In all his cringing attitudes, the God-fugitive is now too plainly known.  从他那畏畏缩缩的态度上,这个上帝的逃亡者现在是教人一看就看出来了。

The sailors mark him; more and more certain grow their suspicions of him, and at last, fully to test the truth,  水手们都注意着他,对他的怀疑越来越肯定,最后,为了彻底弄清这个真相,

by referring the whole matter to high Heaven, they all-outward to casting lots, to see for whose cause this great tempest was upon them.  他们就把这整个事情都交给上天去解决了,他们掷着签,看看这场降临在他们身上的灾祸是谁惹出来的。

The lot is Jonah's; that discovered, then how furiously they mob him with their questions.  结果竟掷中了约拿;这样一来,真相大白,他们可多么气愤呀,大家都用一连串的问题来围攻他,

What is thine occupation? Whence comest thou? Thy country? What people?  你以何事为业,你从哪里来,你是哪国人,属于哪一族?

But mark now, my shipmates,the behavior of poor Jonah. The eager mariners but ask him who he is, and where from;  不过,我的船友呀,现在请你们注意可怜的约拿的行为。

whereas, they not only receive an answer to those questions,  那些热切的水手不过是问他是什么人,从哪里来的;

but likewise another answer to a question not put by them, but the unsolicited answer is forced from Jonah by the hard hand of God that is upon him. 可他们不但得到了这些问题的回答,还得到了他们根本没有问他的问题的回答,不过,这些不打自招的回答却是上帝对约拿采取严厉手段迫出来的。

I am a Hebrew,he cries-and then-I fear the Lord the God of Heaven who hath made the sea and the dry land! 我是希伯来人,他哭了,接着又说我敬畏耶和华那创造沧海旱地之天上的上帝!

Fear him, O Jonah? Aye, well mightest thou fear the Lord God then! Straightway, he now goes on to make a full confession;  约拿呵,你敬畏他吗?哼,这么说来,你倒是很敬畏耶和华的了!于是,他直截了当地说下去,和盘托出了;

whereupon the mariners became more and more appalled, but still are pitiful.  这时水手们虽然越来越惊吓,却还是可怜他。

For when Jonah, not yet supplicating God for mercy, since he but too well knew the darkness of his deserts,when wretched Jonah cries out to them to take him and cast him forth into the sea, for he knew that for his sake this great tempest was upon them;  因为当时约拿虽然已经自知他那逃亡的罪恶,却还没有祈求上帝宽恕之意。等到可怜的约拿知道这场大风是因他而起,他对他们哭哭啼啼,要他们把他抛到海里去的时候,

they mercifully turn from him, and seek by other means to save the ship.  他们这才对他动了恻隐之心,想用别的办法来挽救这只船。

But all in vain; the indignant gale howls louder; then, with one hand raised invokingly to God, with the other they not unreluctantly lay hold of Jonah. 但是,一切都是徒劳的;愤怒的大风号啸得更厉害了;于是,他们一方面仰天祈求上帝,一方面不无勉强地抓住约拿。