He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them.

他使邦国兴旺而又毁灭；他使邦国开广而又掳去。

他使邦国兴旺而又毁灭，使邦国扩展又被掠夺。

他使邦国兴旺而又毁灭，使邦国扩展又被掠夺。

祂使列国兴起又灭亡，祂使列国扩张又崩溃。

他使邦国兴盛，又毁灭他们，扩张邦国，又把他们掳去。

他使邦國興旺而又毀滅；他使邦國開廣而又擄去。

他使邦國興旺而又毀滅，使邦國擴展又被掠奪。

他使邦國興旺而又毀滅，使邦國擴展又被掠奪。

祂使列國興起又滅亡，祂使列國擴張又崩潰。

他使邦國興盛，又毀滅他們，擴張邦國，又把他們擄去。

他使邦國旺大、而又滅亡；使列族擴展、又給帶走。

使列邦時興時滅、或廓之、或虜之、

生齒既繁、復加翦滅、版圖既廓、再使侵削。

使列國興盛、復又滅之、使萬邦開廓、復使衰蹙、

He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

He makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them.

He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.

He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.

He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.

He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.

He makes nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges nations, then leads them away.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them[ again].

He makes nations great, and destroys them; he extends the boundaries of nations and disperses them.

He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.

O Lord, you have made our nation great; yes, you have made us great. You have extended our borders, and we give you the glory!

You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.

The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

How he blesses them! They raise large families there, and their herds of livestock increase.

So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.

When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have redeemed them. From the few who are left, they will grow as numerous as they were before.

There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them.

Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”

And as the stars of the sky cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who minister before me.”

But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.

The time is coming when Jacob’s descendants will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with fruit!