出埃及記 32
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
金牛犢
32 百姓見摩西遲遲沒有下山，就聚集到亞倫那裡，對他說：「領我們離開埃及的那個摩西不知怎樣了，你給我們造神像來帶領我們吧。」 2 亞倫對他們說：「你們去摘下妻子、兒女的金耳環，拿來給我。」 3 百姓就都摘下金耳環交給亞倫。 4 亞倫用這些金耳環鑄造了一頭牛犢。他們說：「以色列人啊，這就是把你們帶出埃及的神明。」 5 亞倫見狀，便在牛犢前面築了一座壇，然後宣告說：「明天是耶和華定的節期。」 6 第二天清晨，百姓都上前來獻燔祭和平安祭，獻完祭後就坐下吃喝，起來狂歡。
7 耶和華對摩西說：「你快下山吧，你的百姓，就是你從埃及領出來的那些人已經敗壞了。 8 他們這麼快就偏離了我吩咐他們走的道路，為自己造了一頭牛犢來叩拜獻祭，說，『以色列人啊，這就是把你們帶出埃及的神明。』」 9 耶和華又說：「我看到了，這些百姓真是頑固不化。 10 你不要阻止我，我要向他們發烈怒，毀滅他們。我要使你的後代成為大國。」
11 摩西懇求他的上帝耶和華說：「耶和華啊，你為什麼要向你的子民發烈怒呢？這些子民是你親自用神蹟和大能從埃及領出來的。 12 難道你要讓埃及人議論說你領他們出來是出於惡意，是為了在山野之間殺掉他們，從地上滅絕他們嗎？求你息怒，施憐憫，不要降禍給你的子民。 13 求你顧念你的僕人亞伯拉罕、以撒和以色列，你曾憑自己向他們起誓說，『我必使你們的後代像天上的星星那麼多。我應許給你們後代的這整片土地，我必賜給他們作永遠的產業。』」 14 耶和華聽了摩西的話，就心生憐憫，不把所說的災禍降在百姓身上。
15 摩西轉身下山，手裡拿著兩塊石版，石版的正反兩面都有字。 16 石版是上帝做的，字是上帝刻的。 17 約書亞聽見山下百姓嘈雜的喊叫聲，便對摩西說：「營地裡有打仗的聲音。」 18 摩西對他說：「這不是打勝仗的聲音，也不是打敗仗的聲音，而是狂歡的聲音。」 19 摩西走近營地的時候，看見牛犢，又看見百姓在跳舞，心中大怒，便把手上的兩塊石版摔碎在山腳下， 20 又把他們鑄造的牛犢熔化掉，磨成粉末撒在水面上，叫以色列百姓喝。 21 摩西對亞倫說：「這些百姓對你做了什麼？你竟使他們陷入大罪中！」 22 亞倫回答說：「求我主不要動怒，你知道這些人專門作惡。 23 他們對我說，『為我們造神明來帶領我們吧，因為領我們離開埃及的那個摩西不知怎樣了。』 24 於是，我吩咐他們摘下金耳環給我，我把這些金耳環丟進火裡，這頭牛犢就出來了。」
25 摩西見百姓放肆，亞倫縱容他們，使他們成為敵人的笑柄， 26 便站在營門口對會眾說：「凡跟從耶和華的，都站到我這邊來。」所有的利未人都聚集到摩西身邊。 27 摩西對他們說：「以色列的上帝耶和華這樣說，『你們各人帶著刀，從這個門到那個門，走遍整個營，不論遇見的是兄弟、夥伴還是鄰居，只管殺他們。』」 28 利未人便照摩西的話去做。那一天，約有三千人被殺。 29 摩西對利未人說：「今天你們已經把自己奉獻給耶和華了，因為你們大義滅親，祂必賜福給你們。」
30 第二天，摩西對百姓說：「你們犯了大罪，我現在要到耶和華那裡，也許可以為你們求得赦免。」 31 摩西回到耶和華那裡，說：「唉，百姓犯了大罪，用金子為自己造了神像。 32 懇求你赦免他們的罪，不然請你從你的冊子上抹掉我的名字吧。」 33 耶和華對摩西說：「誰得罪我，我就從我的冊子上抹掉誰的名字。 34 你現在回去帶領這些百姓，往我指示你的地方去，我的天使必在你前面引路。只是到我懲罰的日子，我必因他們的罪懲罰他們。」
35 耶和華擊殺百姓，是因為他們曾與亞倫一起造牛犢。
Exodus 32
Christian Standard Bible
The Gold Calf
32 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods[a] for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!” (A)
2 Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings(B) that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf.
Then they said, “Israel, these are your gods,[b] who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” (C)
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and made an announcement: “There will be a festival(D) to the Lord tomorrow.” 6 Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.(E)
7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.(F) 8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them; they have made for themselves an image of a calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and said, ‘Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’”(G) 9 The Lord also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked(H) people. 10 Now leave me alone, so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”(I)
11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God: “Lord, why does your anger burn against your people you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and eliminate them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for your people.(J) 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—you swore to them by yourself(K) and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’”(L) 14 So the Lord relented(M) concerning the disaster he had said he would bring on his people.
15 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides—inscribed front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was God’s writing, engraved on the tablets.(N)
17 When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.”
18 But Moses replied,
It’s not the sound of a victory cry
and not the sound of a cry of defeat;
I hear the sound of singing!
19 As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.
21 Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?”
22 “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.(O) 23 They said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ 24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”
25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, making them a laughingstock to their enemies.[c] 26 And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him. 27 He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”(P) 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand men fell dead that day among the people. 29 Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated[d] to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”(Q)
30 The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”(R)
31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a grave sin; they have made a god of gold for themselves.(S) 32 Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.”(T)
33 The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book.(U) 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I told you about; see, my angel will go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.”(V) 35 And the Lord inflicted a plague on the people for what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
Exodus 32
The Voice
32 When the people realized Moses was taking a long time to return from his trek up the mountain, they got together and approached Aaron.
People: We have no idea what happened to this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.[a] He left you in charge, so get up and make us gods who will lead us from here.
Aaron: 2 I want you to bring me the gold earrings your wives, sons, and daughters are wearing.
3 So everyone took out their gold earrings and handed them over to Aaron. 4 He collected the gold they brought and used a tool to fashion an idol in the shape of a calf. When the people saw the calf Aaron made, they were elated.
People (seeing the calf): Israel, these are your gods—the ones who led you out of the land of Egypt.
5 When Aaron saw how the people responded, he built an altar in front of the golden calf.
Aaron: We are going to have a feast to the Eternal tomorrow.
6 Everyone woke up before dawn the next day and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar. When the food was ready, they sat down to eat and drink and then rose up to dance and play.[b]
7 Meanwhile, on the mountain, the Eternal One spoke to Moses.
This is truly a dark moment for Israel. Moses left Aaron and Hur in charge 40 days ago, and both men are beginning to feel the strain. The people are stuck in the desert, and they are growing increasingly impatient without Moses and direction from God. So the people begin to question, and eventually they demand a physical representation of God like the ones their neighbors have. Aaron complies. With Moses and God occupied, the people begin breaking the Ten Directives, one after another: worshiping other gods, making idols, invoking God’s name for their own selfish purposes, and committing other indecent acts. The people of God fall quickly, and they fall hard. For a brief period, their very survival is in doubt.
Eternal One: Go back down the mountain immediately, because your people whom you led out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have quickly abandoned the way of life I require of them. They have fashioned a calf out of gold, bowed down to it, and offered it sacrifices. They are even crediting My work to that detestable idol, saying, “Israel, these are your gods—the ones who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”
9 I know these people, and they are unbelievably stubborn. 10 Leave Me alone so that My anger can flare up and destroy them. Then I will start over and continue My plans without them and make a great nation out of you.
Moses (begging): 11 Eternal One, why are You so angry? Why does Your anger flare up against the people You led out of Egypt with so much power and a strong hand? 12 Do You really want the Egyptians to say: “You deceived them and led them into the mountains in order to kill them and to wipe their memory from the earth”? I beg you to curb Your anger, and change your mind. Don’t harm Your people. 13 Remember the sacred promise You made to Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You swore, “I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all of this land as I promised. It will be their everlasting inheritance.”
14 So the Eternal relented and decided not to destroy the people as He had threatened to do.
15 Moses left God’s presence and went back down the mountain. In his hands, he carried the two stone tablets of witness, inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were God’s handiwork, and the writing on the tablets was written by God Himself.
17 As they neared the camp, Joshua heard all the commotion and the people shouting.
Joshua (to Moses): It sounds like a battle going on down at the camp.
Moses: 18 It is not the sound of victory, and it’s not the sound of defeat, but I do hear singing and celebration.
19 As soon as Moses arrived at the camp, he saw the calf and the revelry around it. His anger flared, and he hurled down the stone tablets and they shattered at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took down the calf they had made and burned it. He ground it down to a powder, scattered it over the water, and then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
Moses (to Aaron): 21 How could you lead these people into such a heinous sin? What did they do to you?
Aaron: 22 Control your anger, my master. You know these people. You know how evil they can be. 23 They told me, “We have no idea what happened to this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt. He left you in charge, so get up and make us some gods to lead us from here.” 24 So I told them, “If you are wearing any gold, take it off.” So they gave me all their gold and I just tossed it into the fire, and out came this calf!
25 When Moses saw that the people had lost all control because Aaron had let them get that way, and he realized their wild behavior had become a mockery in the sight of their enemies, 26 he stood at the camp’s entrance and shouted to them.
Moses: If you are on the side of the Eternal One, stand over here with me!
All of the Levites gathered around him.
Moses (to the Levites): 27 This is the message of the Eternal One, Israel’s True God: “Every one of you strap on your sword and move throughout the entire camp. Kill your brother, friend, and neighbor.”
28 The Levites did exactly as Moses told them to do, and about 3,000 men were killed that day.
Moses (to the Levites): 29 Dedicate your lives to the Eternal today—for every one of you has moved against sons and brothers. Because of your devotion to God, you have earned His blessing today.
30 On the very next day, Moses addressed the people.
Moses: You are guilty of a great sin. Now I am going back to the Eternal One, and I hope to make atonement for your wickedness.
31 Moses then went back up the mountain to the Eternal.
Moses: These people are guilty of a great sin against You. They fashioned gods out of gold for themselves. 32 If You will only forgive their sin, but if You do not, then erase me from the book You have written.
Eternal One: 33 I will erase from My book the name of everyone who has sinned against Me. 34 It’s time to go and leave this mountain. Lead the people to the place I told you. Look, My messenger will guide you there. When the time comes, I will punish them for what they have done.
35 Then the Eternal One sent a plague on all the people because they had bowed down and sacrificed to the calf Aaron had made.
Footnotes
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.