创世记 30
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
30 拉结见自己没有给雅各生孩子，就嫉妒姐姐。她对雅各说：“你给我孩子，不然我还不如死了！” 2 雅各气愤地说：“使你不能生育的是上帝，难道我能代替上帝吗？” 3 拉结说：“你去跟我的婢女辟拉同房吧，这样她可以为我生孩子，我也可以留下后代。” 4 于是拉结把婢女辟拉给丈夫做妾，雅各和辟拉同房。 5 辟拉怀了孕，为雅各生下一个儿子。 6 拉结说：“上帝为我申了冤，也听了我的恳求，赐给我一个儿子。”拉结就给孩子取名叫但[a]。 7 拉结的婢女辟拉又怀孕，为雅各生了第二个儿子。 8 拉结说：“我跟姐姐相争，我得胜了。”她就给这孩子取名叫拿弗他利[b]。
9 利亚见自己不再生育，就把婢女悉帕给雅各做妾。 10 悉帕给雅各生了一个儿子。 11 利亚说：“真幸运！”她便给孩子取名叫迦得[c]。 12 悉帕又给雅各生了第二个儿子， 13 利亚说：“我真有福啊！妇女们会说我有福！”她就为孩子取名亚设[d]。
14 在收麦子的季节，吕便在田间找到一些风茄，拿回家给母亲利亚。拉结知道后，对利亚说：“请给我一些你儿子找到的风茄。” 15 利亚说：“你抢了我丈夫还不够吗？现在还要抢我儿子的风茄吗？”拉结回答说：“你给我风茄，今夜雅各就跟你同房。” 16 那天晚上，雅各从田间回来，利亚就出来迎接他说：“你要来跟我同房，因为我已经用儿子的风茄把你雇下来了。”于是，那天晚上雅各便跟利亚同房。 17 上帝答应利亚的祈求，使她怀孕，为雅各生了第五个儿子。 18 利亚说：“我把婢女送给丈夫做妾，现在上帝给我报酬了。”因此，她就为孩子取名叫以萨迦[e]。
19 后来，利亚又怀孕，给雅各生下第六个儿子。 20 她说：“上帝赐给我珍贵的礼物，现在我丈夫会尊重我，因为我给他生了六个儿子。”于是，她就给这个儿子取名叫西布伦[f]。 21 后来，利亚又生了一个女儿，给她取名叫底娜。
22 上帝眷顾拉结，听了她的祷告，使她可以生育。 23 她就怀孕，生了一个儿子，说：“上帝除去了我的羞辱。” 24 她给孩子取名叫约瑟[g]，又说：“愿上帝再给我添一个儿子！”
雅各与拉班的协议
25 拉结生约瑟以后，雅各对拉班说：“请让我走吧！我想回故乡， 26 请你让我和妻儿一同回去吧！她们都是我替你工作得来的，你知道我怎样努力为你工作。”
27 拉班却挽留他，说：“如果你肯赏光，请你留下来！因为我占卜得知上帝为了你的缘故才赐福给我。 28 你要多少酬劳，只管说出来，我一定会给你。”
29 雅各回答说：“你知道我怎样努力地服侍你，照顾你的牲畜。 30 我来以前，你的财产很少。上帝因为我的到来而赐福给你，使你财产大增。但我自己什么时候才能兴家立业呢？”
31 拉班问：“我该给你什么呢？”雅各说：“你不用给我什么，只要你答应一件事，我就继续照料你的羊群。 32 今天让我从你的羊群中挑出黑色或有斑点的绵羊，以及有斑点的山羊作为我的薪酬。 33 以后，如果你在给我作薪酬的羊群中发现白色的绵羊或没有斑点的山羊，就算是我偷的。这样你可以知道我是否诚实。”
34 拉班说：“好，就照你的话做！” 35 当天，拉班把有条纹或斑点的公山羊以及有斑点或夹杂白纹的母山羊，连同黑色的绵羊都挑出来，交给自己的儿子们看管。 36 然后，他离开雅各，彼此相隔三天的路程。雅各继续为他照料其余的羊。
37 雅各折下一些杨树、杏树和枫树的嫩枝，削掉部分树皮，露出白色的条纹， 38 然后把这些嫩枝插在羊喝水的水槽和水沟里。羊群来喝水时互相交配。 39 它们对着这些树枝交配，就生下有条纹和有斑点的羊羔。 40 雅各把这些羊羔分出来，使它们与拉班的羊各在一处。他把自己的羊安置在一处，不与拉班的羊搀杂在一起。 41 每当肥壮的羊交配时，雅各就把有条纹的枝子插在水沟里，使羊对着树枝交配。 42 但如果交配的羊是瘦弱的，他就不插枝子。这样，瘦弱的羊归拉班，肥壮的羊归雅各。 43 因此，雅各变得极其富有，拥有很多羊、骆驼、驴和仆婢。
創世記 30
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
30 拉結見自己沒有給雅各生孩子，就嫉妒姐姐。她對雅各說：「你給我孩子，不然我還不如死了！」 2 雅各氣憤地說：「使你不能生育的是上帝，難道我能代替上帝嗎？」 3 拉結說：「你去跟我的婢女辟拉同房吧，這樣她可以為我生孩子，我也可以留下後代。」 4 於是拉結把婢女辟拉給丈夫做妾，雅各和辟拉同房。 5 辟拉懷了孕，為雅各生下一個兒子。 6 拉結說：「上帝為我申了冤，也聽了我的懇求，賜給我一個兒子。」拉結就給孩子取名叫但[a]。 7 拉結的婢女辟拉又懷孕，為雅各生了第二個兒子。 8 拉結說：「我跟姐姐相爭，我得勝了。」她就給這孩子取名叫拿弗他利[b]。
9 利亞見自己不再生育，就把婢女悉帕給雅各做妾。 10 悉帕給雅各生了一個兒子。 11 利亞說：「真幸運！」她便給孩子取名叫迦得[c]。 12 悉帕又給雅各生了第二個兒子， 13 利亞說：「我真有福啊！婦女們會說我有福！」她就為孩子取名亞設[d]。
14 在收麥子的季節，呂便在田間找到一些風茄，拿回家給母親利亞。拉結知道後，對利亞說：「請給我一些你兒子找到的風茄。」 15 利亞說：「你搶了我丈夫還不夠嗎？現在還要搶我兒子的風茄嗎？」拉結回答說：「你給我風茄，今夜雅各就跟你同房。」 16 那天晚上，雅各從田間回來，利亞就出來迎接他說：「你要來跟我同房，因為我已經用兒子的風茄把你雇下來了。」於是，那天晚上雅各便跟利亞同房。 17 上帝答應利亞的祈求，使她懷孕，為雅各生了第五個兒子。 18 利亞說：「我把婢女送給丈夫做妾，現在上帝給我報酬了。」因此，她就為孩子取名叫以薩迦[e]。
19 後來，利亞又懷孕，給雅各生下第六個兒子。 20 她說：「上帝賜給我珍貴的禮物，現在我丈夫會尊重我，因為我給他生了六個兒子。」於是，她就給這個兒子取名叫西布倫[f]。 21 後來，利亞又生了一個女兒，給她取名叫底娜。
22 上帝眷顧拉結，聽了她的禱告，使她可以生育。 23 她就懷孕，生了一個兒子，說：「上帝除去了我的羞辱。」 24 她給孩子取名叫約瑟[g]，又說：「願上帝再給我添一個兒子！」
雅各與拉班的協議
25 拉結生約瑟以後，雅各對拉班說：「請讓我走吧！我想回故鄉， 26 請你讓我和妻兒一同回去吧！她們都是我替你工作得來的，你知道我怎樣努力為你工作。」
27 拉班卻挽留他，說：「如果你肯賞光，請你留下來！因為我占卜得知上帝為了你的緣故才賜福給我。 28 你要多少酬勞，只管說出來，我一定會給你。」
29 雅各回答說：「你知道我怎樣努力地服侍你，照顧你的牲畜。 30 我來以前，你的財產很少。上帝因為我的到來而賜福給你，使你財產大增。但我自己什麼時候才能興家立業呢？」
31 拉班問：「我該給你什麼呢？」雅各說：「你不用給我什麼，只要你答應一件事，我就繼續照料你的羊群。 32 今天讓我從你的羊群中挑出黑色或有斑點的綿羊，以及有斑點的山羊作為我的薪酬。 33 以後，如果你在給我作薪酬的羊群中發現白色的綿羊或沒有斑點的山羊，就算是我偷的。這樣你可以知道我是否誠實。」
34 拉班說：「好，就照你的話做！」 35 當天，拉班把有條紋或斑點的公山羊以及有斑點或夾雜白紋的母山羊，連同黑色的綿羊都挑出來，交給自己的兒子們看管。 36 然後，他離開雅各，彼此相隔三天的路程。雅各繼續為他照料其餘的羊。
37 雅各折下一些楊樹、杏樹和楓樹的嫩枝，削掉部分樹皮，露出白色的條紋， 38 然後把這些嫩枝插在羊喝水的水槽和水溝裡。羊群來喝水時互相交配。 39 牠們對著這些樹枝交配，就生下有條紋和有斑點的羊羔。 40 雅各把這些羊羔分出來，使牠們與拉班的羊各在一處。他把自己的羊安置在一處，不與拉班的羊攙雜在一起。 41 每當肥壯的羊交配時，雅各就把有條紋的枝子插在水溝裡，使羊對著樹枝交配。 42 但如果交配的羊是瘦弱的，他就不插枝子。這樣，瘦弱的羊歸拉班，肥壯的羊歸雅各。 43 因此，雅各變得極其富有，擁有很多羊、駱駝、驢和僕婢。
Genesis 30
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 30
1 When Rachel saw that she had not borne children to Jacob, she became envious of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I shall die!”(A) 2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Can I take the place of God, who has denied you the fruit of the womb?”(B) 3 She replied, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Have intercourse with her, and let her give birth on my knees,[a] so that I too may have children through her.”(C) 4 So she gave him her maidservant Bilhah as wife,[b] and Jacob had intercourse with her. 5 When Bilhah conceived and bore a son for Jacob, 6 Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; indeed he has heeded my plea and given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan.[c] 7 Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah conceived again and bore a second son for Jacob, 8 and Rachel said, “I have wrestled strenuously with my sister, and I have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali.[d]
9 When Leah saw that she had ceased to bear children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 So Leah’s maidservant Zilpah bore a son for Jacob. 11 Leah then said, “What good luck!” So she named him Gad.[e] 12 Then Leah’s maidservant Zilpah bore a second son to Jacob; 13 and Leah said, “What good fortune, because women will call me fortunate!” So she named him Asher.[f]
14 One day, during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and came upon some mandrakes[g] in the field which he brought home to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 Leah replied, “Was it not enough for you to take away my husband, that you must now take my son’s mandrakes too?” Rachel answered, “In that case Jacob may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 That evening, when Jacob came in from the field, Leah went out to meet him. She said, “You must have intercourse with me, because I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So that night he lay with her, 17 and God listened to Leah; she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob. 18 Leah then said, “God has given me my wages for giving my maidservant to my husband”; so she named him Issachar.[h] 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob; 20 and Leah said, “God has brought me a precious gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons”; so she named him Zebulun.[i] 21 Afterwards she gave birth to a daughter, and she named her Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and made her fruitful. 23 She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has removed my disgrace.”(D) 24 She named him Joseph,[j] saying, “May the Lord add another son for me!”
Jacob Outwits Laban.[k] 25 After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban: “Allow me to go to my own region and land. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I served you and let me go, for you know the service that I rendered you.” 27 Laban answered him: “If you will please! I have learned through divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 28 He continued, “State the wages I owe you, and I will pay them.” 29 Jacob replied: “You know what work I did for you and how well your livestock fared under my care; 30 the little you had before I came has grown into an abundance, since the Lord has blessed you in my company. Now, when can I do something for my own household as well?” 31 Laban asked, “What should I give you?” Jacob answered: “You do not have to give me anything. If you do this thing for me, I will again pasture and tend your sheep. 32 Let me go through your whole flock today and remove from it every dark animal among the lambs and every spotted or speckled one among the goats.[l] These will be my wages. 33 In the future, whenever you check on my wages, my honesty will testify for me: any animal that is not speckled or spotted among the goats, or dark among the lambs, got into my possession by theft!” 34 Laban said, “Very well. Let it be as you say.”
35 That same day Laban removed the streaked and spotted he-goats and all the speckled and spotted she-goats, all those with some white on them, as well as every dark lamb, and he put them in the care of his sons.[m] 36 Then he put a three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob was pasturing the rest of Laban’s flock.
37 Jacob, however, got some fresh shoots of poplar, almond and plane[n] trees, and he peeled white stripes in them by laying bare the white core of the shoots. 38 The shoots that he had peeled he then set upright in the watering troughs where the animals came to drink, so that they would be in front of them. When the animals were in heat as they came to drink, 39 the goats mated by the shoots, and so they gave birth to streaked, speckled and spotted young. 40 The sheep, on the other hand, Jacob kept apart, and he made these animals face the streaked or completely dark animals of Laban. Thus he produced flocks of his own, which he did not put with Laban’s flock. 41 Whenever the hardier animals were in heat, Jacob would set the shoots in the troughs in full view of these animals, so that they mated by the shoots; 42 but with the weaker animals he would not put the shoots there. So the feeble animals would go to Laban, but the hardy ones to Jacob. 43 So the man grew exceedingly prosperous, and he owned large flocks, male and female servants, camels, and donkeys.
Footnotes
- 30:3 On my knees: in the ancient Near East, a father would take a newborn child in his lap to signify that he acknowledged it as his own; Rachel uses the ceremony in order to adopt the child and establish her legal rights to it.
- 30:4 As wife: in 35:22 Bilhah is called a “concubine” (Heb. pilegesh). In v. 9, Zilpah is called “wife,” and in 37:2 both women are called wives. The basic difference between a wife and a concubine was that no bride price was paid for the latter. The interchange of terminology shows that there was some blurring in social status between the wife and the concubine.
- 30:6 Dan: explained by the term dannanni, “he has vindicated me.”
- 30:8 Naphtali: explained by the Hebrew term naftulim, lit., “contest” or “struggle.”
- 30:11 Gad: explained by the Hebrew term begad, lit., “in luck,” i.e., “what good luck!”
- 30:13 Asher: explained by the term be’oshri, lit., “in my good fortune,” i.e., “what good fortune,” and by the term ye’ashsheruni, “they call me fortunate.”
- 30:14 Mandrakes: an herb whose root was thought to promote conception. The Hebrew word for mandrakes, duda’im, has erotic connotations, since it sounds like the words daddayim (“breasts”) and dodim (“sexual pleasure”).
- 30:18 Issachar: explained by the terms, sekari, “my reward,” and in v. 16, sakor sekartika, “I have hired you.”
- 30:20 Zebulun: explained by the terms, zebadani…zebed tob, “he has brought me a precious gift,” and yizbeleni, “he will honor me.”
- 30:24 Joseph: explained by the words yosep, “may he add,” and in v. 23, ’asap, “he has removed.”
- 30:25–43 Jacob’s deception of Laban. Jacob has been living in Laban’s household as an indentured worker paying off the bride price. Having paid off all his obligations, he wants to settle his accounts with Laban. His many children attest to the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise of numerous progeny; the birth of Joseph to his beloved Rachel signals the fulfillment in a special way. To enter into the Lord’s second promise, the land, he must now return to Canaan.
- 30:32 Dark…lambs…spotted or speckled…goats: in the Near East the normal color of sheep is light gray, whereas that of goats is dark brown or black. A minority of sheep in that part of the world have dark patches, and a minority of goats, white markings. Laban is quick to agree to the offer, for Jacob would have received only a few animals. But Jacob gets the better of him, using two different means: (1) he separates out the weaker animals and then provides visual impressions to the stronger animals at mating time (a folkloric belief); (2) in 31:8–12, he transmits the preferred characteristics through controlled propagation. It should be noted that Jacob has been told what to do in a dream (31:10) and that God is behind the increase in his flocks.
- 30:35 By giving the abnormally colored animals to his sons, Laban not only deprived Jacob of his first small wages, but he also schemed to prevent the future breeding of such animals in the flock entrusted to Jacob.
- 30:37 Plane: also called the Oriental Plane, a deciduous tree found in riverine forests and marshes.
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