今日讀經

我是遭遇困苦的人

¹我是因耶和華忿怒的杖，遭遇困苦的人。I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath.

²他引導我，使我行在黑暗中，不行在光明裡。He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light.

³他真是終日再三反手攻擊我。Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long.

⁴他使我的皮肉枯乾；他折斷（或譯：壓傷）我的骨頭。He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.

⁵他築壘攻擊我，用苦楚（原文是苦膽）和艱難圍困我。He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.

⁶他使我住在幽暗之處，像死了許久的人一樣。He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.

⁷他用籬笆圍住我，使我不能出去；他使我的銅鍊沉重。He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains.

⁸我哀號求救；他使我的禱告不得上達。Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.

⁹他用鑿過的石頭擋住我的道；他使我的路彎曲。He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked.

神像熊和獅子

¹⁰他向我如熊埋伏，如獅子在隱密處。He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.

¹¹他使我轉離正路，將我撕碎，使我淒涼。He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces; He left me without help.

¹²他張弓將我當作箭靶子。He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow.

¹³他把箭袋中的箭射入我的肺腑。He pierced my kidneys with His arrows.

¹⁴我成了眾民的笑話；他們終日以我為歌曲。I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

¹⁵他用苦楚充滿我，使我飽用茵蔯。He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood.

¹⁶他又用沙石磣斷我的牙，用灰塵將我蒙蔽。He has ground my teeth with gravel and trampled me in the dust.

毫無指望

¹⁷你使我遠離平安，我忘記好處。My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is.

¹⁸我就說：我的力量衰敗；我在耶和華那裡毫無指望！So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.”

求你記念我的困苦

¹⁹耶和華啊，求你記念我如茵蔯和苦膽的困苦窘迫。Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall.

²⁰我心想念這些，就在裡面憂悶。Surely my soul remembers and is humbled within me.

神的慈愛每早晨都是新的

²¹我想起這事，心裡就有指望。Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope:

²²我們不致消滅，是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛；是因他的憐憫不致斷絕。Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.

²³每早晨，這都是新的；你的誠實極其廣大！They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

²⁴我心裡說：耶和華是我的分，因此，我要仰望他。“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”

靜默等候神的救恩

²⁵凡等候耶和華，心裡尋求他的，耶和華必施恩給他。The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

²⁶人仰望耶和華，靜默等候他的救恩，這原是好的。It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

²⁷人在幼年負軛，這原是好的。It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is still young.

²⁸他當獨坐無言，因為這是耶和華加在他身上的。Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it upon him.

²⁹他當口貼塵埃，或者有指望。Let him bury his face in the dust—perhaps there is still hope.

³⁰他當由人打他的腮頰，要滿受凌辱。Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him; let him be filled with reproach.

主必不永遠丟棄人

³¹因為主必不永遠丟棄人。For the Lord will not cast us off forever.

³²主雖使人憂愁，還要照他諸般的慈愛發憐憫。Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.

³³因他並不甘心使人受苦，使人憂愁。For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.

不公不義主都看不上

³⁴人將世上被囚的踹（原文是壓）在腳下，To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the land,

³⁵或在至高者面前屈枉人，to deny a man justice before the Most High,

³⁶或在人的訟事上顛倒是非，這都是主看不上的。to subvert a man in his lawsuit—of these the Lord does not approve.

³⁷除非主命定，誰能說成就成呢？Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?

³⁸禍福不都出於至高者的口嗎？Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?

³⁹活人因自己的罪受罰，為何發怨言呢？Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?

省察自己，歸向耶和華

⁴⁰我們當深深考察自己的行為，再歸向耶和華。Let us examine and test our ways, and turn back to the LORD.

⁴¹我們當誠心向天上的神舉手禱告。Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:

我們犯罪，你不赦免

⁴²我們犯罪背逆，你並不赦免。“We have sinned and rebelled; You have not forgiven.”

⁴³你自被怒氣遮蔽，追趕我們；你施行殺戮，並不顧惜。You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us; You have killed without pity.

⁴⁴你以黑雲遮蔽自己，以致禱告不得透入。You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.

⁴⁵你使我們在萬民中成為污穢和渣滓。You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.

⁴⁶我們的仇敵都向我們大大張口。All our enemies open their mouths against us.

⁴⁷恐懼和陷坑，殘害和毀滅，都臨近我們。Panic and pitfall have come upon us—devastation and destruction.

眼淚下流如河

⁴⁸因我眾民遭的毀滅，我就眼淚下流如河。Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people.

⁴⁹我的眼多多流淚，總不止息，My eyes overflow unceasingly, without relief,

⁵⁰直等耶和華垂顧，從天觀看。until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

⁵¹因我本城的眾民，我的眼，使我的心傷痛。My eyes bring grief to my soul because of all the daughters of my city.

從深牢中求告

⁵²無故與我為仇的追逼我，像追雀鳥一樣。Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird.

⁵³他們使我的命在牢獄中斷絕，並將一塊石頭拋在我身上。They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me.

⁵⁴眾水流過我頭，我說：我命斷絕了！The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.

⁵⁵耶和華啊，我從深牢中求告你的名。I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit.

⁵⁶你曾聽見我的聲音；我求你解救，你不要掩耳不聽。You heard my plea: “Do not ignore my cry for relief.”

⁵⁷我求告你的日子，你臨近我，說：不要懼怕！You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not be afraid.”

求你為我伸冤

⁵⁸主啊，你伸明了我的冤；你救贖了我的命。You defend my cause, O Lord; You redeem my life.

⁵⁹耶和華啊，你見了我受的委屈；求你為我伸冤。You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me; vindicate my cause!

⁶⁰他們仇恨我，謀害我，你都看見了。You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.

⁶¹耶和華啊，你聽見他們辱罵我的話，知道他們向我所設的計，O LORD, You have heard their insults, all their plots against me—

⁶²並那些起來攻擊我的人口中所說的話，以及終日向我所設的計謀。the slander and murmuring of my assailants against me all day long.

⁶³求你觀看，他們坐下，起來，都以我為歌曲。When they sit and when they rise, see how they mock me in song.

⁶⁴耶和華啊，你要按著他們手所做的向他們施行報應。You will pay them back what they deserve, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.

⁶⁵你要使他們心裡剛硬，使你的咒詛臨到他們。Put a veil of anguish over their hearts; may Your curse be upon them!

⁶⁶你要發怒追趕他們，從耶和華的天下除滅他們。You will pursue them in anger and exterminate them from under Your heavens, O LORD.

信是甚麼

¹信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

²古人在這信上得了美好的證據。This is why the ancients were commended.

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³我們因著信，就知道諸世界是藉　神話造成的；這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

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亞伯、以諾、挪亞

⁴亞伯因著信，獻祭與　神，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是　神指他禮物作的見證。他雖然死了，卻因這信，仍舊說話。By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

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⁵以諾因著信，被接去，不至於見死，人也找不著他，因為　神已經把他接去了；只是他被接去以先，已經得了　神喜悅他的明證。By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

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⁶人非有信，就不能得　神的喜悅；因為到　神面前來的人必須信有　神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

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⁷挪亞因著信，既蒙　神指示他未見的事，動了敬畏的心，預備了一隻方舟，使他全家得救。因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那從信而來的義。By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

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亞伯拉罕和撒拉

⁸亞伯拉罕因著信，蒙召的時候就遵命出去，往將來要得為業的地方去；出去的時候，還不知往哪裡去。By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

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⁹他因著信，就在所應許之地作客，好像在異地居住帳棚，與那同蒙一個應許的以撒、雅各一樣。By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

¹⁰因為他等候那座有根基的城，就是　神所經營所建造的。For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

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¹¹因著信，連撒拉自己，雖然過了生育的歲數，還能懷孕，因她以為那應許她的是可信的。By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

¹²所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫，如同天上的星那樣眾多，海邊的沙那樣無數。And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

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羨慕更美的家鄉

¹³這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的；卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

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¹⁴說這樣話的人是表明自己要找一個家鄉。Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

¹⁵他們若想念所離開的家鄉，還有可以回去的機會。If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

¹⁶他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的。所以　神被稱為他們的　神，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們預備了一座城。Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

亞伯拉罕獻以撒

¹⁷亞伯拉罕因著信，被試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上；這便是那歡喜領受應許的，將自己獨生的兒子獻上。By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

¹⁸論到這兒子，曾有話說：「從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔。」even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

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¹⁹他以為　神還能叫人從死裡復活；他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

以撒、雅各、約瑟

²⁰以撒因著信，就指著將來的事給雅各、以掃祝福。By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

²¹雅各因著信，臨死的時候，給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福，扶著杖頭敬拜　神。By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

²²約瑟因著信，臨終的時候，提到以色列族將來要出埃及，並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

摩西的信心

²³摩西生下來，他的父母見他是個俊美的孩子，就因著信，把他藏了三個月，並不怕王命。By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

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²⁴摩西因著信，長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

²⁵他寧可和　神的百姓同受苦害，也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

²⁶他看為基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜。He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

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²⁷他因著信，就離開埃及，不怕王怒；因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不能看見的主。By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

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²⁸他因著信，就守（或譯：立）逾越節，行灑血的禮，免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

過紅海，耶利哥城倒塌

²⁹他們因著信，過紅海如行乾地；埃及人試著要過去，就被吞滅了。By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

³⁰以色列人因著信，圍繞耶利哥城七日，城牆就倒塌了。By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

³¹妓女喇合因著信，曾和和平平地接待探子，就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

還有許多信心的見證人

³²我又何必再說呢？若要一一細說，基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳，和眾先知的事，時候就不夠了。And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

³³他們因著信，制伏了敵國，行了公義，得了應許，堵了獅子的口，who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

³⁴滅了烈火的猛勢，脫了刀劍的鋒刃；軟弱變為剛強，爭戰顯出勇敢，打退外邦的全軍。quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

³⁵有婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑，不肯苟且得釋放（原文是贖），為要得著更美的復活。Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

³⁶又有人忍受戲弄、鞭打、捆鎖、監禁、各等的磨煉，Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

³⁷被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，受試探，被刀殺，披著綿羊、山羊的皮各處奔跑，受窮乏、患難、苦害，They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

³⁸在曠野、山嶺、山洞、地穴，飄流無定，本是世界不配有的人。The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

等候更美的事

³⁹這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得著所應許的；These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

⁴⁰因為　神給我們預備了更美的事，叫他們若不與我們同得，就不能完全。God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

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