Numbers 17

1 And the LORD said to Moses,

1 耶和華對摩西說：

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 「你曉諭以色列人，從他們手下取杖，每支派一根；從他們所有的首領，按着支派，共取十二根。你要將各人的名字寫在各人的杖上，

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

3 並要將亞倫的名字寫在利未的杖上，因為各族長必有一根杖。

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

4 你要把這些杖存在會幕內法櫃前，就是我與你們相會之處。

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 後來我所揀選的那人，他的杖必發芽。這樣，我必使以色列人向你們所發的怨言止息，不再達到我耳中。」

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 於是摩西曉諭以色列人，他們的首領就把杖交給他，按着支派，每首領一根，共有十二根；亞倫的杖也在其中。

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

7 摩西就把杖存在法櫃的帳幕內，在耶和華面前。

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，摩西進法櫃的帳幕去。誰知利未族亞倫的杖已經發了芽，生了花苞，開了花，結了熟杏。

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 摩西就把所有的杖從耶和華面前拿出來，給以色列眾人看；他們看見了，各首領就把自己的杖拿去。

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 耶和華吩咐摩西說：「把亞倫的杖還放在法櫃前，給這些背叛之子留作記號。這樣，你就使他們向我發的怨言止息，免得他們死亡。」

11 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

11 摩西就這樣行。耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就怎樣行了。

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

12 以色列人對摩西說：「我們死啦！我們滅亡啦！都滅亡啦！

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

13 凡挨近耶和華帳幕的是必死的。我們都要死亡嗎？」