十二小先知書新譯
貳. 約珥書(JOEL)
前 言
約珥是早期主前九世紀, 南國猶大約阿施王在位時(主前835-796年)的先知, 亦有謂他是
被擄後之人, 熟諳聖殿的祭祀與禮儀, 故有人認為他是祭司後裔, 因身世不詳, 無可考.
約阿施王之父亞哈謝被北國耶户誅殺(王下9:27), 其祖母亞他利雅伺機篡位, 剿滅王室
(王下11:1-3), 亞他利雅是北國人(王下8:26), 故她親北國. 約阿施幸有姑母約示巴拯救, 藏在
聖殿達六年之久(王下11:3). 大祭司耶何耶大集结力量, 在約阿施七歲時, 誅殺亞他利雅, 擁立
為王(王下11:20),
據傳約阿施王藏匿聖殿期間或登基不久, 南國猶大曾遭極嚴重蝗災, 約珥於此时作先知,
他視歷史之災為將來末世更大災禍的預兆, 遂宣示適當的警告與预言, 惟因約阿施王當時的
處境, 故他沒提任何皇室的名字.
I. 前言(1:1):
耶和華的話臨到毘士珥之子約珥.
II. 猶大嚐主恩(1:2-2:17):
(I) 呼召哀哭禱告(1:2-20):
1. 嚴重蝗災(1:2-7):
眾長老啊! 細聽此言; Hear this, you elders;
本地所有住民啊! 留心傾聽. listen, all who live in the land.
在你們或你們先祖的日子裏, Has anything like this ever happened in your days
曾發生過這不可思議的事嗎? or in the days of your forefathers?
把這件事告訴你們的兒女, Tell it to your children,
你們兒女再告訴他們兒女, and let your children tell it to their children,
他們的兒女再告訴下一代. and their children to the next generation.
蝗蟲群吃剩的, What the locust swarm has left
大蝗蟲吃; the great locusts have eaten;
大蝗蟲吃剩的, what the great locusts have left
幼蝗蟲吃; the young locusts have eaten;
幼蝗蟲吃剩的, what the young locusts have left
其他蝗蟲吃. other locusts have eaten.
醉漢啊, 快清醒哀哭! Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
所有酒徒啊, 大聲痛哭吧! Wail, all you drinkers of wine;
為你們的新酒痛哭一場, wail because of the new wine,
因新酒將從你唇邊奪走. for it has been snatched from your lips.
有隊蝗蟲侵入我國土, A nation has invaded my land,
兵力強大且軍兵無數; powerful and without number;
裝有利齒如雄獅, it has the teeth of a lion,
還有獠牙如母獅. the fangs of a lioness.
使我的葡萄園荒蕪, It has laid waste my vines
毀了我的無花果樹; and ruined my fig trees.
把樹皮剝光並丟棄, It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away,
樹幹枝條一片蒼白. leaving their branches white.
2. 勸民哀哭(1:8-12):
要像處女披麻衣哀號, Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth
為年青夫君早逝憂傷. grieving for the husband of the youth.
在耶和華殿中, Grain offsprings and drink offerings
素祭奠祭斷絕; are cut off from the house of the Lord.
事奉耶和華的 The priests are in mourning,
祭司莫不哀哭. those who minister before the Lord.
田園荒蕪, The fields are ruined,
地土乾早; the ground is dry up;
五穀毀盡, the grain is destroyed,
新酒乾竭, the new wine is dried up,
清油不出. the oil fails.
農夫啊, 絕望哀嚎吧! Despair, you farmers,
葡萄園丁啊, 放聲痛哭吧! wail, you vine growers;
因田地收穫全毀, grieve for the wheat and the barley,
大麥小麥無收成. because the harvest of the field is destroyed.
葡萄樹枯乾, The vine is dried up
無花果凋殘; and fig tree is withered;
石榴、棕櫚、蘋果樹, the pomegrance, the palm and the apple tree -
田野樹木全都枯死. all the trees of the field - are dried up.
人間歡樂確全消失. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away.
3. 禁食禱告(1:13-20):
祭司啊! 你們要披麻哀哭; Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn;
祭壇前服事的人啊! 你們要哀號. wail, you who minister before the altar.
神前服事的人啊! Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
你們要披麻過夜; you who minister before my God;
因為素祭和奠祭 for the grain offerings and drink offerings
已在神殿中止息. are withheld from the house of your God.
快宣告禁食日子, Declare a holy fast;
並召開神聖大會. call a sacred assembly.
召集長老及國中住民, Summon the elders and all who live in the land
來耶和華你們神殿中, to the house of the Lord your God,
同聲向主耶和華哀求. and cry out to the Lord.
(II) 耶和華的日子(1:15-2:11):
1. 毀滅之日(1:15-20):
哀哉那日! Alas for that day!
耶和華的日子近了! For the day of the Lord is near;
那日來像是全能者毀滅之日. it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
糧食不是在我們的眼前斷絕, Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes -
喜樂不是在我們神殿止息嗎? joy and gladness from the house of our God?
種籽在泥土下腐爛. The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods.
倉庫荒廢穀倉破毀, The storehouse are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down,
因五穀全乾癟朽壞. for the grain has dried up.
牲畜哀鳴牛群流蕩, How the cattle moan! The herds mill about
皆因牧場無草供應; because they have no pasture;
連羊群也跟著受苦. even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
耶和華啊! 我向你呼求, To you, O Lord, I call,
因大火吞滅露天草場, for fire has devoured the open pastures
烈焰焚燬田野的樹木. and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
即使野獸也向你喘息; Even the wild anumals pant for you;
河川的流水全都乾涸, the streams of water have dried up
大火吞滅了露天草場. and fire has devoured the open pastures.
2. 日子快來(2:1-11):
你們要在錫安吹響號角, Blow the trumpet in Zion;
並在我的聖山發出警訊. sound the alarm on my holy hill.
讓那地的住民聞聲戰抖, Let all who live in the land tremble,
因耶和華的日子快來了! for the day of the Lord is coming.
那個日子已臨近, It is close at hand -
那日子黑暗陰沉, a day of darkness and gloom,
那日子烏雲漆黑; a day of clouds and blackness.
一就像破曉籠罩群山, Like dawn spreading across the mountains
一支強大大軍入侵, a large and mighty army comes,
前所未見後亦難有. such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come.
在大軍之前烈火吞噬, Brfore them fire devours,
在大軍之後烈焰燃燒. behind them a flame blazes.
大軍來前那地如伊甸園, Before them the land is like the garden of Eden,
大軍來後那地成荒涼地; behind them, a desert waste -
無一能逃過他們的摧殘. nothing escapes them.
他們如馬隊出現, They have the appearance of horses;
如騎兵急速奔馳. they gallop along like cavalry.
飛馳躍過高山頂, With a noise like that of chariots
發出車騎轆轆聲, they leap over the mountaintops,
如火燒殘枝爆裂聲, like a cracking fire consuming stubble,
如大軍前進上戰場. like a mighty army drawn up for battle.
一見他們列國驚惶, At the sight of them, nations are in anguish;
人人臉色慘淡蒼白. every face turns pale.
他們衝鋒猛如勇士 They charge like warriors;
爬牆越廓捷如戰士. they scale walls like soldiers.
他們行進循序直行, They all march in line, not swerving from their course.
絕不畏縮閃躲偏斜. not swerving from their course.
他們不會彼此推擠, They do not jostle each other;
人人振作勇往直前, each marches straight ahead.
衝鋒陷陣不亂陣腳. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.
侵入城邑攀越城牆, They rush upon the city; they run along the wall.
如賊從窗爬入民宅. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
在他們前地動天搖, Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles,
日月漆黑暗淡, the sun and moon are darkended,
星辰不再發光. and the stars no longer shine.
耶和華雷打他的軍隊, The Lord thunders at the head of his army;
他的軍兵多到數不清; his forces are beyond number,
服從他命的才是強者. and mighty are those who obey his command.
耶和華日子大而可畏, The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful.
世上有誰能承受得住? who can endure it?
(III) 呼召悔改禱告(2:12-17):
耶和華宣示: "Even now," declares the Lord,
"即使現在, 你們要禁食、哭泣、哀號, "return to me with all your heart,
全心全意歸向我." with fasting and weeping and mourning."
你們要撕心不是撕衣, Rend your heart and not your garment.
歸回耶和華你們的神; Return to the Lord your God,
因為祂有恩典有憐憫, for he is graciuos and compassionate,
不輕易發怒且有豐盛的慈愛, slow to anger and abounding in love,
祂要改變原本要降災的旨意. and he relents from sending calamity.
誰知道? 祂會回心轉意, Who knows? He may turn and have pity
廣施慈愛並留下恩福. and leave behind a blessing -
快向耶和華你們的神, grain offerings and drink offerings
誠心獻上素祭和奠祭. for the Lord your God.
要在錫安吹響號角, Blow the trumpet in Zion;
宣告禁食分別為聖, declare a holy fast,
接著召開神聖大會, call a sacred assembly.
召集會眾分別為聖; Gather the people, consecrate the assembly;
集合長老聚集兒童, bring together the elders, gather the children,
和懷中哺乳的嬰兒. those nursing at the breast.
讓新郎有房新娘有室. Let the bridegroom have his room and the bride her chamber.
讓耶和華前服事祭司, Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
在殿廊和祭壇間哀哭. weep between the temple porch and the altar.
讓他們說: "主啊! 饒恕你的子民, Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord.
勿讓你的產業成笑柄, Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
在列國飽受嘲笑羞辱. a byword among the nations.
他們為何在百姓中說: Why should they say among the peoples,
他們的神在那裏呢?'" Where is their God?'
III. 猶大必得救(2:18-3:21):
(I) 上主再賜恩福(2:18-27)
於是耶和華為衪的地發熱心, 更為衪的民施憐憫.
耶和華回答他們;
"我要賜給你們足夠的 "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil,
糧食、新酒和食油; enough to satisfy you fully;
不再使你們成列國笑柄. never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations.
我必驅逐北方大軍遠離你們, I will drive the northern army far from you,
並把他們趕入焦乾不毛之地; pushing it into a parched and barren land,
同時把他們的前鋒趕入東海, with its front columns going into the eastern sea
還要把他們的後衛逐入西洋. and those in the rear into western sea.
一時之間臭氣薰天腥味四散. " And its stench will go up; its smell will rise."
毫無疑問耶和華行了大事. Surely he has done great thing.
地土啊! 不要害怕, Be not afraid, O land;
要歡喜快樂! be glad and rejoice.
毫無疑問耶和華行了大事. Surely the Lord has done great thing.
田野走獸啊! 不要害怕, Be not afraid, O wild animals,
因為露天草場又一片綠油油. for the open pastures are becoming green.
所有的果樹都結果, The trees are bearing their fruit;
無花果及葡萄豐收. the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
錫安之民啊! 你們要歡喜, Be glad, O People of Zion,
要為耶和華你們的神快樂, rejoice in the Lord your God,
因衪賜給你們及時的秋雨. for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.
祂更如前降下 He sends you abundant showers,
充沛春秋甘霖. both autumn and spring rains as before.
禾場五穀豐登, The threshing floors will be filled with grains;
酒池溢出新酒, the vats will overflow
油搾滿是香油. with new wine and oil.
"我必補償你們那些年蝗蟲所吃: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten -
大蝗蟲和幼蝗蟲吃光的, the great locust and the young locust,
其他蝗蟲和蝗蟲群吃光的; the other locust and locust swarm -
牠們是我派到你們中間的大軍. my great army that I sent among you.
你們有豐盛的食物可吃至飽足, You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
你們要讚美耶和華你們神的名, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
祂曾為你們行了很多神蹟奇事; who has worked wonders for you;
我的子民永遠不會再受到羞辱. never again will my people be shamed.
那時你們就會知道我在以色列, Then you will know that I am in Isreal,
我就是耶和華你們的神, that I am the Lord your God,
除我以外別無其他的神; and that there is no other;
我的子民永遠不會再受到羞辱. never again will my people be shamed.
(II) 應許賜聖靈(2:28-32):
從今以後, "And afterwards,
我的靈要澆灌所有的人. I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
你們的兒女將會說預言, Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
你們的老人將會作異夢, your old man will dream dreams,
你們的青年將會見異象, your young men will see visions.
我甚至會在那些日子裏 Even on my servants, both men and women,
把靈澆灌我的男僕女婢 I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
我會在天上地上顯奇事, I will show wonders in the heavens and on earth,
有血、有火、還有煙柱. blood and fire and billows of smoke.
耶和華大而可畏日子臨到前, The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
太陽變黑, 月亮血紅; before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
凡呼求耶和華名的人都必得救; And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;
正如耶和華所說, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
在耶和華呼召倖存的人中, there will be deliverance,
於鐋安山及耶路撒冷城裏, as the Lord has said,
必有許多人蒙恩得救. among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
(III) 耶和華日到(3:1-21):
1. 審判萬國(3:1-11):
"在那日那時, "In those days and at that time,
我恢復猶大和耶路撒冷福祉時, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
我必召集列國, I will gather all nations
領至約沙法谷; and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
就在那裏我要審判他們, There I will enter into judgment against them
有關我產業以色列子民, concerning my inheritance, my people Isreal,
因他們驅我子民至列國, for they scattered my people among the nations
尤有甚者更瓜分我土地. and divided up my land.
他們並拿我的子民抽籤, They cast lots for my people
以男童交換妓女, and traded boys for prostitutes;
賣女孩換取酒喝. they sold girls for wine that they might drink.
推羅、西頓及非利士境內的人啊! "Now that have you against me, O Tyre and Sidon
你們現要怎樣對付我? and all you regions of Philistia?
你們要報復我嗎? Are you repaying me for something I have done?
你們若無知膽敢對我報復, If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily
我很快就報應在你們頭上. return on your own heads what you have done.
因為你們掠奪我的金和銀, For you took my silver and my gold
把我的珍寶帶進你們神廟. and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.
並把猶大和耶路撒冷的子民, You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks,
賣給希臘人使他們遠離故士. that you might send them far from their homeland.
看哪! 我要從你們賣 "See, I am going to rescue them
去的地方拯救他們; out of the places to which you sold them,
並報應在你們頭上. and I will return on your own hands what you have done.
我必把你們的兒女賣給猶大人, I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah,
再把他們全部賣到遠方的示巴."and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away."
這是耶和華說的. The Lord has spoken.
你們要向列國宣示: Proclaim this among the nations:
準備好開戰! Prepare for war!
勇士們奮起! Rouse the warriors!
讓所有戰士前進攻擊. Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
把犁頭打成刀劍, Beat your plowshares into swords
把鐮刀打成長矛, and your pruning hooks into spears.
弱者敢說: "我強壯勇敢!" Let the weaking say, "I am strong!"
四方的列國啊! Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
快在那裏集結. and assemble there.
耶和華啊, 求你的精兵從天降! Bring down your warriors, O Lord!
2. 審判萬民(3:12-19):
"列國全都奮起, "Let the nations be roused;
邁向約沙法谷! let them advance into the Velley of Jehoshaphat,
因我要坐在那裏審判四方列國. for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
拿起鐮刀, 因莊稼熟了; Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
踹踏葡萄, Come, trample the grapes,
因酒醡滿滿酒池溢. for the winepress is full and the vats overflow -
他們真是罪大惡極!" so great is their wickedness!"
無數的, 無數的人在判決谷! Multitudes, multitude in the valley of decision!
因在判決谷, 耶和華的日子近了 . For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
日月變黑, The sun and Moon will be darkened,
星辰暗淡. and the stars no longer shine.
耶和華從錫安發怒吼, The Lord will roar from Zion
並從耶路撒冷發雷鳴; and thunder from Jerusalem;
一時天地為之大震動, the earth and the sky will tremble.
但耶和華作子民庇護所, But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
作以色列子民堅固堡壘. a stronghold for the people of Isreal.
"到那時你們才會知道 "Then you will know
我是耶和華你們的神, that I, the Lord your God,
居住在我的錫安聖山. dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
耶路撒冷將成為聖城, Jerusalem will be holy;
永遠不再被異族侵入. never again will foreigners invade her.
"到那日, 大山滴新酒, "In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
小山流鮮奶; and the hills will flow with milk;
猶大溪水流不斷, all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
耶和華殿中泉水 A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house
潺潺灌溉什亭谷. and will water the valley of acacias.
埃及必衰敗荒涼, But Egypt will be desolate,
以東成曠野廢墟, Edoma desert waste,
因為他們殘暴對猶大百姓, because of violence done to the people of Judah,
並在猶大地流無辜人的血. in whose land they shed innocent blood.
3. 猶大永存(3:20-21):
猶大必永遠有人居住, Judah will be inhabited forever
耶路撒冷興旺千萬代. and Jerusalem through all generation.
他們未得赦免流人血的罪, Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned,
我終必饒恕赦免不再追究." I will pardon."
耶和華居住在錫安! The Lord dwells in Ziuon!
(全文完)
感謝主, 讚美主,
一切榮耀歸我主,
哈利路亞, 阿們!
2016年11月26日於台北 / 2018年7月17日佈樂格 台北
2022年3月12日終校 台北