Judges 9

1 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,

1 耶路·巴力的儿子亚比米勒去示剑的舅舅家，对外祖父全家说：

2 “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.”

2 “请你们去问示剑人，耶路·巴力的七十个儿子统治他们好呢，还是一个人统治他们好呢？别忘记我是你们的骨肉至亲。”

3 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.”

3 他们便将他的话转告示剑人。示剑人因为亚比米勒是他们的亲戚，都拥护他，

4 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.

4 从巴力·比利土的庙里拿了七十块银子给他。他用这些钱收买了一班无赖做随从。

5 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.

5 他前往俄弗拉，来到他父亲家，在一块磐石上杀死了他七十个同父异母的兄弟，只有耶路·巴力的小儿子约坦躲了起来，幸免于难。

6 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.

6 示剑和米罗的人都聚集到示剑石柱旁的橡树下，拥立亚比米勒为王。

7 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.

7 约坦听见这消息，便上到基利心山顶，高喊：“示剑人啊，你们要听我说，这样上帝也会听你们说。

8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

8 从前，树木要选一个王，它们对橄榄树说，‘你来做我们的王。’

9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

9 橄榄树说，‘我怎能因为贪图凌驾于众树之上而停止出产用来尊崇神明与人的橄榄油呢？’

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

10 树木对无花果树说，‘你来做我们的王。’

11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

11 无花果树说，‘我怎能因为贪图凌驾于众树之上而停止出产甜美的果子呢？’

12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

12 于是，树木对葡萄树说，‘你来做我们的王。’

13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

13 葡萄树说，‘我怎能因为贪图凌驾于众树之上而停止出产令神明和世人都快乐的美酒呢？’

14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

14 最后，所有的树木都对荆棘说，‘你来做我们的王。’

15 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.’

15 荆棘回答说，‘你们如果诚心立我为你们的王，就投靠在我的荫下吧；不然，愿火从荆棘中冒出来吞噬黎巴嫩的香柏树。’

16 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—

16 “现在你们立亚比米勒为王，光明正大吗？你们有没有善待耶路·巴力和他一家？有没有按他的功绩对待他？

17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

17 你们想想，从前我父亲为你们出生入死，从米甸人手中拯救你们。

18 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—

18 现在你们却背叛我父亲家，在一块磐石上杀死他七十个儿子。因为他婢女的儿子亚比米勒是你们的亲戚，你们就立亚比米勒为示剑居民的王。

19 if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

19 如果你们光明正大地对待了耶路·巴力一家，愿你们给亚比米勒带来快乐，也愿亚比米勒给你们带来快乐。

20 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.”

20 否则，愿亚比米勒烧灭你们示剑人和米罗人，也愿你们示剑人和米罗人烧灭亚比米勒。”

21 Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

21 约坦因惧怕他的兄弟亚比米勒，就逃往比珥居住。

22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

22 亚比米勒治理以色列三年后，

23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

23 上帝派遣一个邪灵挑起亚比米勒和示剑人之间的争端，示剑人用诡诈的手段对待亚比米勒。

24 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.

24 这是要惩罚亚比米勒和帮他残杀耶路·巴力七十个儿子的示剑人。

25 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.

25 示剑人在山顶设下埋伏，等候亚比米勒，他们抢劫所有过路的行人。有人把这事告诉了亚比米勒。

26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

26 以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄来到示剑，示剑人都信任他们。

27 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.

27 示剑人出城到田间采摘葡萄，踩榨葡萄汁，然后在他们的神庙中欢宴，尽情吃喝，咒诅亚比米勒。

28 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?

28 以别的儿子迦勒说：“亚比米勒是谁？我们示剑人是谁，竟要服侍他？他不就是耶路·巴力的儿子吗？他的帮手不就是西布勒吗？我们为什么要服侍他？你们要服侍示剑人祖先哈抹的后代。

29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

29 要是这百姓归我领导就好了！我会除掉亚比米勒，我会挑战他召集全军来战 。”

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

30 示剑城的官长西布勒听见以别的儿子迦勒的话，勃然大怒，

31 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.

31 暗中派人对亚比米勒说：“以别的儿子迦勒和他的弟兄已经到了示剑，正在煽动全城反对你。

32 Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.

32 请你晚上带着部下埋伏在田间，

33 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.”

33 清晨日出时攻城。迦勒带着部下出来应战时，你便可以见机行事。”

34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

34 于是，亚比米勒带领军队夜间出发，兵分四路埋伏在示剑城外。

35 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.

35 早晨，以别的儿子迦勒出来站在城门口时，亚比米勒带领部下从埋伏的地方冲了出来。

36 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.”

36 迦勒看见他们，便对西布勒说：“看！有人正从山顶下来。”西布勒说：“你把山影看成人了吧。”

37 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.”

37 迦勒说：“看！有人正从山上下来，还有一队人正从占卜橡树那边的路上奔来。”

38 “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!”

38 西布勒说：“你的豪气哪里去了？你曾说，‘亚比米勒是谁，我们竟要服侍他？’这些不就是你讥笑的人吗？出去迎战吧！”

39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

39 于是，迦勒率领示剑人出城迎战亚比米勒。

40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

40 迦勒败逃，亚比米勒紧追不舍，沿途有许多人受伤倒在地上，一直到城门口。

41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

41 之后，亚比米勒住在亚鲁玛，西布勒把迦勒和他的弟兄逐出示剑。

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

42 第二天，示剑人出城来到田间。亚比米勒得知后，

43 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.

43 把部下兵分三队，埋伏在田间，等城里的人出来时，伏击他们。

44 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.

44 亚比米勒率领一队人冲到示剑的城门口，截断示剑人的退路，其他两队击杀田间的示剑人。

45 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.

45 亚比米勒鏖战一天，攻陷了示剑城，杀了城内的居民，把整座城夷为平地，还撒上了盐。

46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

46 示剑楼的人听到风声，躲进了伊勒·比利土神庙的内堂。

47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

47 亚比米勒得知他们都聚在那里后，

48 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.”

48 便领兵上撒们山用斧头砍下树枝，扛在肩上，并命令部下赶紧照做。

49 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.

49 他们都砍下树枝，跟着亚比米勒把树枝堆在神庙内堂的四周，放火烧死了示剑楼里所有的人，男女约一千人。

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

50 随后，亚比米勒去围攻提备斯，占领了该城。

51 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.

51 全城的人连男带女都逃进城中一座坚固的城楼内，锁上大门，爬上楼顶。

52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

52 亚比米勒攻打城楼，走到城楼门口正准备放火时，

53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

53 有个妇人扔下一块磨石，砸烂了他的头。

54 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.

54 亚比米勒连忙对为他拿兵器的年轻人说：“拔刀杀了我吧，免得人们说，‘一位妇人杀了他。’”于是，那年轻人刺死了他。

55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

55 以色列人见亚比米勒已死，便各自回家了。

56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

56 上帝就这样使亚比米勒得到了报应，因为他残杀了自己的七十个兄弟，

57 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.

57 上帝也让示剑人因自己的一切恶行而得到了报应。耶路·巴力的儿子约坦的咒诅临到了他们。