歷代志下

第 18 章

1. 約沙法大有尊榮貲財、就與亞哈結親。
Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
2. 過了幾年、他下到撒瑪利亞去見亞哈。亞哈為他和跟從他的人、宰了許多牛羊、勸他與自己同去攻取基列的拉末。
Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead.
3. 以色列王亞哈問猶大王約沙法說、你肯同我去攻取基列的拉末麼。他回答說、你我不分彼此、我的民與你的民一樣.必與你同去爭戰。
Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war."
4. 約沙法對以色列王說、請你先求問耶和華。
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."
5. 於是以色列王招聚先知四百人、問他們說、我們上去攻取基列的拉末可以不可以.他們說、可以上去.因為 神必將那城交在王的手裡。
So the king of Israel brought together the prophets--four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Go," they answered, "for God will give it into the king's hand."
6. 約沙法說、這裡不是還有耶和華的先知、我們可以求問他麼。
But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"
7. 以色列王對約沙法說、還有一個人、是音拉的兒子米該雅、我們可以託他求問耶和華.只是我恨他、因為他指著我所說的豫言、不說吉語、常說凶言。約沙法說、王不必這樣說。
The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king should not say that," Jehoshaphat replied.
8. 以色列王就召了一個太監來、說、你快去將音拉的兒子米該雅召來。
So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."
9. 以色列王、和猶大王約沙法、在撒瑪利亞城門前的空場上、各穿朝服坐在位上.所有的先知都在他們面前說豫言。
Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance to the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.
10. 基拿拿的兒子西底家造了兩個鐵角、說、耶和華如此說、你要用這角牴觸亞蘭人、直到將他們滅盡。
Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'"
11. 所有的先知也都這樣豫言、說、可以上基列的拉末去、必然得勝.因為耶和華必將那城交在王的手中。
All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand."
12. 那去召米該雅的使者對米該雅說、眾先知一口同音地都向王說吉言.你不如與他們說一樣的話、也說吉言。
The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."
13. 米該雅說、我指著永生的耶和華起誓、我的 神說甚麼、我就說甚麼。
But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what my God says."
14. 米該雅到王面前、王問他說、米該雅阿、我們上去攻取基列的拉末可以不可以.他說、可以上去、必然得勝.敵人必交在你們手裡。
When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Attack and be victorious," he answered, "for they will be given into your hand."
15. 王對他說、我當囑咐你幾次、你纔奉耶和華的名向我說實話呢。
The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
16. 米該雅說、我看見以色列眾民散在山上、如同沒有牧人的羊群一般.耶和華說、這民沒有主人.他們可以平平安安地各歸各家去。
Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"
17. 以色列王對約沙法說、我豈沒有告訴你、這人指著我所說的豫言、不說吉語、單說凶言麼。
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"
18. 米該雅說、你們要聽耶和華的話.我看見耶和華坐在寶座上、天上的萬軍侍立在他左右。
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left.
19. 耶和華說、誰去引誘以色列王亞哈上基列的拉末去陣亡呢。這個就這樣說、那個就那樣說。
And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?' "One suggested this, and another that.
20. 隨後有一個神靈出來、站在耶和華面前說、我去引誘他。耶和華問他說、你用何法呢。
Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' "'By what means?' the LORD asked.
21. 他說、我去、要在他眾先知口中作謊言的靈。耶和華說、這樣、你必能引誘他.你去如此行罷。
"'I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said. "'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.'
22. 現在耶和華使謊言的靈、入了你這些先知的口.並且耶和華已經命定降禍與你。
"So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."
23. 基拿拿的兒子西底家前來打米該雅的臉、說、耶和華的靈從那裡離開我與你說話呢。
Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?" he asked.
24. 米該雅說、你進嚴密的屋子藏躲的那日、就必看見了。
Micaiah replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room."
25. 以色列王說、將米該雅帶回、交給邑宰亞們、和王的兒子約阿施、說、
The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son,
26. 王如此說、把這個人下在監裡、使他受苦、喫不飽喝不足、等候我平平安安地回來。
and say, 'This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'"
27. 米該雅說、你若能平安回來、那就是耶和華沒有藉我說這話了.又說、眾民哪、你們都要聽。
Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!"
28. 以色列王和猶大王約沙法、上基列的拉末去了。
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead.
29. 以色列王對約沙法說、我要改裝上陣.你可以仍穿王服。於是以色列王改裝、他們就上陣去了。
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
30. 先是亞蘭王吩咐車兵長說、他們的兵將、無論大小、你們都不可與他們爭戰、只要與以色列王爭戰。
Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, "Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel."
31. 車兵長看見約沙法便說、這必是以色列王、就轉過去與他爭戰。約沙法一呼喊、耶和華就幫助他. 神又感動他們離開他。
When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, "This is the king of Israel." So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him,
32. 車兵長見不是以色列王、就轉去不追他了。
for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.
33. 有一人隨便開弓、恰巧射入以色列王的甲縫裡.王對趕車的說、我受了重傷、你轉過車來、拉我出陣罷。
But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded."
34. 那日陣勢越戰越猛.以色列王勉強站在車上抵擋亞蘭人、直到晚上.約在日落的時候、王就死了。
All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.