The Bible

 

Postanak 4

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1 Iza toga Adam pozna Jevu ženu svoju, a ona zatrudne i rodi Kajina, i reče: Dobih čoveka od Gospoda.

2 I rodi opet brata njegovog Avelja. I Avelj posta pastir a Kajin ratar.

3 A posle nekog vremena dogodi se, te Kajin prinese Gospodu prinos od roda zemaljskog;

4 A i Avelj prinese od prvina stada svog i od njihove pretiline. I Gospod pogleda na Avelja i na njegov prinos,

5 A na Kajina i na njegov prinos ne pogleda. Zato se Kajin rasrdi veoma, i lice mu se promeni.

6 Tada reče Gospod Kajinu: Što se srdiš? Što li ti se lice promeni?

7 Nećeš li biti mio, kad dobro činiš? A kad ne činiš dobro, greh je na vratima. A volja je njegova pod tvojom vlašću, i ti si mu stariji.

8 Posle govoraše Kajin s Aveljem bratom svojim. Ali kad behu u polju, skoči Kajin na Avelja brata svog, i ubi ga.

9 Tada reče Gospod Kajinu: Gde ti je brat Avelj? A on odgovori: Ne znam; zar sam ja čuvar brata svog?

10 A Bog reče: Šta učini! Glas krvi brata tvog viče sa zemlje k meni.

11 I sada, da si proklet na zemlji, koja je otvorila usta svoja da primi krv brata tvog iz ruke tvoje.

12 Kad zemlju uzradiš, neće ti više davati blaga svog. Bićeš potukač i begunac na zemlji.

13 A Kajin reče Gospodu: Krivica je moja velika da mi se ne može oprostiti.

14 Evo me teraš danas iz ove zemlje da se krijem ispred Tebe, i da se skitam i potucam po zemlji, pa će me ubiti ko me udesi.

15 A Gospod mu reče: Zato ko ubije Kajina, sedam će se puta to pokajati. I načini Gospod znak na Kajinu da ga ne ubije ko ga udesi.

16 I otide Kajin ispred Gospoda, i naseli se u zemlji naidskoj na istoku prema Edemu.

17 I pozna Kajin ženu svoju, a ona zatrudne i rodi Enoha. I sazida grad i prozva ga po imenu sina svog Enoh.

18 A Enohu rodi se Gaidad; a Gaidad rodi Maleleila: a Maleleilo rodi Matusala; a Matusal rodi Lameha.

19 I uze Lameh dve žene: jednoj beše ime Ada a drugoj Sela.

20 I Ada rodi Jovila; od njega se narodiše koji žive pod šatorima i stoku pasu.

21 A bratu njegovom beše ime Juval; od njega se narodiše gudači i svirači.

22 A i Sela rodi Tovela, koji beše vešt kovati svašta od bronze i od gvožđa; a sestra Tovelu beše Noema.

23 I reče Lameh svojim ženama, Adi i Seli: Čujte glas moj, žene Lamehove, poslušajte reči moje: ubiću čoveka za ranu svoju i mladića za masnicu svoju.

24 Kad će se Kajin osvetiti sedam puta, Lameh će sedamdeset i sedam puta.

25 A Adam opet pozna ženu svoju, i ona rodi sina, i nade mu ime Sit, jer mi, reče, Bog dade drugog sina za Avelja, kog ubi Kajin.

26 I Situ se rodi sin, kome nadede ime Enos. Tada se poče prizivati ime Gospodnje.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #348

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348. 'The fruit of the ground' is used to mean the works of faith devoid of charity. This also is evident from what follows. In effect the works of faith devoid of charity are the works of no faith at all. In themselves they are dead since they belong purely to the external man. Such works are referred to in Jeremiah as follows,

Why does the way of the wicked prosper? You have planted them, they have also taken root, they have gone on, they are also producing fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their heart. 1 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Jeremiah 12:1-2, 4.

'Near in their mouth but far from their heart' 1 means adherents to faith separated from charity, of whom it is said that 'the land mourns'. They are also called in the same prophet 'the fruit of works',

The heart is deceitful above all, and is something hopeless. Who knows it? I Jehovah who searches the heart and tries the reins, to give to everyone according to his ways, according to the fruit of his works. Jeremiah 17:9-10.

In Micah,

The earth will be a desolation because of its inhabitants, for the fruit of their works. Micah 7:13.

But the fact that this kind of fruit is no fruit at all, that is, a work that is dead, and that both this fruit and root perish, is stated in Amos,

I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and whose strength was like the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Amos 2:9.

And in David,

You will destroy their fruit from the earth and their seed from the sons of man. Psalms 21:10.

But works that stem from charity are alive, and are referred to as 'taking root below' and 'yielding fruit above', as in Isaiah,

And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. Isaiah 37:31.

'Producing fruit upwards' is doing so from charity. In the same prophet such fruit is called 'a fruit that is excellent',

On that day the branch of Jehovah will be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the land will be excellence and an adornment for the survivors of Israel. Isaiah 4:2.

It is also 'the fruit of salvation', as it is called in the same prophet,

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain with righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bear the fruit of salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I Jehovah will create it. Isaiah 45:8.

Footnotes:

1. literally, reins or kidneys

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