1Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of it,
1約但河西，住山地、高原，並對著利巴嫩山沿大海一帶的諸王，就是赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人的諸王，聽見這事，
2that they gathered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.
2就都聚集，同心合意的要與約書亞和以色列人爭戰。
3When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
3基遍的居民聽見約書亞向耶利哥和艾城所行的事，
4they also acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn-out and torn and mended,
4就設詭計，假充使者，拿舊口袋和破裂縫補的舊皮酒袋馱在驢上，
5and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry [and] had become crumbled.
5將補過的舊鞋穿在腳上，把舊衣服穿在身上；他們所帶的餅都是乾的，長了霉了。
6They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, 'We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.'
6他們到吉甲營中見約書亞，對他和以色列人說：我們是從遠方來的，現在求你與我們立約。
7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, 'Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?'
7以色列人對這些希未人說：只怕你們是住在我們中間的；若是這樣，怎能和你們立約呢？
8But they said to Joshua, 'We are your servants.' Then Joshua said to them, 'Who are you and where do you come from?'
8他們對約書亞說：我們是你的僕人。約書亞問他們說：你們是甚麼人？是從那裡來的？
9They said to him, 'Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt,
9他們回答說：僕人從極遠之地而來，是因聽見耶和華─你神的名聲和他在埃及所行的一切事，
10and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
10並他向約但河東的兩個亞摩利王，就是希實本王西宏和在亞斯他錄的巴珊王噩一切所行的事。
11'So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, 'We are your servants; now then, make a covenant with us.''
11我們的長老和我們那地的一切居民對我們說：你們手裡要帶著路上用的食物去迎接以色列人，對他們說：我們是你們的僕人；現在求你們與我們立約。
12'This our bread [was] warm [when] we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the day that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.
12我們出來要往你們這裡來的日子，從家裡帶出來的這餅還是熱的；看哪，現在都乾了，長了霉了。
13'These wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.'
13這皮酒袋，我們盛酒的時候還是新的；看哪，現在已經破裂。我們這衣服和鞋，因為道路甚遠，也都穿舊了。
14So the men [of Israel] took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.
14以色列人受了他們些食物，並沒有求問耶和華。
15Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore [an oath] to them.
15於是約書亞與他們講和，與他們立約，容他們活著；會眾的首領也向他們起誓。
16It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.
16以色列人與他們立約之後，過了三天才聽見他們是近鄰，住在以色列人中間的。
17Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities [were] Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.
17以色列人起行，第三天到了他們的城邑，就是基遍、基非拉、比錄、基列耶琳。
18The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
18因為會眾的首領已經指著耶和華─以色列的神向他們起誓，所以以色列人不擊殺他們；全會眾就向首領發怨言。
19But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, 'We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
19眾首領對全會眾說：我們已經指著耶和華─以色列的神向他們起誓，現在我們不能害他們。
20'This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.'
20我們要如此待他們，容他們活著，免得有忿怒因我們所起的誓臨到我們身上。
21The leaders said to them, 'Let them live.' So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.
21首領又對會眾說：要容他們活著。於是他們為全會眾作了劈柴挑水的人，正如首領對他們所說的話。
22Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, 'Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you are living within our land?
22約書亞召了他們來，對他們說：為甚麼欺哄我們說我們離你們甚遠呢？其實你們是住在我們中間。
23'Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.'
23現在你們是被咒詛的！你們中間的人必斷不了作奴僕，為我神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。
24So they answered Joshua and said, 'Because it was certainly told your servants that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
24他們回答約書亞說：因為有人實在告訴你的僕人，耶和華─你的神曾吩咐他的僕人摩西，把這全地賜給你們，並在你們面前滅絕這地的一切居民，所以我們為你們的緣故甚怕喪命，就行了這事。
25'Now behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.'
25現在我們在你手中，你以怎樣待我們為善為正，就怎樣做罷！
26Thus he did to them, and delivered them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.
26於是約書亞這樣待他們，救他們脫離以色列人的手，以色列人就沒有殺他們。
27But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.
27當日約書亞使他們在耶和華所要選擇的地方，為會眾和耶和華的壇作劈柴挑水的人，直到今日。