等雨
And now, all being at last ready, the sun still shone, and the rain did not come. And they waited and waited.
现在, 所有的动物都准备好了, 但是太阳仍然闪耀着大地, 丝毫没有下雨的迹象. 他们等待着, 等待着.
And the scoffers laughed and jeered, and called to Noah that it was going to be a dry season.
嘲笑者在嘲笑着诺亚, 对他说这将是干旱的一季.
And Noah was sore perplexed, and marveled, though never doubting.
尽管诺亚感到痛苦困惑, 但他从未质疑自己的使命.
下雨了
But at last the rain did come, and beat down upon the scoffers, and they were wet.
终于下雨了, 雨水打在嘲笑者的身上, 把他们都弄湿了.
And Noah's sons and their wives triumphed. And even the animals were pleased.
诺亚的妻儿们感觉到了胜利. 甚至是动物们也很开心.
But Noah felt only sorrow for his stubborn neighbors, for he knew that much more rain would fall.
但是只有诺亚为自己固执的邻居们感到悲伤, 因为他知道还会有更多的雨水降落.
大洪水
And then for forty days and forty nights it rained hard. And the clouds were rent asunder. And a mighty deluge flooded the whole earth. And the waters rose and covered the trees, and then the hills and mountains, till no dry land might anywhere be seen.
大雨连着下了四十天四十夜, 然后乌云才散开了. 这一场大洪水淹没了整个地球. 大水涨起来之后, 淹没了树木, 丘陵和山脉, 直到淹没了所有干燥的土地.
But the Ark was lifted up and floated safely away on a stormy sea.
但是方舟却在暴风雨肆虐的海面上安然无恙的漂浮了起来.
方舟之内
Now inside the storm-tossed ship was much discomfort and grievous trouble. And many even regretted that they had been saved. "For lo!" they said, "nothing could be worse than this."
现在, 在风暴肆虐的方舟之内, 大家都感觉到极度的不适和烦恼. 许多人甚至后悔自己被救了. 他们说: "没有什么比这更糟了."
And Noah's heart was heavy.
诺亚的内心感到很沉重.
海上的生活
But when the storm was passed and the good ship floated on an even keel, they felt better and settled down to their new life.
但是, 当风暴过后, 这艘生命之舟便可以在大水之上平稳的前进了, 这时人们感觉好多了, 然后安顿了下来准备开始新的生活.
And the animals took a keen interest in the passenger list, to find their own names, as passengers always do.
此时的动物们都对乘客名单感觉非常的关切, 开始在上面寻找自己(所关心人)的名字.
And lazy days slipped quietly by; and the stout Ark drifted slowly on her way.
懒散的日子悄悄溜走, 方舟在大水中稳健的漂流.
想家
But alas, this could not last. For as the days dragged on and they found themselves still shut up and afloat, they brooded and grew low in their minds.
但是, 幸运的感觉并没有持续很久. 因为日子一天天过去, 他们发现方舟仍然在不停地漂流, 他们开始变得焦虑和情绪低落.
And a great homesickness, and longing for a change of any kind, came over them. And a wail of despair went up from the Ark. And the roof leaked. And all was gloom.
他们感到非常的想念陆地, 并渴望改变这日复一日的无聊漂流. 绝望的怨言充斥着方舟. 就连屋顶也开始漏水. 一切都变得沉闷了起来.
And life became a burden to the Noah family.
方舟上的生活成了诺亚一家人的负担.
紧张的关系
And then patience and good temper deserted the Ark.
耐心和好脾气在方舟之上消失了.
And the animals fretted and quarreled, and there was riot and disorder, and furious battle.
动物们开始紧张不安, 吵架, 还发生了骚乱和激烈的战斗.
And Noah's task grew ever harder, and his load heavier to bear.
诺亚的任务变得越来越艰巨, 他的负担也变得越来越沉重.
送出渡鸦
Now Noah became desperate, and something had to be done; so he sent off a raven to bring tidings from the outer world.
现在, 诺亚有点绝望了, 他必须要做点什么. 所以他把乌鸦派了出去, 去看看外面的情况.
But the raven, once free, had no thought of returning, and flew far away, saying to himself: "Never again will I be caught in that trap."
但是, 乌鸦一旦自由了, 就没有回来的打算了, 他飞了很远, 对自己说: "我再也不回那个鬼地方了."
And Noah waited for news, but none came.
诺亚一直在等乌鸦的消息, 但是乌鸦却始终没有回来.
鸽子的回归
Then, as matters grew worse. Noah sent forth a dove. "She is a gentle bird and will surely come again to her home," he thought. And the dove did return, for she found only water, and no rest for her foot.
因为事情变得越来越糟了. 所以诺亚又派出了一只鸽子. 他想: "她是一只善良的鸟, 肯定会回来的." 鸽子确实回来了, 因为她发现除了方舟之外都是水, 连个歇脚的地方都没有.
Then Noah waited seven days and again sent her out. And she came back, bringing in her beak a twig from the olive tree.
然后, 诺亚等了七天, 又把她派出去了. 这次她回来时, 嘴角叼着一根橄榄枝.
And all welcomed her with joy, for now they knew that the waters were falling.
所有人都高兴地欢迎她, 因为现在他们知道大水正在消失了.
初见陆地
Then Noah waited still another seven days, and again sent out the dove. But this time she did not come back.
然后, 诺亚又等了七天, 再次派出了鸽子. 但是这次她不再回来了.
And Noah climbed to his skylight, and lifted it up, and looked out.
诺亚爬上天窗, 把它撑了起来, 往外看去.
And behold the earth had risen from the waters, still damp, but yet solid earth.
他看到大地从水面上升起, 虽然还有点潮湿, 但却很坚固.
And Noah passed along the good word. And in the Ark was great excitement, and hope revived.
诺亚向大家说了这个好消息. 方舟上的人们感到非常兴奋, 希望重生了.
离开方舟
And soon the good ship thumped and bumped, and struck bottom. And though she landed at an uncomfortable angle, on a mountain top, they knew that at last the great cruise was ended.
不久, 方舟底部碰到了陆地. 尽管她以不怎么合适的角度降落在了山顶上, 但方舟内的生物们知道这次伟大的航行终于结束了.
And Noah opened the door, and let down the gang-plank.
诺亚打开了门, 放下了船的登陆板.
And beasts and birds surged out on the desolate rock; and though the mud was thick and heavy, some found it to their liking, and all preferred it to the ship.
野兽和鸟儿在荒凉的岩石上涌动. 尽管泥浆又厚又重, 但是人们还是非常地喜欢陆地, 这可比待在船上好多了.
彩虹
Now the sun again arose, and sucked up the dampness from the earth.
现在, 太阳升了起来, 吸走了大地上的湿气.
And a bright rainbow was set in the sky, as a sign that nevermore would a flood cover the whole earth.
天空挂上了一抹明亮的彩虹, 标志着洪水再也不会来淹没整个地球了.
Then Spring burst forth, with all its glory and promise. And a new world began. And all was life and joy.
然后, 春天带着所有的荣耀和希望爆发了. 一个新的世界开始了. 所有的一切都焕发着生机和欢乐.
彩虹(续)
And Noah bade the beasts and birds go forth and seek new homes. And they scattered in every direction to begin life afresh; while Noah's wife murmured "good riddance," and vowed that she would never go to sea again.
诺亚打发了野兽和鸟儿去寻找新的家园. 他们四处分散后, 开始了新的生活. 诺亚的妻子喃喃地说: "终于摆脱这艘破船了", 并发誓说她再也不会出海了.
Then Noah gladly rested from his labors.
这下, 诺亚终于可以安心的休息了.
And this is the end of the story of Noah's Ark.
然后, 这就是诺亚方舟整个故事的结局了.
