民數記 17
1 上主訓示梅瑟說：
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 「你吩咐以色列子民，叫他們每一家族拿一根棍杖，就是每一個領袖為自己家族拿一根，共十二根棍杖，把各人的名字寫在自己的棍杖上；
"Speak to the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write every man's name on his rod.
3 但在肋未的棍杖上，要寫亞郎的名字，因為為肋未的族長亦應有一根棍杖。
You shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers' houses.
4 你將這些棍放在會幕內，放在約證前，即在我與你常相會的地方。
You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
5 誰約證開花，誰就是我所選擇的人；這樣，我就平息了以色列子民在我面前抱怨你們的怨言」。
It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you."
6 梅瑟於是告訴了以色列子民；他們所有的領袖都交給了他一根棍杖，每一家族中，每個領袖一根，共十二根棍杖；在他們的棍杖中，也有亞郎的棍杖。
Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their leaders gave him rods, one for each leader, according to their ancestral houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7 梅瑟就將棍杖放在約幕內，放在上主面前。
Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.
8 次日，梅瑟進入約幕內，看，肋未家族的亞郎的棍杖發了芽；不但發了芽，並且也開了花，結了成熟的杏。
It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and look, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
9 梅瑟就由上主面前取出所有的棍杖，給以色列子民觀看；以後各人取回了自己的棍杖。
Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
10 上主對梅瑟說：「收回亞郎的棍杖來，放在約證前；給叛逆之徒當作鑑戒，為平息他們對我發的怨言，免得他們死亡」。
The LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die."
11 梅瑟就這樣做了。
Moses did so. As the LORD commanded him, so he did.
12 以色列子民對梅瑟申訴說：「看，我們要死了，我們完了! 我們全完了!
The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "Look, we perish. We are undone. We are all undone.
13 凡接近上主會幕的都該死；我們豈不都該死﹖」
Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, dies. Will we all perish?"
