Numbers 17
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
耶和華對摩西說：
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.
「你曉諭以色列人，從他們手下取杖，每支派一根；從他們所有的首領，按着支派，共取十二根。你要將各人的名字寫在各人的杖上，
3 You shall write Aaron’s name on Levi’s rod. There shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.
並要將亞倫的名字寫在利未的杖上，因為各族長必有一根杖。
4 You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the covenant, where I meet with you.
你要把這些杖存在會幕內法櫃前，就是我與你們相會之處。
5 It shall happen that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you, cease from me.”
後來我所揀選的那人，他的杖必發芽。這樣，我必使以色列人向你們所發的怨言止息，不再達到我耳中。」
6 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, a total of twelve rods. Aaron’s rod was amongst their rods.
於是摩西曉諭以色列人，他們的首領就把杖交給他，按着支派，每首領一根，共有十二根；亞倫的杖也在其中。
7 Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.
摩西就把杖存在法櫃的帳幕內，在耶和華面前。
8 On the next day, Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony; and behold, Aaron’s rod for the house of Levi had sprouted, budded, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
第二天，摩西進法櫃的帳幕去。誰知利未族亞倫的杖已經發了芽，生了花苞，開了花，結了熟杏。
9 Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel. They looked, and each man took his rod.
摩西就把所有的杖從耶和華面前拿出來，給以色列眾人看；他們看見了，各首領就把自己的杖拿去。
10 The LORD said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their complaining against me, that they not die.”
耶和華吩咐摩西說：「把亞倫的杖還放在法櫃前，給這些背叛之子留作記號。這樣，你就使他們向我發的怨言止息，免得他們死亡。」
11 Moses did so. As the LORD commanded him, so he did.
摩西就這樣行。耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就怎樣行了。
12 The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone!
以色列人對摩西說：「我們死啦！我們滅亡啦！都滅亡啦！
13 Everyone who keeps approaching the LORD’s tabernacle, dies! Will we all perish?”
凡挨近耶和華帳幕的是必死的。我們都要死亡嗎？」
