今日读经

基甸死后又拜巴力

³³基甸死后，以色列人又去随从诸巴力行邪淫，以巴力·比利土为他们的神。And as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned and prostituted themselves with the Baals, and they set up Baal-berith as their god.

³⁴以色列人不记念耶和华—他们的　神，就是拯救他们脱离四围仇敌之手的，The Israelites failed to remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.

³⁵也不照着耶路·巴力，就是基甸向他们所施的恩惠厚待他的家。They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for Israel.

亚比米勒杀众弟兄自立为王

¹耶路·巴力的儿子亚比米勒到了示剑见他的众母舅，对他们和他外祖全家的人说：Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,

²“请你们问示剑的众人说，是耶路·巴力的众子七十人都管理你们好呢？还是一人管理你们好呢？你们又要记念我是你们的骨肉。”“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

³他的众母舅便将这一切话为他说给示剑人听，示剑人的心就归向亚比米勒。他们说：“他原是我们的弟兄”；And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

⁴就从巴力·比利土的庙中取了七十舍客勒银子给亚比米勒；亚比米勒用以雇了些匪徒跟随他。So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

⁵他往俄弗拉到他父亲的家，将他弟兄、耶路·巴力的众子七十人都杀在一块磐石上；只剩下耶路·巴力的小儿子约坦，因为他躲藏了。He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

⁶示剑人和米罗人都一同聚集，往示剑橡树旁的柱子那里，立亚比米勒为王。Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

约坦的寓言

⁷有人将这事告诉约坦，他就去站在基利心山顶上，向众人大声喊叫说：“示剑人哪，你们要听我的话，　神也就听你们的话。When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

⁸有一时，树木要膏一树为王，管理他们，就去对橄榄树说：‘请你作我们的王。’One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

⁹橄榄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住供奉神和尊重人的油，飘摇在众树之上呢？’But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁰树木对无花果树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹¹无花果树回答说：‘我岂肯止住所结甜美的果子，飘摇在众树之上呢？’But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹²树木对葡萄树说：‘请你来作我们的王。’Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹³葡萄树回答说：‘我岂肯止住使神和人喜乐的新酒，飘摇在众树之上呢。’But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴众树对荆棘说：‘请你来作我们的王。’Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

¹⁵荆棘回答说：‘你们若诚诚实实地膏我为王，就要投在我的荫下；不然，愿火从荆棘里出来，烧灭黎巴嫩的香柏树。’But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

¹⁶“现在你们立亚比米勒为王，若按诚实正直善待耶路·巴力和他的全家，这就是酬他的劳。Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—

¹⁷从前我父冒死为你们争战，救了你们脱离米甸人的手。for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

¹⁸你们如今起来攻击我的父家，将他众子七十人杀在一块磐石上，又立他婢女所生的儿子亚比米勒为示剑人的王；他原是你们的弟兄。but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—

¹⁹你们如今若按诚实正直待耶路·巴力和他的家，就可因亚比米勒得欢乐，他也可因你们得欢乐；if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

²⁰不然，愿火从亚比米勒发出，烧灭示剑人和米罗众人，又愿火从示剑人和米罗人中出来，烧灭亚比米勒。”But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

²¹约坦因怕他弟兄亚比米勒，就逃跑，来到比珥，住在那里。Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

三年后，示剑人背叛亚比米勒

²²亚比米勒管理以色列人三年。After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

²³神使恶魔降在亚比米勒和示剑人中间，示剑人就以诡诈待亚比米勒。God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

²⁴这是要叫耶路·巴力七十个儿子所受的残害归与他们的哥哥亚比米勒，又叫那流他们血的罪归与帮助他杀弟兄的示剑人。in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

²⁵示剑人在山顶上设埋伏，等候亚比米勒。凡从他们那里经过的人，他们就抢夺。有人将这事告诉亚比米勒。The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

迦勒煽动叛变

²⁶以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄来到示剑，示剑人都信靠他。Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

²⁷示剑人出城到田间去，摘下葡萄，踹酒，设摆筵宴，进他们神的庙中吃喝，咒诅亚比米勒。And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

²⁸以别的儿子迦勒说：“亚比米勒是谁？示剑是谁？使我们服事他呢？他不是耶路·巴力的儿子吗？他的帮手不是西布勒吗？你们可以服事示剑的父亲哈抹的后裔。我们为何服事亚比米勒呢？Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

²⁹惟愿这民归我的手下，我就除掉亚比米勒。”迦勒又对亚比米勒说：“增添你的军兵出来吧。”If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

³⁰邑宰西布勒听见以别的儿子迦勒的话，就发怒，When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

³¹悄悄地打发人去见亚比米勒，说：“以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄到了示剑，煽惑城中的民攻击你。So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

³²现在你和跟随你的人今夜起来，在田间埋伏。Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.

³³到早晨太阳一出，你就起来闯城。迦勒和跟随他的人出来攻击你的时候，你便向他们见机而做。”And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

³⁴于是，亚比米勒和跟随他的众人夜间起来，分作四队，埋伏等候示剑人。So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵以别的儿子迦勒出去，站在城门口。亚比米勒和跟随他的人从埋伏之处起来。Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

³⁶迦勒看见那些人，就对西布勒说：“看哪，有人从山顶上下来了。”西布勒说：“你看见山的影子，以为是人。”When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

³⁷迦勒又说：“看哪，有人从高处下来，又有一队从米恶尼尼橡树的路上而来。”Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”

³⁸西布勒对他说：“你曾说，亚比米勒是谁，叫我们服事他？你所夸的口在哪里呢？这不是你所藐视的民吗？你现在出去，与他们交战吧！”“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

³⁹于是迦勒率领示剑人出去，与亚比米勒交战。So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

⁴⁰亚比米勒追赶迦勒；迦勒在他面前逃跑，有许多受伤仆倒的，直到城门。but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

⁴¹亚比米勒住在亚鲁玛。西布勒赶出迦勒和他弟兄，不准他们住在示剑。Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

亚比米勒毁灭示剑

⁴²次日，民出到田间，有人告诉亚比米勒；The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

⁴³他就把他的人分作三队，埋伏在田间，看见示剑人从城里出来，就起来击杀他们。So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

⁴⁴亚比米勒和跟随他的一队向前闯去，站在城门口；那两队直闯到田间，击杀了众人。Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.

⁴⁵亚比米勒整天攻打城，将城夺取，杀了其中的居民，将城拆毁，撒上了盐。And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

火烧示剑楼

⁴⁶示剑楼的人听见了，就躲入巴力·比利土庙的卫所。On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

⁴⁷有人告诉亚比米勒说：“示剑楼的人都聚在一处。”And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

⁴⁸亚比米勒和跟随他的人就都上撒们山。亚比米勒手拿斧子，砍下一根树枝，扛在肩上，对跟随他的人说：“你们看我所行的，也当赶紧照样行。”he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

⁴⁹众人就各砍一枝，跟随亚比米勒，把树枝堆在卫所的四围，放火烧了卫所，以致示剑楼的人都死了，男女约有一千。So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

妇人的一块磨石

⁵⁰亚比米勒到提备斯，向提备斯安营，就攻取了那城。Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

⁵¹城中有一座坚固的楼；城里的众人，无论男女，都逃进楼去，关上门，上了楼顶。But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

⁵²亚比米勒到了楼前攻打，挨近楼门，要用火焚烧。When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

⁵³有一个妇人把一块上磨石抛在亚比米勒的头上，打破了他的脑骨。But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

⁵⁴他就急忙喊叫拿他兵器的少年人，对他说：“拔出你的刀来，杀了我吧！免得人议论我说，他为一个妇人所杀。”于是少年人把他刺透，他就死了。He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

⁵⁵以色列人见亚比米勒死了，便各回自己的地方去了。And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

⁵⁶这样，　神报应亚比米勒向他父亲所行的恶，就是杀了弟兄七十个人的恶。In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

⁵⁷示剑人的一切恶，　神也都报应在他们头上；耶路·巴力的儿子约坦的咒诅归到他们身上了。And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

士师陀拉和睚珥

¹亚比米勒以后，有以萨迦人朵多的孙子、普瓦的儿子陀拉兴起，拯救以色列人。他住在以法莲山地的沙密。After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

²陀拉作以色列的士师二十三年，就死了，葬在沙密。Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.

³在他以后有基列人睚珥兴起，作以色列的士师二十二年。Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

⁴他有三十个儿子，骑着三十匹驴驹。他们有三十座城邑，叫作哈倭特·睚珥，直到如今，都是在基列地。He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.

⁵睚珥死了，就葬在加们。When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

警醒等候主人回来

³⁵“你们腰里要束上带，灯也要点着，Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

³⁶自己好像仆人等候主人从婚姻的筵席上回来。他来到，叩门，就立刻给他开门。Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

³⁷主人来了，看见仆人警醒，那仆人就有福了。我实在告诉你们，主人必叫他们坐席，自己束上带，进前伺候他们。Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

³⁸或是二更天来，或是三更天来，看见仆人这样，那仆人就有福了。Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

家主与贼

³⁹家主若知道贼什么时候来，就必警醒，不容贼挖透房屋，这是你们所知道的。But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁰你们也要预备；因为你们想不到的时候，人子就来了。”You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

忠心有见识的管家

⁴¹彼得说：“主啊，这比喻是为我们说的呢？还是为众人呢？”“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

⁴²主说：“谁是那忠心有见识的管家，主人派他管理家里的人，按时分粮给他们呢？And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

⁴³主人来到，看见仆人这样行，那仆人就有福了。Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

⁴⁴我实在告诉你们，主人要派他管理一切所有的。Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

不忠心的仆人

⁴⁵那仆人若心里说：‘我的主人必来得迟’，就动手打仆人和使女，并且吃喝醉酒；But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

⁴⁶在他想不到的日子，不知道的时辰，那仆人的主人要来，重重地处治他（或译：把他腰斩了），定他和不忠心的人同罪。The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

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多给谁，就向谁多取

⁴⁷仆人知道主人的意思，却不预备，又不顺他的意思行，那仆人必多受责打；That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

⁴⁸惟有那不知道的，做了当受责打的事，必少受责打；因为多给谁，就向谁多取；多托谁，就向谁多要。”But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.