The Bible

 

Postanak 4

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1 Čovjek pozna svoju ženu Evu, a ona zače i rodi Kajina, pa reče: "Muško sam čedo stekla pomoću Jahve!"

2 Poslije rodi Abela, brata Kajinova; Abel postane stočar, a Kajin zemljoradnik.

3 I jednoga dana Kajin prinese Jahvi žrtvu od zemaljskih plodova.

4 A prinese i Abel od prvine svoje stoke, sve po izbor pretilinu. Jahve milostivo pogleda na Abela i njegovu žrtvu,

5 a na Kajina i žrtvu njegovu ni pogleda ne svrati. Stoga se Kajin veoma razljuti i lice mu se namrgodi.

6 I Jahve reče Kajinu: "Zašto si ljut? Zašto ti je lice namrgođeno?

7 Jer ako pravo radiš, vedrinom odsijevaš. A ne radiš li pravo, grijeh ti je kao zvijer na pragu što na te vreba; još mu se možeš oduprijeti."

8 Kajin pak reče svome bratu Abelu: "Hajdemo van!" I našavši se na polju, Kajin skoči na brata Abela te ga ubi.

9 Potom Jahve zapita Kajina: "Gdje ti je brat Abel?" "Ne znam", odgovori. "Zar sam ja čuvar brata svoga?"

10 Jahve nastavi: "Što si učinio? Slušaj! Krv brata tvoga iz zemlje k meni viče.

11 Stoga budi proklet na zemlji koja je rastvorila usta da proguta s ruke tvoje krv brata tvoga!

12 Obrađivat ćeš zemlju, ali ti više neće davati svoga roda. Vječni ćeš skitalica na zemlji biti!"

13 A Kajin reče Jahvi: "Kazna je moja odviše teška da se snosi.

14 Evo me tjeraš danas s plodnoga tla; moram se skrivati od tvoga lica i biti vječni lutalac na zemlji - tko me god nađe, može me ubiti."

15 A Jahve mu reče: "Ne! Nego tko ubije Kajina, sedmerostruka osveta na njemu će se izvršiti!" I Jahve stavi znak na Kajina, da ga tko, našavši ga, ne ubije.

16 Kajin ode ispred lica Jahvina u zemlju Nod, istočno od Edena, i ondje se nastani.

17 Kajin pozna svoju ženu te ona zače i rodi Henoka. Podigao je grad i grad prozvao imenom svoga sina - Henok.

18 Henoku se rodio Irad, a od Irada potekao Mehujael; od Mehujaela poteče Metušael, od Metušaela Lamek.

19 Lamek uzme dvije žene. Jedna se zvala Ada, a druga Sila.

20 Ada rodi Jabala, koji je postao praocem onih što pod šatorima žive sa stokom.

21 Bratu mu bijaše ime Jubal. On je praotac svih koji sviraju na liru i sviralu.

22 Sila rodi Tubal-Kajina, praoca onih koji kuju bakar i željezo. Tubal-Kajinovoj sestri bijaše ime Naama.

23 Lamek prozbori svojim ženama: "Ada i Sila, glas moj poslušajte! Žene Lamekove, čujte mi besjedu: Čovjeka sam ubio jer me ranio i dijete jer me udarilo.

24 Ako će Kajin biti osvećen sedmerostruko, Lamek će sedamdeset i sedam puta!"

25 Adam pozna svoju ženu te ona rodi sina i nadjenu mu ime Šet. Reče ona: "Bog mi dade drugo dijete mjesto Abela, koga ubi Kajin."

26 Šetu se rodi sin, komu on nadjenu ime Enoš. Tada se počelo zazivati ime Jahvino.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #349

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349. 'A gift' is used to mean worship. This becomes clear from the representative acts in the Jewish Church where, in addition to first-fruits of the earth and of all it yields, and also presentation of the firstborn, sacrifices of every kind are called 'gifts'. It was in these acts that worship consisted. And because they each represented something heavenly and had reference to the Lord, these gifts meant true worship, a fact that anyone is capable of recognizing. For what is any representative without the real thing it represents, and what is anything external without an internal but some idol or object that is dead? That which is external has life from things that are internal, that is, from the Lord through those internal things. From this it is clear that all gifts in the representative Church mean worship of the Lord. Further details on these points will in the Lord's Divine mercy be presented later on.

[2] That 'gifts' in general means worship becomes clear from various places in the Prophets, as in Malachi,

Who endures the day of His coming? He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them like gold, and like silver, and they will be people who present to Jehovah a gift in righteousness. Then the gift of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to Jehovah as in the days of old and as in the former years. Malachi 3:2-4.

'A gift in righteousness' means something internal, which 'the sons of Levi', that is, devout worshippers, are going to offer. 'The days of old' means the Most Ancient Church, and 'former years' the Ancient Church.

In Ezekiel,

On My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, all the house of Israel, the whole of that land, will worship Me. There I will be well-disposed towards them, and there I will require your offerings and the first-fruits comprising your gifts in all your holy acts. Ezekiel 20:40.

'Offerings and first-fruits comprising gifts in holy acts' similarly are works that have been made holy through charity from the Lord. In Zephaniah,

From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia those who adore Me will bring My gift. Zephaniah 3:10.

'Ethiopia' stands for people who are in possession of celestial things, namely love, charity, and works stemming from charity.

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