| 戶籍紀 |
Numbers |
| 1以色列子民再起程出發，在約但東邊的摩阿布曠野中，對着耶里哥城紮了營。 |
1 Then the Israelites moved on and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jericho stretch of the Jordan. |
| 2漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，見了以色列對阿摩黎人所做的一切； |
2Now Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel did to the Amorites. |
| 3摩阿布人十分怕這民族，因為他們眾多；摩阿布人對以色列子民大起恐慌， |
3Indeed, Moab feared the Israelites greatly because of their numbers, and detested them. |
| 4於是對米德楊的長老說：「現在這群人要吞併我們四周的一切，有如牛吃盡田間的青草。」漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，其時正是摩阿布的君王， |
4So Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Soon this horde will devour all the country around us as an ox devours the grass of the field." And Balak, Zippor's son, who was king of Moab at that time, |
| 5遂遣使者往幼發拉的河阿瑪伍人之地的培托爾去，見貝敖爾的兒子巴郎，請他說：「看，由埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現今正住在我的對面。 |
5sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pethor on the Euphrates, in the land of the Amawites, summoning him with these words, "A people has come here from Egypt who now cover the face of the earth and are settling down opposite us! |
| 6現在請你來，替我咒罵這民族，因為他們比我強大，或許這樣我能將他們擊敗，從此地趕走；因為我知道，你祝福的，必蒙祝福；你咒罵的，必蒙咒罵。」 |
6 Please come and curse this people for us; they are stronger than we are. We may then be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed and whoever you curse is cursed." |
| 7摩阿布和米德楊的長老於是帶着卜金去了；到了巴郎那裏，將巴拉克的話告訴了他。 |
7Then the elders of Moab and of Midian left with the divination fee in hand and went to Balaam. When they had given him Balak's message, |
| 8他回答他們說：「今夜你們在這裏過夜，我要依照上主吩咐我的話答覆你們。」這樣，摩阿布的縉紳就在巴郎那裏住下了。 |
8he said to them in reply, "Stay here overnight, and I will give you whatever answer the LORD gives me." So the princes of Moab lodged with Balaam. |
| 9天主來到巴郎那裏說：「與你在一起的是些什麼人？」 |
9Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men visiting you?" |
| 10巴郎答覆天主說：「是摩阿布的君王，漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克，打發些人來告訴我說： |
10Balaam answered God, "Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me the message: |
| 11看從埃及來了一個民族，遮蓋了地面，現在請你來替我咒罵他們，使我或許能與他們交戰，將他們驅逐。」 |
11'This people that came here from Egypt now cover the face of the earth. Please come and lay a curse on them for us; we may then be able to give them battle and drive them out.'" |
| 12天主對巴郎說：「你不可與他們同去，你不可咒罵這民族，因為他們是受祝福的。」 |
12But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them and do not curse this people, for they are blessed." |
| 13巴郎早晨起來就對巴拉克的縉紳說：「你們回本國去罷！因為上主不許我同你們一起去。」 |
13The next morning Balaam arose and told the princes of Balak, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
| 14摩阿布的縉紳就起身回到巴拉克那裏說：「巴郎不願同我們一起來。」 |
14So the princes of Moab went back to Balak with the report, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
| 15巴拉克於是又派比以前更多更尊貴的縉紳去。 |
15Balak again sent princes, who were more numerous and more distinguished than the others. |
| 16他們去見巴郎，對他說：「漆頗爾的兒子巴拉克這樣說：請你不要推辭到我這裏來， |
16On coming to Balaam they told him, "This is what Balak, son of Zippor, has to say: Please do not refuse to come to me. |
| 17因為我必豐富地酬謝你。凡你要的，我都照辦；只要你前來，替我咒罵這民族。」 |
17I will reward you very handsomely and will do anything you ask of me. Please come and lay a curse on this people for me." |
| 18巴郎答覆巴拉克的使臣說：「即使巴拉克給我滿屋的金銀，我也不能做任何大小的事，違犯上主我天主的命令。 |
18But Balaam replied to Balak's officials, "Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD, my God. |
| 19現在，請你們今夜也在這裏住下，看看上主還要對我說什麼。」 |
19But, you too shall stay here overnight, till I learn what else the LORD may tell me." |
| 20夜間天主來到巴郎那裏，對他說：「這些人既然來邀請你，你就起身同他們去罷！但是你只應做我吩咐你的事。」 |
20That night God came to Balaam and said to him, "If these men have come to summon you, you may go with them; yet only on the condition that you do exactly as I tell you." |
| 21巴郎早晨起來，備好驢，就同摩阿布的縉紳一起去了。 |
21So the next morning when Balaam arose, he saddled his ass, and went off with the princes of Moab. |
| 22因為他起身走了，天主發了怒；上主的使者在路上擋住他的去路。當時他騎着驢，還有兩個童僕跟着。 |
22 But now the anger of God flared up at him for going, and the angel of the LORD stationed himself on the road to hinder him as he was riding along on his ass, accompanied by two of his servants. |
| 23那驢一看見上主的使者，持着拔出的刀站在路上，就離開正路，走入田中去了。巴郎便打那驢，要牠回到路上。 |
23When the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing on the road with sword drawn, she turned off the road and went into the field, and Balaam had to beat her to bring her back on the road. |
| 24以後，上主的使者又站在葡萄園間的窄路上，兩面有牆。 |
24Then the angel of the LORD took his stand in a narrow lane between vineyards with a stone wall on each side. |
| 25那驢一見上主的使者，就緊靠着牆，將巴郎的腳擠在牆上，他又打了那驢。 |
25When the ass saw the angel of the LORD there, she shrank against the wall; and since she squeezed Balaam's leg against it, he beat her again. |
| 26上主的使者又往前行，站在窄狹的地方，左右無路可走， |
26The angel of the LORD then went ahead, and stopped next in a passage so narrow that there was no room to move either to the right or to the left. |
| 27那驢又見上主的使者，遂趴在巴郎下；巴郎大怒，用棍杖打那驢。 |
27When the ass saw the angel of the LORD there, she cowered under Balaam. So, in anger, he again beat the ass with his stick. |
| 28上主遂開了驢的口，對巴郎說：「我對你作了什麼？你竟三次打我？」 |
28But now the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she asked Balaam, "What have I done to you that you should beat me these three times?" |
| 29巴郎回答那驢說：「因為你玩弄我。我若手中有刀，早殺了你。」 |
29"You have acted so willfully against me," said Balaam to the ass, "that if I but had a sword at hand, I would kill you here and now." |
| 30那驢對巴郎說：「我不是你從起初直到今日所騎的驢嗎？平常我是否對你這樣做？」他回答說：「不」。 |
30But the ass said to Balaam, "Am I not your own beast, and have you not always ridden upon me until now? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way before?" "No," replied Balaam. |
| 31上主遂開了巴郎的眼，使他看見上主的使者，手持拔出的刀站在路上，他就躬身俯伏在地。 |
31Then the LORD removed the veil from Balaam's eyes, so that he too saw the angel of the LORD standing on the road with sword drawn; and he fell on his knees and bowed to the ground. |
| 32上主的使者對他說：「你為什麼三次打你的驢？看，是我出來擋路，因為你走的這路，在我面前是邪路。 |
32But the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you beaten your ass these three times? It is I who have come armed to hinder you because this rash journey of yours is directly opposed to me. |
| 33驢看見了我，就在我面前迴避了三次；幸虧牠迴避了我，不然我早殺了你，只留下了牠。」 |
33When the ass saw me, she turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you; her I would have spared." |
| 34巴郎於是對上主的使者說：「我犯了罪，因為我不知道是你站在路上攔阻我。現在，如果你以為不對，我就回去好了。」 |
34Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. Yet I did not know that you stood against me to oppose my journey. Since it has displeased you, I will go back home." |
| 35上主的使者對巴郎說；「你同這些人去罷！但是你只應說我吩咐你的話。」巴郎於是同巴拉克的縉紳一起去了。 |
35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but you may say only what I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak. |
| 36巴拉克聽說巴郎來了，就到阿爾摩阿布──此城臨近阿爾農河邊，在國界的盡頭，──去迎接他。 |
36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the boundary city Ir-Moab on the Arnon at the end of the Moabite territory. |
| 37巴拉克對巴郎說：「我不是派遣了使者去請你？你為什麼不到我這裏來，莫非我不能酬報你？」 |
37And he said to Balaam, "I sent an urgent summons to you! Why did you not come to me? Did you think I could not reward you?" |
| 38巴郎答覆巴拉克說：「看，我已到你這裏來了，但我能隨便說什麼嗎？我只能說天主吩咐我說的話。」 |
38Balaam answered him, "Well, I have come to you after all. But what power have I to say anything? I can speak only what God puts in my mouth." |
| 39巴郎遂同巴拉克起身，來到了克黎雅特胡祚特。 |
39Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. |
| 40巴拉克祭殺了牛羊，餽送給巴郎和同他在一起的縉紳。 |
40Here Balak slaughtered oxen and sheep, and sent portions to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. |
| 41到了次日早晨，巴拉克領巴郎上了巴摩特巴耳去，從那裏能看到一部分以色列人民。 |
41The next morning Balak took Balaam up on Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw some of the clans. |
