今日读经

两只大鹰的谜语

¹耶和华的话临到我说：Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²“人子啊，你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻，“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel

³说主耶和华如此说：有一大鹰，翅膀大，翎毛长，羽毛丰满，彩色俱备，来到黎巴嫩，将香柏树梢拧去，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就是折去香柏树尽尖的嫩枝，叼到贸易之地，放在买卖城中；He plucked off its topmost shoot, carried it to the land of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.

⁵又将以色列地的枝子栽于肥田里，插在大水旁，如插柳树，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就渐渐生长，成为蔓延矮小的葡萄树。其枝转向那鹰，其根在鹰以下，于是成了葡萄树，生出枝子，发出小枝。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又有一大鹰，翅膀大，羽毛多。这葡萄树从栽种的畦中向这鹰弯过根来，发出枝子，好得它的浇灌。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这树栽于肥田多水的旁边，好生枝子，结果子，成为佳美的葡萄树。It had been planted in good soil by abundant waters in order to yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

⁹你要说，主耶和华如此说：这葡萄树岂能发旺呢？鹰岂不拔出它的根来，芟除它的果子，使它枯干，使它发的嫩叶都枯干了吗？也不用大力和多民，就拔出它的根来。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葡萄树虽然栽种，岂能发旺呢？一经东风，岂不全然枯干吗？必在生长的畦中枯干了。”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.’”

谜语的意思：背约的王

¹¹耶和华的话临到我说：Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

¹²“你对那悖逆之家说：你们不知道这些事是什么意思么？你要告诉他们说，巴比伦王曾到耶路撒冷，将其中的君王和首领带到巴比伦自己那里去。“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从以色列的宗室中取一人与他立约，使他发誓，并将国中有势力的人掳去，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使国低微不能自强，惟因守盟约得以存立。so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant.

¹⁵他却背叛巴比伦王，打发使者往埃及去，要他们给他马匹和多民。他岂能亨通呢？行这样事的人岂能逃脱呢？他背约岂能逃脱呢？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他轻看向王所起的誓，背弃王与他所立的约。主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，他定要死在立他作王、巴比伦王的京都。‘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敌人筑垒造台，与他打仗的时候，为要剪除多人，法老虽领大军队和大群众，还是不能帮助他。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他轻看誓言，背弃盟约，已经投降，却又做这一切的事，他必不能逃脱。”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!’

神要追讨背约的罪

¹⁹所以主耶和华如此说：“我指着我的永生起誓，他既轻看指我所起的誓，背弃指我所立的约，我必要使这罪归在他头上。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我必将我的网撒在他身上，他必在我的网罗中缠住。我必带他到巴比伦，并要在那里因他干犯我的罪刑罚他。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他的一切军队，凡逃跑的，都必倒在刀下；所剩下的，也必分散四方（方：原文是风）。你们就知道说这话的是我—耶和华。”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.’

神亲自栽种的嫩枝

²²主耶和华如此说：“我要将香柏树梢拧去栽上，就是从尽尖的嫩枝中折一嫩枝，栽于极高的山上；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在以色列高处的山栽上。它就生枝子，结果子，成为佳美的香柏树，各类飞鸟都必宿在其下，就是宿在枝子的荫下。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田野的树木都必知道我—耶和华使高树矮小，矮树高大；青树枯干，枯树发旺。我—耶和华如此说，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.’”

酸葡萄的俗语

¹耶和华的话又临到我说：Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

²“你们在以色列地怎么用这俗语说‘父亲吃了酸葡萄，儿子的牙酸倒了’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主耶和华说：“我指着我的永生起誓，你们在以色列中，必不再有用这俗语的因由。As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.

⁴看哪，世人都是属我的；为父的怎样属我，为子的也照样属我；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.

公义的人必定存活

⁵“人若是公义，且行正直与合理的事：Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

⁶未曾在山上吃过祭偶像之物，未曾仰望以色列家的偶像，未曾玷污邻舍的妻，未曾在妇人的经期内亲近她，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未曾亏负人，乃将欠债之人的当头还给他；未曾抢夺人的物件，却将食物给饥饿的人吃，将衣服给赤身的人穿；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未曾向借钱的弟兄取利，也未曾向借粮的弟兄多要，缩手不作罪孽，在两人之间，按至理判断；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，谨守我的典章，按诚实行事—这人是公义的，必定存活。这是主耶和华说的。He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.

作恶的儿子必要死亡

^10–11“他若生一个儿子，作强盗，是流人血的，不行以上所说之善，反行其中之恶，乃在山上吃过祭偶像之物，并玷污邻舍的妻，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亏负困苦和穷乏的人，抢夺人的物，未曾将当头还给人，仰望偶像，并行可憎的事，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向借钱的弟兄取利，向借粮的弟兄多要—这人岂能存活呢？他必不能存活。他行这一切可憎的事，必要死亡，他的罪（原文是血）必归到他身上。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.

不效法父亲的儿子

¹⁴“他若生一个儿子，见父亲所犯的一切罪便惧怕（有古卷：思量），不照样去做；Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:

¹⁵未曾在山上吃过祭偶像之物，未曾仰望以色列家的偶像，未曾玷污邻舍的妻，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未曾亏负人，未曾取人的当头，未曾抢夺人的物件，却将食物给饥饿的人吃，将衣服给赤身的人穿，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缩手不害贫穷人，未曾向借钱的弟兄取利，也未曾向借粮的弟兄多要；他顺从我的典章，遵行我的律例，就不因父亲的罪孽死亡，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至于他父亲；因为欺人太甚，抢夺弟兄，在本国的民中行不善，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“你们还说：‘儿子为何不担当父亲的罪孽呢？’儿子行正直与合理的事，谨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。儿子必不担当父亲的罪孽，父亲也不担当儿子的罪孽。义人的善果必归自己，恶人的恶报也必归自己。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.

恶人回头必定存活

²¹“恶人若回头离开所做的一切罪恶，谨守我一切的律例，行正直与合理的事，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他所犯的一切罪过都不被记念，因所行的义，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主耶和华说：恶人死亡，岂是我喜悦的吗？不是喜悦他回头离开所行的道存活吗？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义人若转离义行而作罪孽，照着恶人所行一切可憎的事而行，他岂能存活吗？他所行的一切义都不被记念；他必因所犯的罪、所行的恶死亡。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.

主的道不公平吗

²⁵“你们还说：‘主的道不公平！’以色列家啊，你们当听，我的道岂不公平吗？你们的道岂不是不公平吗？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义人若转离义行而作罪孽死亡，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，恶人若回头离开所行的恶，行正直与合理的事，他必将性命救活了。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因为他思量，回头离开所犯的一切罪过，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以色列家还说：‘主的道不公平！’以色列家啊，我的道岂不公平吗？你们的道岂不是不公平吗？”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?

自做一个新心和新灵

³⁰所以主耶和华说：“以色列家啊，我必按你们各人所行的审判你们。你们当回头离开所犯的一切罪过。这样，罪孽必不使你们败亡。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.

相关经文 ›

³¹你们要将所犯的一切罪过尽行抛弃，自做一个新心和新灵。以色列家啊，你们何必死亡呢？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主耶和华说：我不喜悦那死人之死，所以你们当回头而存活。”For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

母狮和小狮子的哀歌

¹你当为以色列的王作起哀歌，“As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

²说：你的母亲是什么呢？是个母狮子，蹲伏在狮子中间，在少壮狮子中养育小狮子。and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.

³在它小狮子中养大一个，成了少壮狮子，学会抓食而吃人。She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

⁴列国听见了就把它捉在他们的坑中，用钩子拉到埃及地去。When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.

⁵母狮见自己等候失了指望，就从它小狮子中又将一个养为少壮狮子。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它在众狮子中走来走去，成了少壮狮子，学会抓食而吃人。He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.

⁷它知道列国的宫殿，又使他们的城邑变为荒场；因它咆哮的声音，遍地和其中所有的就都荒废。He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

⁸于是四围邦国各省的人来攻击它，将网撒在它身上，捉在他们的坑中。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他们用钩子钩住它，将它放在笼中，带到巴比伦王那里，将他放入坚固之所，使他的声音在以色列山上不再听见。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.

被拔出的葡萄树

¹⁰你的母亲先前如葡萄树，极其茂盛（原文是在你血中），栽于水旁。因为水多，就多结果子，满生枝子；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生出坚固的枝干，可作掌权者的杖。这枝干高举在茂密的枝中，而且它生长高大，枝子繁多，远远可见。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但这葡萄树因忿怒被拔出摔在地上；东风吹干其上的果子，坚固的枝干折断枯干，被火烧毁了；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如今栽于旷野干旱无水之地。Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

¹⁴火也从它枝干中发出，烧灭果子，以致没有坚固的枝干可做掌权者的杖。这是哀歌，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.”

不要多人作师傅

¹我的弟兄们，不要多人作师傅，因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

²原来我们在许多事上都有过失；若有人在话语上没有过失，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.

嚼环和舵

³我们若把嚼环放在马嘴里，叫它顺服，就能调动它的全身。When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

⁴看哪，船只虽然甚大，又被大风催逼，只用小小的舵，就随着掌舵的意思转动。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.

舌头就是火

⁵这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林。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舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。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各类的走兽、飞禽、昆虫、水族，本来都可以制伏，也已经被人制伏了；All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

⁸惟独舌头没有人能制伏，是不止息的恶物，满了害死人的毒气。but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

颂赞和咒诅出于一口

⁹我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着　神形象被造的人。With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

¹⁰颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来！我的弟兄们，这是不应当的！Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

¹¹泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

¹²我的弟兄们，无花果树能生橄榄吗？葡萄树能结无花果吗？咸水里也不能发出甜水来。My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

在温柔上显出善行

¹³你们中间谁是有智慧有见识的呢？他就当在智慧的温柔上显出他的善行来。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你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和纷争，就不可自夸，也不可说谎话抵挡真道。But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

¹⁵这样的智慧不是从上头来的，乃是属地的，属情欲的，属鬼魔的。Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

¹⁶在何处有嫉妒、纷争，就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

从上头来的智慧

¹⁷惟独从上头来的智慧，先是清洁，后是和平，温良柔顺，满有怜悯，多结善果，没有偏见，没有假冒。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并且使人和平的，是用和平所栽种的义果。Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.