耶穌正傳——第六章

CHAPTER 6

第六章

Herod learns of the mission of John. The infants of Bethlehem are massacred by Herod's order. Elizabeth escapes with John. Because Zacharias cannot tell where his son is hidden, he is murdered. Herod dies.

希律得知約翰的使命、下令屠殺伯利恆的嬰兒。以利沙伯帶著約翰逃跑。撒迦利亞因無法說出兒子的下落而被殺害。希律死去。

NOW, when the magian priests did not return to tell him of the child that had been born a king, King Herod was enraged.

1、美吉祭司沒有回去報告那生來作王的孩子的下落，希律就大為惱怒。

2) And then his courtiers told him of another child in Bethlehem, one born to go before and to prepare the people to receive the king.

2、他的臣子報告說伯利恆還有一個孩子，生來是要作先驅，為王預備道路的。

3) This angered more and more the king;he called his guards and bid them go to Bethlehem and slay the infant John, as well as Jesus who was born to be a king.

3、聽了這話，希律更為惱怒，就召了兵丁來，叫他們往伯利恆去，屠殺嬰兒約翰並那生來作王的耶穌。

4) He said, Let no mistake be made, and that you may be sure to slay these claimants to my throne, slay all the male children in the town not yet two years of age.

4、他說，不可出任何紕漏，定要除去覬覦我寶座的人，殺盡城中兩歲以內的男嬰。

5) The guards went forth and did as Herod bade them do.

5、兵丁就去，照希律所吩咐的而行。

6) Elizabeth knew not that Herod sought to slay her son, and she and John were yet in Bethlehem;but when she knew, she took the infant John and hastened to the hills.

6、以利沙伯不知希律要除去她的兒子，和約翰尚在伯利恆，知道以後，就帶著嬰兒約翰，急忙往山地去。

7) The murderous guards were near;they pressed upon her hard;but then she knew the secret caves in all the hills, and into one she ran and hid herself and John until the guards were gone.

7、取命的兵丁近在咫尺，窮追不捨。所幸以利沙伯知道山上的所有秘洞，就帶著約翰躲入一個秘洞中，直到兵丁離去。

8) Their cruel task was done;the guards returned and told the story to the king.

8、屠殺的任務完成了，兵丁回去向王報告，

9) They said, We know that we have slain the infant king;but John his harbinger, we could not find.

9、說，我們確定新生王已被除去，只是找不到他的先驅約翰。

10) The king was angry with his guards because they failed to slay the infant John;He sent them to the tower in chains.

10、希律就向兵丁發怒，因為他們沒能除掉約翰，遂下令將他們捆鎖，送去塔樓，

11) And other guards were sent to Zacharias, father of the harbinger, while he was serving in the Holy Place, to say, The king demands that you shall tell where is your son.

11、又打發兵丁去找約翰的父親撒迦利亞。撒迦利亞正在聖所侍奉，兵丁對他說，王命令你說出你兒子的下落。

12) But Zacharias did not know, and he replied, I am a minister of God, a servant in the Holy Place;how could I know where they have taken him?

12、撒迦利亞不知道，就回答說，我是神的僕人，奉命在聖所侍奉，我哪知道他被帶到哪裡去了呢？

13) And when the guards returned and told the king what Zacharias said, he was enraged and said,

13、兵丁就回去，將撒迦利亞的話上報於王，王因而震怒，說，

14) My guards, go back and tell that wily priest that he is in my hands;that if he does not tell the truth, does not reveal the hiding place of John, his son, then he shall die.

14、你們回去，告訴那狡猾的祭司，就說他的命在我手中。他若不說實話，不供出他兒子約翰的下落，就得人頭落地。

15) The guards went back and told the priest just what the king had said.

15、兵丁們回去，將王的話帶給撒迦利亞。

16) And Zacharias said, I can but give my life for truth;and if the king does shed my blood the Lord will save my soul.

16、撒迦利亞說，那我只能為真理獻身了，王若取我的性命，主必保守我的靈魂。

17) The guards again returned and told the king what Zacharias said.

17、兵丁又回去，將撒迦利亞的話上報於王。

18) Now, Zacharias stood before the altar in the Holy Place engaged in prayer.

18、正當撒迦利亞在聖所的香壇前禱告時，

19) A guard approached and with a dagger thrust him through;he fell and died before the curtain of the sanctuary of the Lord.

19、一個兵丁進前來，用匕首將他刺透了。他倒在地上，死在了主聖所的帳幕前。

20) And when the hour of salutation came, for Zacharias daily blessed the priests, he did not come.

20、撒迦利亞給祭司們祝福的時候到了，他卻沒有出來。

21) And after waiting long the priests went to the Holy Place and found the body of the dead.

21、等了良久，祭司們便進入聖所，發現他已死去。

22) And there was grief, deep grief, in all the land.

22、全國陷入深深的悲痛之中。

23) Now Herod sat upon his throne;he did not seem to move;his courtiers came;the king was dead. His sons reigned in his stead.

23、一日，希律坐在寶座上，一動不動。臣子們入內，發現他已死去。他的兒子們便接替他的位子。