Joshua 4

1 And when they had crossed over, the Lord said to Joshua:

國民盡都過了約旦河，耶和華就對約書亞說：

2 “Choose twelve men, one from each tribe,

「你從民中要揀選十二個人，每支派一人，

3 and instruct them so that they may take from the midst of the channel of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood still, twelve very hard stones, which you shall station in the place of the camp, where you will pitch your tents this night.”

吩咐他們說：『你們從這裏，從約旦河中、祭司腳站定的地方，取十二塊石頭帶過去，放在你們今夜要住宿的地方。』」

4 And Joshua called twelve men, whom he had chosen from the sons of Israel, one from each tribe,

於是，約書亞將他從以色列人中所預備的那十二個人，每支派一人，都召了來。

5 and he said to them: “Go before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and let each one carry from there one stone on your shoulders, according to the number of the sons of Israel,

對他們說：「你們下約旦河中，過到耶和華－你們上帝的約櫃前頭，按着以色列人十二支派的數目，每人取一塊石頭扛在肩上。

6 so that it may be a sign among you. And when your sons will ask you, tomorrow, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’

這些石頭在你們中間可以作為證據。日後，你們的子孫問你們說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』

7 you shall respond to them: ‘The waters of the Jordan failed before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when the ark crossed over it. For this reason, these stones were placed as a monument for the sons of Israel, even forever.’”

你們就對他們說：『這是因為約旦河的水在耶和華的約櫃前斷絕；約櫃過約旦河的時候，約旦河的水就斷絕了。這些石頭要作以色列人永遠的紀念。』」

8 Therefore, the sons of Israel did as Joshua instructed them, carrying twelve stones from the midst of the channel of the Jordan, just as the Lord had ordered him, according to the number of the sons of Israel, as far as the place where they made camp, and there they stationed them.

以色列人就照約書亞所吩咐的，按着以色列人支派的數目，從約旦河中取了十二塊石頭，都遵耶和華所吩咐約書亞的行了。他們把石頭帶過去，到他們所住宿的地方，就放在那裏。

9 Similarly, Joshua positioned another twelve stones in the middle of the channel of the Jordan, where the priests stood who were carrying the ark of the covenant; and they are there, even to the present day.

約書亞另把十二塊石頭立在約旦河中，在抬約櫃的祭司腳站立的地方；直到今日，那石頭還在那裏。

10 Now the priests who were carrying the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was accomplished which the Lord had instructed Joshua to speak to the people and which Moses had said to him. And the people hurried, and they passed over.

抬約櫃的祭司站在約旦河中，等到耶和華曉諭約書亞吩咐百姓的事辦完了，是照摩西所吩咐約書亞的一切話。 於是百姓急速過去了。

11 And when they had all crossed, the ark of the Lord also crossed, and the priests advanced before the people.

眾百姓盡都過了河，耶和華的約櫃和祭司就在百姓面前過去。

12 Likewise, the sons of Reuben, and of Gad, and of the one half tribe of Manasseh advanced with weapons before the sons of Israel, just as Moses had instructed them.

呂便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人都照摩西所吩咐他們的，帶着兵器在以色列人前頭過去。

13 And forty thousand fighters, by companies and divisions, advanced through the plains and fields of the city of Jericho.

約有四萬人都準備打仗，在耶和華面前過去，到耶利哥的平原，等候上陣。

14 In that day, the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, so that they would fear him, just as they had feared Moses while he lived.

當那日，耶和華使約書亞在以色列眾人眼前尊大。在他平生的日子，百姓敬畏他，像從前敬畏摩西一樣。

15 And he said to him,

耶和華曉諭約書亞說：

16 “Command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant to ascend from the Jordan.”

「你吩咐抬法櫃的祭司從約旦河裏上來。」

17 And he commanded them, saying, “Ascend from the Jordan.”

約書亞就吩咐祭司說：「你們從約旦河裏上來。」

18 And when those who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord had ascended, and they began to step on dry soil, the waters returned to their channel, and they flowed as they usually did before.

抬耶和華約櫃的祭司從約旦河裏上來，腳掌剛落旱地，約旦河的水就流到原處，仍舊漲過兩岸。

19 Now the people ascended from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal, opposite the eastern portion of the city of Jericho.

正月初十日，百姓從約旦河裏上來，就在吉甲，在耶利哥的東邊安營。

20 Likewise, the twelve stones that they had taken up from the channel of the Jordan, Joshua stationed at Gilgal.

他們從約旦河中取來的那十二塊石頭，約書亞就立在吉甲，

21 And he said to the sons of Israel: “When your sons will question their fathers, tomorrow, and they will say to them, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’

對以色列人說：「日後你們的子孫問他們的父親說：『這些石頭是甚麼意思？』

22 you shall teach them, and you shall say: ‘Israel passed over this Jordan, through the dry channel.’

你們就告訴他們說：『以色列人曾走乾地過這約旦河；

23 For the Lord your God dried up its waters in your sight, until you crossed over, just as he had done before, at the Red Sea, which he dried up until we crossed over.

因為耶和華－你們的上帝在你們前面使約旦河的水乾了，等着你們過來，就如耶和華－你們的上帝從前在我們前面使紅海乾了，等着我們過來一樣，

24 So may all the peoples of the earth learn of the very powerful hand of the Lord. So may you also fear the Lord your God for all time.”

要使地上萬民都知道，耶和華的手大有能力，也要使你們永遠敬畏耶和華－你們的上帝。』」