Judges
Chapter6
1TheIsraelitesoffendedtheLORD,whothereforedeliveredthemintothepowerofMidianforsevenyears,
以色列的子民又行了上主视为恶的事，上主把他们交于米德杨人手中七年之久。
2sothatMidianheldIsraelsubject.ForfearofMidiantheIsraelitesestablishedthefiresignalsonthemountains,thecavesforrefuge,andthestrongholds.
米德杨人的势力胜过了以色列，以色列子民为了防御米德杨人，修筑了山洞、地洞和山寨。
3AnditusedtobethatwhentheIsraeliteshadcompletedtheirsowing,Midian,AmalekandtheKedemiteswouldcomeup,
每逢以色列人撒种之后，米德杨人、阿玛肋克人和东方子民就上来攻打他们；
4encampoppositethem,anddestroytheproduceofthelandasfarastheoutskirtsofGaza,leavingnosustenanceinIsrael,norsheep,oxenorasses.
对着他们扎营，毁坏地产直到迦萨一带，没有给以色列留下一点食粮，连羊、牛、驴也没有留下；
5Fortheywouldcomeupwiththeirlivestock,andtheirtentswouldbecomeasnumerousaslocusts;andneithertheynortheircamelscouldbenumbered,whentheycameintothelandtolayitwaste.
因为他们总是带着家畜和帐棚上来，多如蝗虫；他们来的人和骆驼多得无数，踏入境内，毁坏田地。
6ThuswasIsraelreducedtomiserybyMidian,andsotheIsraelitescriedouttotheLORD.
以色列为了米德杨人的原故，很是穷困，因此以色列子民呼吁了上主。
7WhenIsraelcriedouttotheLORDbecauseofMidian,
当以色列子民为了米德杨的原故，呼吁上主时，
8hesentaprophettotheIsraeliteswhosaidtothem,＂TheLORD,theGodofIsrael,says:IledyouupfromEgypt;Ibroughtyououtoftheplaceofslavery.
上主就派了一位先知到以色列子民那里，对他们说：＂上主以色列的天主这样说：是我使你们由埃及上来，领你们离开了为奴之家；
9IrescuedyoufromthepowerofEgyptandofallyourotheroppressors.Idrovethemoutbeforeyouandgaveyoutheirland.
是我从埃及人的手中，从一切压迫你们的人手中救出你们来；是我从你们面前把他们赶走，把他们的地赐给你们。
10AndIsaidtoyou:I,theLORD,amyourGod;youshallnotveneratethegodsoftheAmoritesinwhoselandyouaredwelling.Butyoudidnotobeyme.＂
我曾对你们说过：我是上主你们的天主，你们在阿摩黎地方，切不可敬畏他们的神！但是你们没有听从我的话。＂
11ThentheangeloftheLORDcameandsatundertheterebinthinOphrahthatbelongedtoJoashtheAbiezrite.WhilehissonGideonwasbeatingoutwheatinthewinepresstosaveitfromtheMidianites,
上主的使者来到，坐在敖弗辣的一棵属于阿彼厄则尔人约阿士的笃耨树下，当时他的儿子基德红正在酿酒池里打麦子，躲避米德杨人。
12theangeloftheLORDappearedtohimandsaid,＂TheLORDiswithyou,Ochampion!＂
上主的使者显现给他，对他说：＂英勇的壮士，愿上主与你同在！＂
13＂MyLord,＂Gideonsaidtohim,＂iftheLORDiswithus,whyhasallthishappenedtous?Wherearehiswondrousdeedsofwhichourfatherstolduswhentheysaid,'DidnottheLORDbringusupfromEgypt?'FornowtheLORDhasabandonedusandhasdeliveredusintothepowerofMidian.＂
基德红回答他说：＂我主，请原谅！如果上主与我们同在，我们怎会遭遇这些困难？我祖先给我们所讲过的那一切奇事，如今在那里?他们曾向我们说过：看，是上主领我们出离埃及，但是现在上主拋弃了我们，将我们交在米德杨人的掌握中。＂
14TheLORDturnedtohimandsaid,＂GowiththestrengthyouhaveandsaveIsraelfromthepowerofMidian.ItisIwhosendyou.＂
上主注视他说：＂凭你这种力量，你去拯救以色列脱离米德杨人的掌握。看，是我派遣你。＂
15Butheansweredhim,＂Please,mylord,howcanIsaveIsrael?MyfamilyisthemeanestinManasseh,andIamthemostinsignificantinmyfather'shouse.＂
他回答说：＂我主，请原谅！我凭什么拯救以色列？看，我家在默纳协支派中是最卑微的，我在我父亲家中又是最小的一个。＂
16＂Ishallbewithyou,＂theLORDsaidtohim,＂andyouwillcutdownMidiantothelastman.＂
上主对他说：＂有我与你同在，你必击败米德杨人，如击一个人一样。＂
17Heansweredhim,＂IfIfindfavorwithyou,givemeasignthatyouarespeakingwithme.
基德红又向他说：＂我若在你面前蒙恩，请你给我一个记号，证明与我说话的是你。
18Donotdepartfromhere,Iprayyou,untilIcomebacktoyouandbringoutmyofferingandsetitbeforeyou.＂Heanswered,＂Iwillawaityourreturn.＂
请你不要离开此地，等我回到你这里，带来礼物，摆在你前。＂他答应说：＂我等你回来。＂
19SoGideonwentoffandpreparedakidandanephahofflourintheformofunleavenedcakes.Puttingthemeatinabasketandthebrothinapot,hebroughtthemouttohimundertheterebinthandpresentedthem.
基德红就去预备了一只小公山羊，又用一＂厄法＂麦粉作了无酵饼，把肉放在筐里，把汤盛在罐里，带到笃耨树下献给他。
20TheangelofGodsaidtohim,＂Takethemeatandunleavenedcakesandlaythemonthisrock;thenpouroutthebroth.＂Whenhehaddoneso,
天主的使者对他说：＂拿出肉和无酵饼来，放在这盘石上，把汤倒出来！＂他就照样作了。
21theangeloftheLORDstretchedoutthetipofthestaffheheld,andtouchedthemeatandunleavenedcakes.Thereuponafirecameupfromtherockwhichconsumedthemeatandunleavenedcakes,andtheangeloftheLORDdisappearedfromsight.
上主的使者遂伸出手中的棍杖，杖头一触及肉和无酵饼，盘石便起火，把肉和无酵饼吞噬了；上主的使者便从他眼前隐没了。
22Gideon,nowawarethatithadbeentheangeloftheLORD,said,＂Alas,LordGOD,thatIhaveseentheangeloftheLORDfacetoface!＂
基德红遂知道他是上主的使者说：＂哎呀！我主上主，我竟然面对面地看见上主的使者！＂
23TheLORDansweredhim,＂Becalm,donotfear.Youshallnotdie.＂
但上主对他说：＂你放心！不必害怕，你不会死！
241SoGideonbuiltthereanaltartotheLORDandcalleditYahweh-shalom.TothisdayitisstillinOphrahoftheAbiezrites.
基德红就在那里给上主立了一座祭坛，称为雅威沙隆；至今还在阿彼厄则耳人的敖弗辣那里。
252ThatsamenighttheLORDsaidtohim,＂Taketheseven-year-oldsparebullockanddestroyyourfather'saltartoBaalandcutdownthesacredpolethatisbyit.
当夜上主对他说：＂取你父亲的一只牛，即那只七岁的肥牛，以后拆毁你父亲的巴耳祭坛，打碎旁边的阿舍辣；
26Youshallbuild,instead,theproperkindofaltartotheLORD,yourGod,ontopofthisstronghold.Thentakethesparebullockandofferitasaholocaustonthewoodfromthesacredpoleyouhavecutdown.＂
给上主你的天主在这盘石顶上建一座祭坛，准备妥当，将那只肥牛献为全燔祭，用打碎的阿舍辣作木柴。＂
27SoGideontooktenofhisservantsanddidastheLORDhadcommandedhim.Butthroughfearofhisfamilyandofthetownspeople,hewouldnotdoitbyday,butdiditatnight.
基德红就从仆人中选出十个人，照上主吩咐他的作了；但因为害怕父亲的家人和城里的人，不敢在白天行事，就在黑夜作了。
28EarlythenextmorningthetownspeoplefoundthatthealtarofBaalhadbeendestroyed,thesacredpolenearitcutdown,andthesparebullockofferedonthealtarthatwasbuilt.
城里的人早晨起来，看见巴耳的祭坛已毁，旁边所有的阿舍辣也被打碎，那只肥牛也献于新筑的祭坛上，
29Theyaskedoneanother,＂Whodidthis?＂TheirinquiryledthemtotheconclusionthatGideon,sonofJoash,haddoneit.
就彼此询问说：＂谁作了这事？＂经过考察追问之后，断定说：＂必是约阿士的儿子基德红作了这事。＂
30SothetownspeoplesaidtoJoash,＂Bringoutyoursonthathemaydie,forhehasdestroyedthealtarofBaalandhascutdownthesacredpolethatwasnearit.＂
因此本城的人对约阿士说：＂将你的儿子交出来，将他处死！因为他拆毁了巴耳的祭坛，打碎了旁边的阿舍辣。＂
31ButJoashrepliedtoallwhowerestandingaroundhim,＂DoyouintendtoactinBaal'sstead,orbehischampion?Ifanyoneactsforhim,heshallbeputtodeathbymorning.Ifhewhosealtarhasbeendestroyedisagod,lethimactforhimself!＂
约阿士回答所有反对他的人说：＂你们要为巴耳辩护么？或者你们要救助他吗？谁为他辩护，明天早晨便该处以死刑！他如果是神，让他为自己辩护罢！因为有人拆毁了他的祭坛。＂
323SoonthatdayGideonwascalledJerubbaal,becauseofthewords,＂LetBaaltakeactionagainsthim,sincehedestroyedhisaltar.＂
因此当天人就称基德红为＂耶鲁巴耳，＂好象说：＂让巴耳与他争辩，因为基德红拆毁了他的祭坛。＂
33ThenallMidianandAmalekandtheKedemitesmusteredandcrossedoverintothevalleyofJezreel,wheretheyencamped.
那时，米德杨、阿玛肋克和东方子民都聚集起来，过了河，在依次勒耳平原安了营。
34ThespiritoftheLORDenvelopedGideon;heblewthehornthatsummonedAbiezertofollowhim.
上主的神充满了基德红，他一吹号角，阿彼厄则尔人便应召前来跟随他；
35Hesentmessengers,too,throughoutManasseh,whichalsoobeyedhissummons;throughAsher,ZebulunandNaphtali,likewise,hesentmessengersandthesetribesadvancedtomeettheothers.
他又打发使者走遍默纳协，默纳协人也应召前来跟随他；他又打发使者往阿协尔、则步隆和纳斐塔里去，他们也都上来与他们会合。
36GideonsaidtoGod,＂IfindeedyouaregoingtosaveIsraelthroughme,asyoupromised,
基德红就对天主说：＂如果你按你所说的，真要借着我的手拯救以色列，
37Iamputtingthiswoolenfleeceonthethreshingfloor.Ifdewcomesonthefleecealone,whileallthegroundisdry,IshallknowthatyouwillsaveIsraelthroughme,asyoupromised.＂
看我将剪下的一把羊毛放在禾场上，若露水单单落在羊毛上，而遍地都是干的，那么我便晓得，如你所说的，你真要藉我的手拯救以色列。＂
38Thatiswhattookplace.Earlythenextmorninghewrungthedewfromthefleece,squeezingoutofitabowlfulofwater.
次日清早起来，果然如此，基德红把羊毛一拧，从羊毛里拧出一碗露水。
39GideonthensaidtoGod,＂DonotbeangrywithmeifIspeakoncemore.Letmemakejustonemoretestwiththefleece.Letthefleecealonebedry,butlettherebedewonalltheground.＂
基德红又向天主说：＂如果我再说一次，求你别对我发怒！请让我用这羊毛再试一次：单单羊毛是干的，而遍地都是露水。＂
40ThatnightGoddidso;thefleecealonewasdry,buttherewasdewonalltheground.
那一夜天主果然这样作了，单单羊毛是干的，而遍地都是露水。
PreviousChapterNextChapter
Footnotes(注解)
1[24]Yahweh-shalom:Hebrewfor＂theLORDispeace,＂areferencetotheLORD'swords,＂Becalm,＂literally,＂Peacebetoyou!＂
2[25]Thesacredpole:seenoteonExodus34:13.
3[32]Jerubbaal:similarinsoundtotheHebrewwordsmeaning,＂LetBaaltakeaction.＂