中英對照/摩爾門經/尼腓一書/第17章
尼腓奉命造一艘船──他哥哥反對他──他重述神與以色列人交往的歷史來勸誡他們──尼腓充滿神的力量──不准他哥哥碰他,不然他們將枯萎如同乾蘆葦。約主前五九二年至五九一年。
Nephi is commanded to build a ship—His brethren oppose him—He exhorts them by recounting the history of God’s dealings with Israel—Nephi is filled with the power of God—His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they wither as a dried reed. About 592–591 B.C.
1 事情是這樣的,我們再在曠野中行進;從那時起,我們朝著偏東的方向前進。我們在曠野的旅途中飽受折磨;我們的婦女在曠野中生下了孩子。
1 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and awade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our bwomen did bear children in the wilderness.
2 主賜我們的祝福多麼大,雖然我們在曠野中以a生肉為食,我們的婦女卻有許多奶水給孩子,她們像男子一樣強壯;她們開始毫無怨言地忍受旅途的艱辛。
2 And so great were the ablessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon braw cmeat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
3 由此可知,主所命令的事必會完成。人類兒女若a遵守神的誡命,祂必滋養他們,加強他們,並提供方法,使他們能完成祂命令的事;因此,我們在曠野逗留時,祂確曾為我們b提供了方法。
3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and astrengthenthem, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did bprovide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
4 我們逗留了許多年,是的,我們在曠野中八年。
4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.
5 我們來到一個地方,我們稱之為滿地富,因為那裡盛產果子和野蜜;這一切都是主所預備的,免得我們滅亡。我們也見到海,我們稱之為溢利安德,翻譯出來,就是眾水的意思。
5 And we did come to the land which we called aBountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters.
6 事情是這樣的,我們在海邊搭起帳篷;雖然我們遭受了許多a痛苦和困難,是的,多得無法全部寫下來,但是一來到海邊,我們都高興不已;我們稱此地為滿地富,因為這裡盛產果子。
6 And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many aafflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.
7 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,來到滿地富多日後,主的聲音臨到我說:起來,上山去。事情是這樣的,我就起來上山去,並向主呼求。
7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: aArise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
8 事情是這樣的,主對我說:你必須照我向你顯示的a方式造一艘船,好讓我帶你的人渡過大水。
8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt aconstruct a ship, after the bmanner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
9 我說:主啊,我要上哪兒才能找到礦石加以熔化來鑄造工具,使我能照你向我顯示的方式造船呢?
9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make atools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?
10 事情是這樣的,主告訴我應往何處找礦石,以鑄造工具。
10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.
11 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,用獸皮做了一個吹火的風箱;做好吹火的風箱後,我就用兩塊石頭互擊取火。
11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to ablow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.
12 我們在曠野行進時,主一直未容許我們多生火;祂說:我會使你們的食物變得美味可口,這樣你們就a不必烹煮了。
12 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye acook it not;
13 而我也會是你們在曠野中的光;如果你們遵守我的誡命,我必在你們前面a預備道路;因此,只要你們遵守我的誡命,我必領你們到b應許地;而你們必c知道那是我在引領你們。
13 And I will also be your alight in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the bpromised land; and ye shall cknow that it is by me that ye are led.
14 是的,主還說:你們到達應許地後,必a知道我,主,是b神;也必知道我,主,曾救你們脫離毀滅;是的,必知道是我帶你們出耶路撒冷地。
14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall aknow that I, the Lord, am bGod; and that I, the Lord, did cdeliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.
15 所以,我,尼腓,盡力遵守主的誡命,也勸告我的哥哥要忠信和努力。
15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the acommandments of the Lord, and I did bexhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.
16 事情是這樣的,我用岩石中熔出來的金屬鑄造工具。
16 And it came to pass that I did amake tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.
17 哥哥見我準備a造船時,就開始抱怨我,說:我們的弟弟是個呆子,他自以為能造船;是的,他還以為他能渡過這大水。
17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to abuild a ship, they began to bmurmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
18 我哥哥就這樣埋怨我,他們不想工作,因為他們不相信我能造船,也不相信我蒙受了主的指示。
18 And thus my brethren did acomplain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not bbelieve that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.
19 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,因他們心地頑硬而極為憂傷;他們看我開始憂傷,心裡就很高興,a取笑我說:我們就知道你不會造船,因為我們知道你缺乏判斷力,所以,你沒有辦法完成這麼困難的工作。
19 And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did arejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.
20 你就跟父親一樣,他已經被他心中愚蠢的a幻想所蒙蔽;是的,他把我們帶出耶路撒冷地,而我們在曠野中流浪了這麼多年;我們的婦女懷著身孕辛苦工作,她們在曠野中生下孩子,受盡了苦難,只差沒把命賠上;要是她們在出耶路撒冷之前就死掉,要比受這些折磨好。
20 And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolishaimaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions.
21 看啊,這麼多年來,我們一直在曠野中受苦,我們本來可以享用我們的財產和繼承的土地,是的,我們本來可以快快樂樂。
21 Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.
22 我們知道在耶路撒冷地的人是a正義的人民;因為他們依照摩西律法,遵守主的規章和法典,以及祂的一切誡命;所以,我們知道他們是正義的人民;可是我們的父親論斷他們,還把我們帶出來,因為我們都聽他的話;是的,我們的弟弟也跟他一樣。我哥哥就用這樣的話發牢騷、埋怨我們。
22 And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a arighteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.
23 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,對他們說:如果我們的祖先以色列兒女,不聽從主的話,你們想他們能從埃及人的手中被帶出來嗎?
23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the aEgyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?
24 是的,如果主沒有命令摩西a領他們脫離束縛,你們認為他們能脫離束縛嗎?
24 Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he shouldalead them out of bondage?
25 你們知道當時的以色列兒女身受a束縛;你們也知道他們身負難以負荷的b工作,所以,你們知道如果他們能脫離束縛,對他們來說一定是件好事。
25 Now ye know that the children of Israel were in abondage; and ye know that they were laden with btasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be cbrought out of bondage.
26 你們知道a摩西是奉主的命令去做那件偉大的事工;你們也知道藉著他的b話,紅海的水向兩旁分開,他們就在乾地上通過。
26 Now ye know that aMoses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his bword the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.
27 但是,你們知道,那些埃及人,也就是法老的軍隊,都淹死在紅海中。
27 But ye know that the Egyptians were adrowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.
28 你們也知道他們在曠野中蒙賜a嗎哪為糧。
28 And ye also know that they were fed with amanna in the wilderness.
29 是的,你們也知道摩西憑他裡面的神的力量發言,a擊打磐石,水就流出來,使以色列兒女得以解渴。
29 Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, asmote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst.
30 儘管他們由主他們的神,他們的救贖主帶領,祂走在他們前面,白天引導他們,晚上賜給他們亮光,一切對人a有益的事都為他們做了,他們還是心地頑硬,心智盲目,並且b辱罵摩西和那位真實而活著的神。
30 And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, aleading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which werebexpedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and creviled against Moses and against the true and living God.
31 事情是這樣的,依照祂的話,祂a毀滅了他們;依照祂的話,祂b引導了他們;而依照祂的話,祂也為他們做所有的事;若不藉著祂的話,則一事無成。
31 And it came to pass that according to his word he did adestroythem; and according to his word he did blead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word.
32 他們渡過約旦河後,祂使他們強大,得以a趕出那地方的百姓,是的,分散他們,消滅他們。
32 And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the adriving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
33 現在,你們以為那在應許地上被我們祖先趕出的百姓是正義的嗎?看啊,我對你們說,不是。
33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34 如果他們是正義的,你們想我們的祖先會比他們更值得蒙揀選嗎?我對你們說,不會。
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
35 看啊,主對所有a有血氣的都一視同仁;凡b正義的都c蒙得神的恩惠。但是看啊,這人民已拒絕了神的每一句話,他們已惡貫滿盈,神十足的憤怒已臨到他們;主詛咒那地來懲罰他們,而為我們的祖先祝福了那地;是的,祂詛咒那地來懲罰他們,使他們滅亡,而為我們的祖先祝福那地,使他們有能力得到那地。
35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all aflesh in one; he that isbrighteous is cfavored of God. But behold, this dpeople had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.
36 看啊,主a創造了b大地以供人c居住;祂也創造祂的兒女以擁有大地。
36 Behold, the Lord hath created the aearth that it should bebinhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
37 祂a興起正義的民族,毀滅邪惡的民族。
37 And he araiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38 祂領義人進入珍貴之a地,並且b毀滅惡人,因他們而詛咒該地。
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious alands, and the wicked he bdestroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.
39 祂在高天統治,因為那是祂的寶座,而這大地是祂的a腳凳。
39 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his afootstool.
40 祂愛那些尊祂為神的人。看啊,祂愛我們的祖先,並與他們a立約,是的,就是與亞伯拉罕、b以撒和c雅各立約;祂記得祂所立的約,因此,祂帶他們出d埃及地。
40 And he loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loved our afathers, and he bcovenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, cIsaac, and dJacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of eEgypt.
41 祂在曠野中用祂的杖懲戒他們;因為他們心地a頑硬,就像你們一樣;主由於他們的罪惡,懲戒他們。祂使會飛的火b蛇進入他們中間;他們被咬之後,祂預備了一種方法使他們得c醫治;他們要做的事就是望一眼;由於這個方法d簡單,或由於這方法容易,有許多人滅亡了。
41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they ahardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flyingbserpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be chealed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the dsimpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.
42 他們經常硬起心來,並且a辱罵b摩西,也辱罵神;然而,你們知道,主仍以祂無比的大能引領他們進入應許地。
42 And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did arevile against bMoses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.
43 經過這一切之後,時候到了,他們變邪惡了,是的,幾乎惡貫滿盈;說不定此刻他們就要被毀滅了;我知道時候必到,他們必遭毀滅,只有少數人例外,而那些人必被擄走。
43 And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be adestroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity.
44 因此,主a命令我父親離開,進入曠野,而猶太人也圖謀他的性命;是的,b你們也圖謀他的性命;因此,你們在意念上是殺人的兇手,和猶太人是一樣的。
44 Wherefore, the Lord acommanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and bye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.
45 你們a迅於作惡,卻遲於記起主你們的神。你們曾見過一位b天使,他對你們講過話;是的,你們不時聽到他的聲音;他曾用微小的聲音對你們講話,但是你們已c麻木了,不能察覺到他的話;所以,他就用雷鳴般的聲音對你們講話,大地為之震動,好像要裂開一樣。
45 Ye are aswift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an bangel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were cpast feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.
46 你們也知道,藉著祂全能話語的a力量,祂能使大地消逝;是的,你們知道,藉著祂的話,祂能使崎嶇之地變得平坦,而使平坦之地裂開。啊,既然這樣,你們的心怎會這樣頑硬呢?
46 And ye also know that by the apower of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?
47 看啊,我的靈魂因你們而痛苦得快要撕裂了,我的心非常痛苦;我怕你們會永遠被拋棄。看啊,我a充滿了神的靈,以致我全身b無力。
47 Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I amafull of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has bnostrength.
48 事情是這樣的,我說了這些話後,他們就惱怒我,想把我拋入海底;他們走過來準備動手時,我對他們說:我奉全能之神的名,命令你們a不要碰我,因為我充滿了神的b力量,甚至燃燒著我的身體;誰要是動手,就必c枯萎如同乾蘆葦,他在神的力量前必成廢物,因為神必擊打他。
48 And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye atouch me not, for I am filled with thebpower of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall cwither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him.
49 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,對他們說,不可再埋怨父親;也不得拒絕與我一起工作,因為神已命令我造一艘船。
49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should abuild a ship.
50 我對他們說:a神若命令我做一切事,我必能做到。如果祂命令我對這水說,成為陸地吧,它必成為陸地;只要我這樣說,就必這樣成就。
50 And I said unto them: aIf God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.
51 如果主有這麼大的能力,又在人類兒女中行了那麼多奇蹟,難道祂不能a指示我造一艘船嗎?
51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannotainstruct me, that I should build a ship?
52 事情是這樣的,我,尼腓,對哥哥講了許多話,令他們羞愧而無法反對我;甚至有好幾天,他們都不敢動手,也不敢用指頭碰我。他們不敢,是怕會在我面前枯萎;a神的靈那麼強而有力,這樣深深影響了他們。
52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were aconfounded and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the bSpirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them.
53 事情是這樣的,主對我說,再向你的哥哥伸出手來,他們必不會在你面前枯萎,但我要震撼他們。主說,我這樣做,好使他們知道我是主他們的神。
53 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will ashock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God.
54 事情是這樣的,我向哥哥伸出手來,他們沒有在我面前枯萎;但主照著祂所說的,震撼了他們。
54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.
55 他們說:我們確實知道主與你同在,因為我們知道那是主的力量震撼了我們。他們在我面前俯伏,打算a拜我,但我不讓他們這麼做,我說:我是你們的兄弟,是的,只是你們的弟弟;所以,你們要敬拜主你們的神,也當孝敬你們的父母,使你們的b日子在主你們的神所賜的地上,得以長久。
55 And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is awiththee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to bworship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy cdays may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.