以賽亞書45:8-19

45:8 諸天哪，自上而滴，穹蒼降下公義；地面開裂，產出救恩，使公義一同發生；這都是我─耶和華所造的。
45:9 禍哉，那與造他的主爭論的！他不過是地上瓦片中的一塊瓦片。泥土豈可對摶弄它的說：你做甚麼呢？所做的物豈可說：你沒有手呢？
45:10 禍哉，那對父親說：你生的是甚麼呢？或對母親（原文是婦人）說：你產的是甚麼呢？
45:11 耶和華─以色列的聖者，就是造就以色列的如此說：將來的事，你們可以問我；至於我的眾子，並我手的工作，你們可以求我命定（原文是吩咐我）。
45:12 我造地，又造人在地上。我親手鋪張諸天；天上萬象也是我所命定的。
45:13 我憑公義興起塞魯士（原文是他），又要修直他一切道路。他必建造我的城，釋放我被擄的民；不是為工價，也不是為賞賜。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
45:14 耶和華如此說：埃及勞碌得來的和古實的貨物必歸你；身量高大的西巴人必投降你，也要屬你。他們必帶著鎖鍊過來隨從你，又向你下拜，祈求你說：上帝真在你們中間，此外再沒有別神；再沒有別的上帝。
45:15 救主─以色列的上帝啊，你實在是自隱的上帝。
45:16 凡製造偶像的都必抱愧蒙羞，都要一同歸於慚愧。
45:17 惟有以色列必蒙耶和華的拯救，得永遠的救恩。你們必不蒙羞，也不抱愧，直到永世無盡。
45:18 創造諸天的耶和華，製造成全大地的上帝，他創造堅定大地，並非使地荒涼，是要給人居住。他如此說：我是耶和華，再沒有別神。
45:19 我沒有在隱密黑暗之地說話；我沒有對雅各的後裔說：你們尋求我是徒然的。我─耶和華所講的是公義，所說的是正直。

8

Shower, O heavens, from above,

and let the skies rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,

and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;

I the Lord have created it.

9

Woe to you who strive with your Maker,

earthen vessels with the potter!

Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”?

or “Your work has no handles”?

10

Woe to anyone who says to a father, “What are you begetting?”

or to a woman, “With what are you in labor?”

11

Thus says the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Will you question me about my children,

or command me concerning the work of my hands?

12

I made the earth,

and created humankind upon it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all their host.

13

I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness,

and I will make all his paths straight;

he shall build my city

and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,

says the Lord of hosts.

14

Thus says the Lord:

The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia,

and the Sabeans, tall of stature,

shall come over to you and be yours,

they shall follow you;

they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.

They will make supplication to you, saying,

“God is with you alone, and there is no other;

there is no god besides him.”

15

Truly, you are a God who hides himself,

O God of Israel, the Savior.

16

All of them are put to shame and confounded,

the makers of idols go in confusion together.

17

But Israel is saved by the Lord

with everlasting salvation;

you shall not be put to shame or confounded

to all eternity.

18

For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

(he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

(he established it;

he did not create it a chaos,

he formed it to be inhabited!):

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19

I did not speak in secret,

in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

“Seek me in chaos.”

I the Lord speak the truth,

I declare what is right.

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    上帝的公義是要拯救我們，不是要懲罰我們。上帝對我們是要拯救，並不是要我們沉淪！拯救是上帝的作為，不是我們的作為。也唯有上帝能拯救人脫離滅亡進入永生，就是透過耶穌基督。

    有許多基督徒受到賞善罰惡的觀念影響，甚至於認為做錯是必須受到懲罰。其實懲罰的目的是希望人得警戒，不要再犯罪！也就是說懲罰是手段，不是目的。但是人常常把懲罰當目的，這不是上帝的心意，這更不是上帝的公義！

    「有公義才有和平」，真正的意義是：有上帝的拯救公義—上帝願意因耶穌基督的緣故來赦免我們，我們才有真正的和平—與上帝重新和好！這也就是說，我們的平安是來自於上帝，不是人的努力行善！