今日讀經

首領報告百姓與外族通婚

¹這事做完了，眾首領來見我，說：「以色列民和祭司並利未人，沒有離絕迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亞捫人、摩押人、埃及人、亞摩利人，仍效法這些國的民，行可憎的事。After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

²因他們為自己和兒子娶了這些外邦女子為妻，以致聖潔的種類和這些國的民混雜；而且首領和官長在這事上為罪魁。」Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”

以斯拉驚懼憂悶

³我一聽見這事，就撕裂衣服和外袍，拔了頭髮和鬍鬚，驚懼憂悶而坐。When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.

⁴凡為以色列　神言語戰兢的，都因這被擄歸回之人所犯的罪聚集到我這裡來。我就驚懼憂悶而坐，直到獻晚祭的時候。Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat there in horror until the evening offering.

以斯拉認罪禱告

⁵獻晚祭的時候我起來，心中愁苦，穿著撕裂的衣袍，雙膝跪下向耶和華─我的　神舉手，At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation with my tunic and cloak torn, and I fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,

⁶說：「我的　神啊，我抱愧蒙羞，不敢向我　神仰面；因為我們的罪孽滅頂，我們的罪惡滔天。and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.

⁷從我們列祖直到今日，我們的罪惡甚重；因我們的罪孽，我們和君王、祭司都交在外邦列王的手中，殺害、擄掠、搶奪、臉上蒙羞正如今日的光景。From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and subjected to the sword and to captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day.

⁸現在耶和華─我們的　神暫且施恩與我們，給我們留些逃脫的人，使我們安穩如釘子釘在他的聖所，我們的　神好光照我們的眼目，使我們在受轄制之中稍微復興。But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.

⁹我們是奴僕，然而在受轄制之中，我們的　神仍沒有丟棄我們，在波斯王眼前向我們施恩，叫我們復興，能重建我們　神的殿，修其毀壞之處，使我們在猶大和耶路撒冷有牆垣。Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but He has extended to us grace in the sight of the kings of Persia, giving us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and giving us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

我們還有甚麼話可說

¹⁰「我們的　神啊，既是如此，我們還有甚麼話可說呢？因為我們已經離棄你的命令，And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments

¹¹就是你藉你僕人眾先知所吩咐的說：『你們要去得為業之地是污穢之地；因列國之民的污穢和可憎的事，叫全地從這邊直到那邊滿了污穢。that You gave through Your servants the prophets, saying: ‘The land that you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the impurity of its peoples and the abominations with which they have filled it from end to end.

¹²所以不可將你們的女兒嫁他們的兒子，也不可為你們的兒子娶他們的女兒，永不可求他們的平安和他們的利益，這樣你們就可以強盛，吃這地的美物，並遺留這地給你們的子孫永遠為業。』Now, therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and may eat the good things of the land, leaving it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’

¹³神啊，我們因自己的惡行和大罪，遭遇了這一切的事，並且你刑罰我們輕於我們罪所當得的，又給我們留下這些人。After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),

¹⁴我們豈可再違背你的命令，與這行可憎之事的民結親呢？若這樣行，你豈不向我們發怒，將我們滅絕，以致沒有一個剩下逃脫的人嗎？shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not become so angry with us as to wipe us out, leaving no remnant or survivor?

¹⁵耶和華─以色列的　神啊，因你是公義的，我們這剩下的人才得逃脫，正如今日的光景。看哪，我們在你面前有罪惡，因此無人在你面前站立得住。」O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”

百姓痛哭，示迦尼提議立約

¹以斯拉禱告，認罪，哭泣，俯伏在　神殿前的時候，有以色列中的男女孩童聚集到以斯拉那裡，成了大會，眾民無不痛哭。While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

²屬以攔的子孫、耶歇的兒子示迦尼對以斯拉說：「我們在此地娶了外邦女子為妻，干犯了我們的　神，然而以色列人還有指望。Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people of the land, yet in spite of this, there is hope for Israel.

³現在當與我們的　神立約，休這一切的妻，離絕她們所生的，照著我主和那因　神命令戰兢之人所議定的，按律法而行。So now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

⁴你起來，這是你當辦的事，我們必幫助你，你當奮勉而行。」Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”

眾人起誓，以斯拉禁食悲傷

⁵以斯拉便起來，使祭司長和利未人，並以色列眾人起誓說，必照這話去行；他們就起了誓。So Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said. And they took the oath.

⁶以斯拉從　神殿前起來，進入以利亞實的兒子約哈難的屋裡，到了那裡不吃飯，也不喝水；因為被擄歸回之人所犯的罪，心裡悲傷。Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. And while he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

眾人在大雨中聚集

⁷他們通告猶大和耶路撒冷被擄歸回的人，叫他們在耶路撒冷聚集。And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.

⁸凡不遵首領和長老所議定、三日之內不來的，就必抄他的家，使他離開被擄歸回之人的會。Whoever failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

⁹於是，猶大和便雅憫眾人，三日之內都聚集在耶路撒冷。那日正是九月二十日，眾人都坐在　神殿前的寬闊處；因這事，又因下大雨，就都戰兢。So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled in Jerusalem, and on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people sat in the square at the house of God, trembling regarding this matter and because of the heavy rain.

¹⁰祭司以斯拉站起來，對他們說：「你們有罪了；因你們娶了外邦的女子為妻，增添以色列人的罪惡。Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful by marrying foreign women, adding to the guilt of Israel.

¹¹現在當向耶和華─你們列祖的　神認罪，遵行他的旨意，離絕這些國的民和外邦的女子。」Now, therefore, make a confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the people of the land and from your foreign wives.”

¹²會眾都大聲回答說：「我們必照著你的話行，And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!

¹³只是百姓眾多，又逢大雨的時令，我們不能站在外頭，這也不是一兩天辦完的事，因我們在這事上犯了大罪；But there are many people here, and it is the rainy season. We are not able to stay out in the open. Nor is this the work of one or two days, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.

¹⁴不如為全會眾派首領辦理。凡我們城邑中娶外邦女子為妻的，當按所定的日期，同著本城的長老和士師而來，直到辦完這事，　神的烈怒就轉離我們了。」Let our leaders represent the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at an appointed time, together with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

¹⁵惟有亞撒黑的兒子約拿單，特瓦的兒子雅哈謝阻擋（或譯：總辦）這事，並有米書蘭和利未人沙比太幫助他們。(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)

查辦娶外邦女子的事

¹⁶被擄歸回的人如此而行。祭司以斯拉和些族長按著宗族都指名見派；在十月初一日，一同在座查辦這事，So the exiles did as proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, each of them identified by name, to represent their families. On the first day of the tenth month they launched the investigation,

¹⁷到正月初一日，才查清娶外邦女子的人數。and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

涉及的人名單

¹⁸在祭司中查出娶外邦女子為妻的，就是耶書亞的子孫約薩達的兒子，和他弟兄瑪西雅、以利以謝、雅立、基大利；Among the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women were found these descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.

¹⁹他們便應許必休他們的妻。他們因有罪，就獻群中的一隻公綿羊贖罪。They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

²⁰音麥的子孫中，有哈拿尼、西巴第雅。From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

²¹哈琳的子孫中，有瑪西雅、以利雅、示瑪雅、耶歇、烏西雅。From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

²²巴施戶珥的子孫中，有以利約乃、瑪西雅、以實瑪利、拿坦業、約撒拔、以利亞撒。From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

²³利未人中，有約撒拔、示每、基拉雅（基拉雅就是基利他），還有毘他希雅、猶大、以利以謝。Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

²⁴歌唱的人中有以利亞實。守門的人中，有沙龍、提聯、烏利。From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

²⁵以色列人巴錄的子孫中，有拉米、耶西雅、瑪基雅、米雅民、以利亞撒、瑪基雅、比拿雅。And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.

²⁶以攔的子孫中，有瑪他尼、撒迦利亞、耶歇、押底、耶利末、以利雅。From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

²⁷薩土的子孫中，有以利約乃、以利亞實、瑪他尼、耶利末、撒拔、亞西撒。From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

²⁸比拜的子孫中，有約哈難、哈拿尼雅、薩拜、亞勒。From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

²⁹巴尼的子孫中，有米書蘭、瑪鹿、亞大雅、雅述、示押、耶利末。From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

³⁰巴哈‧摩押的子孫中，有阿底拿、基拉、比拿雅、瑪西雅、瑪他尼、比撒列、賓內、瑪拿西。From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

³¹哈琳的子孫中，有以利以謝、伊示雅、瑪基雅、示瑪雅、西緬、From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

³²便雅憫、瑪鹿、示瑪利雅。Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

³³哈順的子孫中，有瑪特乃、瑪達他、撒拔、以利法列、耶利買、瑪拿西、示每。From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

³⁴巴尼的子孫中，有瑪玳、暗蘭、烏益、From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,

³⁵比拿雅、比底雅、基祿、Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,

³⁶瓦尼雅、米利末、以利亞實、Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

³⁷瑪他尼、瑪特乃、雅掃、Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

³⁸巴尼、賓內、示每、From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei,

³⁹示利米雅、拿單、亞大雅、Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

⁴⁰瑪拿底拜、沙賽、沙賴、Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

⁴¹亞薩利、示利米雅、示瑪利雅、Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

⁴²沙龍、亞瑪利雅、約瑟。Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

⁴³尼波的子孫中，有耶利、瑪他提雅、撒拔、西比拿、雅玳、約珥、比拿雅。And from the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

⁴⁴這些人都娶了外邦女子為妻，其中也有生了兒女的。All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.

保羅和西拉被拉到官長面前

¹⁹使女的主人們見得利的指望沒有了，便揪住保羅和西拉，拉他們到市上去見首領；When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

²⁰又帶到官長面前說：「這些人原是猶太人，竟騷擾我們的城，They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil

²¹傳我們羅馬人所不可受不可行的規矩。」by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

被打、下在內監

²²眾人就一同起來攻擊他們。官長吩咐剝了他們的衣裳，用棍打；The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.

²³打了許多棍，便將他們下在監裡，囑咐禁卒嚴緊看守。And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

²⁴禁卒領了這樣的命，就把他們下在內監裡，兩腳上了木狗。On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

半夜禱告唱詩，地大震動

²⁵約在半夜，保羅和西拉禱告，唱詩讚美　神，眾囚犯也側耳而聽。About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

²⁶忽然，地大震動，甚至監牢的地基都搖動了，監門立刻全開，眾囚犯的鎖鍊也都鬆開了。Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

禁卒問得救之道

²⁷禁卒一醒，看見監門全開，以為囚犯已經逃走，就拔刀要自殺。When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.

²⁸保羅大聲呼叫說：「不要傷害自己！我們都在這裡。」But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹禁卒叫人拿燈來，就跳進去，戰戰兢兢地俯伏在保羅、西拉面前；Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

³⁰又領他們出來，說：「二位先生，我當怎樣行才可以得救？」Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

禁卒全家信主受洗

³¹他們說：「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救。」They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

³²他們就把主的道講給他和他全家的人聽。Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

³³當夜，就在那時候，禁卒把他們帶去，洗他們的傷；他和屬乎他的人立時都受了洗。At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.

³⁴於是禁卒領他們上自己家裡去，給他們擺上飯。他和全家，因為信了　神，都很喜樂。Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.

官長請他們出監

³⁵到了天亮，官長打發差役來，說：「釋放那兩個人吧。」When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

³⁶禁卒就把這話告訴保羅說：「官長打發人來叫釋放你們，如今可以出監，平平安安地去吧。」The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”

³⁷保羅卻說：「我們是羅馬人，並沒有定罪，他們就在眾人面前打了我們，又把我們下在監裡，現在要私下攆我們出去嗎？這是不行的。叫他們自己來領我們出去吧！」But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

³⁸差役把這話回稟官長。官長聽見他們是羅馬人，就害怕了，So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

³⁹於是來勸他們，領他們出來，請他們離開那城。They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

到呂底亞家勸慰弟兄

⁴⁰二人出了監，往呂底亞家裡去，見了弟兄們，勸慰他們一番，就走了。After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.