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The Bible

 

Postanak 18

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1 Jahve mu se ukaza kod hrasta Mamre dok je on sjedio na ulazu u šator za dnevne žege.

2 Podigavši oči, opazi tri čovjeka gdje stoje nedaleko od njega. Čim ih spazi, potrča s ulaza šatora njima u susret. Pade ničice na zemlju

3 pa reče: "Gospodine moj, ako sam stekao milost u tvojim očima, nemoj mimoići svoga sluge!

4 Nek' se donese malo vode: operite noge i pod stablom otpočinite.

5 Donijet ću kruha da se okrijepite prije nego pođete dalje. TÓa k svome ste sluzi navratili." Oni odgovore: "Dobro, učini kako si rekao!"

6 Abraham se požuri u šator k Sari pa joj reče: "Brzo! Tri mjerice najboljeg brašna! Zamijesi i prevrtu ispeci!"

7 Zatim Abraham otrča govedima, uhvati tele, mlado i debelo, i dade ga momku da ga brže zgotovi.

8 Poslije uzme masla, mlijeka i zgotovljeno tele pa stavi pred njih, a sam stajaše pred njima, pod stablom, dok su blagovali.

9 "Gdje ti je žena Sara?" - zapitaju ga. "Eno je pod šatorom", odgovori.

10 Onda on reče: "Vratit ću se k tebi kad isteče vrijeme trudnoće; a tvoja žena Sara imat će sina." Iza njega, na ulazu u šator, Sara je prisluškivala.

11 Abraham i Sara bijahu u odmakloj dobi, ostarjeli. U Sare bijaše prestalo što biva u žena.

12 Zato se u sebi Sara smijala i govorila: "Pošto sam uvenula, sad da spoznam nasladu? A još mi je i gospodar star!"

13 Onda Jahve upita Abrahama: "A zašto se Sara smijala i govorila: 'Kako ću rod roditi ja starica?'

14 Zar je Jahvi išta nemoguće? Navratit ću se k tebi kad isteče vrijeme trudnoće: Sara će imati sina."

15 Sara se napravi nevještom govoreći: "Nisam se smijala." Jer se prestrašila. Ali on reče: "Jesi, smijala si se!"

16 Ljudi ustanu i krenu put Sodome. Abraham pođe s njima da ih isprati.

17 Jahve pomisli: "Zar da sakrivam od Abrahama što ću učiniti

18 kad će od Abrahama nastati velik i brojan narod te će se svi narodi zemlje njim blagoslivljati?

19 Njega sam izlučio zato da pouči svoju djecu i svoju buduću obitelj kako će hoditi putem Jahvinim, radeći što je dobro i pravedno, tako da Jahve mogne ostvariti što je Abrahamu obećao."

20 Onda Jahve nastavi: "Velika je vika na Sodomu i Gomoru da je njihov grijeh pretežak.

21 Idem dolje da vidim rade li zaista kako veli tužba što je do mene stigla. Želim razvidjeti."

22 Odande ljudi krenu prema Sodomi, dok je Abraham još stajao pred Jahvom.

23 Nato se Abraham primače bliže i reče: "Hoćeš li iskorijeniti i nevinoga s krivim?

24 Možda ima pedeset nevinih u gradu. Zar ćeš uništiti mjesto radije nego ga poštedjeti zbog pedeset nevinih koji budu ondje?

25 Daleko to bilo od tebe da ubijaš nevinoga kao i krivoga, tako da i nevini i krivi prođu jednako! Daleko bilo od tebe! Zar da ni Sudac svega svijeta ne radi pravo?"

26 "Ako nađem u gradu Sodomi pedeset nevinih", odvrati Jahve, "zbog njih ću poštedjeti cijelo mjesto."

27 "Ja se, evo, usuđujem govoriti Gospodinu", opet progovori Abraham. - "Ja, prah i pepeo!

28 Da slučajno bude nevinih pet manje od pedeset, bi li uništio sav grad zbog tih pet?" "Neću ga uništiti ako ih ondje nađem četrdeset i pet", odgovori.

29 "Ako ih se ondje možda nađe samo četrdeset?" - opet će Abraham. "Neću to učiniti zbog četrdesetorice", odgovori.

30 "Neka se Gospodin ne ljuti ako nastavim. Ako ih se ondje nađe možda samo trideset?" - opet će on. "Neću to učiniti", odgovori, "ako ih ondje nađem samo trideset."

31 "Evo se opet usuđujem govoriti Gospodinu", nastavi dalje. "Ako ih se slučajno ondje nađe samo dvadeset?" "Neću ga uništiti", odgovori, "zbog dvadesetorice."

32 "Neka se Gospodin ne ljuti", on će opet, "ako rečem još samo jednom: Ako ih je slučajno ondje samo deset?" "Neću ga uništiti zbog njih deset", odgovori.

33 Kad je Jahve završio razgovor s Abrahamom, ode, a Abraham se vrati u svoje mjesto.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2240

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2240. That a “cry” denotes falsity, and “sin” evil, is evident from the signification in the Word of a “cry.” That a “cry” signifies falsity, can be evident to no one unless he knows the internal sense of the Word. The word sometimes occurs in the Prophets, and when vastation and desolation are there treated of, it is said that men “howl and cry,” by which is signified that goods and truths have been vastated; and a term is there made use of by which in the internal sense falsity is described; as in Jeremiah:

A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the howling of the powerful ones of the flock because Jehovah layeth waste their pasture (Jeremiah 25:36),

where the “cry of the shepherds” denotes that they are in falsity, from which there comes vastation.

[2] In the same:

Behold, waters rise up from the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and the fullness thereof, the city and them that dwell therein and the men shall cry, and every inhabitant of the land shall howl, because of the day that cometh to lay waste (Jeremiah 47:2, 4),

where the desolation of faith is treated of, which is brought about by falsities; the “overflowing stream” is falsity (as shown in Part First, n. 705, 790

[3] In Zephaniah:

The voice of a cry from the fish gate, and a howling from the second, and a great shattering from the hills, and their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation (Zeph. 1:10, 13),

where also a “cry” is predicated of the falsities which lay waste.

[4] In Isaiah:

In the way of Horonaim they shall rouse up a cry of shattering, for the waters of Nimrim shall be desolations, for the grass has dried up, the herb is consumed, there is no green thing (Isaiah 15:5-6; Jeremiah 48:3), where the desolation of faith and its consummation is described by a “cry.”

[5] In Jeremiah:

Judah hath mourned, and her gates languish, they have been blackened upon the earth, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up; and their illustrious ones have sent their younger ones to the waters; they came to the pits, they found no waters, they returned with their vessels empty (Jeremiah 14:2-3),

where the “cry of Jerusalem” denotes falsities; for by their “finding no waters” is signified that there were no knowledges of truth, which are “waters” (as shown in Part First,n. 28, 680, 739).

[6] In Isaiah:

I will exult in Jerusalem and be glad in My people, and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying (Isaiah 65:19),

where there “not being heard the voice of weeping” denotes that there shall not be evil; “nor the voice of crying” denotes that there shall not be falsity. Very many of these things cannot be understood from the sense of the letter, but only from the internal sense, and this is the case with a “cry.”

[7] In the same:

Jehovah looked for judgment, but behold a scab; for righteousness, but behold a cry (Jeremiah 5:7),

where also the vastation of good and truth is treated of. There is in this passage a kind of reciprocation, such as is occasionally found in the Prophets, and which is of such a nature that in the place of truth there is found evil, which is meant by there being “a scab instead of judgment;” and falsity in place of good, which is meant by there being “a cry instead of righteousness” (for that “judgment” is truth, and “righteousness” good, was shown above, n. 2235).

[8] There is a like reciprocation in Moses, where Sodom and Gomorrah are treated of:

Of the vine of Sodom is their vine, and of the fields of Gomorrah are their grapes; they have grapes of gall, clusters of bitternesses. (Deuteronomy 32:32),

where there is a similar mode of speaking; for the “vine” is predicated of truths and falsities, and the “fields” and “grapes,” of goods and evils; so that “the vine of Sodom” is falsity from evil, and “the fields and grapes of Gomorrah” are evils from falsities; for there are two kinds of falsity (see Part First,n. 1212); and so also there are two kinds of evil. Both kinds of falsity and evil are signified in this verse by the “cry of Sodom and Gomorrah having become great, and their sin having become exceeding grievous;” as is evident from the fact that “cry” is named in the first place, and “sin” in the second; and yet “Sodom,” which is evil from the love of self, is mentioned first; and “Gomorrah,” which is the derivative falsity, second.

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

The Bible

 

Isaiah 14

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1 For Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. The foreigner will join himself with them, and they will unite with the house of Jacob.

2 The peoples will take them, and bring them to their place. The house of Israel will possess them in Yahweh's land for servants and for handmaids. They will take as captives those whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

3 It will happen in the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve,

4 that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, "How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!"

5 Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,

6 who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.

7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song.

8 Yes, the fir trees rejoice with you, with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you are humbled, no lumberjack has come up against us."

9 Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10 They all will answer and ask you, "Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?"

11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you.

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low!

13 You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north!

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!"

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.

16 Those who see you will stare at you. They will ponder you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms;

17 who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who didn't release his prisoners to their home?"

18 All the kings of the nations, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house.

19 But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot.

20 You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evildoers will not be named forever.

21 Prepare for slaughter of his children because of the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up and possess the earth, and fill the surface of the world with cities.

22 "I will rise up against them," says Yahweh of Armies, "and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son's son," says Yahweh.

23 "I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water. I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says Yahweh of Armies.

24 Yahweh of Armies has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot on my mountains. Then his yoke will leave them, and his burden leave their shoulders.

26 This is the plan that is determined for the whole earth. This is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

27 For Yahweh of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"

28 This burden was in the year that king Ahaz died.

29 Don't rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent's root an adder will emerge, and his fruit will be a fiery flying serpent.

30 The firstborn of the poor will eat, and the needy will lie down in safety; and I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant will be killed.

31 Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That Yahweh has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

   

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