The Bible

 

Tužaljke 1

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1 Kako osamljena sjedi prijestolnica, nekoć naroda puna; postade kao udovica, nekoć velika među narodima. Vladarica nad pokrajinama, na tlaku sad ide.

2 Noći provodi gorko plačući, suzama pokriva obraze. Nikog nema da je utješi, od svih koji su je ljubili. Svi je prijatelji iznevjeriše i postaše joj neprijatelji.

3 Izagnan je Juda, u nevolji je i u progonstvu teškom. Sad živi među poganima, ne nalazi počinka. Svi ga gonitelji sustižu u tjesnacima.

4 Putovi sionski tuguju jer nitko ne dolazi na svetkovine. Sva su vrata razvaljena, svećenici uzdišu, ucviljene su djevice njegove, a on je pun gorčine.

5 Tlačitelji njegovi sada gospodare, neprijatelji likuju: Jahve ga ucvili zbog grijeha njegovih premnogih. Djeca mu otišla u izgnanstvo pred tlačiteljem.

6 Povukla se od Kćeri sionske sva slava njezina. Knezovi joj postadoše k'o ovnovi koji paše ne nalaze; nemoćni vrludaju ispred goniča.

7 Jeruzalem se spominje danÄa bijede i lutanja, kad mu narod dušmanu u ruke pade a nitko mu pomoći ne pruži. Tlačitelji ga gledahu smijući se njegovoj propasti.

8 Teško sagriješi Jeruzalem, postade kao nečistoća ženina. Svi što ga štovahu, sada ga preziru: jer vidješe golotinju njegovu. On samo plače i natrag se okreće.

9 Skuti su mu uprljani, nije ni sanjao što ga čeka. Duboko je pao, a nikog da ga tješi. "Pogledaj, Jahve, moju nevolju: jer neprijatelj likuje."

10 Neprijatelj poseže rukom za svim dragocjenostima njegovim. Gledao je gdje pogani provaljuju u njegovo Svetište, oni kojima si zabranio i pristup u svoj zbor.

11 Sav narod njegov jeca, tražeći kruha; svi daju dragulje za hranu da bi ponovo živnuli. Evo, Jahve, pogledaj kako sam prezren.

12 Svi vi što putem prolazite, pogledajte i vidite ima li boli kakva je bol kojom sam ja pogođen, kojom me Jahve udari u dan žestokog gnjeva svoga!

13 S visine pusti oganj, utjera ga u kosti moje. Pred noge mrežu mi razape i tako me nauznak obori; ucvili me, ožalosti za sva vremena.

14 Natovario me mojim grijesima, rukom ih svojom pritegnuo; na vrat mi ih navalio, snagu mi oduzeo. Predao me Gospod u ruke njihove, ne mogu se uspraviti.

15 Sve junake iz moje sredine Gospod odbaci: digao je zbor protiv mene da uništi uzdanicu moju. U tijesku izgazi Gospod mene, djevicu, kćerku Judinu.

16 Zato moram plakati, oči mi suze liju, jer daleko je od mene moj tješitelj da mi duh povrati. Sinovi su moji poraženi, odveć silan bijaše neprijatelj.

17 Sion pruža ruke: nema mu tješitelja. Jahve je protiv Jakova sa svih strana pozvao tlačitelje; i tako Jeruzalem postade među njima strašilo.

18 Jahve, on je pravedan; jer riječi se njegovoj protivih. Oh, čujte, narodi svi, gledajte moju bol: djevice moje, moji mladići, svi odoše u izgnanstvo!

19 Pozvah sve ljubavnike svoje, ali me oni prevariše. Moji svećenici i starješine pogiboše u gradu tražeći hrane da bi ponovo živnuli.

20 Pogledaj, Jahve, u kakvoj sam tjeskobi, moja utroba strepi, srce mi se u grudima grči jer bijah opako prkosan! Vani mač pokosi moje sinove, a unutra - smrt.

21 Čuj kako stenjem: nema mi tješitelja! Svi neprijatelji čuju za moju nesreću i likuju što si to učinio! Daj da dođe dan što si ga objavio, da njima bude kao meni.

22 Neka se pokaže sva njina zloća pred licem tvojim, a onda postupaj s njima kao što si sa mnom postupio za sve grijehe moje! Jer samo uzdišem, a srce moje tuguje.

The Bible

 

Ponovljeni Zakon 28:41

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41 Sinove ćeš i kćeri rađati, ali tvoji neće biti jer će u sužanjstvo odlaziti.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #9917

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9917. 'And you shall make on its hem' means in the most external parts, where the natural is. This is clear from the meaning of 'the hem of the robe' as the most external parts, where the natural is; for in particular 'the robe' means Divine Truth in the spiritual kingdom in its inward form, and in general the spiritual kingdom, 9825, while 'the hem' that is underneath round about means its most external parts, the most external of the spiritual kingdom being things on the natural level. For forms of good and truths in the heavens follow one another in this order. In the highest or inmost parts they are celestial forms of good and truths; in the middle parts they are spiritual forms of good and truths; and in the lowest parts they are natural forms of good and truths. Regarding their following one another in this order in heaven and with the individual human being, see what has been stated just above in 9915. And since factual knowledge of truth and good exists in the external or natural man pomegranates were placed on the hem; for factual knowledge of good is meant by 'pomegranates'. Also in [among] the pomegranates there were bells of gold, and this was because such things as are derived from factual knowledge are meant by 'bells'.

[2] The fact that 'the hem of the robe' means the most external parts, where the natural is, is clear from places in the Word where 'the hem' is mentioned, as in Isaiah,

I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His hem filling the temple. Isaiah 6:1.

'The throne' on which the Lord was seated means heaven, and in particular the spiritual heaven, 5313, 8625. His 'hem' there means Divine Truths on lowest or most external levels, such as the truths of the Word in the sense of the letter are. Those truths are said 'to fill the temple' when they fill the Church. Something similar is meant by 'the hem filling the temple' as is meant by smoke and cloud filling the tabernacle and also the temple, referred to several times in the Word. For the meaning of 'smoke' in those places as Divine Truth on lowest levels, such as the sense of the letter of the Word is, see 8916, 8918, and for that also of 'cloud', 4060, 4391, 5922, 6343.

[3] The healing of the woman suffering from the flow of blood when she touched the hem of the Lord's garment, Matthew 9:20, 22, and in general the healing of as many as touched the hem of His garment, Matthew 14:36; Mark 6:56, was a sign that salvation went out from God as He is present on most external or lowest levels. For on the lowest levels of good and truth which spring from the Divine there is might and power, see 9836; and also on these levels answers are given, 9905. In Matthew,

Jesus said regarding the scribes and Pharisees that they do all their works to be seen by people, that they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge the hems of their robes. Matthew 23:5.

Here it is plainly evident that 'the hem of the robe' means outward things which are clearly visible, and that 'enlarging it' means doing works on that level of things in order that they may be apparent or be seen.

[4] In Jeremiah,

Jerusalem sinned grievously; her uncleanness was in her hem. Lamentations 1:8-9.

'Uncleanness in the hem' stands for uncleanness in deeds and words, thus in things that are outermost. For outermost things derive their true nature from inner ones, and therefore when inner things are unclean, the outermost are also unclean, though no uncleanness is apparent to human eyes, because people regard only the outward form and so fail to see the inner things. But that uncleanness in inner things is apparent to angels' eyes; and furthermore it is uncovered with every one in the next life, because there external things are taken away. And this then shows what the true nature of someone's works has been.

[5] In Nahum,

I will uncover your hem upon your face, 1 and I will show the nations your nakedness. Nahum 3:5.

'Uncovering the hem upon the face' means removing external things, in order that internal ones may be apparent. For external things, which belong to the natural man, in various ways conceal internal ones, which are varieties of hypocrisy, deceit, lying, hatred, vengeance, adultery, and other similar vices. When therefore the external things are taken away the internal ones in their uncleanness and foulness are apparent.

[6] In Jeremiah,

... if you say in your heart, Why have these things happened to me? On account of the greatness of your iniquity your hem has been revealed, your heels have been violated. 2 I will lay bare your hem upon your face 1 , that your shame, your adulterous acts, may be seen. Jeremiah 13:22, 26-27.

This refers to the abominations of Jerusalem. 'Revealing the hem' and 'laying it bare' stand for taking away external things that serve to veil and conceal, in order that more internal ones may be seen. For a person who is bad learns - for the sake of reputation, position, and gain - to make a pretence of being good, honest, and upright, when in fact he has various kinds of evil desires and false notions hidden away inside himself. Since 'the hem' means external things 'heels' too are spoken of, because the lowest parts of the natural are meant by 'heels', see 259, 4938-4952. From all this it is now clear that 'the hem of the robe' means forms of good and truths in the lowest or most external parts, which exist in the natural world.

Footnotes:

1. i.e. I will lift your skirts above your head

2. i.e. your skirts have been pulled up, your heels made bare

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