今日讀經

大衛年老

¹大衛王年紀老邁，雖用被遮蓋，仍不覺暖。Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.

²所以臣僕對他說：「不如為我主我王尋找一個處女，使她伺候王，奉養王，睡在王的懷中，好叫我主我王得暖。」So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

³於是在以色列全境尋找美貌的童女，尋得書念的一個童女亞比煞，就帶到王那裡。Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

⁴這童女極其美貌，她奉養王，伺候王，王卻沒有與她親近。The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

亞多尼雅自立為王

⁵那時，哈及的兒子亞多尼雅自尊，說：「我必作王」，就為自己預備車輛、馬兵，又派五十人在他前頭奔走。At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

⁶他父親素來沒有使他憂悶，說：「你是做甚麼呢？」他甚俊美，生在押沙龍之後。(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

⁷亞多尼雅與洗魯雅的兒子約押，和祭司亞比亞他商議；二人就順從他，幫助他。So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

⁸但祭司撒督、耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅、先知拿單、示每、利以，並大衛的勇士都不順從亞多尼雅。But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

⁹一日，亞多尼雅在隱‧羅結旁、瑣希列磐石那裡宰了牛羊、肥犢，請他的諸弟兄，就是王的眾子，並所有作王臣僕的猶大人；And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.

¹⁰惟獨先知拿單和比拿雅並勇士，與他的兄弟所羅門，他都沒有請。But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

拿單和拔示巴的計劃

¹¹拿單對所羅門的母親拔示巴說：「哈及的兒子亞多尼雅作王了，你沒有聽見嗎？我們的主大衛卻不知道。Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

¹²現在我可以給你出個主意，好保全你和你兒子所羅門的性命。Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

¹³你進去見大衛王，對他說：『我主我王啊，你不曾向婢女起誓說：你兒子所羅門必接續我作王，坐在我的位上嗎？現在亞多尼雅怎麼作了王呢？』Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

¹⁴你還與王說話的時候，我也隨後進去，證實你的話。」Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

拔示巴見王

¹⁵拔示巴進入內室見王，王甚老邁，書念的童女亞比煞正伺候王。So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

¹⁶拔示巴向王屈身下拜；王說：「你要甚麼？」And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

¹⁷她說：「我主啊，你曾向婢女指著耶和華─你的　神起誓說：『你兒子所羅門必接續我作王，坐在我的位上。』“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

¹⁸現在亞多尼雅作王了，我主我王卻不知道。But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it.

¹⁹他宰了許多牛羊、肥犢，請了王的眾子和祭司亞比亞他，並元帥約押；惟獨王的僕人所羅門，他沒有請。And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon.

²⁰我主我王啊，以色列眾人的眼目都仰望你，等你曉諭他們，在我主我王之後誰坐你的位。And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

²¹若不然，到我主我王與列祖同睡以後，我和我兒子所羅門必算為罪人了。」Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”

拿單見王

²²拔示巴還與王說話的時候，先知拿單也進來了。And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

²³有人奏告王說：「先知拿單來了。」拿單進到王前，臉伏於地。So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

²⁴拿單說：「我主我王果然應許亞多尼雅說『你必接續我作王，坐在我的位上』嗎？“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

²⁵他今日下去，宰了許多牛羊、肥犢，請了王的眾子和軍長，並祭司亞比亞他；他們正在亞多尼雅面前吃喝，說：『願亞多尼雅王萬歲！』For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

²⁶惟獨我，就是你的僕人和祭司撒督，耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，並王的僕人所羅門，他都沒有請。But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.

²⁷這事果然出乎我主我王嗎？王卻沒有告訴僕人們，在我主我王之後誰坐你的位。」Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

大衛起誓立所羅門

²⁸大衛王吩咐說：「叫拔示巴來。」拔示巴就進來，站在王面前。Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

²⁹王起誓說：「我指著救我性命脫離一切苦難、永生的耶和華起誓。And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

³⁰我既然指著耶和華─以色列的　神向你起誓說：你兒子所羅門必接續我作王，坐在我的位上。我今日就必照這話而行。」I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

³¹於是，拔示巴臉伏於地，向王下拜，說：「願我主大衛王萬歲！」Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

所羅門在基訓受膏

³²大衛王又吩咐說：「將祭司撒督、先知拿單、耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅召來！」他們就都來到王面前。Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.

³³王對他們說：「要帶領你們主的僕人，使我兒子所羅門騎我的騾子，送他下到基訓；“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.

³⁴在那裡，祭司撒督和先知拿單要膏他作以色列的王；你們也要吹角，說：『願所羅門王萬歲！』There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

³⁵然後要跟隨他上來，使他坐在我的位上，接續我作王。我已立他作以色列和猶大的君。」Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

³⁶耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅對王說：「阿們！願耶和華─我主我王的　神也這樣命定。“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.

³⁷耶和華怎樣與我主我王同在，願他照樣與所羅門同在，使他的國位比我主大衛王的國位更大。」Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

³⁸於是，祭司撒督、先知拿單、耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，和基利提人、比利提人都下去使所羅門騎大衛王的騾子，將他送到基訓。Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.

³⁹祭司撒督就從帳幕中取了盛膏油的角來，用膏膏所羅門。人就吹角，眾民都說：「願所羅門王萬歲！」Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!”

⁴⁰眾民跟隨他上來，且吹笛，大大歡呼，聲音震地。All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

亞多尼雅的賓客驚散

⁴¹亞多尼雅和所請的眾客筵宴方畢，聽見這聲音；約押聽見角聲就說：「城中為何有這響聲呢？」Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.

⁴²他正說話的時候，祭司亞比亞他的兒子約拿單來了。亞多尼雅對他說：「進來吧！你是個忠義的人，必是報好信息。」As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

⁴³約拿單對亞多尼雅說：「我們的主大衛王誠然立所羅門為王了。“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

⁴⁴王差遣祭司撒督、先知拿單、耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅，和基利提人、比利提人都去使所羅門騎王的騾子。And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.

⁴⁵祭司撒督和先知拿單在基訓已經膏他作王。眾人都從那裡歡呼著上來，聲音使城震動，這就是你們所聽見的聲音；Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.

⁴⁶並且所羅門登了國位。Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.

⁴⁷王的臣僕也來為我們的主大衛王祝福，說：『願王的　神使所羅門的名比王的名更尊榮；使他的國位比王的國位更大。』王就在床上屈身下拜。The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,

⁴⁸王又說：『耶和華─以色列的　神是應當稱頌的；因他賜我一人今日坐在我的位上，我也親眼看見了。』」saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

⁴⁹亞多尼雅的眾客聽見這話就都驚懼，起來四散。At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

亞多尼雅抓住祭壇的角

⁵⁰亞多尼雅懼怕所羅門，就起來，去抓住祭壇的角。But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

⁵¹有人告訴所羅門說：「亞多尼雅懼怕所羅門王，現在抓住祭壇的角，說：『願所羅門王今日向我起誓，必不用刀殺僕人。』」It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”

⁵²所羅門說：「他若作忠義的人，連一根頭髮也不致落在地上；他若行惡，必要死亡。」And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.”

⁵³於是所羅門王差遣人，使亞多尼雅從壇上下來，他就來，向所羅門王下拜；所羅門對他說：「你回家去吧！」So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”

人子必被舉起來

¹⁴摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必照樣被舉起來，Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

¹⁵叫一切信他的都得永生（或譯：叫一切信的人在他裡面得永生）。that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

神愛世人

¹⁶「　神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不致滅亡，反得永生。For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

¹⁷因為　神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪（或譯：審判世人；下同），乃是要叫世人因他得救。For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

¹⁸信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信　神獨生子的名。Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

光來到世間

¹⁹光來到世間，世人因自己的行為是惡的，不愛光，倒愛黑暗，定他們的罪就是在此。And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

²⁰凡作惡的便恨光，並不來就光，恐怕他的行為受責備。Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

²¹但行真理的必來就光，要顯明他所行的是靠　神而行。」But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

耶穌和約翰都在施洗

²²這事以後，耶穌和門徒到了猶太地，在那裡居住，施洗。After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.

²³約翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗；因為那裡水多，眾人都去受洗。Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

²⁴（那時約翰還沒有下在監裡。）(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)

²⁵約翰的門徒和一個猶太人辯論潔淨的禮，Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

²⁶就來見約翰，說：「拉比，從前同你在約旦河外、你所見證的那位，現在施洗，眾人都往他那裡去了。」So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

新郎的朋友

²⁷約翰說：「若不是從天上賜的，人就不能得甚麼。John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

²⁸我曾說：『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你們自己可以給我作見證。You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’

²⁹娶新婦的就是新郎；新郎的朋友站著，聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂。故此，我這喜樂滿足了。The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

³⁰他必興旺，我必衰微。」He must increase; I must decrease.

從天上來的在萬有之上

³¹「從天上來的是在萬有之上；從地上來的是屬乎地，他所說的也是屬乎地。從天上來的是在萬有之上。The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.

³²他將所見所聞的見證出來，只是沒有人領受他的見證。He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.

³³那領受他見證的，就印上印，證明　神是真的。Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.

³⁴神所差來的就說　神的話，因為　神賜聖靈給他是沒有限量的。For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

³⁵父愛子，已將萬有交在他手裡。The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.

³⁶信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不著永生（原文是不得見永生），　神的震怒常在他身上。」Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”