今日讀經

兩隻大鷹的謎語

¹耶和華的話臨到我說：Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²「人子啊，你要向以色列家出謎語，設比喻，“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

³說主耶和華如此說：有一大鷹，翅膀大，翎毛長，羽毛豐滿，彩色俱備，來到黎巴嫩，將香柏樹梢擰去，and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

⁴就是折去香柏樹儘尖的嫩枝，叼到貿易之地，放在買賣城中；He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.

⁵又將以色列地的枝子栽於肥田裡，插在大水旁，如插柳樹，He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

⁶就漸漸生長，成為蔓延矮小的葡萄樹。其枝轉向那鷹，其根在鷹以下，於是成了葡萄樹，生出枝子，發出小枝。It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, with branches turned toward him; yet its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine and yielded branches and sent out shoots.

⁷又有一大鷹，翅膀大，羽毛多。這葡萄樹從栽種的畦中向這鷹彎過根來，發出枝子，好得它的澆灌。But there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And behold, this vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed, so that he might water it.

⁸這樹栽於肥田多水的旁邊，好生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的葡萄樹。It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

⁹你要說，主耶和華如此說：這葡萄樹豈能發旺呢？鷹豈不拔出它的根來，芟除它的果子，使它枯乾，使它發的嫩葉都枯乾了嗎？也不用大力和多民，就拔出它的根來。So you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Will it flourish? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it shrivels? All its foliage will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots.

¹⁰葡萄樹雖然栽種，豈能發旺呢？一經東風，豈不全然枯乾嗎？必在生長的畦中枯乾了。」Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”

謎語的意思：背約的王

¹¹耶和華的話臨到我說：Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

¹²「你對那悖逆之家說：你們不知道這些事是甚麼意思麼？你要告訴他們說，巴比倫王曾到耶路撒冷，將其中的君王和首領帶到巴比倫自己那裡去。“Now say to this rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, carried off its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.

¹³從以色列的宗室中取一人與他立約，使他發誓，並將國中有勢力的人擄去，He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land,

¹⁴使國低微不能自強，惟因守盟約得以存立。so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.

¹⁵他卻背叛巴比倫王，打發使者往埃及去，要他們給他馬匹和多民。他豈能亨通呢？行這樣事的人豈能逃脫呢？他背約豈能逃脫呢？But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

¹⁶他輕看向王所起的誓，背棄王與他所立的約。主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓，他定要死在立他作王、巴比倫王的京都。‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.

¹⁷敵人築壘造臺，與他打仗的時候，為要剪除多人，法老雖領大軍隊和大群眾，還是不能幫助他。Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

¹⁸他輕看誓言，背棄盟約，已經投降，卻又做這一切的事，他必不能逃脫。」He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Seeing that he gave his hand in pledge yet did all these things, he will not escape!’

神要追討背約的罪

¹⁹所以主耶和華如此說：「我指著我的永生起誓，他既輕看指我所起的誓，背棄指我所立的約，我必要使這罪歸在他頭上。Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘As surely as I live, I will bring down upon his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.

²⁰我必將我的網撒在他身上，他必在我的網羅中纏住。我必帶他到巴比倫，並要在那裡因他干犯我的罪刑罰他。I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me.

²¹他的一切軍隊，凡逃跑的，都必倒在刀下；所剩下的，也必分散四方（方：原文是風）。你們就知道說這話的是我─耶和華。」All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

神親自栽種的嫩枝

²²主耶和華如此說：「我要將香柏樹梢擰去栽上，就是從儘尖的嫩枝中折一嫩枝，栽於極高的山上；This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

²³在以色列高處的山栽上。它就生枝子，結果子，成為佳美的香柏樹，各類飛鳥都必宿在其下，就是宿在枝子的蔭下。I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

²⁴田野的樹木都必知道我─耶和華使高樹矮小，矮樹高大；青樹枯乾，枯樹發旺。我─耶和華如此說，也如此行了。」Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

酸葡萄的俗語

¹耶和華的話又臨到我說：Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²「你們在以色列地怎麼用這俗語說『父親吃了酸葡萄，兒子的牙酸倒了』呢？」“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?

³主耶和華說：「我指著我的永生起誓，你們在以色列中，必不再有用這俗語的因由。As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

⁴看哪，世人都是屬我的；為父的怎樣屬我，為子的也照樣屬我；犯罪的，他必死亡。Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

公義的人必定存活

⁵「人若是公義，且行正直與合理的事：Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

⁶未曾在山上吃過祭偶像之物，未曾仰望以色列家的偶像，未曾玷污鄰舍的妻，未曾在婦人的經期內親近她，He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.

⁷未曾虧負人，乃將欠債之人的當頭還給他；未曾搶奪人的物件，卻將食物給飢餓的人吃，將衣服給赤身的人穿；He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

⁸未曾向借錢的弟兄取利，也未曾向借糧的弟兄多要，縮手不作罪孽，在兩人之間，按至理判斷；He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.

⁹遵行我的律例，謹守我的典章，按誠實行事─這人是公義的，必定存活。這是主耶和華說的。He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.

作惡的兒子必要死亡

^10–11「他若生一個兒子，作強盜，是流人血的，不行以上所說之善，反行其中之惡，乃在山上吃過祭偶像之物，並玷污鄰舍的妻，Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.

¹²虧負困苦和窮乏的人，搶奪人的物，未曾將當頭還給人，仰望偶像，並行可憎的事，He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.

¹³向借錢的弟兄取利，向借糧的弟兄多要─這人豈能存活呢？他必不能存活。他行這一切可憎的事，必要死亡，他的罪（原文是血）必歸到他身上。He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.

不效法父親的兒子

¹⁴「他若生一個兒子，見父親所犯的一切罪便懼怕（有古卷：思量），不照樣去做；Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:

¹⁵未曾在山上吃過祭偶像之物，未曾仰望以色列家的偶像，未曾玷污鄰舍的妻，He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.

¹⁶未曾虧負人，未曾取人的當頭，未曾搶奪人的物件，卻將食物給飢餓的人吃，將衣服給赤身的人穿，He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

¹⁷縮手不害貧窮人，未曾向借錢的弟兄取利，也未曾向借糧的弟兄多要；他順從我的典章，遵行我的律例，就不因父親的罪孽死亡，定要存活。He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.

¹⁸至於他父親；因為欺人太甚，搶奪弟兄，在本國的民中行不善，他必因自己的罪孽死亡。As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.

¹⁹「你們還說：『兒子為何不擔當父親的罪孽呢？』兒子行正直與合理的事，謹守遵行我的一切律例，他必定存活。Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.

²⁰惟有犯罪的，他必死亡。兒子必不擔當父親的罪孽，父親也不擔當兒子的罪孽。義人的善果必歸自己，惡人的惡報也必歸自己。The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

惡人回頭必定存活

²¹「惡人若回頭離開所做的一切罪惡，謹守我一切的律例，行正直與合理的事，他必定存活，不致死亡。But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

²²他所犯的一切罪過都不被記念，因所行的義，他必存活。None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.

²³主耶和華說：惡人死亡，豈是我喜悅的嗎？不是喜悅他回頭離開所行的道存活嗎？Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?

²⁴義人若轉離義行而作罪孽，照著惡人所行一切可憎的事而行，他豈能存活嗎？他所行的一切義都不被記念；他必因所犯的罪、所行的惡死亡。But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

主的道不公平嗎

²⁵「你們還說：『主的道不公平！』以色列家啊，你們當聽，我的道豈不公平嗎？你們的道豈不是不公平嗎？Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

²⁶義人若轉離義行而作罪孽死亡，他是因所作的罪孽死亡。If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.

²⁷再者，惡人若回頭離開所行的惡，行正直與合理的事，他必將性命救活了。But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.

²⁸因為他思量，回頭離開所犯的一切罪過，必定存活，不致死亡。Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.

²⁹以色列家還說：『主的道不公平！』以色列家啊，我的道豈不公平嗎？你們的道豈不是不公平嗎？」Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

自做一個新心和新靈

³⁰所以主耶和華說：「以色列家啊，我必按你們各人所行的審判你們。你們當回頭離開所犯的一切罪過。這樣，罪孽必不使你們敗亡。Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

相關經文 ›

³¹你們要將所犯的一切罪過盡行拋棄，自做一個新心和新靈。以色列家啊，你們何必死亡呢？Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

³²主耶和華說：我不喜悅那死人之死，所以你們當回頭而存活。」For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

母獅和小獅子的哀歌

¹你當為以色列的王作起哀歌，“As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

²說：你的母親是甚麼呢？是個母獅子，蹲伏在獅子中間，在少壯獅子中養育小獅子。and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.

³在牠小獅子中養大一個，成了少壯獅子，學會抓食而吃人。She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

⁴列國聽見了就把牠捉在他們的坑中，用鉤子拉到埃及地去。When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.

⁵母獅見自己等候失了指望，就從牠小獅子中又將一個養為少壯獅子。When she saw that she had waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.

⁶牠在眾獅子中走來走去，成了少壯獅子，學會抓食而吃人。He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

⁷牠知道列國的宮殿，又使他們的城邑變為荒場；因牠咆哮的聲音，遍地和其中所有的就都荒廢。He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

⁸於是四圍邦國各省的人來攻擊牠，將網撒在牠身上，捉在他們的坑中。Then the nations set out against him from the provinces on every side. They spread their net over him; he was trapped in their pit.

⁹他們用鉤子鉤住牠，將牠放在籠中，帶到巴比倫王那裡，將他放入堅固之所，使他的聲音在以色列山上不再聽見。With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

被拔出的葡萄樹

¹⁰你的母親先前如葡萄樹，極其茂盛（原文是在你血中），栽於水旁。因為水多，就多結果子，滿生枝子；Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.

¹¹生出堅固的枝幹，可作掌權者的杖。這枝幹高舉在茂密的枝中，而且它生長高大，枝子繁多，遠遠可見。It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage.

¹²但這葡萄樹因忿怒被拔出摔在地上；東風吹乾其上的果子，堅固的枝幹折斷枯乾，被火燒毀了；But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them.

¹³如今栽於曠野乾旱無水之地。Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

¹⁴火也從它枝幹中發出，燒滅果子，以致沒有堅固的枝幹可做掌權者的杖。這是哀歌，也必用以作哀歌。Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”

不要多人作師傅

¹我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

²原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

嚼環和舵

³我們若把嚼環放在馬嘴裡，叫牠順服，就能調動牠的全身。When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

⁴看哪，船隻雖然甚大，又被大風催逼，只用小小的舵，就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

舌頭就是火

⁵這樣，舌頭在百體裡也是最小的，卻能說大話。看哪，最小的火能點著最大的樹林。In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

⁶舌頭就是火，在我們百體中，舌頭是個罪惡的世界，能污穢全身，也能把生命的輪子點起來，並且是從地獄裡點著的。The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷各類的走獸、飛禽、昆蟲、水族，本來都可以制伏，也已經被人制伏了；All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

⁸惟獨舌頭沒有人能制伏，是不止息的惡物，滿了害死人的毒氣。but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

頌讚和咒詛出於一口

⁹我們用舌頭頌讚那為主、為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著　神形像被造的人。With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

¹⁰頌讚和咒詛從一個口裡出來！我的弟兄們，這是不應當的！Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

¹¹泉源從一個眼裡能發出甜苦兩樣的水嗎？Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

¹²我的弟兄們，無花果樹能生橄欖嗎？葡萄樹能結無花果嗎？鹹水裡也不能發出甜水來。My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

在溫柔上顯出善行

¹³你們中間誰是有智慧有見識的呢？他就當在智慧的溫柔上顯出他的善行來。Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

¹⁴你們心裡若懷著苦毒的嫉妒和紛爭，就不可自誇，也不可說謊話抵擋真道。But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

¹⁵這樣的智慧不是從上頭來的，乃是屬地的，屬情慾的，屬鬼魔的。Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶在何處有嫉妒、紛爭，就在何處有擾亂和各樣的壞事。For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

從上頭來的智慧

¹⁷惟獨從上頭來的智慧，先是清潔，後是和平，溫良柔順，滿有憐憫，多結善果，沒有偏見，沒有假冒。But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

¹⁸並且使人和平的，是用和平所栽種的義果。Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.