Numbers 17

1 And the LORD said to Moses,

1 耶和华对摩西说：

2 “Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

2 “你要吩咐以色列人从每个支派的首领那里拿一根杖来，共十二根，你要在上面写上他们各人的名字。

3 and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

3 你要把亚伦的名字写在利未支派的杖上，每个支派的首领都要有一根杖。

4 Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.

4 你要把这些杖放在会幕内的约柜前，就是我跟你会面的地方。

5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

5 谁的杖发芽，谁就是我所拣选的人。这样，我必消除以色列人对你们的埋怨。”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.

6 于是，摩西吩咐以色列每个支派的首领把杖都交给他，共十二根，亚伦的杖也在其中。

7 Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

7 摩西把杖放在放约柜的圣幕里、耶和华面前。

8 The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.

8 第二天，摩西进入约柜所在的圣幕里，看见利未支派亚伦的杖不单发了芽，长了花蕾，还开了花，结出熟杏。

9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

9 摩西就从耶和华面前拿出所有的杖，给以色列人看。他们看后，各位首领便取回自己的杖。

10 The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

10 耶和华对摩西说：“把亚伦的杖放回约柜前，让叛逆之徒引以为戒。这样，你就可以平息他们对我的怨言，使他们不致灭亡。”

11 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

11 摩西照耶和华的吩咐行了。

12 Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!

12 以色列人对摩西说：“完了！我们死定了！我们全死定了！

13 Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

13 凡走近耶和华圣幕的都要死。我们全都要灭亡吗？”