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

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,

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

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

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.

Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi,“ You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land— among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!”

“ The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!

And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith— for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.

“ Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.”

“ You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God,‘ My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.

“ But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants— even though he had no children yet.

“ Son of man, the scattered remnants of Israel living among the ruined cities keep saying,‘ Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’So tell these people,‘ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols, and you murder the innocent. Do you really think the land should be yours?Murderers! Idolaters! Adulterers! Should the land belong to you?’“ Say to them,‘ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword. And I will send wild animals to eat those living in the open fields. Those hiding in the forts and caves will die of disease.I will completely destroy the land and demolish her pride. Her arrogant power will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate that no one will even travel through them.When I have completely destroyed the land because of their detestable sins, then they will know that I am the Lord.’“ Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other,‘ Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!But when all these terrible things happen to them— as they certainly will— then they will know a prophet has been among them.”

Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”

And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead— a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”