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Judith 1 It was reported to Holofernes, commander-in-chief of the Assyrian army, that the Israelites were ready for battle, and had blocked the mountain passes, fortified the summits of all the higher peaks, and placed roadblocks in the plains. 那时，有人向亚述军队的统帅敖罗斐乃报告说：＂以色列子民已准备应战，封锁山地隘口，在高山上修筑了防御工事，平原中已设下埋伏。＂ 他遂勃然大怒，召集所有摩阿布的公侯，阿孟的司令，及沿海一带的长官来， 3 and said to them: ＂Now tell me, you Canaanites, what sort of people is this that dwells in the mountains? Which cities do they inhabit? How large is their army? In what does their power and strength consist? Who has set himself up as their king and the leader of their army? 对他们说：客纳罕的子民！请告诉我，这山地里住的是什么民族？他们住的是什么城池？部队的人数究有多少？他们的力量和勇气，究在什么事上？作他们的君王，率领他们军队的是谁？ 4 Why have they refused to come out to meet me along with all the other inhabitants of the West?＂ 为什么在西方诸民族中只有他们不屑于前来欢迎我？＂ 5 Then Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites said to him: ＂My lord, hear this account from your servant; I will tell you the truth about this people that lives near you (that inhabits this mountain region); no lie shall escape your servant's lips. 于是全阿孟子民的统帅阿希约尔便对他说：＂我主！请听你仆人一言，我要向你说明，这住在山地离你不远的民族，是什么情形；你仆人口中所说的，决没有一句虚话。 6 1 ＂These people are descendants of the Chaldeans. 这民族原是加尔底亚人的后裔， 7 They formerly dwelt in 原先侨居在美索不达米亚，因为不愿随从自己祖先所居加尔底亚地的神祗， 8 Since they abandoned the way of their ancestors, and acknowledged with divine worship the God of heaven, their forefathers expelled them from the presence of their gods. So they fled to 就离弃了自己祖先的途径，而崇拜天上的大主，一位自己所承认的神。所以他们为那里的神祗所驱逐，逃到美索不达米亚，侨居在那里很久。 9 Their God bade them leave their abode and proceed to the 后来他们的天主吩咐他们离开侨居的地方，往客纳罕地方去，就住在那里积畜了大批金银和很多家畜。 10 Later, when famine had gripped the whole 后又因客纳罕地方连年饥荒，便下到埃及，居留在那里。直到他们能自养自足；在那里竟成了一个大族，子孙众多，不可胜数。 11 The king of 但埃及王却苛待他们，逼今他们作做砖的苦工，压迫他们，当作奴隶。 12 But they cried to their God, and he struck the 于是他们向自己的天主哀号。天主就以不治之症，打击了埃及全境；埃及人就将他们赶走。 13 God dried up the 天主使红海在他们面前干涸， 14 and led them along the route to Sinai and Kadesh-barnea. First they drove out all the inhabitants of the desert; 引他们沿着西乃和卡德士巴尔乃亚的路前进，他们将旷野中的居民完全驱逐， 15 then they settled in the land of the Amorites, destroyed all the Heshbonites by main force, crossed the 住在阿摩黎人的境内，以武力消灭了一切赫市朋人，继而渡过约旦河，占领了整个山地，据为己有， 16 They expelled the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Shechemites, and all the Gergesites; and they lived in these mountains a long time. 将客纳罕人、培黎齐人、耶步斯人、舍根人与一切基尔加史人，都由自己的面前赶走，住在那里很久。 17 ＂As long as the Israelites did not sin in the sight of their God, they prospered, for their God, who hates wickedness, was with them. 当他们不犯罪得罪自己的天主时，便常享幸福，因为有一位嫉恶的天主，与他们同在。 18 But when they deviated from the way he prescribed for them, they were ground down steadily, more and more, by frequent wars, and finally taken as captives into foreign lands. The temple of their God was razed to the ground, and their cities were occupied by their enemies. 但当他们离开天主给他们所指示的道路时，便在战争中受到歼灭，被掳到异乡，他们天主的殿宇也被毁为平地，城市都为敌人所占据。 19 But now that they have returned to their God, they have come back from the Dispersion wherein they were scattered, and have repossessed 可是现在，自从他们归向天主以来，就由散居的地方回来，收复了他们的圣殿的所在地耶路撒冷，住在已变为荒芜的山地。 20 ＂So now, my lord and master, if these people are at fault, and are sinning against their God, and if we verify this offense of theirs, then we shall be able to go up and conquer them. 主帅！假使这个民族作恶，得罪他们的天主，如果我们发觉他们有这＂致命伤＂就可上去进攻，必能战胜。 21 But if they are not a guilty nation, then your lordship should keep his distance; otherwise their Lord and God will shield them, and we shall become the laughing stock of the whole world.＂ 若是这民族没有什么不法的事，请我主放过他们，免得他们的上主天主庇护他们，使我们在全世界成为人的笑柄。＂ 22 Now when Achior had concluded his recommendation, all the people standing round about the tent murmured; and the officers of Holofernes and all the inhabitants of the seacoast and of 阿希约尔一说完这些话，站在营幕周围的众人，怨声四起，敖罗斐乃的军官和一切住在沿海与摩阿布一带的人，都声言要将他碎尸万段： 23 ＂We are not afraid of the Israelites,＂ they said, ＂for they are a powerless people, incapable of a strong defense. ＂我们不应该怕以色列子民！这个民族决没有勇气和能力，与劲旅相对抗。 24 Let us therefore attack them; your great army, Lord Holofernes, will swallow them up.＂ 敖罗斐乃主帅！我们应上前进攻，他们必能为你的全军所扑灭。＂ Footnotes（注解） 1 [6] (6-9) Achior outlines the early history of the Hebrews, whose forefather, Abraham, first lived in |
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