诗人里尔克旅行的时候，圣经是他随身带的两本书之一。他的一些诗直接取材于圣经，这就提供了一个了解他如何写诗的入口，这里做个尝试：对照圣经读这部分诗，以寻求诗人成诗的脉络。他的这首“约书亚的会议“出自圣经旧约”约书亚书“，此书记述的是摩西的继承人约书亚率领以色列人征服迦南的经过，重要事件包括：渡过约旦河，攻陷耶利哥，艾城战役，及上帝与子民重新立约。下面的数字标明诗句的具体圣经引用。
**另文学城网友cxyz以专业水平翻译了大量里尔克的诗，喜欢读里尔克的请见： https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myblog/68411/127458.html。
*1 “最后的声音”表明诗人取的场景来自约书亚书24章，描述的是他死前召集了以色列各族，以上帝的口吻与他们重新立约。这里河流意像或许来自渡约旦河。
*2 以色列人每天绕耶利哥城7圈，第7天靠吹号呐喊城就破了。
*3 恐惧可能是指以色列人亚干得罪神，艾城初战大败收场。约书亚杀压干全家平息神怒。
*4 祈祷太阳月亮停住直到以色列打败敌人，出自10章12-13节，与亚摩利人之战。
*5 立约会上约书亚让人民今天必须决定侍奉哪个神 （他们和祖先拜过外族神明），24章15节
*6 “至于我和我的家，我们要侍奉上主”也是出自24章15节，这句是整本约书亚书最广泛传颂的经节。
*7 这部分原书没有，人民立誓除去外族神明，侍奉上主。既然约书亚让人民选择，就有了诗人想象的空间。但在如此威严力量之下，真的有选择权吗？隐约觉得诗人在思考神给人的自由意志这回事。
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.
如河流冲破阻拦，
倾下远来的洪水，
冲击聚会的长老们
是约书亚最后的声音。 *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.
那些嘲笑如何被消声，
那些心和手如何被检验，
三十场战斗的喧嚣仿佛始于
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
几千人再次惊奇
好似耶利哥城前的伟大日子，*2
只不过现在号角是在他的口中吹响
敌人丧命城墙塌陷。
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!
直到卷入毫无防备的恐惧, *3
他们才开始理解
当前这位，是生来的统治者，
曾在基遍号令太阳：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.
神放下了尊严，
在牺牲的一代人上空撑着太阳，
直到手累
只因一个人的要求。
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.
这就是他-
虽然血气已衰
他的一百一十年未曾停过
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.
他像冰雹砸在庄稼般降临，
你们答应神什么？每一边
都有神明等着你们的决定。
选吧，得罪了上主你们要被碾压。*5
And then, with arrogance till then unspoken:
I and my house have been and are his bride.
然后，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：帮帮我们，给点凭据吧 *7
这艰难的选择不会带来惩罚。
But they saw him, silent, without pity,
Reascending to his mountain city;
Then no more. It was the last descent.
只见他，沉默，没有怜悯
升回他的山城，
再没有了。这是最后的降临。