La Bibbia

 

Hosea 11

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1 When Israel was a lad, then I loved him, and called My son out·​·of Egypt.

2 As they called them, so they went from before them; they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned·​·incense to graven images.

3 And I taught Ephraim to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

4 I drew them with the cords of man, with ropes of love; and I was to them as those who lift·​·up the yoke from upon their jaws, and I leaned·​·over* to them to cause them to eat.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be his king, because they refused to return.

6 And the sword shall travail on his cities, and shall consume·​·all his poles, and devour on·​·account·​·of their own counsels.

7 And My people are swayed* to turn·​·back from Me; and they called them upward, but together they would not exalt.

8 How shall I give thee up, O Ephraim and deliver thee, O Israel? How shall I give thee over as Admah and set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned upon Me, My repentings yearned together.

9 I shall not do the fierceness of My anger, I shall not return to destroy Ephraim; for I am God, and not a man; the Holy·​·One among thee; and I will not come into the city.

10 After Jehovah they shall go; He shall roar as a lion; for He shall roar, and the sons from the sea shall·​·be·​·frightened.

11 They shall be·​·frightened as a bird out·​·of Egypt, and as a dove out·​·of the land of Assyria; and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, says Jehovah.

12 12:1 Ephraim surrounds Me with denial, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still dominates with God, and is·​·faithful with the holy·​·ones.

   


Thanks to the Kempton Project for the permission to use this New Church translation of the Word.

Commento

 

Afraid

  
{{en|Walking on Water}}

Fear of the unknown and fear of change are both common ideas and together cover a broad spectrum of the fears we tend to have in natural life. In a sense, they also lie behind the spiritual meaning when people are described as being "afraid" in the Bible. In Swedenborg's works, people are described as being afraid when a more higher spiritual state comes into communication with a lower, more external state and demonstrates the need for the lower state to be reformed and elevated. That's the case with the shepherds in the Christmas story, reacting first with fear when angels came to tell them of a whole new spiritual era. It's true of Moses at the burning bush, Jacob after the vision of the ladder, even the disciples seeing Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee – all cases in which a higher state was reaching out to them and asking them to embrace a new phase of spiritual life. This also holds in a more negative sense, when states of evil and false thinking come into contact with spiritual things and feel threatened by the revelation of their own wretchedness. The Bible also speaks frequently of people fearing God, a related but different idea which is covered elsewhere.

In Genesis 3:10; 18:15, Exodus 3:6, being afraid signifies apprehension lest one offend or be hurt. (Arcana Coelestia 223-224, Arcana Coelestia 2215, Arcana Coelestia 6849)