1Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
1耶和華對摩西說：
2'Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father's household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers' households. You shall write each name on his rod,
2你曉諭以色列人，從他們手下取杖，每支派一根；從他們所有的首領，按著支派，共取十二根。你要將各人的名字寫在各人的杖上，
3and write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head [of each] of their fathers' households.
3並要將亞倫的名字寫在利未的杖上，因為各族長必有一根杖。
4'You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you.
4你要把這些杖存在會幕內法櫃前，就是我與你們相會之處。
5'It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.'
5後來我所揀選的那人，他的杖必發芽。這樣，我必使以色列人向你們所發的怨言止息，不再達到我耳中。
6Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.
6於是摩西曉諭以色列人，他們的首領就把杖交給他，按著支派，每首領一根，共有十二根；亞倫的杖也在其中。
7So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.
7摩西就把杖存在法櫃的帳幕內，在耶和華面前。
8Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.
8第二天，摩西進法櫃的帳幕去。誰知利未族亞倫的杖已經發了芽，生了花苞，開了花，結了熟杏。
9Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the LORD to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.
9摩西就把所有的杖從耶和華面前拿出來，給以色列眾人看；他們看見了，各首領就把自己的杖拿去。
10But the LORD said to Moses, 'Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.'
10耶和華吩咐摩西說：把亞倫的杖還放在法櫃前，給這些背叛之子留作記號。這樣，你就使他們向我發的怨言止息，免得他們死亡。
11Thus Moses did; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did.
11摩西就這樣行。耶和華怎樣吩咐他，他就怎樣行了。
12Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, 'Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying!
12以色列人對摩西說：我們死喇！我們滅亡喇！都滅亡喇！
13'Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?'
13凡挨近耶和華帳幕的是必死的。我們都要死亡麼？