Joshua 9
1 When all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it
約旦河西，住山地、高原，並對着黎巴嫩山沿大海一帶的諸王，就是赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的諸王，聽見這事，
2 they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
就都聚集，同心合意地要與約書亞和以色列人爭戰。
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
基遍的居民聽見約書亞向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
4 they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and old, torn-up and bound up wine skins,
就設詭計，假充使者，拿舊口袋和破裂縫補的舊皮酒袋馱在驢上，
5 and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
將補過的舊鞋穿在腳上，把舊衣服穿在身上；他們所帶的餅都是乾的，長了霉了。
6 They went to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us.”
他們到吉甲營中見約書亞，對他和以色列人說：「我們是從遠方來的，現在求你與我們立約。」
7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “What if you live among us? How could we make a covenant with you?”
以色列人對這些希未人說：「只怕你們是住在我們中間的；若是這樣，怎能和你們立約呢？」
8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”
他們對約書亞說：「我們是你的僕人。」約書亞問他們說：「你們是甚麼人？是從哪裏來的？」
9 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of his fame, all that he did in Egypt,
他們回答說：「僕人從極遠之地而來，是因聽見耶和華－你上帝的名聲和他在埃及所行的一切事，
10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
並他向約旦河東的兩個亞摩利王，就是希實本王西宏和在亞斯他錄的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
11 Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take supplies in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them. Tell them, “We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us.”’
我們的長老和我們那地的一切居民對我們說：『你們手裏要帶着路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，對他們說：我們是你們的僕人；現在求你們與我們立約。』
12 This our bread we took hot for our supplies out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.
我們出來要往你們這裏來的日子，從家裏帶出來的這餅還是熱的；看哪，現在都乾了，長了霉了。
13 These wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
這皮酒袋，我們盛酒的時候還是新的；看哪，現在已經破裂。我們這衣服和鞋，因為道路甚遠，也都穿舊了。」
14 The men sampled their provisions, and did not ask counsel from the LORD’s mouth.
以色列人受了他們些食物，並沒有求問耶和華。
15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.
於是約書亞與他們講和，與他們立約，容他們活着；會眾的首領也向他們起誓。
16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
以色列人與他們立約之後，過了三天才聽見他們是近鄰，住在以色列人中間的。
17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
以色列人起行，第三天到了他們的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比錄、基列‧耶琳。
18 The children of Israel did not strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
因為會眾的首領已經指着耶和華－以色列的上帝向他們起誓，所以以色列人不擊殺他們；全會眾就向首領發怨言。
19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Now therefore we may not touch them.
眾首領對全會眾說：「我們已經指着耶和華－以色列的上帝向他們起誓，現在我們不能害他們。
20 We will do this to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.”
我們要如此待他們，容他們活着，免得有忿怒因我們所起的誓臨到我們身上。」
21 The princes said to them, “Let them live.” So they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
首領又對會眾說：「要容他們活着。」於是他們為全會眾作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首領對他們所說的話。
22 Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you live among us?
約書亞召了他們來，對他們說：「為甚麼欺哄我們說『我們離你們甚遠』呢？其實你們是住在我們中間。
23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be slaves, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
現在你們是被咒詛的！你們中間的人必斷不了作奴僕，為我上帝的殿作劈柴挑水的人。」
24 They answered Joshua, and said, “Because your servants were certainly told how the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
他們回答約書亞說：「因為有人實在告訴你的僕人，耶和華－你的上帝曾吩咐他的僕人摩西，把這全地賜給你們，並在你們面前滅絕這地的一切居民，所以我們為你們的緣故甚怕喪命，就行了這事。
25 Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
現在我們在你手中，你以怎樣待我們為善為正，就怎樣做吧！」
26 He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.
於是約書亞這樣待他們，救他們脫離以色列人的手，以色列人就沒有殺他們。
27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the LORD’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.
當日約書亞使他們在耶和華所要選擇的地方，為會眾和耶和華的壇作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。
