Joshua 3

1 Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.

1 约书亚清早起来，率领全体以色列人离开什亭，来到约旦河边安营，等候过河。

2 After three days the officers went through the camp

2 过了三天，官长走遍各营，吩咐民众说：

3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.

3 “你们看见做祭司的利未人抬着你们上帝耶和华的约柜出发时，就要起身跟在后面。

4 But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

4 这样，你们就会知道路，因为你们从来没有走过这条路。但你们要跟约柜保持九百米的距离，不要走近约柜。”

5 Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

5 约书亚又对民众说：“你们要洁净自己，因为明天耶和华要在你们当中行奇事。”

6 And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

6 约书亚又对祭司说：“抬起约柜，率领民众过河吧！”他们就抬起约柜，走在民众前面。

7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.

7 耶和华对约书亚说：“从今天开始，我要使你在以色列人面前得到尊荣，让他们知道我与你同在，正如从前我跟摩西同在一样。

8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the waters, stand in the Jordan.’”

8 你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司走到约旦河边，站在水中。”

9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”

9 约书亚对以色列人说：“你们要来听你们的上帝耶和华的话。

10 He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

10 今天你们会明白永活的上帝就在你们当中，祂必在你们面前赶走迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亚摩利人和耶布斯人。

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.

11 看啊，天下之主的约柜要在你们前面过约旦河。

12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.

12 现在，你们要从以色列的十二支派中选出十二个人来，每支派选一人。

13 When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.”

13 当祭司抬着天下之主耶和华的约柜一踏进约旦河，往下流的河水必止住，形成一道水堤。”

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.

14–15 那时是收割的季节，河水高涨，淹没两岸。民众拔营准备过河，抬约柜的祭司走在前头。祭司的脚刚一踏进河水，

15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,

16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

16 往下流的水立刻止住了，在很远的撒拉但附近的亚当城那里涨成一道水墙。流入亚拉巴海，即盐海的水完全被截断了，民众便走到对面的耶利哥。

17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

17 以色列人过河的时候，抬耶和华约柜的祭司站在河中间的干地上，直到所有人都从干地上过了约旦河。