以賽亞書25:1-12

25:1 耶和華啊，你是我的上帝；我要尊崇你，我要稱讚你的名。因為你以忠信誠實行過奇妙的事，成就你古時所定的。
25:2 你使城變為亂堆，使堅固城變為荒場，使外邦人宮殿的城不再為城，永遠不再建造。
25:3 所以，剛強的民必榮耀你；強暴之國的城必敬畏你。
25:4 因為當強暴人催逼人的時候，如同暴風直吹牆壁，你就作貧窮人的保障，作困乏人急難中的保障，作躲暴風之處，作避炎熱的陰涼。
25:5 你要壓制外邦人的喧嘩，好像乾燥地的熱氣下落；禁止強暴人的凱歌，好像熱氣被雲影消化。
25:6 在這山上，萬軍之耶和華必為萬民用肥甘設擺筵席，用陳酒和滿髓的肥甘，並澄清的陳酒，設擺筵席。
25:7 他又必在這山上除滅遮蓋萬民之物和遮蔽萬國蒙臉的帕子。
25:8 他已經吞滅死亡直到永遠。主耶和華必擦去各人臉上的眼淚，又除掉普天下他百姓的羞辱，因為這是耶和華說的。
25:9 到那日，人必說：「看哪，這是我們的上帝；我們素來等候他，他必拯救我們。這是耶和華，我們素來等候他，我們必因他的救恩歡喜快樂。」
25:10 耶和華的手必按在這山上；摩押人在所居之地必被踐踏，好像乾草被踐踏在糞池的水中。
25:11 他必在其中伸開手，好像洑水的伸開手洑水一樣；但耶和華必使他的驕傲和他手所行的詭計一併敗落。
25:12 耶和華使你城上的堅固高臺傾倒，拆平，直到塵埃。

O Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you, I will praise your name;

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

2

For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the palace of aliens is a city no more,

it will never be rebuilt.

3

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

4

For you have been a refuge to the poor,

a refuge to the needy in their distress,

a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.

When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,

5

the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,

you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;

the song of the ruthless was stilled.

6

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,

of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

7

And he will destroy on this mountain

the shroud that is cast over all peoples,

the sheet that is spread over all nations;

8

he will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

9

It will be said on that day,

Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.

This is the Lord for whom we have waited;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

10

For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

 

The Moabites shall be trodden down in their place

as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.

11

Though they spread out their hands in the midst of it,

as swimmers spread out their hands to swim,

their pride will be laid low despite the struggle of their hands.

12

The high fortifications of his walls will be brought down,

laid low, cast to the ground, even to the dust.

************

    這是一首讚美詩的詩歌。雖然猶大的處境不是很好，但事先知看見上帝的拯救就喜樂了，正如他所說的：「看哪，這是我們的上帝；我們素來等候他，他必拯救我們。這是耶和華，我們素來等候他，我們必因他的救恩歡喜快樂。」

    再怎樣不如意，都要記得：上帝是拯救我們的主！他必拯救我們，我們必因他的救恩歡喜快樂！

    不要為一時的挫折難過或灰心喪志，上帝不會丟棄我們的，我們是永遠蒙他的保守，祂拯救我們就必拯救到底的！

以賽亞書24章

     以賽亞書24:1-23 ,

以賽亞書24:1-23

24:1 看哪，耶和華使地空虛，變為荒涼；又翻轉大地，將居民分散。
24:2 那時百姓怎樣，祭司也怎樣；僕人怎樣，主人也怎樣；婢女怎樣，主母也怎樣；買物的怎樣，賣物的也怎樣；放債的怎樣，借債的也怎樣；取利的怎樣，出利的也怎樣。
24:3 地必全然空虛，盡都荒涼；因為這話是耶和華說的。
24:4 地上悲哀衰殘，世界敗落衰殘；地上居高位的人也敗落了。
24:5 地被其上的居民污穢；因為他們犯了律法，廢了律例，背了永約。
24:6 所以，地被咒詛吞滅；住在其上的顯為有罪。地上的居民被火焚燒，剩下的人稀少。
24:7 新酒悲哀，葡萄樹衰殘；心中歡樂的俱都歎息。
24:8 擊鼓之樂止息；宴樂人的聲音完畢，彈琴之樂也止息了。
24:9 人必不得飲酒唱歌；喝濃酒的，必以為苦。
24:10 荒涼的城拆毀了；各家關門閉戶，使人都不得進去。
24:11 在街上因酒有悲歎的聲音；一切喜樂變為昏暗；地上的歡樂歸於無有。
24:12 城中只有荒涼；城門拆毀淨盡。
24:13 在地上的萬民中，必像打過的橄欖樹，又像已摘的葡萄所剩無幾。
24:14 這些人要高聲歡呼；他們為耶和華的威嚴，從海那裡揚起聲來。
24:15 因此，你們要在東方榮耀耶和華，在眾海島榮耀耶和華─以色列上帝的名。
24:16 我們聽見從地極有人歌唱，說：榮耀歸於義人。我卻說：我消滅了！我消滅了，我有禍了！詭詐的行詭詐；詭詐的大行詭詐。
24:17 地上的居民哪，恐懼、陷坑、網羅都臨近你。
24:18 躲避恐懼聲音的必墜入陷坑；從陷坑上來的必被網羅纏住；因為天上的窗戶都開了，地的根基也震動了。
24:19 地全然破壞，盡都崩裂，大大地震動了。
24:20 地要東倒西歪，好像醉酒的人；又搖來搖去，好像吊床。罪過在其上沉重，必然塌陷，不能復起。
24:21 到那日，耶和華在高處必懲罰高處的眾軍，在地上必懲罰地上的列王。
24:22 他們必被聚集，像囚犯被聚在牢獄中，並要囚在監牢裡，多日之後便被討罪（或譯：眷顧）。
24:23 那時，月亮要蒙羞，日頭要慚愧；因為萬軍之耶和華必在錫安山，在耶路撒冷作王；在敬畏他的長老面前，必有榮耀。

Now the Lord is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate,

and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

2

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest;

as with the slave, so with his master;

as with the maid, so with her mistress;

as with the buyer, so with the seller;

as with the lender, so with the borrower;

as with the creditor, so with the debtor.

3

The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled;

for the Lord has spoken this word.

4

The earth dries up and withers,

the world languishes and withers;

the heavens languish together with the earth.

5

The earth lies polluted

under its inhabitants;

for they have transgressed laws,

violated the statutes,

broken the everlasting covenant.

6

Therefore a curse devours the earth,

and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;

therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled,

and few people are left.

7

The wine dries up,

the vine languishes,

all the merry-hearted sigh.

8

The mirth of the timbrels is stilled,

the noise of the jubilant has ceased,

the mirth of the lyre is stilled.

9

No longer do they drink wine with singing;

strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

10

The city of chaos is broken down,

every house is shut up so that no one can enter.

11

There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine;

all joy has reached its eventide;

the gladness of the earth is banished.

12

Desolation is left in the city,

the gates are battered into ruins.

13

For thus it shall be on the earth

and among the nations,

as when an olive tree is beaten,

as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended.

14

They lift up their voices, they sing for joy;

they shout from the west over the majesty of the Lord.

15

Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord;

in the coastlands of the sea glorify the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

16

From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise,

of glory to the Righteous One.

But I say, I pine away,

I pine away. Woe is me!

For the treacherous deal treacherously,

the treacherous deal very treacherously.

17

Terror, and the pit, and the snare

are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!

18

Whoever flees at the sound of the terror

shall fall into the pit;

and whoever climbs out of the pit

shall be caught in the snare.

For the windows of heaven are opened,

and the foundations of the earth tremble.

19

The earth is utterly broken,

the earth is torn asunder,

the earth is violently shaken.

20

The earth staggers like a drunkard,

it sways like a hut;

its transgression lies heavy upon it,

and it falls, and will not rise again.

21

On that day the Lord will punish

the host of heaven in heaven,

and on earth the kings of the earth.

22

They will be gathered together

like prisoners in a pit;

they will be shut up in a prison,

and after many days they will be punished.

23

Then the moon will be abashed,

and the sun ashamed;

for the Lord of hosts will reign

on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,

and before his elders he will manifest his glory.

***********

    上帝要審判世界的目的，就是要改變世界，怎樣改變呢？就是從人犯罪後咒詛改變成為基督做王的上帝國！

    正如在新約啟示錄所說的，世上的國，都成了我主和主基督的國，祂要做王直到永永遠遠！是的，這世界要過去，如被火焚燒一般！但是，最重要的是上帝的國必定實現的！

    讓我們以喜樂的心，來盼望並等候上帝的國完全的實現！因為，這是上帝永遠的計畫真正實現的情形，祂的熱心必定使這是成就，為著祂名的榮耀之緣故，也是為了我們這些祂所愛的人。

以賽亞書23章

      以賽亞書23:1-18  ,

以賽亞書23:1-18

23:1 論泰爾的默示：他施的船隻都要哀號；因為泰爾變為荒場，甚至沒有房屋，沒有可進之路。這消息是從基提地得來的。
23:2 沿海的居民，就是素來靠航海西頓的商家得豐盛的，你們當靜默無言。
23:3 在大水之上，西曷的糧食、尼羅河的莊稼是泰爾的進項；她作列國的大碼頭。
23:4 西頓哪，你當慚愧；因為大海說，就是海中的保障說：我沒有劬勞，也沒有生產，沒有養育男子，也沒有撫養童女。
23:5 這風聲傳到埃及；埃及人為泰爾的風聲極其疼痛。
23:6 泰爾人哪，你們當過到他施去；沿海的居民哪，你們都當哀號。
23:7 這是你們歡樂的城，從上古而有的嗎？其中的居民往遠方寄居。
23:8 泰爾本是賜冠冕的。她的商家是王子；她的買賣人是世上的尊貴人。遭遇如此是誰定的呢？
23:9 是萬軍之耶和華所定的！為要污辱一切高傲的榮耀，使地上一切的尊貴人被藐視。
23:10 他施的民（原文是女）哪，可以流行你的地，好像尼羅河；不再有腰帶拘緊你。
23:11 耶和華已經向海伸手，震動列國。至於迦南，他已經吩咐拆毀其中的保障。
23:12 他又說：受欺壓西頓的居民（原文是處女）哪，你必不得再歡樂。起來！過到基提去；就是在那裡也不得安歇。
23:13 （看哪，迦勒底人之地向來沒有這民，這國是亞述人為住曠野的人所立的。現在他們建築戍樓，拆毀泰爾的宮殿，使她成為荒涼。）
23:14 他施的船隻都要哀號，因為你們的保障變為荒場。
23:15 到那時，泰爾必被忘記七十年，照著一王的年日。七十年後，泰爾的景況必像妓女所唱的歌：
23:16 你這被忘記的妓女啊，拿琴周流城內，巧彈多唱，使人再想念你。
23:17 七十年後，耶和華必眷顧泰爾，她就仍得利息（原文是雇價；下同），與地上的萬國交易（原文是行淫）。
23:18 她的貨財和利息要歸耶和華為聖，必不積攢存留；因為她的貨財必為住在耶和華面前的人所得，使他們吃飽，穿耐久的衣服。

The oracle concerning Tyre.

 

Wail, O ships of Tarshish,

for your fortress is destroyed.

When they came in from Cyprus

they learned of it.

2

Be still, O inhabitants of the coast,

O merchants of Sidon,

your messengers crossed over the sea

3

and were on the mighty waters;

your revenue was the grain of Shihor,

the harvest of the Nile;

you were the merchant of the nations.

4

Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken,

the fortress of the sea, saying:

“I have neither labored nor given birth,

I have neither reared young men

nor brought up young women.”

5

When the report comes to Egypt,

they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.

6

Cross over to Tarshish—

wail, O inhabitants of the coast!

7

Is this your exultant city

whose origin is from days of old,

whose feet carried her

to settle far away?

8

Who has planned this

against Tyre, the bestower of crowns,

whose merchants were princes,

whose traders were the honored of the earth?

9

The Lord of hosts has planned it—

to defile the pride of all glory,

to shame all the honored of the earth.

10

Cross over to your own land,

O ships of Tarshish;

this is a harbor no more.

11

He has stretched out his hand over the sea,

he has shaken the kingdoms;

the Lord has given command concerning Canaan

to destroy its fortresses.

12

He said:

You will exult no longer,

O oppressed virgin daughter Sidon;

rise, cross over to Cyprus—

even there you will have no rest.

¹³ Look at the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people; it was not Assyria. They destined Tyre for wild animals. They erected their siege towers, they tore down her palaces, they made her a ruin.

14

Wail, O ships of Tarshish,

for your fortress is destroyed.

¹⁵ From that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song about the prostitute:

16

Take a harp,

go about the city,

you forgotten prostitute!

Make sweet melody,

sing many songs,

that you may be remembered.

¹⁷ At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her trade, and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. ¹⁸Her merchandise and her wages will be dedicated to the Lord; her profits will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who live in the presence of the Lord.

************

    上帝的審判也臨到在海邊的泰爾和希頓，這兩個國家因為海事而成為富足的。也因為如此，她們就不敬畏上帝，和猶大及以色列的關係也不好。所以，上帝仍然使用亞述來懲罰。

    這也讓我們再次思考到，上帝雖然是揀選以色列當選民，被稱為以色列的上帝。但是祂仍然是掌管萬民，一切的局勢都是祂在掌理。各國的興衰，都是在他大能的手掌握中。

    故此，我們要承認上帝有絕對的主權，我們要在基督裡尊上帝為大！