The Bible

 

Postanak 9

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1 Tada Bog blagoslovi Nou i njegove sinove i reče im: "Plodite se i množite i zemlju napunite.

2 Neka vas se boje i od vas strahuju sve životinje na zemlji, sve ptice u zraku, sve što se po zemlji kreće i sve ribe u moru: u vaše su ruke predane.

3 Sve što se kreće i živi neka vam bude za hranu: sve vam dajem, kao što vam dadoh zeleno bilje.

4 Samo ne smijete jesti mesa u kojem je još duša, to jest njegova krv.

5 A za vašu krv, za vaš život, tražit ću obračun: tražit ću ga od svake životinje; i od čovjeka za njegova druga tražit ću obračun za ljudski život.

6 Tko prolije krv čovjekovu, njegovu će krv čovjek proliti! Jer na sliku Božju stvoren je čovjek!

7 A vi, plodite se, i množite i zemlju napunite, i podložite je sebi!"

8 Još reče Bog Noi i njegovim sinovima s njim:

9 "A ja, evo, sklapam svoj Savez s vama i s vašim potomstvom poslije vas

10 i sa svim živim stvorovima što su s vama: s pticama, sa stokom, sa zvijerima - sa svime što je s vama izišlo iz korablje - sa svim živim stvorovima na zemlji.

11 Držat ću se ja svog Saveza s vama te nikada više vode potopne neće uništiti živa bića niti će ikad više potop zemlju opustošiti."

12 I reče Bog: "A ovo znamen je Saveza koji stavljam između sebe i vas i svih živih bića što su s vama, za naraštaje buduće:

13 Dugu svoju u oblak stavljam, da zalogom bude Savezu između mene i zemlje.

14 Kad oblake nad zemlju navučem i duga se u oblaku pokaže,

15 spomenut ću se Saveza svoga, Saveza između mene i vas i stvorenja svakoga živog: potopa više neće biti da uništi svako biće.

16 U oblaku kad se pojavi duga, ja ću je vidjeti i vjekovnog ću se sjećati Saveza između Boga i svake žive duše, svakog tijela na zemlji."

17 I reče Bog Noi: "To neka je znak Saveza koji sam postavio između sebe i svih živih bića što su na zemlji."

18 Sinovi Noini, koji su iz korablje izišli, bijahu: Šem, Ham i Jafet. Ham je praotac Kanaanaca.

19 Ovo su trojica Noinih sinova i od njih se sav svijet razgranao.

20 Noa, zemljoradnik, zasadio vinograd.

21 Napio se vina i opio, pa se otkrio nasred šatora.

22 Ham, praotac Kanaanaca, opazi oca gola pa to kaza dvojici svoje braće vani.

23 Šem i Jafet uzmu ogrtač, obojica ga prebace sebi preko ramena pa njime, idući natraške, pokriju očevu golotinju. Lica im bijahu okrenuta na drugu stranu, tako te ne vidješe oca gola.

24 Kad se Noa otrijeznio od vina i saznao što mu je učinio najmlađi sin, reče:

25 "Neka je proklet Kanaanac, braći svojoj najniži sluga nek' bude!"

26 Onda nastavi: "Blagoslovljen Jahve, Šemov Bog, Kanaanac nek' mu je sluga!

27 Nek Bog raširi Jafeta da prebiva pod šatorima Šemovim, Kanaanac nek' mu je sluga!"

28 Poslije Potopa Noa poživje trista pedeset godina.

29 U svemu poživje Noa devet stotina pedeset godina; potom umrije.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #987

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987. 'Upon every beast of the earth' means the desires that belong to the lower mind. This is clear from the meaning of 'beast' in the Word, where beasts mean either affections or else evil desires. Affections for what is good are meant by gentle, useful, and clean beasts, while affections for what is evil, that is, evil desires, are meant by savage, useless, and unclean ones - see 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 776. Because here they mean evil desires they are called 'beasts of the earth', not beasts of the field. As for a regenerate person's rule over evil desires, it should be recognized that people err very greatly and are in no sense regenerate who believe they are able to rule over evils from themselves. For a human being is nothing but evil, he is one mass of evils, and his whole will consists solely in evil. This was stated in the previous chapter - 'the imagination of man's heart is evil from his childhood', 8:21. I have been shown by actual experience that a man or a spirit, and even an angel, regarded in himself, that is, as to his entire proprium, is vilest excrement, and left to himself breathes out nothing but hatred, revenge, cruelty, and most filthy adultery. These are the things that are his own, and are the things which constitute his will.

[2] This matter also becomes clear to anyone if he reflects, merely from the consideration that when a person is born he is the lowest thing alive among all wild animals and beasts. And when he grows up and becomes responsible for his own actions he would rush into every kind of ungodliness but for external legal restraints and the restraints he imposes on himself to the end that he may become pre-eminent and very wealthy. He would not rest content until he had made everyone throughout the world subject to himself and had raked in the wealth of everyone in it. He would spare no one except those who surrendered to him as his mere slaves. Such is the nature of everyone, though those people do not recognize it who do not have the opportunity and ability to behave in that way, or who are subject to the restraints mentioned above. But once the opportunity and ability have been provided and the restraints have been loosened, they would plunge themselves, as far as they were able, into such actions. Wild animals never demonstrate natures such as this, but are born into a certain natural order. Those that are savage beasts of prey do inflict harm on other animals, yet only in self-defence; and their devouring of other creatures is so that they may satisfy their hunger. And once that is satisfied they harm none. The human being however is altogether different. From this it is clear what man's proprium is and what his will is.

[3] Since a person is just so much evil and excrement, it is clear that he cannot possibly from himself rule over evil. To say that evil can rule over evil is an utter contradiction. And this applies not only to ruling over evil but also over hell, for everybody is in communication with hell by means of evil spirits, and it is from that source that the evil residing with him is activated. From these considerations anyone may know, and he who is mentally normal may conclude, that it is the Lord alone who rules over evil residing with man and over hell residing with him. So that the evil residing with a person, that is, hell which is trying moment by moment to force its way into him and destroy him eternally, may be overpowered, a person is regenerated by the Lord and has a new will conferred on him, which is conscience, and through which the Lord alone works everything good. These considerations are matters of faith, that is to say, the considerations that man is nothing but evil and that everything good comes from the Lord. A person ought therefore not merely to know them but also acknowledge and believe them. If he does not acknowledge and believe during his lifetime, it is demonstrated to him convincingly in the next life.

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