詩人裏爾克旅行的時候，聖經是他隨身帶的兩本書之一。他的一些詩直接取材於聖經，這就提供了一個了解他如何寫詩的入口，這裏做個嚐試：對照聖經讀這部分詩，以尋求詩人成詩的脈絡。他的這首“約書亞的會議“出自聖經舊約”約書亞書“，此書記述的是摩西的繼承人約書亞率領以色列人征服迦南的經過，重要事件包括：渡過約旦河，攻陷耶利哥，艾城戰役，及上帝與子民重新立約。下麵的數字標明詩句的具體聖經引用。
**另文學城網友cxyz以專業水平翻譯了大量裏爾克的詩，喜歡讀裏爾克的請見： https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/68411/127458.html。
*1 “最後的聲音”表明詩人取的場景來自約書亞書24章，描述的是他死前召集了以色列各族，以上帝的口吻與他們重新立約。這裏河流意像或許來自渡約旦河。
*2 以色列人每天繞耶利哥城7圈，第7天靠吹號呐喊城就破了。
*3 恐懼可能是指以色列人亞幹得罪神，艾城初戰大敗收場。約書亞殺壓幹全家平息神怒。
*4 祈禱太陽月亮停住直到以色列打敗敵人，出自10章12-13節，與亞摩利人之戰。
*5 立約會上約書亞讓人民今天必須決定侍奉哪個神 （他們和祖先拜過外族神明），24章15節
*6 “至於我和我的家，我們要侍奉上主”也是出自24章15節，這句是整本約書亞書最廣泛傳頌的經節。
*7 這部分原書沒有，人民立誓除去外族神明，侍奉上主。既然約書亞讓人民選擇，就有了詩人想象的空間。但在如此威嚴力量之下，真的有選擇權嗎？隱約覺得詩人在思考神給人的自由意誌這回事。
As some outflowing river breaks its tether,
Pouring in pomp of waters from afar,
so broke upon the elders met together
For the last time the voice of Joshua.
如河流衝破阻攔，
傾下遠來的洪水，
衝擊聚會的長老們
是約書亞最後的聲音。 *1
How those who had been laughing were discounted,
How hearts and hands were checked by every one,
as though the din of thirty battles mounted
within one mouth, and that one mouth began.
那些嘲笑如何被消聲，
那些心和手如何被檢驗，
三十場戰鬥的喧囂仿佛始於
一人之口。
And once again the thousands were astounded
as on the great day before Jericho,
though now it was in him the trumpets sounded
and their own lives the walls that tottered so
幾千人再次驚奇
好似耶利哥城前的偉大日子，*2
隻不過現在號角是在他的口中吹響
敵人喪命城牆塌陷。
that not till rolling in the pangs of fear,
defencelessly, they seemed to understand
That this was he who, born to domineer,
Had shouted to the sun in Gideon: Stand!
直到卷入毫無防備的恐懼, *3
他們才開始理解
當前這位，是生來的統治者，
曾在基遍號令太陽：停住！*4
And God had gone off in humiliation,
And held the sun, until his hands were tired,
Above that immolating generation,
Only because one man had so required.
神放下了尊嚴，
在犧牲的一代人上空撐著太陽，
直到手累
隻因一個人的要求。
And this was he - whose blood, though they had ceased
To care about him in their calculations,
His five score years and ten had not decreased.
He rose and broke upon their habitations.
這就是他-
雖然血氣已衰
他的一百一十年未曾停過
攻城略地。
Like hail on standing harvests he descended.
What would ye promise God? On every side
Uncounted gods await what ye decide.
Choose, and be crushed by Him ye have offended.
他像冰雹砸在莊稼般降臨，
你們答應神什麽？每一邊
都有神明等著你們的決定。
選吧，得罪了上主你們要被碾壓。*5
And then, with arrogance till then unspoken:
I and my house have been and are his bride.
然後，傲慢宣布那不言而喻的：
我和我的家一直侍奉上主。*6
Whereat they all cried: Help us, give some token,
That this hard choice may not bring punishment.
人民哭喊：幫幫我們，給點憑據吧 *7
這艱難的選擇不會帶來懲罰。
But they saw him, silent, without pity,
Reascending to his mountain city;
Then no more. It was the last descent.
隻見他，沉默，沒有憐憫
升回他的山城，
再沒有了。這是最後的降臨。
