今日讀經

但以理的夢

¹巴比倫王伯沙撒元年，但以理在床上做夢，見了腦中的異象，就記錄這夢，述說其中的大意。In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.

四個大獸

²但以理說：我夜裡見異象，看見天的四風陡起，颳在大海之上。Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea.

³有四個大獸從海中上來，形狀各有不同：Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:

⁴頭一個像獅子，有鷹的翅膀；我正觀看的時候，獸的翅膀被拔去，獸從地上得立起來，用兩腳站立，像人一樣，又得了人心。The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and given the mind of a man.

⁵又有一獸如熊，就是第二獸，旁跨而坐，口齒內啣著三根肋骨。有吩咐這獸的說：起來吞吃多肉。Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’

⁶此後我觀看，又有一獸如豹，背上有鳥的四個翅膀；這獸有四個頭，又得了權柄。Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷其後我在夜間的異象中觀看，見第四獸甚是可怕，極其強壯，大有力量，有大鐵牙，吞吃嚼碎，所剩下的用腳踐踏。這獸與前三獸大不相同，頭有十角。After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.

⁸我正觀看這些角，見其中又長起一個小角；先前的角中有三角在這角前，連根被牠拔出來。這角有眼，像人的眼，有口說誇大的話。While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

亙古常在者審判

⁹我觀看，見有寶座設立，上頭坐著亙古常在者。他的衣服潔白如雪，頭髮如純淨的羊毛。寶座乃火焰，其輪乃烈火。As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

¹⁰從他面前有火，像河發出；事奉他的有千千，在他面前侍立的有萬萬；他坐著要行審判，案卷都展開了。A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

¹¹那時我觀看，見那獸因小角說誇大話的聲音被殺，身體損壞，扔在火中焚燒。Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

¹²其餘的獸，權柄都被奪去，生命卻仍存留，直到所定的時候和日期。As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.

像人子的駕雲而來

¹³我在夜間的異象中觀看，見有一位像人子的，駕著天雲而來，被領到亙古常在者面前，In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.

¹⁴得了權柄、榮耀、國度，使各方、各國、各族的人都事奉他。他的權柄是永遠的，不能廢去；他的國必不敗壞。And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

但以理求問異象

¹⁵至於我─但以理，我的靈在我裡面愁煩，我腦中的異象使我驚惶。I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me.

¹⁶我就近一位侍立者，問他這一切的真情。他就告訴我，將那事的講解給我說明。I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:

¹⁷這四個大獸就是四王將要在世上興起。‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

¹⁸然而，至高者的聖民，必要得國享受，直到永永遠遠。But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

第四獸和小角

¹⁹那時我願知道第四獸的真情，牠為何與那三獸的真情大不相同，甚是可怕，有鐵牙銅爪，吞吃嚼碎，所剩下的用腳踐踏；Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left.

²⁰頭有十角和那另長的一角，在這角前有三角被牠打落。這角有眼，有說誇大話的口，形狀強橫，過於牠的同類。I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

²¹我觀看，見這角與聖民爭戰，勝了他們。As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,

²²直到亙古常在者來給至高者的聖民伸冤，聖民得國的時候就到了。until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

侍立者的解釋

²³那侍立者這樣說：第四獸就是世上必有的第四國，與一切國大不相同，必吞吃全地，並且踐踏嚼碎。This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it.

²⁴至於那十角，就是從這國中必興起的十王，後來又興起一王，與先前的不同；他必制伏三王。And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings.

²⁵他必向至高者說誇大的話，必折磨至高者的聖民，必想改變節期和律法。聖民必交付他手一載、二載、半載。He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

²⁶然而，審判者必坐著行審判；他的權柄必被奪去，毀壞，滅絕，一直到底。But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

²⁷國度、權柄，和天下諸國的大權必賜給至高者的聖民。他的國是永遠的；一切掌權的都必事奉他，順從他。Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

²⁸那事至此完畢。至於我─但以理，心中甚是驚惶，臉色也改變了，卻將那事存記在心。Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”

公綿羊與公山羊

¹伯沙撒王在位第三年，有異象現與我─但以理，是在先前所見的異象之後。In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier.

²我見了異象的時候，我以為在以攔省書珊城（或譯：宮）中；我見異象又如在烏萊河邊。And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

³我舉目觀看，見有雙角的公綿羊站在河邊，兩角都高。這角高過那角，更高的是後長的。Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later.

⁴我見那公綿羊往西、往北、往南牴觸。獸在牠面前都站立不住，也沒有能救護脫離牠手的；但牠任意而行，自高自大。I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

⁵我正思想的時候，見有一隻公山羊從西而來，遍行全地，腳不沾塵。這山羊兩眼當中有一非常的角。As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground.

⁶牠往我所看見、站在河邊有雙角的公綿羊那裡去，大發忿怒，向牠直闖。He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power.

⁷我見公山羊就近公綿羊，向牠發烈怒，牴觸牠，折斷牠的兩角。綿羊在牠面前站立不住；牠將綿羊觸倒在地，用腳踐踏，沒有能救綿羊脫離牠手的。I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power.

⁸這山羊極其自高自大，正強盛的時候，那大角折斷了，又在角根上向天的四方（原文是風）長出四個非常的角來。Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

小角褻瀆聖所

⁹四角之中有一角長出一個小角，向南、向東、向榮美之地，漸漸成為強大。From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land.

¹⁰牠漸漸強大，高及天象，將些天象和星宿拋落在地，用腳踐踏。It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth and trampled them.

¹¹並且牠自高自大，以為高及天象之君；除掉常獻給君的燔祭，毀壞君的聖所。It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary.

¹²因罪過的緣故，有軍旅和常獻的燔祭交付牠。牠將真理拋在地上，任意而行，無不順利。And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.

到二千三百日

¹³我聽見有一位聖者說話，又有一位聖者問那說話的聖者說：「這除掉常獻的燔祭和施行毀壞的罪過，將聖所與軍旅（或譯：以色列的軍）踐踏的異象，要到幾時才應驗呢？」Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”

¹⁴他對我說：「到二千三百日，聖所就必潔淨。」He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

加百列講解異象

¹⁵我─但以理見了這異象，願意明白其中的意思。忽有一位形狀像人的站在我面前。While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man.

¹⁶我又聽見烏萊河兩岸中有人聲呼叫說：「加百列啊，要使此人明白這異象。」And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

¹⁷他便來到我所站的地方。他一來，我就驚慌俯伏在地；他對我說：「人子啊，你要明白，因為這是關乎末後的異象。」As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

¹⁸他與我說話的時候，我面伏在地沉睡；他就摸我，扶我站起來，While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, helped me to my feet,

¹⁹說：「我要指示你惱怒臨完必有的事，因為這是關乎末後的定期。and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end.

²⁰你所看見雙角的公綿羊，就是瑪代和波斯王。The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.

²¹那公山羊就是希臘王（希臘：原文是雅完；下同）；兩眼當中的大角就是頭一王。The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king.

²²至於那折斷了的角，在其根上又長出四角，這四角就是四國，必從這國裡興起來，只是權勢都不及他。The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation but will not have the same power.

²³這四國末時，犯法的人罪惡滿盈，必有一王興起，面貌凶惡，能用雙關的詐語。In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne.

²⁴他的權柄必大，卻不是因自己的能力；他必行非常的毀滅，事情順利，任意而行；又必毀滅有能力的和聖民。His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.

²⁵他用權術成就手中的詭計，心裡自高自大，在人坦然無備的時候，毀滅多人；又要站起來攻擊萬君之君，至終卻非因人手而滅亡。Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.

²⁶所說二千三百日的異象是真的，但你要將這異象封住，因為關乎後來許多的日子。」The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

但以理病了數日

²⁷於是我─但以理昏迷不醒，病了數日，然後起來辦理王的事務。我因這異象驚奇，卻無人能明白其中的意思。I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

問安

¹作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太（或譯：教會；下同）和她的兒女，就是我誠心所愛的；不但我愛，也是一切知道真理之人所愛的。The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—

²愛你們是為真理的緣故，這真理存在我們裡面，也必永遠與我們同在。because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

³恩惠、憐憫、平安從父　神和他兒子耶穌基督在真理和愛心上必常與我們同在！Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, will be with us in truth and love.

遵行真理，彼此相愛

⁴我見你的兒女，有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚歡喜。I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.

⁵太太啊，我現在勸你，我們大家要彼此相愛。這並不是我寫一條新命令給你，乃是我們從起初所受的命令。And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

⁶我們若照他的命令行，這就是愛。你們從起初所聽見當行的，就是這命令。And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.

提防迷惑人的

⁷因為世上有許多迷惑人的出來，他們不認耶穌基督是成了肉身來的；這就是那迷惑人、敵基督的。For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

⁸你們要小心，不要失去你們（有古卷：我們）所做的工，乃要得著滿足的賞賜。Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.

⁹凡越過基督的教訓不常守著的，就沒有　神；常守這教訓的，就有父又有子。Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.

不要接待傳假教訓的

¹⁰若有人到你們那裡，不是傳這教訓，不要接他到家裡，也不要問他的安；If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.

¹¹因為問他安的，就在他的惡行上有分。Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

盼望當面談論

¹²我還有許多事要寫給你們，卻不願意用紙墨寫出來，但盼望到你們那裡，與你們當面談論，使你們的喜樂滿足。I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

¹³你那蒙揀選之姊妹的兒女都問你安。The children of your elect sister send you greetings.