約伯記15:1-35

 

15:1 提幔人以利法回答說：
15:2 智慧人豈可用虛空的知識回答，用東風充滿肚腹呢？
15:3 他豈可用無益的話和無濟於事的言語理論呢？
15:4 你是廢棄敬畏的意，在上帝面前阻止敬虔的心。
15:5 你的罪孽指教你的口；你選用詭詐人的舌頭。
15:6 你自己的口定你有罪，並非是我；你自己的嘴見證你的不是。
15:7 你豈是頭一個被生的人嗎？你受造在諸山之先嗎？
15:8 你曾聽見上帝的密旨嗎？你還將智慧獨自得盡嗎？
15:9 你知道甚麼是我們不知道的呢？你明白甚麼是我們不明白的呢？
15:10 我們這裡有白髮的和年紀老邁的，比你父親還老。
15:11 上帝用溫和的話安慰你，你以為太小嗎？
15:12 你的心為何將你逼去？你的眼為何冒出火星，
15:13 使你的靈反對上帝，也任你的口發這言語？
15:14 人是甚麼，竟算為潔淨呢？婦人所生的是甚麼，竟算為義呢？
15:15 上帝不信靠他的眾聖者；在他眼前，天也不潔淨，
15:16 何況那污穢可憎、喝罪孽如水的世人呢！
15:17 我指示你，你要聽；我要述說所看見的，
15:18 就是智慧人從列祖所受，傳說而不隱瞞的。
15:19 （這地惟獨賜給他們，並沒有外人從他們中間經過。）
15:20 惡人一生之日劬勞痛苦；強暴人一生的年數也是如此。
15:21 驚嚇的聲音常在他耳中；在平安時，搶奪的必臨到他那裡。
15:22 他不信自己能從黑暗中轉回；他被刀劍等候。
15:23 他漂流在外求食，說：哪裡有食物呢？他知道黑暗的日子在他手邊預備好了。
15:24 急難困苦叫他害怕，而且勝了他，好像君王預備上陣一樣。
15:25 他伸手攻擊上帝，以驕傲攻擊全能者，
15:26 挺著頸項，用盾牌的厚凸面向全能者直闖；
15:27 是因他的臉蒙上脂油，腰積成肥肉。
15:28 他曾住在荒涼城邑，無人居住、將成亂堆的房屋。
15:29 他不得富足，財物不得常存，產業在地上也不加增。
15:30 他不得出離黑暗。火焰要將他的枝子燒乾；因上帝口中的氣，他要滅亡（原文是走去）。
15:31 他不用倚靠虛假欺哄自己，因虛假必成為他的報應。
15:32 他的日期未到之先，這事必成就；他的枝子不得青綠。
15:33 他必像葡萄樹的葡萄，未熟而落；又像橄欖樹的花，一開而謝。
15:34 原來不敬虔之輩必無生育；受賄賂之人的帳棚必被火燒。
15:35 他們所懷的是毒害，所生的是罪孽；心裡所預備的是詭詐。

 

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

² “Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
³ Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?
⁴ But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.
⁵ Your sin prompts your mouth;
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.
⁶ Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.

⁷ “Are you the first man ever born?
    Were you brought forth before the hills?
⁸ Do you listen in on God’s council?
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
⁹ What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?
¹⁰ The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
    men even older than your father.
¹¹ Are God’s consolations not enough for you,
    words spoken gently to you?
¹² Why has your heart carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
¹³ so that you vent your rage against God
    and pour out such words from your mouth?

¹⁴ “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?
¹⁵ If God places no trust in his holy ones,
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
¹⁶ how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,
    who drink up evil like water!

¹⁷ “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,
¹⁸ what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors
¹⁹ (to whom alone the land was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
²⁰ All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.
²¹ Terrifying sounds fill his ears;
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.
²² He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;
    he is marked for the sword.
²³ He wanders about for food like a vulture;
    he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
²⁴ Distress and anguish fill him with terror;
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,
²⁵ because he shakes his fist at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,
²⁶ defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.

²⁷ “Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,
²⁸ he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,
    houses crumbling to rubble.
²⁹ He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.
³⁰ He will not escape the darkness;
    a flame will wither his shoots,
    and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
³¹ Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
    for he will get nothing in return.
³² Before his time he will wither,
    and his branches will not flourish.
³³ He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
³⁴ For the company of the godless will be barren,
    and fire will consume the tents of those who love bribes.
³⁵ They conceive trouble and give birth to evil;
    their womb fashions deceit.”

 

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    第一輪的對話完成，現在進入第二輪了，一開始又是提幔人以利法上場，讓我再一次來複習這個人的名字的意義：「以利法」的意思是「我的神是精金」，或是「金子之神」。也因為這個名的緣故，讓人由他的發言感覺他自視甚高！又是批評約伯的講話是沒有智慧、虛空無意義，甚至認定約瑟是充滿罪孽之人，沒有敬虔的心！

 

    還指責約伯：「我們這裡有白髮的和年紀老邁的，比你父親還老。上帝用溫和的話安慰你，你以為太小嗎？你的心為何將你逼去？你的眼為何冒出火星，使你的靈反對上帝，也任你的口發這言語？人是甚麼，竟算為潔淨呢？婦人所生的是甚麼，竟算為義呢？」

 

    不僅如此還為上帝說話呢！正如他所說：「上帝不信靠他的眾聖者；在他眼前，天也不潔淨，何況那污穢可憎、喝罪孽如水的世人呢！」

 

    這可不得了了！他這樣一說，沒有一個人可以開口說話了！可是他卻忘幾，自己也是人子，也是「那污穢可憎、喝罪孽如水的世人」！怎麼可以這樣批評別人，而沒有想到自己的狀況呢？之後還更是批評約伯沒有一點好，「他必像葡萄樹的葡萄，未熟而落；又像橄欖樹的花，一開而謝。原來不敬虔之輩必無生育；受賄賂之人的帳棚必被火燒。他們所懷的是毒害，所生的是罪孽；心裡所預備的是詭詐。」

 

    連我們這些沒有像約伯一樣遭受大災大難的人，都聽不下去了，還何況是受到大災大難的約伯！這是哪門子的朋友的安慰與鼓勵呢？好像展現他很棒很好、很有智慧，理當受上帝賜福，而約伯是罪有應得、該受這樣的大災大難！

 

    想想如果牧師或長執道發生苦難或事故的家庭探訪說這樣的話合宜嗎？有幫助到弟兄姊妹嗎？當然是沒有！若對方修養好或許會聽完，修養不好的必定會將講這樣話的人轟出去！這也是給牧養或治理教會的人，一個很重要的提醒，讓我們知道不可以說這樣的話或態度來對待弟兄姊妹，這樣實在是不溫柔呢！

 

 

撒母耳記下2章

      撒母耳記下2:1-32 ,

撒母耳記下2:1-32

 

2:1 此後，大衛問耶和華說：「我上猶大的一個城去可以嗎？」耶和華說：「可以。」大衛說：「我上哪一個城去呢？」耶和華說：「上希伯崙去。」
2:2 於是大衛和他的兩個妻─一個是耶斯列人亞希暖，一個是作過迦密人拿八妻的亞比該─都上那裡去了。
2:3 大衛也將跟隨他的人和他們各人的眷屬一同帶上去，住在希伯崙的城邑中。
2:4 猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裡膏大衛作猶大家的王。有人告訴大衛說：「葬埋掃羅的是基列‧雅比人。」
2:5 大衛就差人去見基列‧雅比人，對他們說：「你們厚待你們的主─掃羅，將他葬埋。願耶和華賜福與你們！
2:6 你們既行了這事，願耶和華以慈愛誠實待你們，我也要為此厚待你們。
2:7 現在你們的主─掃羅死了，猶大家已經膏我作他們的王，所以你們要剛強奮勇。」
2:8 掃羅的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥，曾將掃羅的兒子伊施波設帶過河，到瑪哈念，
2:9 立他作王，治理基列、亞書利、耶斯列、以法蓮、便雅憫，和以色列眾人。
2:10 掃羅的兒子伊施波設登基的時候年四十歲，作以色列王二年；惟獨猶大家歸從大衛。
2:11 大衛在希伯崙作猶大家的王，共七年零六個月。
2:12 尼珥的兒子押尼珥和掃羅的兒子伊施波設的僕人從瑪哈念出來，往基遍去。
2:13 洗魯雅的兒子約押和大衛的僕人也出來，在基遍池旁與他們相遇；一班坐在池這邊，一班坐在池那邊。
2:14 押尼珥對約押說：「讓少年人起來，在我們面前戲耍吧！」約押說：「可以。」
2:15 就按著定數起來：屬掃羅兒子伊施波設的便雅憫人過去十二名，大衛的僕人也過去十二名，
2:16 彼此揪頭，用刀刺肋，一同仆倒。所以，那地叫作希利甲‧哈素林，就在基遍。
2:17 那日的戰事凶猛，押尼珥和以色列人敗在大衛的僕人面前。
2:18 在那裡有洗魯雅的三個兒子：約押、亞比篩、亞撒黑。亞撒黑腳快如野鹿一般；
2:19 亞撒黑追趕押尼珥，直追趕他不偏左右。
2:20 押尼珥回頭說：「你是亞撒黑嗎？」回答說：「是。」
2:21 押尼珥對他說：「你或轉向左轉向右，拿住一個少年人，剝去他的戰衣。」亞撒黑卻不肯轉開不追趕他。
2:22 押尼珥又對亞撒黑說：「你轉開不追趕我吧！我何必殺你呢？若殺你，有甚麼臉見你哥哥約押呢？」
2:23 亞撒黑仍不肯轉開。故此，押尼珥就用槍鐏刺入他的肚腹，甚至槍從背後透出，亞撒黑就在那裡仆倒而死。眾人趕到亞撒黑仆倒而死的地方，就都站住。
2:24 約押和亞比篩追趕押尼珥，日落的時候，到了通基遍曠野的路旁，基亞對面的亞瑪山。
2:25 便雅憫人聚集，跟隨押尼珥站在一個山頂上。
2:26 押尼珥呼叫約押說：「刀劍豈可永遠殺人嗎？你豈不知終久必有苦楚嗎？你要等何時才叫百姓回去、不追趕弟兄呢？」
2:27 約押說：「我指著永生的上帝起誓：你若不說戲耍的那句話，今日早晨百姓就回去，不追趕弟兄了。」
2:28 於是約押吹角，眾民就站住，不再追趕以色列人，也不再打仗了。
2:29 押尼珥和跟隨他的人整夜經過亞拉巴，過約旦河，走過畢倫，到了瑪哈念。
2:30 約押追趕押尼珥回來，聚集眾民，見大衛的僕人中缺少了十九個人和亞撒黑。
2:31 但大衛的僕人殺了便雅憫人和跟隨押尼珥的人，共三百六十名。
2:32 眾人將亞撒黑送到伯利恆，葬在他父親的墳墓裡。約押和跟隨他的人走了一夜，天亮的時候到了希伯崙。

 

 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

² So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ³ David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. ⁴ Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. ⁶ May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. ⁷ Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

⁸ Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. ⁹ He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

¹⁰ Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. ¹¹ The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

¹² Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. ¹³ Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

¹⁴ Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”

“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

¹⁵ So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. ¹⁶ Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.^[a]

¹⁷ The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. ¹⁹ He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. ²⁰ Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

²¹ Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

²² Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

²³ But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. ²⁵ Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

²⁶ Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

²⁷ Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

²⁹ All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours^[b] and came to Mahanaim.

³⁰ Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. ³¹ But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. ³² They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

 

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    大衛雖然回以色列地，卻沒有馬上成為以色列的王，不過猶大支派膏他為王。然而卻在這時候，掃羅家族還是有力量，如經文所說：「掃羅的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥，曾將掃羅的兒子伊施波設帶過河，到瑪哈念，立他作王，治理基列、亞書利、耶斯列、以法蓮、便雅憫，和以色列眾人。掃羅的兒子伊施波設登基的時候年四十歲，作以色列王二年；惟獨猶大家歸從大衛。」

    也因為這樣以色列就發生了內戰，然而在這個戰役中讓大衛的元帥約押一直記恨在心的就是弟弟亞撒黑被押尼珥所殺之事。當然在整個過程中，雙方都要負責任，因為押尼珥事想求和的人，卻被亞撒黑所阻擋，所以才會發生這樣的悲劇。

 

    當然在將來的日子裡，上帝使大衛的勢力越來越大！不過上帝做事與世人的方式不同，上帝還是讓大衛先在希伯崙先磨練一段時間，正如經文所說：「大衛在希伯崙作猶大家的王，共七年零六個月。」

 

    上帝一再讓我們覺得好事多磨，好讓大衛成為一個成熟的君王！其實上帝對我們的生命何嘗不是如此呢！也因此，我們要等候耶和華，不要任意妄為！