今日读经

首领报告百姓与外族通婚

¹这事做完了，众首领来见我，说：“以色列民和祭司并利未人，没有离绝迦南人、赫人、比利洗人、耶布斯人、亚扪人、摩押人、埃及人、亚摩利人，仍效法这些国的民，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因他们为自己和儿子娶了这些外邦女子为妻，以致圣洁的种类和这些国的民混杂；而且首领和官长在这事上为罪魁。”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!”

以斯拉惊惧忧闷

³我一听见这事，就撕裂衣服和外袍，拔了头发和胡须，惊惧忧闷而坐。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凡为以色列　神言语战兢的，都因这被掳归回之人所犯的罪聚集到我这里来。我就惊惧忧闷而坐，直到献晚祭的时候。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.

以斯拉认罪祷告

⁵献晚祭的时候我起来，心中愁苦，穿着撕裂的衣袍，双膝跪下向耶和华—我的　神举手，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说：“我的　神啊，我抱愧蒙羞，不敢向我　神仰面；因为我们的罪孽灭顶，我们的罪恶滔天。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从我们列祖直到今日，我们的罪恶甚重；因我们的罪孽，我们和君王、祭司都交在外邦列王的手中，杀害、掳掠、抢夺、脸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现在耶和华—我们的　神暂且施恩与我们，给我们留些逃脱的人，使我们安稳如钉子钉在他的圣所，我们的　神好光照我们的眼目，使我们在受辖制之中稍微复兴。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我们是奴仆，然而在受辖制之中，我们的　神仍没有丢弃我们，在波斯王眼前向我们施恩，叫我们复兴，能重建我们　神的殿，修其毁坏之处，使我们在犹大和耶路撒冷有墙垣。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.

我们还有甚么话可说

¹⁰“我们的　神啊，既是如此，我们还有什么话可说呢？因为我们已经离弃你的命令，And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments

¹¹就是你借你仆人众先知所吩咐的说：‘你们要去得为业之地是污秽之地；因列国之民的污秽和可憎的事，叫全地从这边直到那边满了污秽。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所以不可将你们的女儿嫁他们的儿子，也不可为你们的儿子娶他们的女儿，永不可求他们的平安和他们的利益，这样你们就可以强盛，吃这地的美物，并遗留这地给你们的子孙永远为业。’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，我们因自己的恶行和大罪，遭遇了这一切的事，并且你刑罚我们轻于我们罪所当得的，又给我们留下这些人。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我们岂可再违背你的命令，与这行可憎之事的民结亲呢？若这样行，你岂不向我们发怒，将我们灭绝，以致没有一个剩下逃脱的人吗？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耶和华—以色列的　神啊，因你是公义的，我们这剩下的人才得逃脱，正如今日的光景。看哪，我们在你面前有罪恶，因此无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，示迦尼提议立约

¹以斯拉祷告，认罪，哭泣，俯伏在　神殿前的时候，有以色列中的男女孩童聚集到以斯拉那里，成了大会，众民无不痛哭。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属以拦的子孙、耶歇的儿子示迦尼对以斯拉说：“我们在此地娶了外邦女子为妻，干犯了我们的　神，然而以色列人还有指望。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现在当与我们的　神立约，休这一切的妻，离绝她们所生的，照着我主和那因　神命令战兢之人所议定的，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你起来，这是你当办的事，我们必帮助你，你当奋勉而行。”Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we will support you. Be strong and take action!”

众人起誓，以斯拉禁食悲伤

⁵以斯拉便起来，使祭司长和利未人，并以色列众人起誓说，必照这话去行；他们就起了誓。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以斯拉从　神殿前起来，进入以利亚实的儿子约哈难的屋里，到了那里不吃饭，也不喝水；因为被掳归回之人所犯的罪，心里悲伤。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.

众人在大雨中聚集

⁷他们通告犹大和耶路撒冷被掳归回的人，叫他们在耶路撒冷聚集。And a proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles should gather at Jerusalem.

⁸凡不遵首领和长老所议定、三日之内不来的，就必抄他的家，使他离开被掳归回之人的会。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于是，犹大和便雅悯众人，三日之内都聚集在耶路撒冷。那日正是九月二十日，众人都坐在　神殿前的宽阔处；因这事，又因下大雨，就都战兢。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祭司以斯拉站起来，对他们说：“你们有罪了；因你们娶了外邦的女子为妻，增添以色列人的罪恶。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现在当向耶和华—你们列祖的　神认罪，遵行他的旨意，离绝这些国的民和外邦的女子。”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会众都大声回答说：“我们必照着你的话行，And the whole assembly responded in a loud voice: “Truly we must do as you say!

¹³只是百姓众多，又逢大雨的时令，我们不能站在外头，这也不是一两天办完的事，因我们在这事上犯了大罪；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不如为全会众派首领办理。凡我们城邑中娶外邦女子为妻的，当按所定的日期，同着本城的长老和士师而来，直到办完这事，　神的烈怒就转离我们了。”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惟有亚撒黑的儿子约拿单，特瓦的儿子雅哈谢阻挡（或译：总办）这事，并有米书兰和利未人沙比太帮助他们。(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this plan.)

查办娶外邦女子的事

¹⁶被掳归回的人如此而行。祭司以斯拉和些族长按着宗族都指名见派；在十月初一日，一同在座查办这事，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数。and by the first day of the first month they had dealt with all the men who had married foreign women.

涉及的人名单

¹⁸在祭司中查出娶外邦女子为妻的，就是耶书亚的子孙约萨达的儿子，和他弟兄玛西雅、以利以谢、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他们便应许必休他们的妻。他们因有罪，就献群中的一只公绵羊赎罪。They pledged to send their wives away, and for their guilt they presented a ram from the flock as a guilt offering.

²⁰音麦的子孙中，有哈拿尼、西巴第雅。From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.

²¹哈琳的子孙中，有玛西雅、以利雅、示玛雅、耶歇、乌西雅。From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.

²²巴施户珥的子孙中，有以利约乃、玛西雅、以实玛利、拿坦业、约撒拔、以利亚撒。From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

²³利未人中，有约撒拔、示每、基拉雅（基拉雅就是基利他），还有毗他希雅、犹大、以利以谢。Among the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

²⁴歌唱的人中有以利亚实。守门的人中，有沙龙、提联、乌利。From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

²⁵以色列人巴录的子孙中，有拉米、耶西雅、玛基雅、米雅民、以利亚撒、玛基雅、比拿雅。And among the other Israelites, from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.

²⁶以拦的子孙中，有玛他尼、撒迦利亚、耶歇、押底、耶利末、以利雅。From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.

²⁷萨土的子孙中，有以利约乃、以利亚实、玛他尼、耶利末、撒拔、亚西撒。From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.

²⁸比拜的子孙中，有约哈难、哈拿尼雅、萨拜、亚勒。From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.

²⁹巴尼的子孙中，有米书兰、玛鹿、亚大雅、雅述、示押、耶利末。From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.

³⁰巴哈·摩押的子孙中，有阿底拿、基拉、比拿雅、玛西雅、玛他尼、比撒列、宾内、玛拿西。From the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

³¹哈琳的子孙中，有以利以谢、伊示雅、玛基雅、示玛雅、西缅、From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,

³²便雅悯、玛鹿、示玛利雅。Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.

³³哈顺的子孙中，有玛特乃、玛达他、撒拔、以利法列、耶利买、玛拿西、示每。From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.

³⁴巴尼的子孙中，有玛玳、暗兰、乌益、From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,

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

³⁶瓦尼雅、米利末、以利亚实、Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,

³⁷玛他尼、玛特乃、雅扫、Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.

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

³⁹示利米雅、拿单、亚大雅、Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,

⁴⁰玛拿底拜、沙赛、沙赖、Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,

⁴¹亚萨利、示利米雅、示玛利雅、Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,

⁴²沙龙、亚玛利雅、约瑟。Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.

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

⁴⁴这些人都娶了外邦女子为妻，其中也有生了儿女的。All these men had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives.

保罗和西拉被拉到官长面前

¹⁹使女的主人们见得利的指望没有了，便揪住保罗和西拉，拉他们到市上去见首领；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又带到官长面前说：“这些人原是犹太人，竟骚扰我们的城，They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil

²¹传我们罗马人所不可受不可行的规矩。”by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

被打、下在内监

²²众人就一同起来攻击他们。官长吩咐剥了他们的衣裳，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打了许多棍，便将他们下在监里，嘱咐禁卒严紧看守。And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.

²⁴禁卒领了这样的命，就把他们下在内监里，两脚上了木狗。On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

半夜祷告唱诗，地大震动

²⁵约在半夜，保罗和西拉祷告，唱诗赞美　神，众囚犯也侧耳而听。About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

²⁶忽然，地大震动，甚至监牢的地基都摇动了，监门立刻全开，众囚犯的锁链也都松开了。Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.

禁卒问得救之道

²⁷禁卒一醒，看见监门全开，以为囚犯已经逃走，就拔刀要自杀。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保罗大声呼叫说：“不要伤害自己！我们都在这里。”But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹禁卒叫人拿灯来，就跳进去，战战兢兢地俯伏在保罗、西拉面前；Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

³⁰又领他们出来，说：“二位先生，我当怎样行才可以得救？”Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

禁卒全家信主受洗

³¹他们说：“当信主耶稣，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他们就把主的道讲给他和他全家的人听。Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

³³当夜，就在那时候，禁卒把他们带去，洗他们的伤；他和属乎他的人立时都受了洗。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于是禁卒领他们上自己家里去，给他们摆上饭。他和全家，因为信了　神，都很喜乐。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.

官长请他们出监

³⁵到了天亮，官长打发差役来，说：“释放那两个人吧。”When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”

³⁶禁卒就把这话告诉保罗说：“官长打发人来叫释放你们，如今可以出监，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保罗却说：“我们是罗马人，并没有定罪，他们就在众人面前打了我们，又把我们下在监里，现在要私下撵我们出去吗？这是不行的。叫他们自己来领我们出去吧！”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差役把这话回禀官长。官长听见他们是罗马人，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于是来劝他们，领他们出来，请他们离开那城。They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

到吕底亚家劝慰弟兄

⁴⁰二人出了监，往吕底亚家里去，见了弟兄们，劝慰他们一番，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.