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A few hours went by and there was a loud knock on the door.
幾個鐘頭過去了，門外又響起了重重的敲門聲，
This time it was an old gypsy woman with no teeth, who was deaf,who spoke quite loudly and was rather rudely insisting that any true believer in the Lord would not deny her something to eat.
這次來的是一個吉普賽老婦，她沒有牙齒，耳朵也聽不見。吉普賽老婦粗魯地叫嚷著，她堅持說上帝虔誠的信徒是絕不會看著她挨餓而無動于衷的。
Though the woman had no more money with which to buy more supplies, she invited the woman in and offered her a seat at the table.
雖然婦人已身無分文，再也買不起更多食物，但她還是把吉普賽老婦請上了餐桌。
The gypsy ate everything, did not even thank the woman and left without closing the door.
吉普賽老婦把飯菜吃了個精光后轉身就走，根本沒有道謝，甚至連門都沒有關。
By now it was beginning to get dark both inside and out.
這時天色已晚，屋里屋外都暗了下來。
The woman's faith was strong, so that, though somewhat distraught, she did not give up, but rather,looked around her humble house to see if there was anything she could sell in order to buy more food to set before the Lord.
婦人仍然堅信上帝會來。盡管多少有些煩躁不安，但她依然沒有放棄，她在自己簡陋的小屋里四處搜索，看看還有什么東西能賣些錢，她希望趕在上帝來之前能再買些吃的。
She hurried to town with a little silver cup that had been in her family for several generations,but she was willing to part with it for the great honor that God was going to bestow on her—the sharing of a meal.
婦人帶著一個祖傳的小銀杯子趕到了鎮上。盡管這銀杯子已經傳了好幾輩人了，但為了能有幸與上帝共進一餐，她甘愿賣了它。
Late in the night she rushed home to prepare yet a third meal.
當婦人回到家里準備好第三桌飯菜時，已經是深夜了。
She waited and waited until, once more, there was a knock on the door.
她等啊等啊，終于又響起了敲門聲。
Holding her breath, she slowly opened the door to find yet another poor man in the guise of a wandering monk, in search of a meal.
她屏住呼吸，慢慢地打開了門，這次出行在她眼前的是一個前來化緣的可憐云游僧。
Again, she offered hospitality, with as much grace as she could muster in her disappointment.
婦人再一次熱情地接待了僧人，盡管失望至極，但她依然努力不讓自己失態。
This man also ate all that was set on the table and left after blessing the woman for her kindness.
僧人吃完了桌上所有的東西， 并在臨走前為婦人的善良送上祝福。
So discouraged and dismayed was she that all she could do was nod slightly,in acknowledgment of the thanks.
婦人滿心沮喪，卻只能微微地點頭以示謝意。
Now it was too late, with no way to buy any more food and no more money with which to buy it.
現在已經太晚了，她根本不可能，也沒有錢再買任何食物了。
She got down on her knees, weeping such heart-broken tears.
她跪在地上，哭得十分傷心。
She asked God what she had done wrong.
她請求上帝告訴自己做錯了什么，
Why had God not come to share at the table as He had promised?
為什么上帝明明答應了自己的邀請卻沒有現身。
And God, in all His Divine Compassion and Mercy, lifted the woman off her knees, and holding her close to His Heart, said,“My child, I enjoyed your hospitality so much that I came three times!”
神圣而仁慈的上帝將婦人扶了起來，貼近自己的胸口，說道:我的孩子，你的盛情打動了我，讓我足足來了三次。
