詩篇35:1-28

35:1 （大衛的詩。）耶和華啊，與我相爭的，求你與他們相爭！與我相戰的，求你與他們相戰！
35:2 拿著大小的盾牌，起來幫助我。
35:3 抽出槍來，擋住那追趕我的；求你對我的靈魂說：我是拯救你的。
35:4 願那尋索我命的，蒙羞受辱！願那謀害我的，退後羞愧！
35:5 願他們像風前的糠，有耶和華的使者趕逐他們。
35:6 願他們的道路又暗又滑，有耶和華的使者追趕他們。
35:7 因他們無故地為我暗設網羅，無故地挖坑，要害我的性命。
35:8 願災禍忽然臨到他身上！願他暗設的網纏住自己！願他落在其中遭災禍！
35:9 我的心必靠耶和華快樂，靠他的救恩高興。
35:10 我的骨頭都要說：耶和華啊，誰能像你救護困苦人脫離那比他強壯的，救護困苦窮乏人脫離那搶奪他的？
35:11 凶惡的見證人起來，盤問我所不知道的事。
35:12 他們向我以惡報善，使我的靈魂孤苦。
35:13 至於我，當他們有病的時候，我便穿麻衣，禁食，刻苦己心；我所求的都歸到自己的懷中。
35:14 我這樣行，好像他是我的朋友，我的弟兄；我屈身悲哀，如同人為母親哀痛。
35:15 我在患難中，他們卻歡喜，大家聚集。我所不認識的那些下流人聚集攻擊我；他們不住地把我撕裂。
35:16 他們如同席上好嬉笑的狂妄人向我咬牙。
35:17 主啊，你看著不理要到幾時呢？求你救我的靈魂脫離他們的殘害！救我的生命（生命：原文是獨一者）脫離少壯獅子！
35:18 我在大會中要稱謝你，在眾民中要讚美你。
35:19 求你不容那無理與我為仇的向我誇耀！不容那無故恨我的向我擠眼！
35:20 因為他們不說和平話，倒想出詭詐的言語害地上的安靜人。
35:21 他們大大張口攻擊我，說：阿哈，阿哈，我們的眼已經看見了！
35:22 耶和華啊，你已經看見了，求你不要閉口！主啊，求你不要遠離我！
35:23 我的上帝我的主啊，求你奮興醒起，判清我的事，伸明我的冤！
35:24 耶和華─我的上帝啊，求你按你的公義判斷我，不容他們向我誇耀！
35:25 不容他們心裡說：阿哈，遂我們的心願了！不容他們說：我們已經把他吞了！
35:26 願那喜歡我遭難的一同抱愧蒙羞！願那向我妄自尊大的披慚愧，蒙羞辱！
35:27 願那喜悅我冤屈得伸的（冤屈得伸：原文是公義）歡呼快樂；願他們常說：當尊耶和華為大！耶和華喜悅他的僕人平安。
35:28 我的舌頭要終日論說你的公義，時常讚美你。

Of David.

¹ Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me.
² Take up shield and armor;
    arise and come to my aid.
³ Brandish spear and javelin^[a]
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.”

⁴ May those who seek my life
    be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back in dismay.
⁵ May they be like chaff before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
⁶ may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷ Since they hid their net for me without cause
    and without cause dug a pit for me,
⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise—
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.
¹⁰ My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
    the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

¹¹ Ruthless witnesses come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
¹² They repay me evil for good
    and leave me like one bereaved.
¹³ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
    and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
¹⁴     I went about mourning
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered me without ceasing.
¹⁶ Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^[b]
    they gnashed their teeth at me.

¹⁷ How long, Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life from these lions.
¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
    among the throngs I will praise you.
¹⁹ Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
    maliciously wink the eye.
²⁰ They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations
    against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹ They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²² Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far from me, Lord.
²³ Awake, and rise to my defense!
    Contend for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat over me.
²⁵ Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ May all who gloat over my distress
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication
    shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
    your praises all day long.

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

    咒詛和讚美可以在一起嗎？詩人很巧妙將這兩者放在一起，來說明上帝的善與人的惡。使人透過這樣的詩歌，面對人的逼迫與傷害之時，仍然可以讚美上帝與仰望上帝。

    當然上帝的善與人的惡能分別，人才可以避免將不必要的抱怨歸給上帝，進而能在困境中得上帝的安慰與拯救。上帝的善是就上帝的本質來說；另一方面，人的惡是因為人的行為，不是本質。也因為這樣，我們可以明白耶穌基督為甚麼是獅子又是羔羊：對於人的惡行，耶穌基督是獅子，要除去人的罪行；對於人受轄制的本性，因耶穌基督為羔羊的代贖，勝過死與罪，好使具有上帝之形象的本性得釋放。

    求主保守我們，讓我們倚靠上帝在基督裡的拯救，因為唯有如此，人才有真正的平安，才能夠終日論說上帝的公義，時常讚美上帝。

民數記22:21-41

22:21 巴蘭早晨起來，備上驢，和摩押的使臣一同去了。
22:22 上帝因他去就發了怒；耶和華的使者站在路上敵擋他。他騎著驢，有兩個僕人跟隨他。
22:23 驢看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡有拔出來的刀，就從路上跨進田間，巴蘭便打驢，要叫牠回轉上路。
22:24 耶和華的使者就站在葡萄園的窄路上；這邊有牆，那邊也有牆。
22:25 驢看見耶和華的使者，就貼靠牆，將巴蘭的腳擠傷了；巴蘭又打驢。
22:26 耶和華的使者又往前去，站在狹窄之處，左右都沒有轉折的地方。
22:27 驢看見耶和華的使者，就臥在巴蘭底下，巴蘭發怒，用杖打驢。
22:28 耶和華叫驢開口，對巴蘭說：「我向你行了甚麼，你竟打我這三次呢？」
22:29 巴蘭對驢說：「因為你戲弄我，我恨不能手中有刀，把你殺了。」
22:30 驢對巴蘭說：「我不是你從小時直到今日所騎的驢嗎？我素常向你這樣行過嗎？」巴蘭說：「沒有。」
22:31 當時，耶和華使巴蘭的眼目明亮，他就看見耶和華的使者站在路上，手裡有拔出來的刀，巴蘭便低頭俯伏在地。
22:32 耶和華的使者對他說：「你為何這三次打你的驢呢？我出來敵擋你，因你所行的，在我面前偏僻。
22:33 驢看見我就三次從我面前偏過去；驢若沒有偏過去，我早把你殺了，留牠存活。」
22:34 巴蘭對耶和華的使者說：「我有罪了。我不知道你站在路上阻擋我；你若不喜歡我去，我就轉回。」
22:35 耶和華的使者對巴蘭說：「你同這些人去吧！你只要說我對你說的話。」於是巴蘭同著巴勒的使臣去了。
22:36 巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就往摩押京城去迎接他；這城是在邊界上，在亞嫩河旁。
22:37 巴勒對巴蘭說：「我不是急急地打發人到你那裡去召你嗎？你為何不到我這裡來呢？我豈不能使你得尊榮嗎？」
22:38 巴蘭說：「我已經到你這裡來了！現在我豈能擅自說甚麼呢？上帝將甚麼話傳給我，我就說甚麼。」
22:39 巴蘭和巴勒同行，來到基列‧胡瑣。
22:40 巴勒宰了（原文是獻）牛羊，送給巴蘭和陪伴的使臣。
22:41 到了早晨，巴勒領巴蘭到巴力的高處；巴蘭從那裡觀看以色列營的邊界。

 ²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. ²² But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.
²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
²⁶ Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
³² The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.^{[a] 33} The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”
³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
³⁵ The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. ³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
³⁸ “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
³⁹ Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. ⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. ⁴¹ The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.

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

    在聖經中有兩個地方記載動物說人話的，一個是在創世記中說到蛇說話引誘夏娃，另一處是這裡。因為巴蘭先知執意要去巴勒王那裏，不管耶和華的禁止，驢子讓他免受天使的殺害，還鞭打驢子，所以驢子說話警告他。

    從這樣的記載中，我們也認識到人的軟弱與上帝的保守。所以，上帝的禁止或攔阻並不是壞事，反而讓我們不會犯更大的錯誤。雖然巴蘭是貪財的先知，上帝卻攔阻他去行惡，也使巴勒王清楚上帝對以色列人的喜愛。

    同樣，在今日我們有經歷到上帝這樣的保守，因為上帝有其妙的護理大工，使我們經歷各樣的考驗之後，得著上帝的安慰與保守，不會偏離上帝所預備的道路，進入上帝的應許之中！

民數記22章

          民數記22:1-20  ,

           民數記22:21-41  ,

民數記22:1-20

22:1 以色列人起行，在摩押平原、約旦河東，對著耶利哥安營。
22:2 以色列人向亞摩利人所行的一切事，西撥的兒子巴勒都看見了。
22:3 摩押人因以色列民甚多，就大大懼怕，心內憂急，
22:4 對米甸的長老說：「現在這眾人要把我們四圍所有的一概餂盡，就如牛餂盡田間的草一般。」那時西撥的兒子巴勒作摩押王。
22:5 他差遣使者往大河邊的毘奪去，到比珥的兒子巴蘭本鄉那裡，召巴蘭來，說：「有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。
22:6 這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。」
22:7 摩押的長老和米甸的長老手裡拿著卦金，到了巴蘭那裡，將巴勒的話都告訴了他。
22:8 巴蘭說：「你們今夜在這裡住宿，我必照耶和華所曉諭我的回報你們。」摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裡住下了。
22:9 上帝臨到巴蘭那裡，說：「在你這裡的人都是誰？」
22:10 巴蘭回答說：「是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒打發人到我這裡來，說：
22:11 『從埃及出來的民遮滿地面，你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能與他們爭戰，把他們趕出去。』」
22:12 上帝對巴蘭說：「你不可同他們去，也不可咒詛那民，因為那民是蒙福的。」
22:13 巴蘭早晨起來，對巴勒的使臣說：「你們回本地去吧，因為耶和華不容我和你們同去。」
22:14 摩押的使臣就起來，回巴勒那裡去，說：「巴蘭不肯和我們同來。」
22:15 巴勒又差遣使臣，比先前的又多又尊貴。
22:16 他們到了巴蘭那裡，對他說：「西撥的兒子巴勒這樣說：『求你不容甚麼事攔阻你不到我這裡來，
22:17 因為我必使你得極大的尊榮。你向我要甚麼，我就給你甚麼；只求你來為我咒詛這民。』」
22:18 巴蘭回答巴勒的臣僕說：「巴勒就是將他滿屋的金銀給我，我行大事小事也不得越過耶和華─我上帝的命。
22:19 現在我請你們今夜在這裡住宿，等我得知耶和華還要對我說甚麼。」
22:20 當夜，上帝臨到巴蘭那裡，說：「這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」

 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

² Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
⁴ The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶ Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
⁹ God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
¹⁰ Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹ ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
¹² But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
¹³ The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
¹⁴ So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
¹⁵ Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. ¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, ¹⁷ because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”

¹⁸ But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. ¹⁹ Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”

²⁰ That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

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    巴蘭雖然不在以色列人中間，卻是耶和華的先知。巴勒王不知他的來歷，卻相信巴蘭是有能力的先知，差遣使者往大河邊的毘奪去，召巴蘭來，說：「有一宗民從埃及出來，遮滿地面，與我對居。這民比我強盛，現在求你來為我咒詛他們，或者我能得勝，攻打他們，趕出此地。因為我知道，你為誰祝福，誰就得福；你咒詛誰，誰就受咒詛。」

    當然上帝不准巴蘭去咒詛，可是巴蘭實在受不了金錢的誘惑，所以誤認了上帝的感動，以為「這些人若來召你，你就起來同他們去，你只要遵行我對你所說的話。」

    而巴蘭先知之所以有這樣的誤認，是因為人的感覺會誤判上帝的感動，以致於讓自己的意思成了上帝的引導。彼得對他的評論是：「他們離棄正路，就走差了，隨從比珥之子巴蘭的路。巴蘭就是那貪愛不義之工價的先知，」(彼得後書2:15)

    也因為如此，我們不可以隨便聽信所謂「先知」的話，要以聖經來查驗，以免一同誤入歧途！