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Jezekilj 16

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1 Opet mi dođe reč Gospodnja govoreći:

2 Sine čovečji, pokaži Jerusalimu gadove njegove,

3 I reci: Ovako veli Gospod Gospod Jerusalimu: Postanjem i rodom ti si iz zemlje hananske; otac ti beše Amorejac a mati Hetejka.

4 A o rođenju tvom, kad si se rodila, nije ti pupak odrezan i nisi okupana vodom da bi bila čista, niti si solju natrvena ni pelenama povita.

5 Oko te ne požali da ti učini šta od toga i da ti se smiluje: Nego ti bi bačena u polje, jer beše mrska duša tvoja onog dana kad si se rodila.

6 I idući mimo tebe i videvši te gde se valjaš u svojoj krvi, rekoh ti: Da si živa u svojoj krvi! I opet ti rekoh: Da si živa u svojoj krvi!

7 I učinih da rasteš na hiljade kao trava u polju; i ti naraste i posta velika i dođe do najveće lepote; dojke ti napupiše, i dlake te probiše; ali ti beše gola naga.

8 I idući mimo tebe pogledah te, i gle, godine ti behu godine za ljubljenje; i raširih skut svoj na te, i pokrih golotinju tvoju, i zakleh ti se i učinih veru s tobom, govori Gospod Gospod, i ti posta moja.

9 I okupah te vodom, i sprah s tebe krv tvoju, i pomazah te uljem.

10 I obukoh ti vezenu haljinu, i obuh ti crevlje od jazavca, i opasah te tankim platnom i zastreh te svilom.

11 I nakitih te nakitom, i metnuh ti narukvice na ruke i grivnu oko vrata.

12 I grivnu oko čela metnuh ti, i oboce u uši, slavan venac na glavu.

13 I ti beše okićena zlatom i srebrom, i odelo ti beše od tankog platna i od svile i vezeno, jeđaše belo brašno i med i ulje, i beše vrlo lepa, i prispe do carstva.

14 I raziđe se glas o tebi po narodima radi lepote tvoje, jer beše savršena krasotom mojom, koju metnuh na te, govori Gospod Gospod.

15 Ali se ti osloni na lepotu svoju, i prokurva se s glasa svog, te si prosipala kurvarstvo svoje svakome koji prolažaše, i bivala si njegova.

16 I uzevši od haljina svojih načinila si šarene visine, i kurvala si se na njima, kako nikada nije bilo niti će biti.

17 I uzevši krasni nakit svoj od mog zlata i od mog srebra što ti dadoh, načinila si sebi muške likove, i kurvala si se s njima.

18 I uzevši vezene haljine svoje zaodela si ih, i ulje moje i kad moj stavila si pred njih.

19 I hleb moj, koji ti dadoh, belo brašno i ulje i med, čim te hranjah, postavila si pred njih za miris ugodni. Tako je bilo, govori Gospod Gospod.

20 I uzimala si sinove svoje i kćeri svoje koje si rodila, i njih si im prinosila da se spale. Malo li beše kurvarstva tvog,

21 Te si i sinove moje klala i davala si ih da im se provedu kroz oganj?

22 I uza sve gadove svoje i kurvarstva svoja nisi se opominjala dana mladosti svoje kad si bila gola i naga i valjala se u krvi svojoj.

23 I posle sve zloće svoje, (Teško, teško tebi! Govori Gospod Gospod,)

24 Sagradila si sebi kuću kurvarsku, i načinila si sebi visine na svakoj ulici,

25 Na svakoj rasputici načinila si sebi visinu, i nagrdila si svoju lepotu, i razmetala si noge svoje svakome koji prolažaše, i umnožila si kurvarstvo svoje.

26 Kurvala si se sa sinovima misirskim, susedima svojim velikog tela, i umnožila si kurvarstvo svoje da bi me razgnevila.

27 Zato gle, digoh ruku svoju na te i umalih obrok tvoj, i dadoh te na volju nenavidnicima tvojim, kćerima filistejskim, koje beše stid od sramotnog puta tvog.

28 Kurvala si se sa sinovima asirskim, jer se ne mogaše nasititi; kurvala si se s njima, i opet se nisi nasitila.

29 I umnožila si kurvarstvo svoje u zemlji hananskoj sve do haldejske, i ni tako se nisi nasitila.

30 Kako je iznemoglo srce tvoje, govori Gospod Gospod, kad činiš sve što čini najgora kurva,

31 Kad si gradila kurvarsku kuću na svakoj rasputici i činila visinu na svakoj ulici! A ni kao kurva nisi, jer nisi marila za platu;

32 Nego kao žena preljubočinica, koja mesto muža svog prima druge.

33 Svim kurvama daje se plata, a ti si davala platu svim milosnicama svojim i darivala si ih da dolaze k tebi sa svih strana da se kurvaju s tobom.

34 I tako je u tebe naopako prema ženama u tvom kurvarstvu: Jer niko ne ide za tobom da se kurva, i ti daješ platu, a ne daje se tebi plata; to je naopako.

35 Zato, kurvo, čuj reč Gospodnju.

36 Ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Što se otrov tvoj prosu, i što se u kurvanju tvom otkrivala golotinja tvoja tvojim milosnicima i svim gadnim idolima tvojim, i za krv sinova tvojih, koje si im dala,

37 Zato, evo, ja ću skupiti sve milosnike tvoje, s kojima si se milovala, i sve koje si ljubila, i sve na koje si mrzela, skupiću ih sve oko tebe, i otkriću im golotinju tvoju da vide svu golotinju tvoju.

38 I sudiću ti kako se sudi onima koje čine preljubu i onima koje krv prolivaju, i daću te na smrt gnevu i revnosti.

39 I predaću te u njihove ruke, te će razoriti tvoju kuću kurvarsku i raskopati visine tvoje, i svući će haljine s tebe, i uzeće ti krasni nakit i ostaviće te golu nagu.

40 I dovešće na te ljudstvo, te će te zasuti kamenjem, i izbošće te mačevima svojim.

41 I popaliće kuće tvoje ognjem, i izvršiće na tebi sud pred mnogim ženama, i učiniću te ćeš se okaniti kurvanja i nećeš više davati plate.

42 I namiriću gnev svoj nad tobom, i revnost će se moja ukloniti od tebe, i umiriću se, i neću se više gneviti.

43 Zato što se nisi opominjala dana mladosti svoje, nego si me dražila svim tim, zato, evo, i ja ću obratiti put tvoj na tvoju glavu, govori Gospod Gospod, te nećeš činiti grdila niti kakvih gadova svojih.

44 Gle, ko god govori priče, govoriće o tebi priču, i reći će: Kakva mati, takva joj kći.

45 Ti si kći matere svoje, koja se odmetnula od muža svog i dece svoje, i sestra si sestara svojih, koje se odmetnuše od muževa svojih i dece svoje, mati vam je Hetejka a otac Amorejac.

46 A starija ti je sestra Samarija s kćerima svojim, koja ti sedi s leve strane, a mlađa ti je sestra koja ti sedi s desne strane Sodom sa kćerima svojim.

47 A ti ni njihovim putem nisi hodila, niti si činila po njihovim gadovima, kao da ti to beše malo, nego si bila gora od njih na svim putevima svojim.

48 Tako ja živ bio, govori Gospod Gospod, sestra tvoja Sodom i kćeri njene nisu činile kako si činila ti i tvoje kćeri.

49 Evo, ovo beše bezakonje sestre tvoje Sodoma: U ponosu, u izobilju hleba i bezbrižnom miru beše ona i kćeri njene, a ne pomagahu siromahu i ubogom;

50 Nego se ponašahu i činjahu gadove preda mnom, za to ih zatrh kad videh.

51 Samarija nije zgrešila pola koliko ti, jer si počinila gadova svojih više nego one, te si opravdala sestre svoje svim gadovima svojim koje si učinila.

52 I ti dakle, koja si sudila sestrama svojim, nosi sramotu svoju za grehe svoje, kojima si postala grđa od njih; one su pravednije od tebe; i ti se dakle stidi i nosi sramotu, kad si opravdala sestre svoje.

53 Ako dovedeš natrag njihovo roblje, roblje sodomsko i kćeri njene, i roblje samarijsko i kćeri njene, dovešću i tvoje roblje iz ropstva među njima.

54 Da nosiš sramotu svoju i da se stidiš za sve što si činila, i da im budeš uteha.

55 Ako se sestre tvoje, Sodom i kćeri njene povrate kao što su bile, i ako se Samarija i kćeri njene povrate kao što su bile, povratićeš se i ti i kćeri tvoje kao što ste bile.

56 Jer usta tvoja ne pominjaše Sodom, sestru tvoju, u vreme oholosti tvoje,

57 Pre nego se otkri zloća tvoja kao u vreme sramote od kćeri sirskih i od svih što su oko njih, kćeri filistejskih, koje te sramoćahu sa svih strana.

58 Nosi nevaljalstvo svoje i gadove svoje, govori Gospod.

59 Jer ovako veli Gospod Gospod: Učiniću ti kako si ti učinila prezrevši zakletvu i prestupivši zavet.

60 Ali ću se ja opomenuti zaveta svog koji sam učinio s tobom u vreme mladosti tvoje, i utvrdiću ti večan zavet.

61 Tada ćeš se opomenuti puteva svojih i postidećeš se kad primiš sestre svoje starije od sebe i mlađe, koje ću ti dati za kćeri, ali ne po tvom zavetu.

62 I ja ću utvrditi zavet svoj s tobom, i poznaćeš da sam ja Gospod,

63 Da se opomeneš i postidiš i da ne otvoriš više usta od sramote, kad ti oprostim sve što si učinila, govori Gospod Gospod

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #134

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134. "'To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality.'" This symbolically means, in consequence of which faith the truths of the church are falsified.

To teach and seduce the Lord's servants means, symbolically, to teach and seduce people who can be and are willing to be instructed in truths from the Word. That servants of the Lord are what people governed by truths are called may be seen in nos. 3 and 128 above; and to commit sexual immorality means, symbolically, to adulterate and falsify the Word. To commit sexual immorality has this symbolic meaning because every particular of the Word contains a marriage of good and truth, and this marriage is broken when goodness is divorced and estranged from truth.

To be shown that every particular of the Word contains a marriage of good and truth, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem Regarding the Sacred Scripture, nos. 80-90. It is because of this that to commit sexual immorality means, symbolically, to adulterate the goods of the Word and falsify its truths. Moreover, because this is spiritual licentiousness, therefore people who have employed their own reason to falsify the Word become sexually licentious people when they enter the spiritual world after death. And something as yet unrecognized in the world is the fact that people who have affirmed faith alone to the exclusion of any works of charity are prompted by the lust of an adultery of a son with his mother. In the spiritual world I have often perceived them to be impelled by the lust of so unspeakable an adultery. Remember this and inquire into it after death, and you will be convinced. I have not dared to reveal this previously, because it offends the ears.

[2] This adultery is symbolized by the adultery of Reuben with Bilhah, his father's concubine (Genesis 35:22), inasmuch as Reuben symbolizes that faith. Therefore he was cursed by his father Israel, and the birthright was subsequently taken from him. For in prophesying concerning his sons, his father Israel said of Reuben,

Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength... Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my pallet. (Genesis 49:3-4)

And therefore the birthright was taken from him:

...Reuben (was) the firstborn of Israel..., but because he defiled his father's pallet, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph... (1 Chronicles 5:1)

We will see in the explanation of Revelation 7:5 that Reuben represented truth arising from good or faith springing from charity, and afterward truth divorced from good or faith divorced from charity.

[3] That references to sexual licentiousness in the Word symbolize adulterations of good and falsifications of truth can be seen from the following passages:

...when Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" And he said, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are many?" (2 Kings 9:22)

The harlotries of Jezebel do not mean any acts of licentiousness, but her deeds, as cited in no. 132 above.

Your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms... (Numbers 14:33)

The person who has regard to mediums and soothsayers, to go whoring after them..., I will cut him off... (Leviticus 20:6)

(Do not) make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, (lest) they go whoring after their gods... (Exodus 34:15).

(Jerusalem,) you trusted in your own beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, (so that) you poured out your harlotries on everyone passing by... You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very carnal neighbors, and multiplied your acts of harlotry... You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable, (with whom) you played the harlot... You multiplied your harlotry as far as... Chaldea... The adulterous woman, who in place of her husband takes strangers. All men give payment to their harlots, but you made your payments to them all, (that they may) come to you from all around for your harlotries... Therefore, harlot, hear the word of Jehovah. (Ezekiel 16:15-16, 26, 28-29, 32-33, 35ff.)

Jerusalem there is the Israelite and Jewish Church. Its harlotries mean adulterations and falsifications of the Word. And because Egypt symbolizes the knowledge of the natural self, Assyria reasoning on the basis of it, Chaldea the profanation of truth, and Babel the profanation of good, therefore the passage says that it played the harlot with them.

[4] ...two women, the daughters of one mother, committed harlotry in Egypt; in their youth they committed harlotry... (One,) my subject, played the harlot, and she doted on her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians... She committed her harlotries with them... (Yet) she has not given up her harlotries in Egypt....

(The other) became more corrupt in her loving than she, and in her harlotries more corrupt than her sister's harlotries... She increased her harlotries... She loved (Chaldeans).... Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and they defiled her with their harlotry. (Ezekiel 23:2-3, 5, 7-8, 11, 14, 16-17ff.)

The two daughters of the same mother are likewise the Israelite and Jewish Church, whose adulterations and falsifications of the Word are described here, as above, by harlotries.

[5] So, too, in the following passages:

...you have played the harlot with many lovers... You have profaned the land with your harlotries and your wickedness... Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and... played the harlot... Treacherous Judah... went and played the harlot also. So that... by the report of her harlotry she defiled the land; ...she committed adultery with stone and wood. (Jeremiah 3:1-2, 6, 8-9)

And elsewhere:

Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see... if you can find a man... who executes judgment and seeks the truth... I satiated them, and they committed harlotry and came by troops into the harlots' house. (Jeremiah 5:1, 7)

I have seen your adulteries... your neighings, the wickedness of your harlotry, your abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! You will not be made clean... (Jeremiah 13:27)

I have seen a horrible obstinacy in the prophets of Jerusalem: they commit adultery and walk in a lie. (Jeremiah 23:14)

...they have committed folly in Israel, have committed adultery..., and have spoken (My) word in My name falsely... (Jeremiah 29:23)

...they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into disrepute... They committed harlotry..., because they have forsaken Jehovah. Harlotry... enslaved (their) heart... ...your daughters commit harlotry, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery. (Hosea 4:7, 10-11, 13)

I know Ephraim..., (that) he has (altogether) committed harlotry, (and) Israel is defiled. (Hosea 5:3)

I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: Ephraim committed harlotry there, (and) Israel is defiled. (Hosea 6:10)

Israel there is the church, and Ephraim is its understanding of the Word, from which and in accordance with which the church is formed. Therefore Ephraim is said to have committed harlotry and Israel to be defiled.

[6] Since the church had falsified the Word, the prophet Hosea was commanded to take himself a harlot as a wife, as follows:

...take yourself a woman of harlotries and children of harlotries, for the land has committed great harlotry behind Jehovah. (Hosea 1:2).

Again:

...love a woman who is loved by a companion and is an adulteress... (Hosea 3:1)

Since the Jewish Church was such as described, therefore the Lord called the Jewish nation an adulterous generation (Matthew 12:39; 16:4, Mark 8:38); and in Isaiah, the offspring of an adulterer (Isaiah 57:3).

In Nahum:

Woe to the bloody city! Full of lying... The multitude of the slain... because of the multitude of the harlotries of the harlot..., who sells nations through her harlotries... (Nahum 3:1, 3-4)

[7] Since Roman Catholicism adulterates and falsifies the Word more than any others in the Christian world, it is therefore called Babylon, the Great Harlot, and the following things are said of it in the book of Revelation:

Babylon... has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her harlotry. (Revelation 14:8)

(Babylon has made) all the nations (drink) of the wine of the wrath of her harlotry, and the kings of the earth have committed harlotry with her... (Revelation 18:3)

(The angel said,) "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot... with whom the kings of the earth committed harlotry. (Revelation 17:1-2)

...He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. (Revelation 19:2)

It is apparent from this now that to commit adultery and to commit sexual immorality mean, symbolically, to adulterate and falsify the goods and truths of the Word.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.