約翰福音 4
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)
耶穌與撒馬利亞婦人
4 耶穌[a]知道，法利賽人聽說他收門徒和施洗比約翰更多。 2 其實不是耶穌親自施洗，而是他的門徒們施洗。 3 於是耶穌離開猶太地區，又前往加利利地區。 4 但他定要經過撒馬利亞， 5 這樣就來到了撒馬利亞的一個城，叫敘加。這城靠近雅各給他兒子約瑟的那塊地， 6 雅各井就在那裡。耶穌因旅途勞累，就坐在井邊。那時大約是中午十二點[b]。
7 有一個撒馬利亞婦人來打水。耶穌對她說：「請給我一點水喝。」 8 那時，他的門徒們進城買食物去了。
9 撒馬利亞婦人對他說：「你是猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒馬利亞婦人要水喝呢？」原來猶太人不和撒馬利亞人來往。[c]
10 耶穌回答她，說：「如果你明白神的恩賜，也知道是誰對你說『給我一點水喝』，你早就求他了，他也把活水給你了。」
11 婦人問：「先生，你沒有打水的器具，井又深，你從哪裡得來那活水呢？ 12 難道你比我們的先祖雅各更大嗎？他給我們留下了這口井。他自己、他的子孫、他的牲畜都喝這井裡的水！」
13 耶穌回答說：「所有喝這水的人，還會再渴。 14 但如果有人喝了我給他的水，就絕不乾渴，直到永遠。不但如此，我給他的水將要在他裡面成為泉源，一直湧流到永恆的生命。」
15 婦人說：「先生，請給我那水，使我不渴，我也不用到這裡來打水了。」
16 耶穌說：「去叫你的丈夫，再回到這裡來。」
17 婦人回答說：「我沒有丈夫。」
耶穌說：「你說你沒有丈夫，這話沒錯。 18 其實你已經有過五個丈夫，你現在有的，不是你的丈夫。你說的是真的。」
19 婦人對他說：「先生，我看出你是先知！ 20 我們的祖先在這山上敬拜，而你們卻說敬拜的地方必須在耶路撒冷。」
21 耶穌說：「婦人，你當相信我，時候就要到了！那時你們敬拜父，既不在這山上，也不在耶路撒冷。 22 你們敬拜你們所不認識的；我們卻敬拜我們所認識的，因為救恩是出自猶太人的。 23 然而，時候就要到了，現在就是了！那時真正敬拜的人，要在靈裡和真理中敬拜父，因為父就是想要這樣的人來敬拜他。 24 神是靈，敬拜他的人必須在靈裡和真理中敬拜。」
25 婦人說：「我知道那稱為基督的彌賽亞要來。他來的時候，就會把一切都傳講給我們。」
26 耶穌說：「這和你說話的我，就是那一位。」
莊稼熟了
27 正在這時，他的門徒們回來了。他們見耶穌與一個婦人一同說話，就感到驚奇。只是沒有人問「你想要什麼？」或「你為什麼與她說話？」
28 那婦人放下她的水罐，回到城裡告訴人們說： 29 「你們來看！有個人把我過去所做的一切都說了出來，這個人會不會就是基督呢？」 30 大家就出城，來到耶穌那裡。
31 這其間，門徒們勸耶穌說：「拉比，請吃。」
32 但耶穌說：「我有食物吃，是你們所不知道的。」
33 門徒彼此問：「難道有人拿東西來給他吃了嗎？」
34 耶穌對他們說：「我的食物就是遵行那派我來者的旨意，並且完成他的工作。 35 你們不是說『收割的季節還有四個月才到』嗎？看哪，我告訴你們：舉目向田裡觀望，莊稼已經成熟[d]，可以收割了！ 36 收割的人得酬報，收集果實歸入永恆的生命，好使撒種的和收割的一同快樂。 37 實際上，這樣的說法是真實的：『一人撒種，另一個人收割。』 38 我派你們去收你們未曾勞苦的；別人勞苦了，你們也進入了他們的勞苦中。」
救世主
39 當時，那城裡有許多撒馬利亞人信了耶穌。這是因為那婦人見證說：「他把我過去所做的一切都說了出來。」 40 這樣，撒馬利亞人來到耶穌那裡的時候，請求他住在他們那裡。於是耶穌在那裡住了兩天。 41 後來，因著耶穌的話，信的人就更多了。 42 他們告訴那婦人說：「現在我們信，不再是因為你的話，而是因為我們親耳聽到了，並且知道這一位真是世界的救主[e]。」
加利利人歡迎耶穌
43 兩天後，耶穌離開了那裡，前往加利利地區。 44 他曾親自見證說，先知在自己的家鄉得不到尊敬。 45 當耶穌來到加利利地區，加利利人就接受他，因為他們也曾經上耶路撒冷去過節，看到耶穌節日期間在那裡所行的一切事。
治癒大臣的兒子
46 耶穌又來到加利利的迦拿，就是他把水變成酒的地方。有一個大臣，他的兒子在迦百農患了病。 47 這個人聽說耶穌從猶太來到加利利，就到耶穌那裡去，請求他下去治癒他的兒子，因為他的兒子快要死了。
48 耶穌對他說：「你們如果沒有看見神蹟和奇事，你們就絕不會信！」
49 那大臣對耶穌說：「先生，求你在我的孩子還沒有死之前下來吧！」
50 耶穌對他說：「你回去吧，你的兒子活了！」那人相信耶穌的話，就回去了。
51 他正下去的時候，他的奴僕們迎著他來[f]，告訴他孩子活了。 52 他就問孩子好轉的時間，他們說：「昨天下午一點[g]，燒就退了。」 53 這位父親就知道，那正是耶穌說「你的兒子活了」的時間。於是他自己和全家人都信了。
54 這是耶穌從猶太回到加利利以後所行的第二件神蹟。
John 4
The Voice
4 The picture was becoming clear to the Pharisees that Jesus had gained a following much larger than that of John the Baptist, the wandering prophet. Now He could see that the Pharisees were beginning to plot against Him. 2 This was because His disciples were busy ritually cleansing many new disciples through baptism,[a] 3 He chose to leave Judea where most Pharisees lived and return to a safer location in Galilee. 4 This was a trip that would take them through Samaria.
For Jews in Israel, Samaria is a place to be avoided. Before Solomon’s death 1,000 years earlier, the regions of Samaria and Judea were part of a united Israel. After the rebellion that divided the kingdom, Samaria became a hotbed of idol worship. The northern kings made alliances that corrupted the people by introducing foreign customs and strange gods. They even had the nerve to build a temple to the True God on Mt. Gerizim to rival the one in Jerusalem. By the time the twelve are traveling with Jesus, it has long been evident that the Samaritans have lost their way. By marrying outsiders, they have polluted the land. Israel’s Jews consider them to be half-breeds—mongrels—and the Jews know to watch out for them or else be bitten by temptation.
5-8 In a small Samaritan town known as Sychar, Jesus and His entourage stopped to rest at the historic well that Jacob gave his son Joseph. It was about noon when Jesus found a spot to sit close to the well while the disciples ventured off to find provisions. From His vantage, He watched as a Samaritan woman approached to draw some water. Unexpectedly He spoke to her.
Jesus: Would you draw water, and give Me a drink?
Woman: 9 I cannot believe that You, a Jew, would associate with me, a Samaritan woman; much less ask me to give You a drink.
Jews, you see, have no dealings with Samaritans.
Also, a man never approaches a woman like this in public. Jesus is breaking accepted social barriers with this confrontation.
Jesus: 10 You don’t know the gift of God or who is asking you for a drink of this water from Jacob’s well. Because if you did, you would have asked Him for something greater; and He would have given you the living water.
Woman: 11 Sir, You sit by this deep well a thirsty man without a bucket in sight. Where does this living water come from? 12 Are You claiming superiority to our father Jacob who labored long and hard to dig and maintain this well so that he could share clean water with his sons, grandchildren, and cattle?
Jesus: 13 Drink this water, and your thirst is quenched only for a moment. You must return to this well again and again. 14 I offer water that will become a wellspring within you that gives life throughout eternity. You will never be thirsty again.
Woman: 15 Please, Sir, give me some of this water, so I’ll never be thirsty and never again have to make the trip to this well.
Jesus: 16 Then bring your husband to Me.
Woman: 17-18 I do not have a husband.
Jesus: Technically you are telling the truth. But you have had five husbands and are currently living with a man you are not married to.
Woman: 19 Sir, it is obvious to me that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped here on this mountain, but Your people say that Jerusalem is the only place for all to worship. Which is it?
Jesus: 21-24 Woman, I tell you that neither is so. Believe this: a new day is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when the importance will not be placed on the time and place of worship but on the truthful hearts of worshipers. You worship what you don’t know while we worship what we do know, for God’s salvation is coming through the Jews. The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well. Regardless of whether you are in Jerusalem or on this mountain, if you do not seek the Father, then you do not worship.
Woman: 25 These mysteries will be made clear by He who is promised, the Anointed One.
Jesus: 26 The Anointed is speaking to you. I am the One you have been looking for.
27 The disciples returned to Him and gathered around Him in amazement that He would openly break their customs by speaking to this woman, but none of them would ask Him what He was looking for or why He was speaking with her. 28 The woman went back to the town, leaving her water pot behind. She stopped men and women on the streets and told them about what had happened.
Woman: 29 I met a stranger who knew everything about me. Come and see for yourselves; can He be the Anointed One?
30 A crowd came out of the city and approached Jesus. 31 During all of this, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat the food they gathered.
Jesus: 32 I have food to eat that you know nothing about.
Disciples (to one another): 33 Is it possible someone else has brought Him food while we were away?
Jesus: 34 I receive My nourishment by serving the will of the Father who sent Me and completing His work. 35 You have heard others say, “Be patient; we have four more months to wait until the crops are ready for the harvest.” I say, take a closer look and you will see that the fields are ripe and ready for the harvest. 36 The harvester is collecting his pay, harvesting fruit ripe for eternal life. So even now, he and the sower are celebrating their fortune. 37 The saying may be old, but it is true: “One person sows, and another reaps.” 38 I sent you to harvest where you have not labored; someone else took the time to plant and cultivate, and you feast on the fruit of their labor.
39 Meanwhile, because one woman shared with her neighbors how Jesus exposed her past and present, the village of Sychar was transformed—many Samaritans heard and believed. 40 The Samaritans approached Jesus and repeatedly invited Him to stay with them, so He lingered there for two days on their account. 41 With the words that came from His mouth, there were many more believing Samaritans. 42 They began their faith journey because of the testimony of the woman beside the well; but when they heard for themselves, they were convinced the One they were hearing was and is God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, sent to rescue the entire world.
43-45 After two days of teaching and conversation, Jesus proceeded to Galilee where His countrymen received Him with familiar smiles. After all, they witnessed His miracle at the feast in Jerusalem; but Jesus understood and often quoted the maxim: “No one honors a hometown prophet.”
These old friends should be the first to believe, but it takes outsiders like the Samaritans to recognize Him.
46-47 As Jesus traveled to Cana (the village in Galilee where He transformed the water into fine wine), He was met by a government official. This man had heard a rumor that Jesus had left Judea and was heading to Galilee, and he came in desperation begging for Jesus’ help because his young son was near death. He was fearful that unless Jesus would go with him to Capernaum, his son would have no hope.
Jesus (to the official): 48 My word is not enough; you only believe when you see miraculous signs.
Official: 49 Sir, this is my son; please come with me before he dies.
Jesus (interrupting him): 50 Go home. Your son will live.
When he heard the voice of Jesus, faith took hold of him and he turned to go home. 51 Before he reached his village, his servants met him on the road celebrating his son’s miraculous recovery.
Official: 52 What time did this happen?
Servants: Yesterday about one o’clock in the afternoon.
53 At that moment, it dawned on the father the exact time that Jesus spoke the words, “He will live.” After that, he believed; and when he told his family about his amazing encounter with this Jesus, they believed too. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed when He came back to Galilee from Judea.
Footnotes
- 4:2 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.