Sell Ones Birthright for a Mess of Pottages

Sell One's Birthright for a Mess of Pottages舍本逐末；見利棄義

Sell One's Birthright for a Mess of Pottages曲譯是：“為了一碗紅荳湯而出賣了長子繼承權”

《舊約.創世紀》第25章記述了這樣一個故事傳說：猶太族長以洒的老婆利百加懷孕期間，感覺到2個胎兒在她背內相互踢打，就往問耶战華，耶跟華對她說：“兩國在你腹內，兩族要從您身上出來，這族必強於那族，將來年夜的要服小的。”後來，利百减公然生下一對孿死兄弟，哥哥叫以掃，弟弟叫俗各。兩兄弟長大後，以掃好動，常中出打獵；雅各則常正在傢裏幫助操持傢務。有一天，以掃打獵回來，又飢又渴，看見弟弟雅各在熬荳湯，就對他說：“我餓極了，給我喝點紅荳湯吧！”雅各說：“你要喝湯，便把你的長子權賣給我。”以掃說：“你皆要餓逝世了，要這長子權有什麼用呢？”於是，他便按雅各的请求，對天发誓，把長子權賣給雅各，換來餅和紅荳湯。以掃吃飹喝足後，起身走了。他哪裏念到，為了這碗紅荳湯，他的後裔便必定要服事雅各的後裔。

由此，人們用to sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage短語，來比方to pexchange something of lasting value for something that is of value for a short time only;to suffer a big loss for a little gain.這個成語常縮略為for a mess of pottage的情势。有時也可用to sell one's birthrights.

eg:It was argued that joining the mon Market...would be giving away her national rights and advantages for a mess of pottage. 　　There are many,many people who are willing to prostitute their intelligence for a mess of pottage.