旧约诗篇 140–144 篇
前情提要
上回说到
昨天(135–139 篇):诗人赞美神超乎万神,一再唱“因他的慈爱永远长存”;被掳的人在巴比伦河边哭泣:“我们怎能在外邦唱耶和华的歌呢”;139 篇惊叹神无所不知、无所不在,最后求神“鉴察我,知道我的心思”。
今天你会读到
五篇大卫的诗,大多是危难中的祷告:求神救他脱离强暴的人和诡诈的舌头(140 篇);求神禁止他的口,使他的祷告如香(141 篇);在洞里向神吐露苦情(142 篇);承认“凡活着的人没有一个是义的”,求神引导(143 篇);最后赞美神教他争战,盼望百姓蒙福(144 篇)。
阅读小提示
留意 “愿我的祷告如香陈列在你面前”:圣殿每天早晚都要烧香、献祭(),诗人把自己举手祷告当作献给神的香和晚祭。
点时代可看说明
这五篇的标题都说是大卫的诗;142 篇标题说是他在洞里作的,传统认为指他躲避扫罗时藏身的洞(、)。
点经节可选取,长按即复制点经节可选取,按 Ctrl+C⌘C 复制
诗篇 第 140 章
求你救我脱离强暴的人
1(大卫的诗,交与伶长。)耶和华啊,求你拯救我脱离凶恶的人,保护我脱离强暴的人!For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence,
2他们心中图谋奸恶,常常聚集要争战。who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
3他们使舌头尖利如蛇,嘴里有的毒气。(细拉)They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah
4耶和华啊,求你拯救我脱离恶人的手,保护我脱离强暴的人!他们图谋推我跌倒。Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked. Keep me safe from men of violence who scheme to make me stumble.
5骄傲人为我暗设网罗和绳索;他们在路旁铺下网,设下。(细拉)The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
你是我的神
6我曾对耶和华说:你是我的 神。耶和华啊,求你留心听我恳求的声音!I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.
7主—耶和华、我救恩的力量啊,在争战的日子,你遮蔽了我的头。O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.
8耶和华啊,求你不要遂恶人的心愿;不要成就他们的计谋,恐怕他们自高。(细拉)Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not promote their evil plans, lest they be exalted. Selah
愿恶人被自己的奸恶陷害
9至于那些昂首围困我的人,愿他们嘴唇的奸恶陷害(原文是遮蔽)自己!May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
10愿火炭落在他们身上!愿他们被丢在火中,抛在深坑里,不能再起来。May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
11说恶言的人在地上必坚立不住;祸患必猎取强暴的人,将他打倒。May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
耶和华必为困苦人伸冤
12我知道耶和华必为困苦人伸冤,必为穷乏人辨屈。I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy.
13义人必要称赞你的名;正直人必住在你面前。Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence.
诗篇 第 141 章
愿我的祷告如香
1(大卫的诗。)耶和华啊,我曾求告你,求你快快临到我这里!我求告你的时候,愿你留心听我的声音!A Psalm of David. I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.
2愿我的祷告如香陈列在你面前!愿我举手祈求,如献!May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.
求你禁止我的口
3耶和华啊,求你禁止我的口,我的嘴!Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
4求你不叫我的心偏向邪恶,以致我和作孽的人同行恶事;也不叫我吃他们的美食。Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
任凭义人击打我
5任凭义人击打我,这算为仁慈;任凭他责备我,这算为头上的;我的头不要躲闪。正在他们行恶的时候,我仍要祈祷。Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
6他们的审判官被扔在岩下;众人要听我的话,因为这话甘甜。When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
7我们的骨头散在墓旁,好像人耕田、的土块。As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8主—耶和华啊,我的眼目仰望你;我投靠你,求你不要将我撇得孤苦!But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.
9求你保护我脱离恶人为我设的网罗和作孽之人的圈套!Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.
10愿恶人落在自己的网里,我却得以逃脱。Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
诗篇 第 142 章
在洞里的祷告
1(大卫在洞里作的,乃是祈祷。)我发声哀告耶和华,发声恳求耶和华。A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.
2我在他面前我的苦情,陈说我的患难。I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
3我的灵在我里面的时候,你知道我的道路。在我行的路上,敌人为我暗设网罗。Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
4求你向我右边观看,因为没有人认识我;我无处避难,也没有人眷顾我。Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.
你是我的避难所
5耶和华啊,我曾向你哀求。我说:你是我的避难所;在活人之地,你是我的福分。I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
6求你侧耳听我的呼求,因我落到极卑之地;求你救我脱离逼迫我的人,因为他们比我强盛。Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.
7求你领我出离被囚之地,我好称赞你的名。义人必环绕我,因为你是用厚恩待我。Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.
诗篇 第 143 章
求你听我的祷告
1(大卫的诗。)耶和华啊,求你听我的祷告,留心听我的恳求,凭你的信实和公义应允我。A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.
2求你不要审问仆人;因为在你面前,凡活着的人没有一个是义的。Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
3原来仇敌逼迫我,将我打倒在地,使我住在幽暗之处,像死了许久的人一样。For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.
4所以,我的灵在我里面发昏;我的心在我里面。My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
追想古时之日
5我追想古时之日,思想你的一切作为,默念你手的工作。I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands.
6我向你举手;我的心渴想你,如干旱之地盼雨一样。(细拉)I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
求你速速应允我
7耶和华啊,求你速速应允我!我心神耗尽!不要向我掩面,免得我像那些下坑的人一样。Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit.
8求你使我清晨得听你慈爱之言,因我倚靠你;求你使我知道当行的路,因我的心仰望你。Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
9耶和华啊,求你救我脱离我的仇敌!我往你那里藏身。Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I flee to You for refuge.
10求你指教我遵行你的旨意,因你是我的 神。你的灵本为善;求你引我到平坦之地。Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11耶和华啊,求你为你的名将我救活,凭你的公义,将我从患难中领出来,For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
12凭你的慈爱剪除我的仇敌,灭绝一切苦待我的人,因我是你的仆人。And in Your loving devotion, cut off my enemies. Destroy all who afflict me, for I am Your servant.
诗篇 第 144 章
教导我的手争战
1(大卫的诗。)耶和华—我的磐石是应当称颂的!他教导我的手争战,教导我的指头打仗。Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
2他是我慈爱的主,我的,我的高台,我的救主,我的盾牌,是我所投靠的;他使我的百姓服在我以下。He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer. He is my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
3耶和华啊,人算什么,你竟认识他!世人算什么,你竟顾念他!O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?
4人好像一口气;他的年日如同快快过去。Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
5耶和华啊,求你使天下垂,亲自降临,摸山,山就冒烟。Part Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6求你发出闪电,使他们四散,射出你的箭,使他们扰乱。Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.
7求你从上伸手救拔我,救我出离大水,救我脱离外邦人的手。Reach down from on high; set me free and rescue me from the deep waters, from the grasp of foreigners,
8他们的口说谎话;他们的右手起假誓。whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.
9神啊,我要向你唱新歌,用向你歌颂。I will sing to You a new song, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will make music to You—
10你是那拯救君王的;你是那救仆人大卫脱离害命之刀的。to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
11求你救拔我,救我脱离外邦人的手。他们的口说谎话;他们的右手起假誓。Set me free and rescue me from the grasp of foreigners, whose mouths speak falsehood, whose right hands are deceitful.
百姓蒙福的光景
12我们的儿子从幼年好像树栽子长大;我们的女儿如同,是按建宫的样式凿成的。Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace.
13我们的仓盈满,能出各样的粮食;我们的羊在田间千万。Our storehouses will be full, supplying all manner of produce; our flocks will bring forth thousands, tens of thousands in our fields.
14我们的牛驮着,没有人闯进来抢夺,也没有人出去争战;我们的街市上也没有哭号的声音。Our oxen will bear great loads. There will be no breach in the walls, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our streets.
15遇见这光景的百姓便为有福!有耶和华为他们的 神,这百姓便为有福!Blessed are the people of whom this is so; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
摘要
诗篇140至144篇是大卫在遭受仇敌逼迫、陷入孤立困苦时向神发出的恳切祷告。他求神拯救他脱离恶人的网罗与强暴,同时深刻承认自己的软弱与有限,渴望神的引导与保护。这些诗篇从哀求逐渐转向赞美,大卫在患难中重新确认神是磐石、避难所与慈爱的主,并以对神国度丰盛祝福的盼望作结。
反思问题
- 当你感到被人误解、孤立无援时,你是否像大卫一样,第一时间向神倾诉你的苦情?
- 诗篇141篇提到求神‘禁止我的口、把守我的嘴’,在日常人际冲突中,你如何操练管住自己的言语?
- 大卫在144篇感叹‘人算什么,你竟顾念他’,这份对神恩典的惊叹,如何影响你看待自己生命价值与日常境遇的眼光?
新约哥林多前书 13:1–13
前情提要
上回说到
昨天(12 章):恩赐各有不同,却是同一位圣灵所赐;教会像一个身体,肢体虽多,仍是一个身子,谁也不能对别人说“我用不着你”。最后保罗说:“我现今把最妙的道指示你们”。
今天你会读到
常被称为爱篇的一章。即使有方言、先知讲道之能、知识、信心,甚至舍己身,若没有爱,都算不得甚么;接着描写爱的样子;最后说各样恩赐终必停止,爱却永不止息,“其中最大的是爱”。
阅读小提示
试着把 的“爱是”换成自己的名字读一遍,就会发现这段不是浪漫的情诗,而是很实际的生活功课;再换成“耶稣”读一次,这正是祂活出来的样子。
点时代可看说明
传统认为约主后 53–55 年写于以弗所。这一章夹在谈恩赐的 12 章和 14 章中间,提醒哥林多人:恩赐要用爱来使用。
哥林多前书 第 13 章
没有爱就算不得甚么
1我若能说万人的方言,并,却没有爱,我就成了,响的钹一般。If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
2我若有先知讲道之能,也明白各样的奥秘,各样的知识,而且有全备的信,叫我能够,却没有爱,我就算不得什么。If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3我若将所有的穷人,又舍己身,却没有爱,仍然与我无益。If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
爱是恒久忍耐
4爱是,又有;爱是不嫉妒;爱是不自夸,不,Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5不做害羞的事,不求自己的益处,不轻易发怒,,It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
6不喜欢不义,只喜欢真理;Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
7凡事,凡事相信,凡事盼望,凡事忍耐。It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
爱是永不止息
8爱是永不止息。先知讲道之能终必归于无有;说方言之能终必停止;知识也终必归于无有。Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.
9我们现在所知道的有限,先知所讲的也有限,For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10等那来到,这有限的必归于无有了。but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
从孩子到成人
11我作孩子的时候,话语像孩子,心思像孩子,意念像孩子,既成了人,就把孩子的事丢弃了。When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
12我们如今仿佛,(原文是如同猜谜),到那时就要面对面了。我如今所知道的有限,到那时就全知道,如同主知道我一样。Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
其中最大的是爱
13如今常存的有信,有望,有爱这三样,其中最大的是爱。And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
摘要
哥林多前书13章被称为‘爱的篇章’,保罗指出即使拥有最卓越的恩赐——说方言、先知讲道、全备的信心、舍己的牺牲——若没有爱,一切都毫无价值。他具体描绘爱的本质:恒久忍耐、有恩慈、不嫉妒、不自夸、凡事包容忍耐。最后保罗宣告,恩赐终将过去,唯有信、望、爱永存,其中最大的是爱。
反思问题
- 保罗列举的爱的特质中(忍耐、恩慈、不嫉妒、不计算人的恶等),哪一项是你目前最需要成长的?你打算如何具体操练?
- 你是否曾经用恩赐、服事或奉献来代替真实的爱?如何分辨自己行善的动机是出于爱还是出于其他目的?
- ‘如今仿佛对着镜子观看,糢糊不清’——面对信仰中尚未明白的事,你如何在有限的认知中仍然持守信心与盼望?