Exodus 1 1 These are the names of the sons of 以色列的儿子们,各带了家眷,同雅各伯来到埃及;他们的名字记载如下: 2 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 勒乌本、西默盎、肋未和犹大, 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 依撒加尔,则步隆和本雅明丹, 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. 和纳裴塔里,加得和阿协尔。 5 3 The total number of the direct descendants of Jacob was seventy. Joseph was already in 他们全是雅各伯所生的,一共七十人;若瑟那时已经在埃及。 6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and that whole generation died. 若瑟和他的众兄弟,以及这一代的人死了以后, 7 But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them. 以色列的子孙生育繁殖,数目增多,极其强盛,布满了那地。 8 Then a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph 4 , came to power in 有位不认识若瑟的新王兴起,统治了埃及。 9 He said to his subjects, "Look how numerous and powerful the Israelite people are growing, more so than we ourselves! 他对自己的人民说:"看以色列子民,比我们又多又强。 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country." 来,我们要用智谋对付他们,免得他们繁盛起来,一遇战争,就去与我们的敌人联合,攻击我们,然后离开此地。" 11 5 Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. Thus they had to build for Pharaoh the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses. 于是派定督工管制他们,以苦役压迫他们,叫他们给法朗建筑丕通和辣默色斯两做贮货城。 12 Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. The Egyptians, then, dreaded the Israelites 但是越压迫他们,他们越增多,也越繁殖,以至埃及人都怕以色列子民。 13 and reduced them to cruel slavery, 于是埃及人更严厉地强迫以色列子民做苦工, 14 6 making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field work--the whole cruel fate of slaves. 强迫他们作和泥做砖的苦工,田间的一切劳工,以及种种苦工,使他们的生活十分痛苦。 15 The king of 埃及王又吩咐为希伯来女人接生的收生婆,一个名叫史斐辣,一个名叫普亚的说 16 7 When you act as midwives for the Hebrew women and see them giving birth, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she may live." "你们为希伯来女人接生时,要看着她们临盆!若是男孩,就杀死;若是女孩,就让她活着。" 17 The midwives, however, feared God; they did not do as the king of 但是收生婆敬畏天主,没有照埃及王的吩咐去作,保留了男孩的性命。 18 So the king summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you acted thus, allowing the boys to live?" 埃及王将收生婆召来,问她们说:"你们为什么这样做,竟叫男孩活着呢?" 19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives." 收生婆回答法朗说:"希伯来女人与埃及女人不同,她们富有生机,收生婆还没有来,她们已生产了。" 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives. The people, too, increased and grew strong. 天主遂恩待了收生婆。以色列的子民更加增多起来,更加强盛。 21 And because the midwives feared God, he built up families for them. 因为收生婆敬畏天主,天主就使她们家门兴旺。 22 8 Pharaoh then commanded all his subjects, "Throw into the river every boy that is born to the Hebrews, but you may let all the girls live." 法朗于是训令他的全体人民说:"凡希伯来人所生的男孩,你们应把他丢在尼罗河里;凡是女孩,留她活着!" Footnotes(注解) 1 [1] Sons of Israel: here literally the first-generation sons of Jacob. Cf Genesis 1:5. However, beginning with Exodus 1:7 the same Hebrew phrase refers to the more remote descendants of Jacob; hence, from here on, it is ordinarily rendered "the Israelites." Households: the family in its fullest sense, including wives, children and servants. 2 [2] The sons of Jacob are listed here according to the respective mothers. Cf Genesis 29:31; 30:20; 35:16-26 3 [5] Direct descendants: literally, persons coming from the loins of Jacob; hence, wives and servants are here excluded. Cf Genesis 46:26 4 [8] Who knew nothing of Joseph: this king ignored the services that Joseph had rendered to 5 [11] Pharaoh: not a personal name, but a title common to all the kings of 6 [14] Mortar: either the wet clay with which the bricks were made, as in Nahum 3:14, or the cement used between the bricks in building, as in Genesis 11:3 7 [16] And see them giving birth: the Hebrew text is uncertain. 8 [22] The river: the |