| 撒慕爾紀下 |
2 Samuel |
| 1當時，在那裏有個敗類，名叫舍巴，是本雅明人彼革黎的兒子。他吹着號，喊說：「我們和達味沒有關係，對葉瑟兒子的產業沒有分子。以色列人！各自回本家罷！」 |
1Now a rebellious individual from Benjamin named Sheba, the son of Bichri, happened to be there. He sounded the horn and cried out, "We have no portion in David, nor any share in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tent, O Israel!" |
| 2因此，眾以色列人離開達味，跟隨了彼革黎的兒子舍巴；但猶大人仍然緊隨他們的君王，由約但河直到了耶路撒冷。 |
2So all the Israelites left David for Sheba, son of Bichri. But from the Jordan to Jerusalem the Judahites remained loyal to their king. |
| 3達味王進了耶路撒冷的宮殿，就將他留下看守宮殿的十個嬪妃，留在禁宮裏，養活她們，卻不再親近她們。她們被禁在冷宮內，一直到死，終身守寡。 |
3When King David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the palace and placed them in confinement. He provided for them, but had no further relations with them. And so they remained in confinement to the day of their death, lifelong widows. |
| 4王對阿瑪撒說：「三天之內，你應給我召集猶大人，你親自也該來到這裏。」 |
4Then the king said to Amasa: "Summon the Judahites for me within three days. Then present yourself here." |
| 5阿瑪撒去召集猶大人，但他遲延耽擱，過了君王給他所定的期限。 |
5Accordingly Amasa set out to summon Judah, but delayed beyond the time set for him by David. |
| 6達味就對阿彼瑟說：「現今彼革黎的兒子舍巴危害我們，恐怕甚於阿貝沙隆。你快領你主人的軍隊去追趕他，免得他佔了設防的城，由我們眼前逃脫。」 |
6Then David said to Abishai: "Sheba, son of Bichri, may now do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities and take shelter while we look on." |
| 7約阿布的部下，革勒提人和培肋提人，以及所有的勇士，都跟阿彼瑟去了。他們由耶路撒冷出發，追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。 |
7So Joab and the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the warriors marched out behind Abishai from Jerusalem to campaign in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri. |
| 8當他們來到基貝紅的大石旁時，阿瑪撒也迎面而來。約阿布身穿戰袍，束着腰帶，腰間掛着一把帶鞘的刀。約阿布的刀出鞘落地。 |
8 They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa met them. Now Joab had a belt over his tunic, from which was slung, in its sheath near his thigh, a sword that could be drawn with a downward movement. |
| 9約阿布對阿瑪撒說：「吾兄，你好？」約阿布遂用右手抓住阿瑪撒的鬍鬚，與他親吻。 |
9And Joab asked Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" With his right hand Joab held Amasa's beard as if to kiss him. |
| 10阿瑪撒沒有提防約阿布手中的刀；約阿布就用刀刺穿了他的肚腹，五臟傾流地上，沒有再刺第二下，他就死了。約阿布與自己的兄弟阿彼瑟，便往前追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。 |
10And since Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Joab's other hand, Joab stabbed him in the abdomen with it, so that his entrails burst forth to the ground, and he died without receiving a second thrust. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri. |
| 11看守阿瑪撒屍首的約阿布的一個兵士喊說：「誰喜愛約阿布，誰屬達味，就跟約阿布去！」 |
11One of Joab's attendants stood by Amasa and said, "Let him who favors Joab and is for David follow Joab." |
| 12阿瑪撒此時臥在路中血泊中，那人見眾人停留不前，就將阿瑪撒的屍首，由路上搬到田裏，上面蓋上一件衣服，因為他見軍人到了那裏，就停在屍首前。 |
12Amasa lay covered with blood in the middle of the highroad, and the man noticed that all the soldiers were stopping. So he removed Amasa from the road to the field and placed a garment over him, because all who came up to him were stopping. |
| 13屍首由路上搬走後，軍人就都過去，跟隨約阿布追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。 |
13When he had been removed from the road, everyone went on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri. |
| 14舍巴走遍了以色列各支派，人都不理他。隨後到了貝特瑪阿加的阿貝耳，眾彼革黎人卻聚集起來，跟隨了他。 |
14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth-maacah. Then all the Bichrites assembled and they too entered the city after him. |
| 15約阿布大軍前來，把他包圍在貝特瑪阿加的阿貝耳內，興築攻城壁壘。跟隨約阿布的大軍遂下手挖城牆，使牆倒塌。 |
15So David's servants came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah. They threw up a mound against the city, and all the soldiers who were with Joab began battering the wall to throw it down. |
| 16當時城中有個聰明的婦人站在城牆上喊說：「請聽！請聽！你們對約阿布說：來這裏，我有話對你說。」 |
16Then a wise woman from the city stood on the outworks and called out, "Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here, that I may speak with him." |
| 17約阿布來到她那裏，婦人便問說：「你是約阿布嗎？」他答說：「我是。」她便對他說：「請你聽你婢女一言！」他答說：「我聽。」 |
17When Joab had come near her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he replied, "Yes." She said to him, "Listen to what your maidservant has to say." He replied. "I am listening." |
| 18她說：「從前有句話說：你去問問阿貝耳，事便可得解決。 |
18 Then she went on to say: "There is an ancient saying, 'Let them ask if they will in Abel |
| 19我在以色列算是一座和平忠厚的城，你卻圖謀消滅一座以色列的母城。為什麼你要吞滅上主的產業？」 |
19or in Dan whether loyalty is finished or ended in Israel.' You are seeking to beat down a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you wish to destroy the inheritance of the LORD?" |
| 20約阿布答說：「決無此事，我決無意消滅或破壞。 |
20Joab answered, "Not at all, not at all! I do not wish to destroy or to ruin anything. |
| 21完全不是這麼一回事；只因厄弗辣因山地的一人，即彼革黎的兒子名叫舍巴的，造反抗拒達味王；只要你們將他交出來，我即撤離這城。」婦人對約阿布說：「請看，他的頭由城牆上拋給你。」 |
21That is not the case at all. A man named Sheba, son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim has rebelled against King David. Surrender him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." Then the woman said to Joab, "His head shall be thrown to you across the wall." |
| 22婦人就去憑自己的智慧勸說眾百姓。他們便砍了彼革黎的兒子舍巴的頭，拋給約阿布。約阿布遂吹起號角，撤兵離城，各自回了本家。約阿布也回了耶路撒冷君王那裏。 |
22She went to all the people with her advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He then sounded the horn, and they scattered from the city to their own tents, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. |
| 23約阿布統率以色列的眾軍隊；約雅達的兒子貝納雅管理革勒提人和培肋提人； |
23Joab was in command of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites. |
| 24阿多蘭管理奴役；阿希路得的兒子約沙法特作御史； |
24Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the chancellor. |
| 25史沙作書記；匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾作司祭； |
25Shawsha was the scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. |
| 26此外，雅提爾人依辣也作達味的司祭。 |
26Ira the Jairite was also David's priest. |
