1.为求和平他们派遣使者求和,说,Entreaties for Peace So they sent messengers to sue for peace, and said,
2.看哪,我们是大王尼布甲尼撒的仆人,都伏在地上,在你面前任你处置。“Behold, we the servants of Nebuchadnez′zar, the Great King, lie prostrate before you. Do with us whatever you will.
3.看哪,我们的建筑和所有的土地,以及所有的麦田和我们的牛群羊群,以及所有的羊圈和帐篷,都摆在你面前,你可以随意处置。Behold, our buildings, and all our land, and all our wheat fields, and our flocks and herds, and all our sheepfolds with their tents, lie before you; do with them whatever you please.
4.我们的城邑和城邑中的居民都任你处置,我们是你的奴仆,求你愿意怎样就怎样待我们。Our cities also and their inhabitants are your slaves; come and deal with them in any way that seems good to you.”
5.那些人来到何乐弗尼面前,将这些事都告诉了他。The men came to Holofer′nes and told him all this.
6.他便带领军队下到海边,派军队驻扎在山顶的城邑,又从其中挑选精壮的人作为他的帮手。Then he went down to the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons in the hilltop cities and took picked men from them as his allies.
7.这些人和周围各地的人都用花环、舞蹈和鼓乐迎接他。And these people and all in the country round about welcomed him with garlands and dances and tambourines.
8.他拆毁了他们所有的庙宇,砍伐了他们所有的圣林,因为他受命要毁灭这地所有的神明,叫各国都敬拜尼布甲尼撒 Alone,并且所有的方言和部落都称他为神。And he demolished all their shrines and cut down their sacred groves; for it had been given to him to destroy all the gods of the land, so that all nations should worship Nebuchadnez′zar only, and all their tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.
9.他来到以斯德拉伦边境,靠近多坦,面对着犹大的大山脊;Then he came to the edge of Esdrae′lon, near Dothan, fronting the great ridge of Judea;
10.他在甲薛和斯基陀波利斯之间扎营,整整一个月没有动弹,为的是把军队需要的一切物资都准备齐全。here he camped between Geba and Scythop′olis, and remained for a whole month in order to assemble all the supplies for his army.