The Bible

 

耶利米書 51

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1 耶和華如此:我必使毀滅的颳起,攻擊巴比倫和在立加米的人。

2 我要打發外邦人來到巴比倫,簸揚他,使他的空虛。在他遭禍的日子,他們要周圍攻擊他。

3 的,要向拉的和貫甲挺身的射箭。不要憐惜他的少年人;要滅盡他的全軍。

4 他們必在迦勒底人被殺仆倒,在巴比倫的街上被刺透。

5 以色列猶大雖然境內充滿違背以色列聖者的罪,卻沒有被他的─萬軍之耶和華丟棄。

6 你們要從巴比倫中逃奔,各自己的性命!不要陷在他的罪孽中一同滅亡;因為這是耶和華報仇的時候,他必向巴比倫施行報應。

7 巴比倫素來是耶和華中的杯,使天下沉;萬國了他的酒就顛狂了。

8 巴比倫忽然傾覆毀壞;要為他哀號;為止他的疼痛,拿乳香或者可以治好。

9 我們想醫治巴比倫,他卻沒有治好。離開他罷!我們歸回本國;因為他受的審判通於上,達到穹蒼。

10 耶和華已經彰顯我們的公罷!我們可以在錫安報告耶和華我們的作為。

11 你們要磨尖了箭頭,抓住盾牌。耶和華定意攻擊巴比倫,將他毀滅,所以激動了瑪代君的心;因這是耶和華報仇,就是為自己的殿報仇。

12 你們要豎立大旗,攻擊巴比倫的城牆;要堅固瞭望臺,派定守望的設下埋伏;因為耶和華指著巴比倫居民的話、所定的意,他已經作成。

13 住在眾水之上多有財寶的啊,你的結局到了!你貪婪之量滿了!

14 萬軍之耶和華指著自己起誓說:我必使敵人充滿你,像螞蚱一樣;他們必吶喊攻擊你。

15 耶和華用能力創造大,用智慧建立世界,用聰明鋪張穹蒼。

16 他一發聲,空中便有多水激動;他使雲霧從極上騰。他造電隨而閃,從他府中帶出來。

17 各人都成了畜類,毫無知識。各銀匠都因他的偶像羞愧;他所鑄的偶像本是虛假的,其中並無氣息,

18 都是虛無的,是迷惑人的工作,到追討的時候,必被除滅。

19 雅各的分不像這些,因他是造作萬有的;以色列也是他產業的支派。萬軍之耶和華是他的名。

20 你是我爭戰的斧子和打仗的兵器;我要用你打碎列國,用你毀滅列邦;

21 用你打碎和騎的;用你打碎戰車和坐在其上的;

22 用你打碎男人女人;用你打碎老年和少年;用你打碎壯丁和處女;

23 用你打碎牧人和他的群畜;用你打碎農夫和他一對牛;用你打碎省長和副省長。

24 耶和華:我必在你們眼前報復巴比倫人和迦勒底居民在錫安所行的諸惡。

25 耶和華:你這行毀滅的哪,就是毀滅天下的,我與你反對。我必向你伸,將你從巖滾下去,使你成為燒燬的

26 人必不從你那裡取石頭為房角,也不取石頭根基;你必永遠荒涼。這是耶和華的。

27 要在境內豎立大旗,在各國中吹角,使列國預備攻擊巴比倫,將亞拉臘、米尼、亞實基拿各國招來攻擊他;又派軍長來攻擊他,使馬匹上來如螞蚱,

28 使列國和瑪代君,與省長和副省長,並他們所管全之人,都預備攻擊他。

29 必震動而瘠苦;因耶和華向巴比倫所定的旨意成立了,使巴比倫之荒涼,無人居住

30 巴比倫的勇士止息爭戰,藏在堅壘之中。他們的勇力衰盡,好像婦女一樣。巴比倫的處有火著起,門閂都折斷了。

31 通報的要彼此相遇,送信的要互相迎接,報告巴比倫王說:城的四方被攻取了,

32 渡口被佔據了,葦塘被燒了,兵丁也驚慌了。

33 萬軍之耶和華以色列的如此:巴比倫城(原文作女子)好像踹穀的禾場;再過片時,收割他的時候就到了。

34 以色列人說:巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒滅我,壓碎我,使我成為空虛的器皿。他像大魚將我吞下,用我的美物充滿他的肚腹,又將我趕出去。

35 錫安的居民:巴比倫以強暴待我,損害我的身體,願這罪歸給他。耶路撒冷人要:願流我們血的罪歸到迦勒底居民

36 所以,耶和華如此:我必為你伸冤,為你報仇;我必使巴比倫的枯竭,使他的泉源乾涸。

37 巴比倫必成為亂,為野狗的處,令人驚駭、嗤笑,並且無人居住

38 他們要像少壯獅子咆哮,像小獅子吼叫。

39 他們火熱的時候,我必為他們設擺酒席,使他們沉醉,好叫他們快樂,睡了長覺,永不醒起。這是耶和華的。

40 我必使他們像羊羔、像公綿羊和公山羊到宰殺之地。

41 示沙克(就是巴比倫)何竟被攻取,天下所稱讚的何竟被佔據?巴比倫在列國中何竟變為荒場?

42 水漲起,漫過巴比倫;他被許多浪遮蓋。

43 他的城邑變為荒場、旱、沙漠,無居住,無經過之

44 我必刑罰巴比倫的彼勒,使他吐出所吞的。萬民必不再流歸他那裡;巴比倫的城牆也必坍塌了。

45 我的民哪,你們要從其中出去!各自己,躲避耶和華的烈怒。

46 你們不要心驚膽怯,也不要因境內所見的風聲懼;因為這年有風聲傳;那年也有風聲傳,境內有強暴的事,官長攻擊官長。

47 日子將到,我必刑罰巴比倫雕刻的偶像。他全必然抱愧;他被殺的人必在其中仆倒。

48 那時,和其中所有的,必因巴比倫歡呼,因為行毀滅的要從北方到他那裡。這是耶和華的。

49 巴比倫怎樣使以色列被殺的人仆倒,照樣他全被殺的人也必在巴比倫仆倒。

50 你們躲避刀的要快走,不要站住!要在遠方記念耶和華,心中追想耶路撒冷

51 我們見辱罵就蒙羞,滿面慚愧,因為外邦人進入耶和華殿的聖所。

52 耶和華:日子將到,我必刑罰巴比倫雕刻的偶像,通國受傷的人必唉哼。

53 巴比倫雖升到上,雖使他堅固的處更堅固,還有行毀滅的從我這裡到他那裡。這是耶和華的。

54 有哀號的聲音從巴比倫出來;有毀滅的響聲從迦勒底人發出。

55 耶和華使巴比倫變為荒場,使其中的聲滅絕。仇敵彷彿眾水,波浪匉訇,響聲已經發出。

56 這是行毀滅的臨到巴比倫。巴比倫的勇士被捉住,他們的折斷了;因為耶和華是施行報應的神,必定施行報應。

57 君王─名為萬軍之耶和華的:我必使巴比倫的首領、智慧人、省長、副省長,和勇士都沉醉,使他們睡了長覺,永不醒起。

58 萬軍之耶和華如此:巴比倫寬闊的城牆必全然傾倒;他大的城必被焚燒。眾民所勞碌的必致虛空;列國所勞碌的被焚燒,他們都必困乏。

59 猶大王西底家在位第四年,上巴比倫去的時候,瑪西雅的孫子、尼利亞的兒子西萊雅與王同去(西萊雅是王宮的大臣),先知耶利米吩咐他。

60 耶利米切要臨到巴比倫的災禍,就是論到巴比倫的上。

61 耶利米對西萊雅:你到了巴比倫務要念這書上的

62 耶和華啊,你曾論到這地方:要剪除,甚至連人帶牲畜沒有在這裡居住的,必永遠荒涼。

63 你念完了這,就把一塊石頭拴在上,扔在伯拉中,

64 :巴比倫因耶和華所要降與他的災禍,必如此沉下去,不再興起,人民也必困乏。耶利米到此為止。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #418

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418. Holding the four winds of the earth, signifies the moderation of its influx. This is evident from the signification of "the four winds of the earth" as being everything Divine in heaven (of which presently); also from the signification of "holding them," as being to moderate its influx. But what is meant by moderating the influx of the Divine in heaven no one can know unless it is revealed to him, nor consequently can it be known what is signified by "holding the four winds of the earth." Without revelation, who would not think that "winds" here mean winds held back by angels, since it also follows "that the wind should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree." But "the winds of the earth," here as elsewhere in the Word signify everything Divine that is from the Lord in heaven, in particular, Divine truth, and because Divine truth flows from the Lord as a sun into the whole heaven, and from that into the whole earth, so "holding the winds" signifies to moderate influx. But that these things may be more clearly understood, it shall be told how it is with respect to that influx. The Lord is the sun of the angelic heaven; from Him as a sun all light and all heat there proceed. The light that proceeds is in its essence Divine truth, because it is spiritual light; and the heat that proceeds is in its essence Divine good, because it is spiritual heat. From the Lord as a sun these flow out into all the heavens accommodated to reception by the angels there, thus sometimes more moderately, sometimes more intensely. When they flow out more moderately the good are separated from the evil, but when more intensely the evil are cast out. When, therefore, the Last Judgment is at hand the Lord first flows in moderately, in order that the good may be separated from the evil. Because this separation is what is treated of in this chapter, the "holding of the four winds of the earth" is first mentioned, which signifies the moderation of the influx of Divine good and Divine truth from the Lord. It is evident from what follows in this chapter that this refers to the separation of the good from the evil, for it is said, "Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor any tree, till we shall have sealed the servants of God on their foreheads" (verse 3); and afterwards, to the end of the chapter, "those sealed," that is, the good separated from the evil are treated of. But respecting this separation more will be said in what follows, likewise respecting the casting out of the evil into the hells, which takes place afterwards.

[2] "The four winds" signify all the Divine proceeding, because "the winds of heaven" signify the quarters of heaven, for the whole heaven is divided into four quarters, namely, east, west, south, and north. Into two quarters, the east and the west, the Lord flows with Divine good more powerfully than with Divine truth; and into two quarters, the south and the north, with Divine truth more powerfully than with Divine good; consequently those who are in the latter are more in wisdom and intelligence, and those in the former more in love and charity; and as the whole heaven is divided into four quarters, and those quarters are meant by "the four winds," therefore "the four winds" signify all the Divine proceeding. They are called "the four winds of the earth," because "the earth" means all the earth in the spiritual world, but in the spiritual sense "the earth" signifies heaven and the church (respecting which see the preceding article).

[3] From this the meaning of "the four winds" in other passages of the Word can be seen, as in Ezekiel:

The Lord Jehovih said unto me, Prophesy about the spirit, prophesy, and say to the spirit, Thus the Lord Jehovih hath said, Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may live. And when I had prophesied the spirit came, and they revived (Ezekiel 37:9, 10).

This is said of "the dry bones" seen by the prophet, by which the sons of Israel are meant (as is evident from verse 11 there); and this vision describes the reformation and establishment of a new church from those who have not before had any spiritual life. "The dry bones" are those who have nothing of spiritual life; the spiritual life given them by the Lord, from which the church is in them, is described by these words; "the spirit" about which the prophet prophesied, and by which they were revived, signifies spiritual life, which is a life according to the truths of the Word. "Come from the four winds, O spirit," signifies from the Divine of the Lord in heaven; "the four winds" meaning the four quarters in heaven, and the four quarters are everything Divine there (as has been said above). In the sense of the letter, "spirit" here means the breath (spiritus) of respiration, which is wind; it is therefore said that it should "come and breathe into these slain;" but the breath of respiration signifies as well the spiritual life, as will appear from what follows. "The slain" have a similar signification as "dry bones," namely, those who have no spiritual life.

[4] In Zechariah:

There were seen four chariots coming out from between two mountains of copper, to which there were horses; and the angel said, These are the four winds of the heavens, going forth from standing by the Lord of the whole earth (Zechariah 5:1, 5).

This treats of the church which is to be extended among those who have not yet been in any light of truth of the church, because they have not had the Word. What "the four chariots" and "the four horses," and the many things respecting them signify, may be seen above n. 355, and what "the mountains of copper" signify, also above (n. 364, 405), where they are explained. Here "the four winds" signify every Divine proceeding, or the Divine good and Divine truth that constitute the church; it is therefore said "the winds of the heavens going forth from standing by the Lord of the whole earth;" "to go forth from standing by Him" signifying to proceed. "Chariots" and "horses" are called winds because "chariots" signify the doctrinals of good and truth, and "horses" an understanding of them, and both of these proceed from the Divine of the Lord.

[5] In the Gospels:

The Son of man shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other end (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27).

All the successive states of the church, even to its end, when the Last Judgment takes place, are here predicted by the Lord; and "the angels with a great sound of a trumpet" signifies proclaiming the good tidings respecting the Lord; and "gathering together the elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other end," signifies the establishment of a new church; "the elect" mean those who are in the good of love and of faith; "the four winds" mean all states of good and truth; "from one end of the heavens to the other end" means the internals and the externals of the church. (This may be seen more clearly explained in Arcana Coelestia 4060.)

[6] In Daniel:

The he-goat made himself very great; but when he was strong the great horn was broken, and there came up in appearance four in its place towards the four winds of the heavens (Daniel 8:8).

What is meant by "the he-goat" and "ram" in this chapter may be seen above n. 316, namely, that "he-goat" signifies faith separate from charity, and therefore those who expect to be saved because they know the doctrinals and truth of the Word, and who give no thought to a life according to them; "horns" signify truths, and in the contrary sense, as here, falsities; "the great horn" signifies the ruling falsity, which is, that salvation comes merely through knowing and thus believing; "the great horn was broken, and there came up four in its place toward the four winds of heaven," signifies that out of the one principle, faith alone, many falsities conjoined with evils arise; "the great horn" signifying the ruling falsity, which is, that faith alone saves; "broken" signifying its division into many falsities arising therefrom; "four in its place" signifying the conjunction of these with evils; "toward the four winds of the heavens," signifying in respect to each and all things of falsity and evil, for "the four winds of heaven" signify every good and truth of heaven and the church and their conjunction, but in the contrary sense every evil and falsity and their conjunction. "The four winds of the heavens" signify also every evil and falsity, because in the four quarters in the spiritual world not only those who are in the good of love and in truths therefrom dwell, but also those who are in evils and in falsities therefrom; for the hells are in the same quarters, but deep beneath the heavens, for the most part in caverns, caves, and vaults (respecting which see above, n. 410.

[7] In this same sense "the winds of the heavens" are mentioned in Jeremiah:

Upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four ends of the heavens, and I will disperse him toward all those winds, that there may be no nation to which the outcasts of Elam shall not come (4 Jeremiah 49:36).

Here "Elam" signifies those who are in the knowledges that are called the knowledges of faith, but not at the same time in any charity; "the four winds from the four ends of the heavens" signify falsities conjoined with evils; and "to disperse him toward all those winds" signifies into falsities of evil of every kind; "that there may be no nation to which the outcasts of Elam shall not come" signifies that there may be no evil to which falsity cannot be adapted, "nation" meaning evil, for knowledges alone without a life of charity bring forth innumerable falsities of evil.

[8] In Daniel:

I was seeing in my vision when it was night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens rushed upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea (Daniel 7:2, 3).

Here, too, "the four winds" signify falsities conjoined with evils, "the great sea" signifies hell from which they are, and "the four beasts" signify evils of every kind: but on this more in what follows. "The four winds" have a similar signification in Daniel (Daniel 11:4; also in Zechariah (Zechariah 2:6, 7). That "the four winds" signify the four quarters is clearly evident in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 42:16-19), where the measure of the house according to the four winds, that is, the four quarters, is treated of; and there the quarter is named by the same word in the Hebrew by which wind and spirit are named. But more will be seen concerning winds in the article that now follows.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Exodus 36:25

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25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,