同我主我王過去，可以隨意待他。」Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

³⁸王說：「金罕可以與我同去，我必照你的心願待他。你向我求甚麼，我都必為你成就。」The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

³⁹於是眾民過約旦河，王也過去。王與巴西萊親嘴，為他祝福，巴西萊就回本地去了。So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

以色列與猶大爭吵

⁴⁰王過去，到了吉甲，金罕也跟他過去。猶大眾民和以色列民的一半也都送王過去。Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.

⁴¹以色列眾人來見王，對他說：「我們弟兄猶大人為甚麼暗暗送王和王的家眷，並跟隨王的人過約旦河？」Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”

⁴²猶大眾人回答以色列人說：「因為王與我們是親屬，你們為何因這事發怒呢？我們吃了王的甚麼呢？王賞賜了我們甚麼呢？」And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

⁴³以色列人回答猶大人說：「按支派，我們與王有十分的情分；在大衛身上，我們也比你們更有情分。你們為何藐視我們，請王回來不先與我們商量呢？」但猶大人的話比以色列人的話更硬。“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.

示巴叛變

¹在那裡恰巧有一個匪徒，名叫示巴，是便雅憫人比基利的兒子。他吹角，說：「我們與大衛無分，與耶西的兒子無涉。以色列人哪，你們各回各家去吧！」Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

²於是以色列人都離開大衛，跟隨比基利的兒子示巴。但猶大人從約旦河直到耶路撒冷，都緊緊跟隨他們的王。So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

十個妃嬪被禁閉

³大衛王來到耶路撒冷，進了宮殿，就把從前留下看守宮殿的十個妃嬪禁閉在冷宮，養活她們，不與她們親近。她們如同寡婦被禁，直到死的日子。When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

約押殺亞瑪撒

⁴王對亞瑪撒說：「你要在三日之內將猶大人招聚了來，你也回到這裡來。」Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

⁵亞瑪撒就去招聚猶大人，卻耽延過了王所限的日期。So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

⁶大衛對亞比篩說：「現在恐怕比基利的兒子示巴加害於我們比押沙龍更甚。你要帶領你主的僕人追趕他，免得他得了堅固城，躲避我們。」And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”

⁷約押的人和基利提人、比利提人，並所有的勇士，都跟著亞比篩，從耶路撒冷出去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.

⁸他們到了基遍的大磐石那裡，亞瑪撒來迎接他們。那時約押穿著戰衣，腰束佩刀的帶子，刀在鞘內；約押前行，刀從鞘內掉出來。And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.

⁹約押左手拾起刀來，對亞瑪撒說：「我兄弟，你好啊！」就用右手抓住亞瑪撒的鬍子，要與他親嘴。“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

¹⁰亞瑪撒沒有防備約押手裡所拿的刀；約押用刀刺入他的肚腹，他的腸子流在地上，沒有再刺他，就死了。約押和他兄弟亞比篩往前追趕比基利的兒子示巴。Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

¹¹有約押的一個少年人站在亞瑪撒屍身旁邊，對眾人說：「誰喜悅約押，誰歸順大衛，就當跟隨約押去。」One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”

¹²亞瑪撒在道路上滾在自己的血裡。那人見眾民經過都站住，就把亞瑪撒的屍身從路上挪到田間，用衣服遮蓋。But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it.

¹³屍身從路上挪移之後，眾民就都跟隨約押去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

亞比拉的聰明婦人

¹⁴他走遍以色列各支派，直到伯‧瑪迦的亞比拉，並比利人的全地；那些地方的人也都聚集跟隨他。Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.

¹⁵約押和跟隨的人到了伯‧瑪迦的亞比拉，圍困示巴，就對著城築壘；跟隨約押的眾民用錘撞城，要使城塌陷。And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it,

¹⁶有一個聰明婦人從城上呼叫說：「聽啊，聽啊，請約押近前來，我好與他說話。」a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

¹⁷約押就近前來，婦人問他說：「你是約押不是？」他說：「我是。」婦人說：「求你聽婢女的話。」約押說：「我聽。」When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.

¹⁸婦人說：「古時有話說，當先在亞比拉求問，然後事就定妥。Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

¹⁹我們這城的人在以色列人中是和平、忠厚的。你為何要毀壞以色列中的大城，吞滅耶和華的產業呢？」I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

²⁰約押回答說：「我決不吞滅毀壞，“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!

²¹乃因以法蓮山地的一個人─比基利的兒子示巴─舉手攻擊大衛王，你們若將他一人交出來，我便離城而去。」婦人對約押說：「那人的首級必從城牆上丟給你。」That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

²²婦人就憑她的智慧去勸眾人。他們便割下比基利的兒子示巴的首級，丟給約押。約押吹角，眾人就離城而散，各歸各家去了。約押回耶路撒冷，到王那裡。Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

大衛的臣僕

²³約押作以色列全軍的元帥；耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人；Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

²⁴亞多蘭掌管服苦的人；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

²⁵示法作書記；撒督和亞比亞他作祭司長；Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

²⁶睚珥人以拉作大衛的宰相。and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.

約翰說明自己是誰

¹⁹約翰所作的見證記在下面：猶太人從耶路撒冷差祭司和利未人到約翰那裡，問他說：「你是誰？」And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰他就明說，並不隱瞞，明說：「我不是基督。」He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

²¹他們又問他說：「這樣，你是誰呢？是以利亞嗎？」他說：「我不是。」「是那先知嗎？」他回答說：「不是。」“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

²²於是他們說：「你到底是誰，叫我們好回覆差我們來的人。你自己說，你是誰？」So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³他說：「我就是那在曠野有人聲喊著說：『修直主的道路』，正如先知以賽亞所說的。」John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

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²⁴那些人是法利賽人差來的（或譯：那差來的是法利賽人）；Then the Pharisees who had been sent

²⁵他們就問他說：「你既不是基督，不是以利亞，也不是那先知，為甚麼施洗呢？」asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

²⁶約翰回答說：「我是用水施洗，但有一位站在你們中間，是你們不認識的，“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

²⁷就是那在我以後來的，我給他解鞋帶也不配。」He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

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²⁸這是在約旦河外伯大尼（有古卷：伯大巴喇），約翰施洗的地方作的見證。All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

看哪，神的羔羊

²⁹次日，約翰看見耶穌來到他那裡，就說：「看哪，　神的羔羊，除去（或譯：背負）世人罪孽的！The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

³⁰這就是我曾說：『有一位在我以後來、反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。』This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’

³¹我先前不認識他，如今我來用水施洗，為要叫他顯明給以色列人。」I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

³²約翰又作見證說：「我曾看見聖靈，彷彿鴿子從天降下，住在他的身上。Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

³³我先前不認識他，只是那差我來用水施洗的、對我說：『你看見聖靈降下來，住在誰的身上，誰就是用聖靈施洗的。』I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

³⁴我看見了，就證明這是　神的兒子。」I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

頭幾個門徒跟從耶穌

³⁵再次日，約翰同兩個門徒站在那裡。The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

³⁶他見耶穌行走，就說：「看哪，這是　神的羔羊！」When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

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³⁷兩個門徒聽見他的話，就跟從了耶穌。And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

³⁸耶穌轉過身來，看見他們跟著，就問他們說：「你們要甚麼？」他們說：「拉比，在哪裡住？」（拉比翻出來就是夫子。）Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

³⁹耶穌說：「你們來看。」他們就去看他在哪裡住，這一天便與他同住；那時約有申正了。“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

⁴⁰聽見約翰的話跟從耶穌的那兩個人，一個是西門•彼得的兄弟安得烈。Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.

⁴¹他先找著自己的哥哥西門，對他說：「我們遇見彌賽亞了。」（彌賽亞翻出來就是基督。）He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).

⁴²於是領他去見耶穌。耶穌看著他，說：「你是約翰的兒子西門（約翰在馬太十六章十七節稱約拿），你要稱為磯法。」（磯法翻出來就是彼得。）Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

腓力和拿但業

⁴³又次日，耶穌想要往加利利去，遇見腓力，就對他說：「來跟從我吧。」The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

⁴⁴這腓力是伯賽大人，和安得烈、彼得同城。Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.

⁴⁵腓力找著拿但業，對他說：「摩西在律法上所寫的和眾先知所記的那一位，我們遇見了，就是約瑟的兒子拿撒勒人耶穌。」Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶拿但業對他說：「拿撒勒還能出甚麼好的嗎？」腓力說：「你來看！」“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

耶穌認識拿但業

⁴⁷耶穌看見拿但業來，就指著他說：「看哪，這是個真以色列人，他心裡是沒有詭詐的。」When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

⁴⁸拿但業對耶穌說：「你從哪裡知道我呢？」耶穌回答說：「腓力還沒有招呼你，你在無花果樹底下，我就看見你了。」“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

⁴⁹拿但業說：「拉比，你是　神的兒子，你是以色列的王！」“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

⁵⁰耶穌對他說：「因為我說『在無花果樹底下看見你』，你就信嗎？你將要看見比這更大的事」；Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”

⁵¹又說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，你們將要看見天開了，　神的使者上去下來在人子身上。」Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”