雅各書 1:1-19

英文語音

雅各對他兄弟的教誨。他駁斥一個企圖推翻基督教義的人。略述尼腓人的歷史。

The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of Nephi.

雅各和約瑟力勸人民相信基督，遵守祂的誡命──尼腓去世──尼腓人惡行猖獗。約主前五四四年至四二一年。

Jacob and Joseph seek to persuade men to believe in Christ and keep his commandments—Nephi dies—Wickedness prevails among the Nephites. About 544–421 B.C.

1 因為看啊，事情是這樣的，從李海離開耶路撒冷到現在，已經過了五十五年；這時，尼腓給我，雅各，一個有關小片的命令；這些事情就是刻在小片上的。

1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

2 他命令我，雅各，要在這些頁片上寫一些我認為最寶貴的事情；除非略述，否則我不得提及這稱為尼腓人的民族的歷史。

2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi.

3 他說他人民的歷史要刻在他其他的頁片上，而我要保存這些頁片，並代代相傳給我的後裔。

3 For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.

4 如有神聖的講道、偉大的啟示，或預言，我就要為基督，也為我人民的緣故，把重點刻在這些頁片上，並且盡量多寫。

4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.

5 由於信心與極度的憂慮，我們確實蒙得顯示，知道我們人民當中會發生什麼事。

5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.

6 我們也蒙得許多啟示和許多預言之靈；所以，我們知道有關將會來臨的基督和祂國度的事。

6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.

7 因此，我們在人民中努力工作，好勸他們歸向基督，領受神的良善，使他們能進入祂的安息，以免萬一主在憤怒中誓言不讓他們進入，就像以色列兒女在曠野受試探的日子，惹祂發怒時一樣。

7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.

8 所以，但願我們能勸所有的人不要反叛神，不惹祂發怒，卻要相信基督、沉思祂的死亡、承受祂的十字架並擔負世人的羞辱；因此，我，雅各，決心完成我哥哥尼腓命令的事。

8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.

9 尼腓開始老了，自知不久人世，所以現在他按照列王的統治，膏立一人為他人民的國王和統治者。

9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.

10 人民都非常愛戴尼腓，他是位偉大的庇護者，曾用拉班劍護衛他們，並在他所有的日子中為他們的福祉而工作。(明註：wielded 揮舞)

10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—

11 因此，人民都希望保留他的名字來記念他，凡接替他統治的，人民就按照列王的統治，稱為尼腓二世、尼腓三世等；不管他們的名字是什麼，人民就這樣稱呼他們。

11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

12 事情是這樣的，尼腓去世了。

12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.

13 現在，此地的人民不是拉曼人就是尼腓人；不過，他們也稱為尼腓人、雅各人、約瑟人、卓倫人、拉曼人、雷米爾人和以實瑪利人。

13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

14 但我，雅各，今後不要用這些名稱來區分他們，我要按照列王的統治，稱那些企圖消滅尼腓人的為拉曼人，稱那些對尼腓人友善的為尼腓人，或尼腓的人民。

14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.

15 事情是這樣的，尼腓的人民在第二任國王的統治下，心地日漸頑硬並有點沉迷於各種惡行中，就像古時的大衛和他兒子所羅門一樣，想要有許多妻妾。

15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

16 是的，他們也開始尋找大量的金子和銀子，並且開始有點驕傲自大。

16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

17 我，雅各，事先蒙得主的差遣，所以在聖殿教導他們時，對他們講了這些話。

17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

18 因為我，雅各，和弟弟約瑟，都已由尼腓的手按立為這人民的祭司和教師。(明註：consecrated 奉獻)

18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

19 我們確曾為主光大我們的職務，如果我們沒有盡最大的努力教導他們神的話，我們願意負責，並讓這人民的罪都報應在我們頭上；因此，我們盡力工作，使他們的血不致濺上我們的衣服，若不這樣，他們的血就會濺上我們的衣服，我們在末日就不會被判為潔淨無瑕了。

19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.