以下是我的試譯
   
   
   
   A 'Prayer' to Condoleezza Rice

   After the water turns to blood at Qana, how long?
   by Riad Kassis | posted 08/02/2006 09:00 a.m.
   
   給賴斯的“禱告”
   當迦拿的水變成了血，何時了？
   http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/131/32.0.html
   
   
   Children normally pray brief and sweet prayers before they go to bed. Friday evening, my seven-year-old daughter, a Lebanese, and her four-year-old cousin, an American, stood side by side, stretched up their hands, and prayed. It was neither a prayer to keep them safe during the night nor was it a prayer to bless Dad and Mom. It was not even addressed to God or Jesus, as prayers usually are.
   孩子們睡覺前，常會作很簡短，很甜蜜的禱告．星期五晚，我五歲的女兒，一個黎巴嫰人，跟她四歲的表弟，一個美國人，一起站着，舉高他們的手，在禱告．那不是關於禱告求神保守晚上的平安，也不是祝福爸爸媽媽．甚至不像平時那樣，對着神或耶穌說的．
   
   It was a spontaneous prayer that came from pure hearts, mingled with politics and the current tragic events. "Condoleezza Rice," they said. "We are in trouble in Lebanon. Please save us!"
   那是一個由心而發的，很自然的禱告，混合了政治以及近日發生的慘劇．“賴斯，”他們說：“我們在黎巴嫰遇到困難，請救救我們！”
   
   They repeated this prayer several times. When my daughter was told that prayers should be directed toward Jesus or God, she answered: "But Condoleezza is able to stop the war on us, is she not?"
   他們重覆了幾次這樣的禱告．當我的女兒被告知禱告是要向神或耶穌，她說：“但賴斯是可以停止這場發生在我們身上的戰爭，不是嗎？”
   
   Ms. Rice, would you hear and answer this prayer? It is not a prayer of just two children. It is a prayer of thousands of children who are displaced in Lebanon and thousands of children who are in shelters in Israel. It is a prayer of children who are physically and psychologically injured. It is a prayer that comes out of the rubble of southern Lebanon and Haifa.
   賴斯女士，請問你可否聽到並回應這個禱告？這不只是兩個小孩的禱告，而是成千上萬生活在要顛沛的黎巴嫰中，以及以色列避難所中小孩的禱告啊！這是那些身心俱傷孩子的禱告啊！這禱告也是來自南黎巴嫰及Haifa的瓦礫堆中啊！
   I beg you not to respond by saying that circumstances are not right for a cease-fire or that it is not politically appropriate to do so. There is and will never be an acceptable excuse for the killing of civilians. The excuse that the U.S. is waiting for a "sustainable solution" without calling for an immediate cease fire is nonsense. It is only a green light for Israel to continue its atrocities in Lebanon. For stopping a war, for holding a fight, for checking the destruction of homes and livelihoods, for peace and negotiation, the time is always appropriate.
   我請求你不要回應說目前的情況並不適合停火或者在政治上不宜如此做．但這些不可以及永不可作為殺害公民的可接受理由．美國的借口說要等一個周全的方法而卻不呼籲立即停火是胡言．這只會為以色列繼續在黎巴嫰施暴開綠燈．為了停戰、為了停斗、為了視察被毀的家園及生計，為了和平及談判，時間永遠是最適合的．
   
   Sunday morning, I woke up to the news that an Israeli air strike hit a residential building used as a shelter in the southern Lebanese town of Qana, killing and wounding more than 65 people, including 30 infants and young children. According to tradition, Qana is the village where Jesus Christ performed his first miracle by turning water into wine (John 2).
   星期天早上我看到新聞，提到以色列空軍擊中一座黎巴嫰市鎮──迦拿的難民民居，造成六十五人死傷，包括三十名嬰兒及幼童．根據傳統，迦拿就是耶穌施展第一個神蹟──將水變酒之地（約二）．
   
   Now I hear of fellow Christians who enjoy seeing the turning of water into blood in the name of end-time prophecy. Their call should rather be to turn water into wine of gladness, peace, and life. Are we looking for the presence of Christ in Lebanon and Israel or for the presence of U.S. smart bombs?
   現在我聽到有些基督徒以末世預言為名，很開心看到由水變血．他們的呼召該是把酒變成喜樂、平安及生命．我們是否希望看到基督在黎巴嫰的同在，還是看到美國厲害炸彈的同呢？
   
   I recently received an e-mail from a friend who lives in Washington, D.C., informing me that a sign displayed in front of an independent evangelical church simply states: "Go Israel!" This news came as I learned that the father of one of the six-year-old students at our school had been killed in an air strike as he went to get bread for his family. For the sake of the children's tears, for the sake of the children's blood in this terrible war, for the sake of the children's smiles, please say and write: "Go for peace!" "Go for reconciliation!" "Go for love!" Go for a cease-fire!"
   我最近收到一個住在華盛頓朋友的電郵，告訴我在一間獨立的福立派教會前面有一招牌，只是很簡單地寫下：“去以色列！”我收到這新聞時，也獲悉一位我們學校六歲孩子的父親已在空襲時被殺，當時他正為自己的家人張羅麵包．為了孩子的的眼淚，為了孩子在這場恐怖戰爭中所流的血，為了孩子的微笑，請說及寫：“去為了和平！”“去為了復和！”“去為了愛！”“去為了停火！”
   
   Ms. Rice, I heard recently that you are an ardent evangelical. I have always believed that evangelicals are peacemakers. They are those who hold fast to the gospel of peace and reconciliation. Please answer the above children's prayer. Help me at least not to lose faith in calling myself an evangelical.
   賴斯女士，我最近獲悉你是很熱心的福音派．我常相信福音派是和平者．他們緊守平安及復和的福音．請回答孩子的禱告，至少幫助我不要失去稱呼自己為福音派的信心．
   
   Until such prayers and requests are answered, we continue at J.L. Schneller Institute in West Beqaa to pray and to work for peace. We continue providing care to hundreds of displaced people who took shelter at our institution and to others in neighboring areas. Please keep us and all of Lebanon in your prayers.
   直至這樣的禱告及請求得到回覆，我們將繼續在West Beqaa的J.L. Schneller Institute中為和平而禱告及工作．我們將繼續關懷許多顛沛流離的、在我們學校
   及鄰近之處找到棲身之所的人．請在禱告中記念我們及所有黎巴嫰人．
   
   Riad Kassis is executive director and chaplain at the J.L. Schneller School in West Bekaa, Lebanon. He is also lecturer in Old Testament Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut and formerly at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Beirut Lebanon. Those interested in supporting the Schneller School can contact its partners in Germany (EMS- Maurer@ems-online.org) and United Kingdom (BibleLands- Nigel.Edward-Few@biblelands.org.uk)
   
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