At first there weren’t very many of God’s people. There were only a few, and they were strangers in the land.

当时，他们人丁有限，数目稀少，并且在那地为寄居的。

当时，他们人丁有限，数目稀少，在那地寄居。

当时，他们人丁有限，数目稀少，在那地寄居。

那时他们人丁稀少，在当地寄居。

那时，他们人数不多，实在很少，而且是在那地寄居的。

那时他们人数稀少，实在很少，在那地是寄居的；

當時，他們人丁有限，數目稀少，並且在那地為寄居的。

當時，他們人丁有限，數目稀少，在那地寄居。

當時，他們人丁有限，數目稀少，在那地寄居。

那時他們人丁稀少，在當地寄居。

那時，他們人數不多，實在很少，而且是在那地寄居的。

當時他們人數有限，實在很少，又是在那地做寄居者；

那時他們人數稀少，實在很少，在那地是寄居的；

當時人寡、其數無幾、旅於斯土兮、

當時人寡、其數無幾、為旅於斯土兮、

當時彼尚人寡、其數無幾、在斯地寄居為旅、

當彼時。人可數。在迦南。如客旅。

When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,

When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,

He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.

When they were few in number, very few indeed, and resident aliens in Canaan,

When they were only a few people in number, Very few, and strangers in it.

When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.

When they were few in number, very few indeed, and temporary residents in Canaan,

When they were[ but] a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it,

when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi,“ You have brought trouble on me. Now I’m like a very bad smell to the Canaanites and Perizzites who live in this land. There aren’t many of us. They may join together against me and attack me. Then I and my family will be destroyed.”

The Lord chose you because he loved you very much. He didn’t choose you because you had more people than other nations. In fact, you had the smallest number of all.

Because of his faith he made his home in the land God had promised him. Abraham was like an outsider in a strange country. He lived there in tents. So did Isaac and Jacob. They received the same promise he did.

“ I’m an outsider. I’m a stranger among you. Sell me some property where I can bury those in my family who die. Then I can bury my wife.”

Then you will speak while the Lord is listening. You will say,“ My father Jacob was a wanderer from the land of Aram. He went down into Egypt with a few people. He lived there and became the father of a great nation. It had huge numbers of people.

God didn’t give him any property here. He didn’t even give him enough land to set his foot on. But God made a promise to him and to all his family after him. He said they would possess the land. The promise was made even though at that time Abraham had no child.

“ Son of man, here is what the people living in Israel’s broken- down buildings are saying.‘ Abraham was only one man. But he owned the land. We are many people. The land must certainly belong to us.’So tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ You eat meat that still has blood in it. You worship your statues of gods. You commit murder. So should you still possess the land?You depend on your swords. You do things I hate. Each one of you sleeps with your neighbor’s wife. So should you still possess the land?” ’“ Tell them,‘ Here is what the Lord and King says.“ The people who are left in those broken- down buildings will be killed by swords. Wild animals will eat up those who are out in the country. Those who are in caves and other safe places will die of a plague. And that is just as sure as I am alive.I will turn the land into a dry and empty desert. The strength Jerusalem is so proud of will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be deserted. No one will travel across them.So I will turn the land into a dry and empty desert. I will punish my people because of all the evil things they have done. I hate those things. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” ’“ Son of man, your people are talking about you. They are getting together by the walls of their houses and at their doors. They are saying to one another,‘ Come. Listen to the Lord’ s message.’My people come to you, just as they usually do. They sit in front of you. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice. With their mouths they say they love me. But in their hearts they want what belongs to others. They try to get rich by cheating them.You are nothing more to them than someone who sings love songs. They say you have a beautiful voice. They think you play an instrument well. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice.“ Everything I have told you will come true. You can be sure of it. Then the people will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Consider Abraham. He is the father of your people. Think about Sarah. She is your mother. When I chose Abraham, he did not have any children. But I blessed him and gave him many of them.

Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them.

You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever and so will all your family after you. And I will be their God.”