耶穌正傳——第三章
CHAPTER 3
第三章
Birth of Jesus. Masters honor the child. The shepherds rejoice. Zacharias and Elizabeth visit Mary. Jesus is circumcised.
耶穌降生。幾位大師前來致敬。牧人歡喜。撒迦利亞和以利沙伯探訪馬利亞。耶穌受割禮。
THE time was nearly due for Jesus to be born, and Mary longed to see Elizabeth, and she and Joseph turned their faces toward the Judean hills.
1、耶穌降生的日子近了，馬利亞想念以利沙伯，就和約瑟往猶太的山地去。
2) And when, upon their way, they came to Bethlehem, the day was done, and they must tarry for the night.
2、到了伯利恆，夜幕已經降臨，他們只好逗留一晚。
3) But Bethlehem was thronged with people going to Jerusalem;the inns and homes were filled with guests, and Joseph and his wife could find no place to rest but in a cave where animals were kept;and there they slept.
3、那時，伯利恆擠滿了前往耶路撒冷的百姓。客棧和各家各戶都住滿了人，約瑟和妻子找不到住宿的地方，只好在一個飼養牲畜的山洞裡過夜。
4) At midnight came a cry, A child is born in yonder cave among the beasts. And lo, the promised son of man was born.
4、半夜，哭聲傳來，孩子在牲畜當中誕生了。看哪，這是那應許之子降生了。
5) And strangers took the little one and wrapped him in the dainty robes that Mary had prepared and laid him in a trough from which the beasts of burden fed.
5、異鄉人抱起孩子，用馬利亞備好的綢布包起來，把他放在飼養牲畜的溝槽裡。
6) Three persons clad in snow-white robes came in and stood before the child and said,
6、有三個身穿白衣的人進來，站在孩子麵前，說，
7) All strength, all wisdom and all love be yours, Immanuel.
7、一切能力、智慧、慈愛全屬於你，以馬內利！
8) Now, on the hills of Bethlehem were many flocks of sheep with shepherds guarding them.
8、那時，伯利恆的山上有牧羊人在看守羊群。
9) The shepherds were devout, were men of prayer, and they were waiting for a strong deliverer to come.
9、他們都虔誠，熱愛禱告，一直在等候一位大能的救主降臨。
10) And when the child of promise came, a man in snow-white robe appeared to them, and they fell back in fear. The man stood forth and said,
10、當那應許之子誕生時，有一個身穿白衣的人向他們顯現，他們就驚慌害怕。那人進前來，對他們說，
11) Fear not! behold I bring you joyful news. At midnight in a cave in Bethlehem was born the prophet and the king that you have long been waiting for.
11、不要害怕！看哪，我報給你們大喜的信息。半夜，在伯利恆的一個山洞裡，你們素常等候的先知和君王已經降生了。
12) And then the shepherds all were glad;they felt that all the hills were filled with messengers of light, who said,
12、牧羊人聽見了就都歡喜，他們感覺山上滿了光明的天使，聽見他們說，
13) All glory be to God on high;peace, peace on earth, good will to men.
13、願一切榮耀歸於高天之神，願地上充滿平安，世人獲得喜悅。
14) And then the shepherds came with haste to Bethlehem and to the cave, that they might see and honor him whom men had called Immanuel.
14、牧羊人就急忙往伯利恆的山洞去，好拜訪人們所稱的以馬內利，向他致敬。
15) Now, when the morning came, a shepherdess whose home was near, prepared a room for Mary, Joseph and the child;and here they tarried many days.
15、到了清晨，有一個牧羊女，住在附近，為馬利亞、約瑟並小孩子預備了一個房間。他們就在那裡逗留了多日。
16) And Joseph sent a messenger in haste to Zacharias and Elizabeth to say, The child is born in Bethlehem.
16、約瑟急忙差人給撒迦利亞和以利沙伯送信，說孩子已在伯利恆出生了。
17) And Zacharias and Elizabeth took John and came to Bethlehem with words of cheer.
17、撒迦利亞和以利沙伯就帶著約翰來到伯利恆，為他們歡樂。
18) And Mary and Elizabeth recounted all the wondrous things that had transpired. The people joined with them in praising God.
18、馬利亞和以利沙伯相互述說著在她們身上所發生的奇事，人們就與她們一同讚美神。
19) According to the custom of the Jews, the child was circumcised;and when they asked, What will you call the child? the mother said, His name is Jesus, as the man of God ｄｅ ｃｌａｒｅd.
19、照猶太人的習俗，孩子受了割禮，當他們問孩子叫什麼名字時，孩子的母親就照神人所宣告的，說他的名是耶穌。