The Bible

 

Амос 4

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1 Čujte ovu reč, krave vasanske, koje ste u gori samarijskoj, koje krivo činite ubogima i satirete siromahe, koje govorite gospodarima svojim: Donesite da pijemo.

2 Zakle se Gospod Gospod svetošću svojom da će vam evo doći dani, te će vas izvlačiti kukama, i ostatak vaš udicama ribarskim.

3 I kroz prolome ćete izaći, svaka na prema se, i pobacaćete šta bude u dvorovima, govori Gospod.

4 Idite u Vetilj, i činite bezakonje, u Galgalu množite bezakonje svoje, i prinosite svako jutro žrtve svoje, treće godine desetke svoje;

5 I palite žrtvu zahvalnu od hleba kiselog, i oglasite žrtve dragovoljne i razglasite, jer vam je tako milo, sinovi Izrailjevi, govori Gospod Gospod.

6 I zato vam ja dadoh da su vam čisti zubi po svim gradovima vašim i da nema hleba nigde po svim mestima vašim; ali se ne obratiste k meni, govori Gospod.

7 A ja vam ustegoh dažd, kad još tri meseca behu do žetve, i pustih dažd na jedan grad, a na drugi grad ne pustih dažda, jedan se kraj nakvasi, a drugi kraj, na koji ne dažde, posuši se.

8 Tako dva i tri grada iđahu u jedan grad da piju vode, i ne mogahu se napiti; ipak se ne obratiste k meni, govori Gospod.

9 Bih vas sušom i medljikom; gusenice izjedoše obilje u vrtovima vašim i u vinogradima vašim i na smokvama vašim i na maslinama vašim; ipak se ne obratiste k meni, govori Gospod.

10 Poslah u vas pomor kao u Misir, pobih mačem mladiće vaše i odvedoh konje vaše, i učinih te se podizaše smrad iz logora vašeg i u nozdrve vaše; ipak se ne obratiste k meni, govori Gospod.

11 Zatirah vas kao što Gospod zatre Sodom i Gomor, i bejaste kao glavnja istrgnuta iz ognja; ipak se ne obratiste k meni, govori Gospod.

12 Zato ću ti tako učiniti, Izrailju; i što ću ti tako učiniti, pripravi se, Izrailju, da sretneš Boga svog.

13 Jer eto Onog koji je sazidao gore i koji je stvorio vetar i javlja čoveku šta misli, čini od zore tamu, i hodi po visinama zemaljskim; ime Mu je Gospod Bog nad vojskama.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #382

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382. 'Being a wanderer and a fugitive in the land' means not knowing what truth and good are. This is clear from the meaning in the Word of 'wandering' and of 'fleeing', as in Jeremiah,

Prophets and priests wander blind in the streets; they are defiled with blood. Things which have no power they touch with their garments. Lamentations 4:13-14.

Here 'prophets' stands for those who teach, 'priests' for those who live according to what is taught. 'Wandering blind in the streets' means not knowing what good and truth are.

[2] In Amos,

Part of one field had rain, and part of the field on which it did not rain dried up. So two or three cities will wander to one city to drink water, and they will not be satisfied. Amos 4:7-8.

Here 'the part of the field on which rain fell' is the doctrine of faith that derives from charity, while 'the part or section of the field on which it did not rain' is the doctrine of faith devoid of charity. 'Wandering to drink water' similarly means searching for truth.

[3] In Hosea,

Ephraim has been stricken, their root has dried up, they will bear no fruit. My God will cast them away because they have not hearkened to Him, and they will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 9:16-17.

'Ephraim' stands for an understanding of truth, that is, for faith, since he was Joseph' s firstborn. 'A root which had dried up' stands for charity that is incapable of bearing fruit. 'Wanderers among the nations' means that they have no knowledge of truth and good.

[4] In Jeremiah,

Go up against Arabia and lay waste the sons of the east. Flee, wander far away; the inhabitants of Hazer have plunged into the depths to dwell there. Jeremiah 49:28, 30.

'Arabia' and 'the sons of the east' stand for the possession of celestial riches, or things of love, which when laid waste are also spoken of as 'fleeing and wandering', or fugitives and wanderers, when they achieve nothing good at all. And 'the inhabitants of Hazer', or those who possess spiritual riches, which are things of faith, are spoken of as 'plunging into the depths', which means perishing.

In Isaiah,

All your chief men are wandering about together, on account of the bow they have been put in chains. They have fled from far away. Isaiah 12:3.

This refers to 'the valley of vision', which is the delusion that faith can exist without charity. This explains why verse 14 below speaks of 'a wanderer and a fugitive', that is, a person who, confessing faith in isolation from charity, has no knowledge at all of truth and good.

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