Genesis
Chapter23
1ThespanofSarah'slifewasonehundredandtwenty-sevenyears.
撒辣一生的寿数是一百二十岁。
2ShediedinKiriatharba(thatis,Hebron)inthelandofCanaan,andAbrahamperformedthecustomarymourningritesforher.
撒辣死在客纳罕地的克黎雅特阿尔巴，即赫贝龙。亚巴郎来举哀哭吊撒辣；
31ThenheleftthesideofhisdeadoneandaddressedtheHittites:
然后从死者面前起来，对赫特人说道：＂
42＂AlthoughIamaresidentalienamongyou,sellmefromyourholdingsapieceofpropertyforaburialground,thatImayburymydeadwife.＂
我在你们中是个外乡侨民，请你们在这里卖给我一块坟地，我好将我的死者移去埋葬。＂
5TheHittitesansweredAbraham:＂Please,sir,
赫特人答覆亚巴郎说：＂
6listentous!YouareanelectofGodamongus.Buryyourdeadinthechoicestofourburialsites.Noneofuswoulddenyyouhisburialgroundfortheburialofyourdead.＂
先生，请听：你在我们中是天主的宠臣，你可在我们最好的坟地埋葬你的死者，我们没有人会拒绝你，在他的坟地内埋葬你的死者。＂
7Abraham,however,begantobowlowbeforethelocalcitizens,theHittites,
亚巴郎遂起来，向当地人民赫特人下拜，
8whileheappealedtothem:＂Ifyouwillallowmeroomforburialofmydead,listentome!IntercedeformewithEphron,sonofZohar,askinghim
然后对他们说：＂如果你们实在愿意我将死者移去埋葬，请你们答应我，为我请求祚哈尔的儿子厄斐龙，
9tosellmethecaveofMachpelahthatheowns;itisattheedgeofhisfield.Lethimsellittomeinyourpresence,atitsfullprice,foraburialplace.＂
要他卖给我他那块田地尽头所有的玛革培拉山洞；要他按实价在你们面前卖给我，作为私有坟地。＂
103NowEphronwaspresentwiththeHittites.SoEphrontheHittiterepliedtoAbrahaminthehearingoftheHittiteswhosatonhistowncouncil:
当时，厄斐龙也坐在赫特人中间。这赫特人厄斐龙遂在聚于城门口的赫特人面前，高声答覆亚巴郎说：＂
11＂Please,sir,listentome!Igiveyouboththefieldandthecaveinit;inthepresenceofmykinsmenImakethisgift.Buryyourdead!＂
先生，不要这样。请听我说：我送给你这块田，连其中的山洞，也送给你。我愿在我同族的人民眼前送给你，埋葬你的死者。＂
12utAbraham,afterbowinglowbeforethelocalcitizens,addressedEphroninthehearingofthesemen:
亚巴郎又在当地人民面前下拜，
13＂Ah,ifonlyyouwouldpleaselistentome!Iwillpayyouthepriceofthefield.Acceptitfromme,thatImayburymydeadthere.＂
然后对当地人民高声向厄斐龙说：＂假如你乐意，请你听我说：我愿给你地价，你收下后，我才在那里埋葬我的死者。＂
14EphronrepliedtoAbraham,＂Please,
厄斐龙答覆亚巴郎说：＂
154sir,listentome!Apieceoflandworthfourhundredshekelsofsilver——whatisthatbetweenyouandme,aslongasyoucanburyyourdead?＂
先生，请听我说：一块值四百＂协刻耳＂银子的地，在你和我之间，算得什么！你尽管去埋葬你的死者罢！＂
165AbrahamacceptedEphron'sterms;heweighedouttohimthesilverthatEphronhadstipulatedinthehearingoftheHittites,fourhundredshekelsofsilveratthecurrentmarketvalue.
亚巴郎明白了厄斐龙的意思，便照他在赫特人前大声提出的价值，按流行的市价称了四百＂协刻耳＂银子给他。
17ThusEphron'sfieldinMachpelah,facingMamre,togetherwithitscaveandallthetreesanywherewithinitslimits,wasconveyed
这样，厄斐龙在玛革培拉面对玛默勒的那块田地，连田地带其中的山洞，以及在田地四周所有的树木，
18toAbrahambypurchaseinthepresenceofalltheHittiteswhosatonEphron'stowncouncil.
当着聚在城门口的赫特人面前，全移交给亚巴郎作产业。
19Afterthistransaction,AbrahamburiedhiswifeSarahinthecaveofthefieldofMachpelah,facingMamre(thatis,Hebron)inthelandofCanaan.
事后，亚巴郎遂将自己的妻子撒辣葬在客纳罕地，即葬在那块面对玛默勒，（即赫贝龙），玛革培拉田地的山洞内。
20ThusthefieldwithitscavewastransferredfromtheHittitestoAbrahamasaburialplace.
这样，这块田地和其中的山洞，由赫特人移交了给亚巴郎作为私有坟地。
PreviousChapterNextChapter
Footnotes(注解)
1[3]TheHittites:anon-SemiticpeopleinCanaan;theirrelationshiptothewell-knownHittitesofAsiaMinorisuncertain.
2[4]Aresidentalien:literally＂asojournerandasettler,＂i.e.,along-termresidentalien.Suchaonewouldnormallynothavetherighttoownproperty.TheimportanceofAbraham'spurchaseofthefieldinMachpelah,whichiswordedintechnicallegalterms,liesinthefactthatitgavehisdescendantstheirfirst,thoughsmall,landrightsinthecountrythatGodhadpromisedthepatriarchtheywouldonedayinheritastheirown.Abrahamthereforeinsistsonpurchasingthefieldandnotreceivingitasagift.
3[10]Whosatonhistowncouncil:probablemeaningoftheliteraltranslation,＂whocameinatthegateofhiscity＂;soalsoinGenesis23:18.
4[15]Fourhundredshekels:probablyanexorbitantsum;Jeremiah(Jeremiah32:9)paidonlyseventeenshekelsforhisfieldinAnathoth,thoughtheBabylonianinvasionnodoubthelpedtoreducetheprice.
5[16]Thecurrentmarketvalue:thestandardweightcalledashekelvariedaccordingtotimeandplace