Joshua 9

1 Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

1 住在约旦河西的山区、丘陵以及地中海沿岸、远至黎巴嫩的诸王，就是那些赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人的王听说这件事，

2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

2 就联合起来对抗约书亚和以色列人。

3 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

3 基遍的居民听说约书亚在耶利哥和艾城所做的事，

4 acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

4 便想出一个诡计来。他们装作特使，把旧皮袋和缝补过的酒囊驮在驴背上，

5 They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

5 穿着缝补过的旧鞋和破烂衣服，带着又干又发霉的饼，

6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

6 到吉甲营去见约书亚。他们对约书亚和以色列人说：“我们从很远的地方来，求你们跟我们缔结盟约。”

7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

7 以色列人对这些希未人说：“你们也许就住在附近。我们怎么能跟你们缔结盟约呢？”

8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

8 他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的奴仆。”约书亚说：“你们是什么人？从哪里来？”

9 “Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

9 他们答道：“仆人们因为你的上帝耶和华的大名，才从很远的地方来。我们听说了祂在埃及的一切作为，

10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

10 以及祂怎样对付约旦河东的两个亚摩利王——希实本王西宏和亚斯她录的巴珊王噩。

11 So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

11 我们的长老和民众就派我们带着干粮来迎接你们，甘做你们的仆人，希望跟你们缔结盟约。

12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But look, it is now dry and moldy.

12 我们出来的时候带的饼是热的，看啊，现在又干又发霉了。

13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

13 这些皮酒囊原来也是新的，但现在已经破了。因为长途跋涉，我们的衣服和鞋也都破旧不堪了。”

14 Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.

14 以色列人接受了他们的食物，却没有求问耶和华。

15 And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

15 约书亚与他们立了和平盟约，容他们存活，会众的首领也向他们起誓守约。

16 Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.

16 立约三天后，以色列人才得知他们原来是邻居，就住在附近。

17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

17 以色列人启程，走了三天来到他们居住的基遍、基非拉、比录和基列·耶琳各城。

18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

18 会众的首领曾凭以色列的上帝耶和华向他们起过誓，所以不能杀他们。全体会众因此向首领大发怨言。

19 All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

19 首领便对全体会众说：“我们曾凭以色列的上帝耶和华向他们起誓，我们现在不能动他们。

20 This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

20 我们要容他们存活，免得我们因违背誓言而惹耶和华发怒。”

21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

21 首领又说：“就容他们存活吧。”首领就叫他们为全体会众劈柴挑水。

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

22 于是，约书亚召来他们，对他们说：“你们为什么要欺骗我们，说你们住得很远？其实你们就住在附近。

23 Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

23 因此，你们是受咒诅的。你们要永远做奴仆，为我上帝的殿劈柴挑水。”

24 The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.

24 他们答道：“仆人们这样做是因为害怕丧命。我们确实听说你的上帝耶和华曾经应许祂仆人摩西，要把这整片土地都赐给你们，并从你们面前将这里的居民杀尽。

25 Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

25 现在我们既然落在你的手中，你们想怎样对待我们就怎样对待吧。”

26 So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.

26 约书亚不让以色列人加害他们，因此他们没有被杀死。

27 On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.

27 那天，约书亚让他们在耶和华指定的地方，为会众和耶和华的祭坛劈柴挑水。他们至今仍做这样的工作。