今日读经

金像与开光之礼

¹尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省杜拉平原。King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

²尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官，和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼。Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

³于是总督、钦差、巡抚、臬司、藩司、谋士、法官，和各省的官员都聚集了来，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

听见乐器声就要下拜

⁴那时传令的大声呼叫说：“各方、各国、各族（原文是舌：下同）的人哪，有令传与你们：Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:

⁵你们一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

⁶凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立时扔在烈火的窑中。”And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

⁷因此各方、各国、各族的人民一听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟，和各样乐器的声音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

控告犹大人

⁸那时，有几个迦勒底人进前来控告犹大人。At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,

⁹他们对尼布甲尼撒王说：“愿王万岁！saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever!

¹⁰王啊，你曾降旨说，凡听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各样乐器声音的都当俯伏敬拜金像。You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue,

¹¹凡不俯伏敬拜的，必扔在烈火的窑中。and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

¹²现在有几个犹大人，就是王所派管理巴比伦省事务的沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌；王啊，这些人不理你，不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。”But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

王的威吓

¹³当时，尼布甲尼撒冲冲大怒，吩咐人把沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌带过来，他们就把那些人带到王面前。Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,

¹⁴尼布甲尼撒问他们说：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌，你们不事奉我的神，也不敬拜我所立的金像，是故意的吗？and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up?

¹⁵你们再听见角、笛、琵琶、琴、瑟、笙，和各样乐器的声音，若俯伏敬拜我所造的像，却还可以；若不敬拜，必立时扔在烈火的窑中，有何神能救你们脱离我手呢？”Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

即或不然

¹⁶沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌对王说：“尼布甲尼撒啊，这件事我们不必回答你；Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.

¹⁷即便如此，我们所事奉的　神能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王啊，他也必救我们脱离你的手；If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.

¹⁸即或不然，王啊，你当知道我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。”But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

扔在烈火的窑中

¹⁹当时，尼布甲尼撒怒气填胸，向沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌变了脸色，吩咐人把窑烧热，比寻常更加七倍；At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,

²⁰又吩咐他军中的几个壮士，将沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌捆起来，扔在烈火的窑中。and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

²¹这三人穿着裤子、内袍、外衣，和别的衣服，被捆起来扔在烈火的窑中。So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

²²因为王命紧急，窑又甚热，那抬沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的人都被火焰烧死。The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

²³沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌这三个人都被捆着落在烈火的窑中。And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

火中有四个人

²⁴那时，尼布甲尼撒王惊奇，急忙起来，对谋士说：“我捆起来扔在火里的不是三个人吗？”他们回答王说：“王啊，是。”Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?” “Certainly, O king,” they replied.

²⁵王说：“看哪，我见有四个人，并没有捆绑，在火中游行，也没有受伤；那第四个的相貌好像神子。”“Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”

²⁶于是，尼布甲尼撒就近烈火窑门，说：“至高　神的仆人沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌出来，上这里来吧！”沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌就从火中出来了。Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire,

²⁷那些总督、钦差、巡抚，和王的谋士一同聚集看这三个人，见火无力伤他们的身体，头发也没有烧焦，衣裳也没有变色，并没有火燎的气味。and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

王称颂神

²⁸尼布甲尼撒说：“沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌的　神是应当称颂的！他差遣使者救护倚靠他的仆人，他们不遵王命，舍去己身，在他们　神以外不肯事奉敬拜别神。Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

²⁹现在我降旨，无论何方、何国、何族的人，谤讟沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌之　神的，必被凌迟，他的房屋必成粪堆，因为没有别神能这样施行拯救。”Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

³⁰那时王在巴比伦省，高升了沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌。Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

王向天下的公告

¹尼布甲尼撒王晓谕住在全地各方、各国、各族的人说：“愿你们大享平安！King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.

²我乐意将至高的　神向我所行的神迹奇事宣扬出来。I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

³他的神迹何其大！他的奇事何其盛！他的国是永远的；他的权柄存到万代！How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation.

大树的梦

⁴“我尼布甲尼撒安居在宫中，平顺在殿内。I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.

⁵我做了一梦，使我惧怕。我在床上的思念，并脑中的异象，使我惊惶。I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.

⁶所以我降旨召巴比伦的一切哲士到我面前，叫他们把梦的讲解告诉我。So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.

⁷于是那些术士、用法术的、迦勒底人、观兆的都进来，我将那梦告诉了他们，他们却不能把梦的讲解告诉我。When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

⁸末后那照我神的名，称为伯提沙撒的但以理来到我面前，他里头有圣神的灵，我将梦告诉他说：But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:

⁹‘术士的领袖伯提沙撒啊，因我知道你里头有圣神的灵，什么奥秘的事都不能使你为难。现在要把我梦中所见的异象和梦的讲解告诉我。’“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

¹⁰“我在床上脑中的异象是这样：我看见地当中有一棵树，极其高大。In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.

¹¹那树渐长，而且坚固，高得顶天，从地极都能看见，The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.

¹²叶子华美，果子甚多，可作众生的食物；田野的走兽卧在荫下，天空的飞鸟宿在枝上；凡有血气的都从这树得食。Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.

¹³“我在床上脑中的异象，见有一位守望的圣者从天而降。As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

¹⁴大声呼叫说：‘伐倒这树！砍下枝子！摇掉叶子！抛散果子！使走兽离开树下，飞鸟躲开树枝。He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.

¹⁵树墩却要留在地内，用铁圈和铜圈箍住，在田野的青草中让天露滴湿，使他与地上的兽一同吃草，But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

¹⁶使他的心改变，不如人心；给他一个兽心，使他经过七期（期：或译年；本章同）。Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.

¹⁷这是守望者所发的命，圣者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁，或立极卑微的人执掌国权。’This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

¹⁸“这是我—尼布甲尼撒王所做的梦。伯提沙撒啊，你要说明这梦的讲解；因为我国中的一切哲士都不能将梦的讲解告诉我，惟独你能，因你里头有圣神的灵。”This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

但以理讲解梦

¹⁹于是称为伯提沙撒的但以理惊讶片时，心意惊惶。王说：“伯提沙撒啊，不要因梦和梦的讲解惊惶。”伯提沙撒回答说：“我主啊，愿这梦归与恨恶你的人，讲解归与你的敌人。For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

²⁰你所见的树渐长，而且坚固，高得顶天，从地极都能看见；The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

²¹叶子华美，果子甚多，可作众生的食物；田野的走兽住在其下；天空的飞鸟宿在枝上。whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—

²²“王啊，这渐长又坚固的树就是你。你的威势渐长及天，你的权柄管到地极。you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

²³王既看见一位守望的圣者从天而降，说：‘将这树砍伐毁坏，树墩却要留在地内，用铁圈和铜圈箍住；在田野的青草中，让天露滴湿，使他与地上的兽一同吃草，直到经过七期。’And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’

²⁴“王啊，讲解就是这样：临到我主我王的事是出于至高者的命。This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

²⁵你必被赶出离开世人，与野地的兽同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴湿，且要经过七期。等你知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁。You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.

²⁶守望者既吩咐存留树墩，等你知道诸天掌权，以后你的国必定归你。As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

²⁷王啊，求你悦纳我的谏言，以施行公义断绝罪过，以怜悯穷人除掉罪孽，或者你的平安可以延长。”Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

王被赶出离开世人

²⁸这事都临到尼布甲尼撒王。All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

²⁹过了十二个月，他游行在巴比伦王宫里（原文是上）。Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

³⁰他说：“这大巴比伦不是我用大能大力建为京都，要显我威严的荣耀吗？”the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹这话在王口中尚未说完，有声音从天降下，说：“尼布甲尼撒王啊，有话对你说，你的国位离开你了。While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

³²你必被赶出离开世人，与野地的兽同居，吃草如牛，且要经过七期。等你知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁。”You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

³³当时这话就应验在尼布甲尼撒的身上，他被赶出离开世人，吃草如牛，身被天露滴湿，头发长长，好像鹰毛；指甲长长，如同鸟爪。At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

王称颂至高者

³⁴日子满足，我—尼布甲尼撒举目望天，我的聪明复归于我，我便称颂至高者，赞美尊敬活到永远的　神。他的权柄是永有的；他的国存到万代。But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

³⁵世上所有的居民都算为虚无；在天上的万军和世上的居民中，他都凭自己的意旨行事。无人能拦住他手，或问他说，你做什么呢？All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

³⁶那时，我的聪明复归于我，为我国的荣耀、威严，和光耀也都复归于我；并且我的谋士和大臣也来朝见我。我又得坚立在国位上，至大的权柄加增于我。At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

³⁷现在我—尼布甲尼撒赞美、尊崇、恭敬天上的王；因为他所做的全都诚实，他所行的也都公平。那行动骄傲的，他能降为卑。Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

试验那些灵

¹亲爱的弟兄啊，一切的灵，你们不可都信，总要试验那些灵是出于　神的不是，因为世上有许多假先知已经出来了。Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

²凡灵认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的，就是出于　神的；从此你们可以认出　神的灵来。By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

³凡灵不认耶稣，就不是出于　神，这是那敌基督者的灵。你们从前听见他要来，现在已经在世上了。and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.

在你们里面的比在世界上的更大

⁴小子们哪，你们是属　神的，并且胜了他们；因为那在你们里面的，比那在世界上的更大。You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

⁵他们是属世界的，所以论世界的事，世人也听从他们。They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.

⁶我们是属　神的，认识　神的就听从我们；不属　神的就不听从我们。从此我们可以认出真理的灵和谬妄的灵来。We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

爱是从神来的

⁷亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从　神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由　神而生，并且认识　神。Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

⁸没有爱心的，就不认识　神，因为　神就是爱。Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

神爱我们的心显明了

⁹神差他独生子到世间来，使我们借着他得生，　神爱我们的心在此就显明了。This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

¹⁰不是我们爱　神，乃是　神爱我们，差他的儿子为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

¹¹亲爱的弟兄啊，　神既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹²从来没有人见过　神，我们若彼此相爱，　神就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了。No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.

住在神里面

¹³神将他的灵赐给我们，从此就知道我们是住在他里面，他也住在我们里面。By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

¹⁴父差子作世人的救主；这是我们所看见且作见证的。And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

¹⁵凡认耶稣为　神儿子的，　神就住在他里面，他也住在　神里面。If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

¹⁶神爱我们的心，我们也知道也信。　神就是爱；住在爱里面的，就是住在　神里面，　神也住在他里面。And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

爱里没有惧怕

¹⁷这样，爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子坦然无惧。因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

¹⁸爱里没有惧怕；爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。因为惧怕里含着刑罚，惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

¹⁹我们爱，因为　神先爱我们。We love because He first loved us.

爱神的也当爱弟兄

²⁰人若说“我爱　神”，却恨他的弟兄，就是说谎话的；不爱他所看见的弟兄，就不能爱没有看见的　神（有古卷：怎能爱没有看见的　神呢）。If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

²¹爱　神的，也当爱弟兄，这是我们从　神所受的命令。And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

从神生的爱神也爱神的儿女

¹凡信耶稣是基督的，都是从　神而生，凡爱生他之　神的，也必爱从　神生的。Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

²我们若爱　神，又遵守他的诫命，从此就知道我们爱　神的儿女。By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.

诫命不是难守的

³我们遵守　神的诫命，这就是爱他了，并且他的诫命不是难守的。For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,