Exodus 1 1 Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the 那时梅瑟为他的岳父,米德杨的司祭耶特洛放羊;一次他赶羊往旷野里去,到了天主的山曷勒布。 2 2 There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. 上主的使者从荆棘丛的火焰中显现给他;他远远看见那荆棘为火焚烧,而荆棘却没有烧毁。 3 So Moses decided, "I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned." 梅瑟心里说:"我要到那边看看这个奇异的现象,为什么荆棘烧不毁?" 4 When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." 上主见他走来观看,天主便由荆棘丛中叫他说:"梅瑟!梅瑟!"他答说:"我在这里。" 5 God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 天主说:"不可到这边来!将你脚上的鞋脱下,因为你所站的地方是圣地。" 6 3 I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 又说:"我是你父亲的天主,亚巴郎的天主,依撒格的天主,雅各伯的天主。"梅瑟因为怕看见天主,就把脸遮起来。 7 But the LORD said, "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. 上主说:"我看见我的百姓在埃及所受的痛苦,听见他们因工头的压迫而发出的哀号;我已注意到他们的痛苦。 8 4 Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 所以我要下去拯救百姓脱离埃及人的手,领他们离开那地方,到一个美丽宽阔的地方,流奶流蜜的地方,就是客纳罕人、赫特人、阿摩黎人、培黎齐人、希威人和耶步斯人的地方。 9 So indeed the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. 现在以色列子民的哀号已达于我前,我也亲自看见埃及人加于他们的压迫。 10 Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of 所以你来,我要派你到法朗那里,率领我的百姓以色列出离埃及。" 11 5 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" 梅瑟对天主说:"我是谁,竟敢去见法朗,率领以色列子民出离埃及?" 12 He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain." 上主回答说:"我必与你同在;几时你将我的百姓由埃及领出来,你们要在这座山上崇拜天主,你要以此作为我派你的凭据。" 13 "But," said Moses to God, "when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?" 梅瑟对天主说:"当我到以色列子民那里,向他们说:你们祖先的天主打发我到你们这里来时,他们必要问我:他叫什么名字?我要回答他们什么呢?" 14 6 God replied, "I am who am." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you." 天主向梅瑟说:"我是自有者。"又说:"你要这样对以色列子民说:那"自有者"打发我到你们这里来。" 15 God spoke further to Moses, "Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. "This is my name forever; this is my title for all generations. 天主又对梅瑟说:"你要这样对以色列子民说:上主,你们祖先的天主,亚巴郎的天主,依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主,打发我到你们这里来,这是我的名字,直到永远;这是我的称号,直到万世。 16 7 "Go and assemble the elders of the Israelites, and tell them: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; 你去召集以色列的长老,对他们说:上主,你们祖先的天主,亚巴郎的天主,依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主显现给我说:我实在注意到你们和你们在埃及所遭遇到的一切。 17 so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey. 因此我决意领你们摆脱埃及人的压迫,到客纳罕人,赫特人,阿摩黎人,培黎齐人,希威人和耶步斯人的地方,即流奶流蜜的地方去。 18 "Thus they will heed your message. Then you and the elders of 他们必会听你的话。你要同以色列的长老去见埃及王,对他说:上主,希伯来人的天主遇见了我们;现今请让我们走三天的路程,到旷野里向上主我们的天主举行祭献。 19 "Yet I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless he is forced. 但是我知道,若不用强硬的手段,埃及王决不会让你们走。 20 I will stretch out my hand, therefore, and smite 因此,我要在埃及伸手显各种奇迹,打击那地;以后他才放你们走。 21 I will even make the Egyptians so well-disposed toward this people that, when you leave, you will not go empty-handed. 我必要使这百姓在埃及人眼中蒙恩,因此,你们离去时不致空手而去。 22 8 Every woman shall ask her neighbor and her house guest for silver and gold articles and for clothing to put on your sons and daughters. Thus you will despoil the Egyptians." 各个妇人应向邻舍的妇女,向住在自己家中的女人索取金鉓、银饰和衣服,穿戴在你们子女身上:这样你们就剥夺了埃及人。" Footnotes(注解) 1 [1] The mountain of God: probably given this designation because of the divine apparitions which took place there, such as on this occasion and when the Israelites were there after the departure from Egypt. 2 [2] An angel of the LORD: the visual form under which God appeared and spoke to men is referred to indifferently in some Old Testament texts either as God's angel or as God himself. Cf Genesis 16:7, 13; Exodus 14:19, 24, 25; Numbers 22:22-35; Jdgs 6,11-18. 3 [6] The appearance of God caused fear of death, since it was believed that no one could see God and live; cf Genesis 32:30. The God of Abraham . . . Jacob: cited by Christ in proof of the resurrection since the patriarchs, long dead, live on in God who is the God of the living. Cf Matthew 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37. 4 [8] I have come down: a figure of speech signifying an extraordinary divine intervention in human affairs. Cf Genesis 11:5, 7. Flowing with milk and honey: an expression denoting agricultural prosperity, which seems to have been proverbial in its application to 5 [11] Who am I: besides naturally shrinking from such a tremendous undertaking, Moses realized that, as a fugitive from Pharaoh, he could hardly hope to carry out a mission to him. Perhaps he also recalled that on one occasion even his own kinsmen questioned his authority. Cf Exodus 2:14. 6 [14] I am who am: apparently this utterance is the source of the word Yahweh, the proper personal name of the God of Israel. It is commonly explained in reference to God as the absolute and necessary Being. It may be understood of God as the Source of all created beings. Out of reverence for this name, the term Adonai, "my Lord," was later used as a substitute. The word LORD in the present version represents this traditional usage. The word "Jehovah" arose from a false reading of this name as it is written in the current Hebrew text. 7 [16] Elders: the Israelite leaders, who were usually older men. They were representatives of the people. 8 [22] Articles: probably jewelry. Despoil: this was permissible, that the Israelites might compensate themselves for their many years of servitude; besides, the Egyptians would give these things willingly. Cf Exodus 12:33-36. |