约书亚记 9
1 约旦河西，住山地、高原，并对着黎巴嫩山沿大海一带的诸王，就是赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的诸王，听见这事，
Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites—
2 就都聚集，同心合意地要与约书亚和以色列人争战。
these joined together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3 基遍的居民听见约书亚向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 就设诡计，假充使者，拿旧口袋和破裂缝补的旧皮酒袋驮在驴上，
they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired.
5 将补过的旧鞋穿在脚上，把旧衣服穿在身上；他们所带的饼都是干的，长了霉了。
They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy.
6 他们到吉甲营中见约书亚，对他和以色列人说：“我们是从远方来的，现在求你与我们立约。”
Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant with us.”
7 以色列人对这些希未人说：“只怕你们是住在我们中间的；若是这样，怎能和你们立约呢？”
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?”
8 他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的仆人。”约书亚问他们说：“你们是什么人？是从哪里来的？”
They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where did you come from?”
9 他们回答说：“仆人从极远之地而来，是因听见耶和华—你 神的名声和他在埃及所行的一切事，
They said to him, “Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the name of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything that he did in Egypt—
10 并他向约旦河东的两个亚摩利王，就是希实本王西宏和在亚斯他录的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
and everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
11 我们的长老和我们那地的一切居民对我们说：‘你们手里要带着路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，对他们说：我们是你们的仆人；现在求你们与我们立约。’
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Make a treaty with us.”
12 我们出来要往你们这里来的日子，从家里带出来的这饼还是热的；看哪，现在都干了，长了霉了。
This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy.
13 这皮酒袋，我们盛酒的时候还是新的；看哪，现在已经破裂。我们这衣服和鞋，因为道路甚远，也都穿旧了。”
These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn-out from a very long journey.'”
14 以色列人受了他们些食物，并没有求问耶和华。
So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance.
15 于是约书亚与他们讲和，与他们立约，容他们活着；会众的首领也向他们起誓。
Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also made a vow to them.
16 以色列人与他们立约之后，过了三天才听见他们是近邻，住在以色列人中间的。
Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.
17 以色列人起行，第三天到了他们的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比录、基列·耶琳。
Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
18 因为会众的首领已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，所以以色列人不击杀他们；全会众就向首领发怨言。
The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the Israelites were grumbling against their leaders.
19 众首领对全会众说：“我们已经指着耶和华—以色列的 神向他们起誓，现在我们不能害他们。
But all the leaders said to all the people, “We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.
20 我们要如此待他们，容他们活着，免得有忿怒因我们所起的誓临到我们身上。”
This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live.”
21 首领又对会众说：“要容他们活着。”于是他们为全会众作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首领对他们所说的话。
The leaders said to their people, “Let them live.” So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.
22 约书亚召了他们来，对他们说：“为什么欺哄我们说‘我们离你们甚远’呢？其实你们是住在我们中间。
Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?
23 现在你们是被咒诅的！你们中间的人必断不了作奴仆，为我 神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。”
Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God.”
24 他们回答约书亚说：“因为有人实在告诉你的仆人，耶和华—你的 神曾吩咐他的仆人摩西，把这全地赐给你们，并在你们面前灭绝这地的一切居民，所以我们为你们的缘故甚怕丧命，就行了这事。
They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.
25 现在我们在你手中，你以怎样待我们为善为正，就怎样做吧！”
Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it.”
26 于是约书亚这样待他们，救他们脱离以色列人的手，以色列人就没有杀他们。
So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the Israelites did not kill them.
27 当日约书亚使他们在耶和华所要选择的地方，为会众和耶和华的坛作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。
That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.
