The Bible

 

Ezekijel 18

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1 Dođe mi riječ Jahvina:

2 "Što vam je te o Izraelu ponavljate poslovicu: 'Oci jedoše kiselo grožđe, sinovima trnu zubi!'

3 Života mi moga, riječ je Jahve Gospoda: nitko od vas neće više u Izraelu ponavljati tu poslovicu;

4 jer, svi su životi moji, kako život očev tako i život sinovlji. I evo, onaj koji zgriješi, taj će umrijeti.

5 Tko je pravedan i poštuje zakon i pravdu

6 i ne blaguje po gorama i očiju ne podiže kumirima doma Izraelova, ne oskvrnjuje žene bližnjega svoga i ne prilazi ženi dok je nečista;

7 nikomu ne nanosi nasilja, vraća što je u zalog primio i ništa ne otima; kruh svoj dijeli s gladnim, gologa odijeva,

8 ne posuđuje uz dobit i ne uzima pridavka, ruku usteže od nedjela, po istini presuđuje,

9 po mojim naredbama hodi i čuva moje zakone, postupajući po istini - taj je zaista pravedan i taj će živjeti, riječ je Jahve Gospoda.

10 Ali, porodi li on sina nasilnika, koji krv prolijeva ili bratu takvo što učini,

11 a ne radi kao njegov roditelj, nego blaguje po gorama, oskvrnjuje ženu bližnjega;

12 ubogu i bijednu nanosi nasilje, otima, ne vraća što je u zalog primio, oči podiže kumirima čineći gadosti;

13 posuđuje uz dobit i uzima pridavak - ne, takav sin neće živjeti! Učinio je te gadosti i umrijet će, a krv će njegova na njega pasti.

14 A porodi li on sina koji uvidi sve grijehe što ih njegov otac počini, uvidi ih i tako više ne učini;

15 ne blaguje po gorama, očiju ne podiže kumirima doma Izraelova, ne oskvrnjuje žene bližnjega;

16 nikomu ne nanosi nasilja, ne prisvaja zaloga, ništa ne otima, kruh svoj dijeli s gladnim, gologa odijeva;

17 ruku usteže od nedjela, ne uzima dobiti ni pridavka, vrši moje zakone i hodi po mojim naredbama - ne, taj neće umrijeti zbog grijeha očeva, on će živjeti.

18 A njegov otac, koji je nemilice tlačio i pljačkao bližnjega, čineći u narodu što ne valja, zbog svojega će grijeha umrijeti.

19 Ali vi kažete: 'Zašto da sin ne snosi očev grijeh?' Zato što sin vrši zakon i pravdu, čuva i vrši sve moje naredbe, živjet će.

20 Onaj koji zgriješi, taj će i umrijeti. Sin neće snositi grijeha očeva, ni otac grijeha sinovljega. Na pravedniku će biti pravda njegova, a na bezbožniku bezbožnost njegova.

21 Ako se bezbožnik odvrati od svih grijeha što ih počini, i bude čuvao sve moje naredbe i vršio zakon i pravdu, živjet će i neće umrijeti.

22 Sva njegova nedjela što ih počini bit će zaboravljena: zbog pravednosti što je čini, živjet će.

23 Jer, zar je meni do toga da umre bezbožnik - riječ je Jahve Gospoda - a ne da se odvrati od svojih zlih putova i da živi?

24 Ako li se pravednik odvrati od svoje pravednosti i stane činiti nepravdu i sve gadosti koje radi bezbožnik - hoće li živjeti? Sva pravedna djela koja bijaše činio zaboravit će se, a zbog svoje nevjere kojom se iznevjerio i zbog grijeha što ih počini, umrijet će.

25 A vi velite: 'Put Jahvin nije pravedan!' Čuj, dome Izraelov: Moj Put da nije pravedan? Nisu li vaši putovi nepravedni?

26 Ako li se pravednik odvrati od svoje pravednosti i stane činiti nepravdu, pa zbog toga umre, umrijet će zbog nepravde što je počini.

27 A ako se bezbožnik odvrati od svoje bezbožnosti što je bijaše činio, pa stane vršiti moj zakon i pravdu, živjet će i neće umrijeti.

28 Jer je uvidio i odvratio se od svojih nedjela što ih bijaše počinio, živjet će i neće umrijeti.

29 Ali dom Izraelov kaže: 'Put Gospodnji nije pravedan!' Putovi moji da nisu pravedni, dome Izraelov? Nisu li vaši putovi nepravedni?

30 Dome Izraelov, ja ću suditi svakome po njegovim putovima - riječ je Jahve Gospoda. Obratite se, dakle, i povratite od svih svojih nedjela, i grijeh vam vaš neće biti na propast!

31 Odbacite od sebe sva nedjela koja ste činili i načinite sebi novo srce i nov duh! Zašto da umirete, dome Izraelov?

32 Ja ne želim smrti nikoga koji umre - riječ je Jahve Gospoda. Obratite se, dakle, i živite!

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8972

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8972. Verse 1 And these are the judgements which you shall set before them means those more external truths such as must exist in a civic state where the Church is representative, which flow from the internal truths belonging to order in heaven. The fact that these things are meant by 'the judgements that were to be set before the children of Israel' is clear from the meaning of 'judgements' as truths, dealt with in 2235, 6397, 7206, 8685, 8695. The reason why 'judgements' are truths is that all judgement is effected by means of truths; therefore 'executing judgement' in the Word means executing truth, that is, judging in accordance with truths. But the plural 'judgements' means civil laws, thus those more external truths such as exist in a civic state. The words 'where the Church is representative' are added because these truths contain and embody within themselves the truths that belong to order in heaven, as may be recognized from the internal sense of them.

[2] The laws which the Lord delivered to the children of Israel and commanded them to keep were divided into commandments, judgements, and statutes. The term 'commandments' was given to those which were laws of life, 'judgements' to those which were laws of the civic state, and 'statutes' to those which were laws of worship. As regards judgements specifically, they are the kinds of laws that are contained in the present chapter and also some that follow. They served as laws in a Church in which inner realities, those of heaven and of the Church, were represented by outward things; but they do not serve as laws in a Church in which inner realities are no longer represented by outward things, as in the Christian Church. The reason for this is that inner realities have been revealed to people of this Church, and therefore inner realities are the channel through which contact is made with heaven, not outward things, as had been the situation before the Christian Church. Here is the reason why members of the Christian Church are not bound to adhere to the outward requirements of the laws called judgements and statutes, only to the inward ones. Holiness still remains within them because they hold holy truths within them, as also does every single command in the Word regarding the sacrifices. Although these are no longer prescriptive laws they remain holy constituents of the Word because of the Divine realities which they hold within themselves and which they represented. For when they are read by a Christian the Divine realities which are held within them and which were represented by them are discerned in heaven. They fill the angels with holiness, and at the same time the reader too through influx from the angels, especially if the reader himself is thinking at the same time about the Divine realities within them. From this it is evident that even the Old Testament Word is extremely holy.

[3] The fact that the laws which the Lord delivered to the children of Israel and commanded them to keep were divided into commandments that were laws of life, judgements that were laws of the civic state, and statutes that were laws of worship, is evident in Moses,

Jehovah said to Moses, Go, say to them, Go back into your tents. But you, stand here with Me, that I may tell you all the commandments, and statutes, and judgements which you shall teach them, so that they may do them. Deuteronomy 5:30-31.

In the same author,

Furthermore these are the commandments, statutes, and judgements which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you. Deuteronomy 6:1.

In the same author,

Therefore you shall keep the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them. Deuteronomy 7:11.

In David,

If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgements, if they profane My statutes and do not keep My commandments, I will visit their transgression with the rod. Psalms 89:30-32.

[4] Furthermore all the laws, in that they were those of a representative Church, were generally called judgements and statutes, as in Moses,

Now therefore, O Israel, hear the statutes and the judgements which I will teach you, that you may do them. What great nation [is there] that has righteous statutes and judgements, like all this law which I will set before you today? Deuteronomy 4:1, 8; 5:1.

In Ezekiel.

Jerusalem has changed My judgements into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands that are around her; for they have repudiated My judgements, and have not walked in My statutes. Ezekiel 5:6-7.

In the same prophet,

Let him 1 walk in My statutes and keep My judgements - to do the truth. Ezekiel 18:9.

In addition to these there are many other places, such as Leviticus 18:5; 19:37; 20:22; 25:18; 26:15; Deuteronomy 26:17; Ezekiel 11:12, 20; 20:11, 13, 25; 37:24.

Footnotes:

1. The Latin means them but the Hebrew means him

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Deuteronomy 4

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1 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you.

2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.

3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed Baal Peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from the midst of you.

4 But you who did cling to Yahweh your God are all alive this day.

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."

7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our god is whenever we call on him?

8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children's children;

10 the day that you stood before Yahweh your God in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, "Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children."

11 You came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.

12 Yahweh spoke to you out of the midst of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; only [you heard] a voice.

13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.

14 Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it.

15 Take therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.

16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,

18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;

19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Yahweh your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky.

20 But Yahweh has taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as at this day.

21 Furthermore Yahweh was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land, which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance:

22 but I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan; but you shall go over, and possess that good land.

23 Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make you an engraved image in the form of anything which Yahweh your God has forbidden you.

24 For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.

25 When you shall father children, and children's children, and you shall have been long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make an engraved image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, to provoke him to anger;

26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto you go over the Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days on it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

27 Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where Yahweh shall lead you away.

28 There you shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

29 But from there you shall seek Yahweh your God, and you shall find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

30 When you are in oppression, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:

31 for Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.

32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been [any such thing] as this great thing is, or has been heard like it?

33 Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?

34 Or has God tried to go and take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

35 It was shown to you so that you might know that Yahweh is God. There is no one else besides him.

36 Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, that he might instruct you: and on earth he made you to see his great fire; and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.

37 Because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought you out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt;

38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as at this day.

39 Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that Yahweh he is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else.

40 You shall keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which Yahweh your God gives you, forever.

41 Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;

42 that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares, and didn't hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

43 [namely], Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

44 This is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

45 these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spoke to the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt,

46 beyond the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel struck, when they came forth out of Egypt.

47 They took his land in possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise;

48 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even to Mount Sion (the same is Hermon),

49 and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even to the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.