The Bible

 

Postanak 8

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1 Onda se Bog sjeti Noe, svih zvijeri i sve stoke što bijaše s njim u korablji, pa pokrenu vjetar nad zemljom da uzbije vodu.

2 Zatvoriše se izvori bezdanu i ustave nebeske, i dažd s neba prestade.

3 Polako se povlačile vode sa zemlje. Nakon stotinu pedeset dana vode su jenjale,

4 a sedmoga mjeseca, sedamnaestog dana u mjesecu korablja se zaustavi na brdima Ararata.

5 Vode su neprestano opadale do desetog mjeseca, a prvoga dana desetog mjeseca pokažu se brdski vrhunci.

6 Kad je izminulo četrdeset dana, Noa otvori prozor što ga je načinio na korablji;

7 ispusti gavrana, a gavran svejednako odlijetaše i dolijetaše dok se vode sa zemlje nisu isušile.

8 Zatim ispusti golubicu da vidi je li voda nestala sa zemlje.

9 Ali golubica ne nađe uporišta nogama te se vrati k njemu u korablju, jer voda još pokrivaše svu površinu; on pruži ruku, uhvati golubicu te je unese k sebi u korablju.

10 Počeka još sedam dana pa opet pusti golubicu iz korablje.

11 Prema večeri golubica se vrati k njemu, i gle! u kljunu joj svjež maslinov list; tako je Noa doznao da su opale vode sa zemlje.

12 Još počeka sedam dana pa opet pusti golubicu: više mu se nije vratila.

13 Šest stotina prve godine Noina života, prvoga mjeseca, prvog dana u mjesecu uzmakoše vode sa zemlje. Noa skine pokrov s korablje i pogleda: površina okopnjela.

14 A drugoga mjeseca, sedamnaestog dana u mjesecu, zemlja bijaše suha.

15 Tada Bog reče Noi:

16 "Iziđi iz korablje, ti, tvoja žena, tvoji sinovi i žene tvojih sinova s tobom.

17 Sa sobom izvedi sva živa bića, sva stvorenja što su s tobom: ptice, stoku i sve gmizavce što zemljom puze; neka zemljom vrve, plode se i na zemlji množe!"

18 I Noa iziđe, a s njime sinovi njegovi, žena njegova i žene sinova njegovih.

19 Sve životinje, svi gmizavci, sve ptice - svi stvorovi što se zemljom miču - iziđu iz korablje, vrsta za vrstom.

20 I podiže Noa žrtvenik Jahvi; uze od svih čistih životinja i od svih čistih ptica i prinese na žrtveniku žrtve paljenice.

21 Jahve omirisa miris ugodni pa reče u sebi: "Nikad više neću zemlju u propast strovaliti zbog čovjeka, tÓa čovječje su misli opake od njegova početka; niti ću ikad više uništiti sva živa stvorenja, kako sam učinio.

22 Sve dok zemlje bude, sjetve, žetve, studeni, vrućine, ljeta, zime, dani, noći nikada prestati neće."

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #847

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847. And the waters receded from off the earth, going and returning. That this signifies fluctuations between what is true and what is false, is evident from what has been said: that the waters of the flood, or inundations, with respect to Noah, signified temptations; for as the subject is here the first state after temptation, the “waters receding, going and returning” can signify nothing else than fluctuation between truths and falsities. The nature of this fluctuation, however, cannot be known unless it is known what temptation is, for such as is the temptation, such is the fluctuation after it. When the temptation is celestial, then the fluctuation is between good and evil; when it is spiritual, the fluctuation is between what is true and what is false; and when it is natural, the fluctuation is between the things that belong to and those which are contrary to the cupidities.

[2] There are many kinds of temptations, which are in general the celestial, the spiritual, and the natural; and these ought never to be confounded. Celestial temptations can exist only with those who are in love to the Lord, and spiritual ones with those only who are in charity toward the neighbor. Natural temptations are altogether distinct from these, and indeed are not temptations, but merely anxieties arising from natural loves being assailed by misfortunes, diseases, or a depraved condition of the blood and other fluids of the body. From this brief account it may in some degree be known what temptation is, namely, anguish and anxiety occasioned by whatever opposes one’s loves. Thus with those who are in love to the Lord, whatever assails this love produces an inmost torture, which is celestial temptation; with those who are in love toward the neighbor, or charity, whatever assails this love occasions torment of conscience, and this is spiritual temptation.

[3] But with those who are natural, what they frequently call temptations and the pangs of conscience, are not temptations, but only anxieties arising from their loves being assailed, as when they foresee and are sensible of the loss of honor, of the good things of the world, of reputation, pleasures, bodily life, and the like; nevertheless these troubles are wont to be productive of some good. Temptations are moreover experienced by those who are in natural charity, and consequently by all kinds of heretics, Gentiles, and idolaters, arising from assaults on the life of their faith which they cherish. But these are distresses that merely emulate spiritual temptations.

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