中英對照/摩爾門經/摩賽亞書/第18章
阿爾瑪暗中傳道──他宣示洗禮聖約,在摩爾門水流為人施洗──他組織基督的教會並按立祭司──他們自食其力並教導人民──阿爾瑪和他的人民逃到曠野,以躲避挪亞王。約主前一四七年至一四五年。
Alma preaches in private—He sets forth the covenant of baptism and baptizes at the waters of Mormon—He organizes the Church of Christ and ordains priests—They support themselves and teach the people—Alma and his people flee from King Noah into the wilderness. About 147–145 B.C.
1 事情是這樣的,阿爾瑪逃離了挪亞王的僕人,a悔改了他的罪惡和不義,就暗地裡來到人民當中,開始教導阿賓納代的話──
1 And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king Noah, arepented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—
2 是的,關於那即將來臨的事和死人的復活,以及經由基督的a大能、受苦和死亡而帶給世人的b救贖,及祂的復活與升天。
2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the aredemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, andbdeath of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.
3 他教導每一個願意聽他講的人。他暗中教導,以免被王知道。有許多人相信他的話。
3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many did believe his words.
4 事情是這樣的,凡相信他的,都到邊境一個叫摩爾門的a地方,那地名是國王起的,那裡在某些時間或季節有野獸出沒。
4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a aplace which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the bborders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.
5 摩爾門有一處清澈的水源,阿爾瑪常到那裡;水邊有一矮樹叢,他白天藏在那裡,躲開王的搜索。
5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
6 事情是這樣的,凡相信他的,就到那裡聽他的信息。
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.
7 事情是這樣的,過了許多天,有一大群人聚集在摩爾門地,要聽阿爾瑪的信息,是的,所有相信他話的人,都聚在一起,聽他講道。他a教導他們,向他們宣講悔改、救贖和對主的信心。
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did ateach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
8 事情是這樣的,他告訴他們:看啊,這裡是摩爾門水流(他們都這麼稱呼),現在,由於你們都a渴望進入神的b羊圈,被稱為祂的人民,c願意承擔彼此的重擔,使重擔減輕;
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye areadesirous to come into the bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 是的,願意與哀者同哀,是的,安慰需要安慰的人,也願意隨時隨地,在所有的事上作神的a證人,直到死亡,使你們得蒙神救贖,算在b第一次復活的人當中,而得到c永生──
9 Yea, and are awilling to mourn with those that bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand ascwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 現在,我告訴你們,如果這是你們心中的願望,那麼,對於奉主的名a受洗,在祂面前證明你們已與祂立b約、願意事奉祂、遵守祂的誡命,使祂能更豐盛地把祂的靈傾注於你們,你們有什麼異議嗎?
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being abaptized in the bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 眾人聽了這話,就歡欣鼓掌,大聲說:這正是我們心中的願望。
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
12 事情是這樣的,阿爾瑪領著最早聽道者之一,希蘭,去站在水中,高聲說:主啊,請將您的靈傾注於您的僕人,使他能以聖潔的心做這事工。
12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
13 他說完這些話,a主的靈臨到他,於是他說:希蘭,我持有來自全能之神的b權柄為你c施洗,作為你立約事奉祂直到必死的身體死亡為止的證據;願主的靈傾注於你,願祂藉著從世界d奠基時便預備好的基督的e救贖賜你永生。
13 And when he had said these words, the aSpirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having bauthorityfrom the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into accovenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the dfoundation of the world.
14 阿爾瑪說完了這些話,就和希蘭一同a埋入水中,然後他們起來,並歡喜地從水中出來,充滿了靈。
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were aburied in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
15 然後,阿爾瑪又帶另一個人,再度走進水中,按照第一次的方式,為他施洗,只是他自己沒有再埋入水中。
15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury ahimself again in the water.
16 他照這方式為每一個來到摩爾門地的人施洗,為數約二百零四人;是的,他們都在摩爾門水流a受洗,充滿了神的b恩典。
16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were abaptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the bgrace of God.
17 從那時起,他們被稱為神的教會,或a基督的教會。事情是這樣的,凡經由神的力量和權柄受洗的,都加入祂的教會。
17 And they were called the church of God, or the achurch of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.
18 事情是這樣的,阿爾瑪持有a神的權柄,按立祭司;他為每五十人按立一位祭司,向他們傳道,b教導他們關於神國的事。
18 And it came to pass that Alma, having aauthority from God,bordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to cteach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
19 他命令他們,除了他所教導的,以及聖先知的口所說的以外,他們不應教導別的事。
19 And he commanded them that athey should bteach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
20 是的,他命令他們,除了a宣講悔改和對那救贖祂人民的主的信心外,不要宣講別的事。
20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should apreachnothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
21 他命令他們不要彼此a紛爭,卻要用b同一的目光向前看,有同一的信仰和同一的洗禮,並讓他們的心在c合一和彼此相愛中交織在一起。
21 And he commanded them that there should be no acontentionone with another, but that they should look forward with bone eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts cknittogether in unity and in love one towards another.
22 他命令他們宣講這些事。他們就這樣成為a神的兒女。
22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the achildren of God.
23 他命令他們應該守a安息日,並保持這日神聖,並且應該每天感謝主他們的神。
23 And he commanded them that they should observe theasabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.
24 他也命令他們,他所按立的祭司應當親手a工作,自食其力。
24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained ashould blabor with their own hands for their support.
25 每週定出一天,他們要聚集起來,教導人民,a崇拜主他們的神,而且,他們應盡其所能經常聚在一起。
25 And there was aone day in every week that was set apart that they should bgather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to cassemble themselves together.
26 祭司不可依賴人民來養活他們,但是他們因工作而蒙受神的a恩典,使他們靈性日漸堅強,具有對神的b知識,使他們能藉著神的力量和權柄來教導。
26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the agrace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the bknowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.
27 阿爾瑪還命令教會的人民應當按a各人所有的,分出財物;如果擁有較多,就應該分出較多;有很少的,向他要求的也就少;沒有的,則該給他。
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, aevery one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.
28 他們應當出於自願及對神的良好願望,這樣把財物分給需要援助的祭司,和每個貧困、衣不蔽體的人。
28 And thus they should impart of their asubstance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.
29 他奉了神的命令,對他們說了這番話。他們確實正直地a行走在神前,按照各人的需要和需求,在屬靈與屬世上彼此b分享。
29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did awalk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.
30 事情是這樣的,這一切都是在摩爾門,是的,在a摩爾門水流邊,在摩爾門水流附近的樹林中進行的;是的,摩爾門地,摩爾門水流,摩爾門樹林,這些地方在那些認識他們救贖主之人的眼中是多麼美麗!是的,他們何其蒙福,因他們必永遠歌頌讚美祂。
30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the awaters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall bsing to his praise forever.
31 這些事都在a邊境進行,以免國王知道。
31 And these things were done in the aborders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king.
32 但是看啊,事情是這樣的,國王察覺人民有所行動,便派僕人監視他們。因此,有一天他們正聚集聽主的道時,被王發現了。
32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king.
33 國王說阿爾瑪在煽動人民反叛他,於是派軍隊消滅他們。
33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his aarmy to destroy them.
34 事情是這樣的,阿爾瑪和主的人民a得知王的軍隊來了,就帶著帳篷與家人離開,進入曠野。
34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord wereaapprised of the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their tents and their families and bdeparted into the wilderness.
35 他們的人數大約有四百五十人。
35 And they were in number about afour hundred and fifty souls.