The Bible

 

Postanak 6

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1 A kad se ljudi počeše množiti na zemlji, i kćeri im se narodiše.

2 Videći sinovi Božji kćeri čovečije kako su lepe uzimaše ih za žene koje hteše.

3 A Gospod reče: Neće se duh moj do veka preti s ljudima, jer su telo; neka im još sto dvadeset godina.

4 A beše tada divova na zemlji; a i posle, kad se sinovi Božji sastajahu sa kćerima čovečijim, pa im one rađahu sinove; to behu silni ljudi, od starine na glasu.

5 I Gospod videći da je nevaljalstvo ljudsko veliko na zemlji, i da su sve misli srca njihovog svagda samo zle,

6 Pokaja se Gospod što je stvorio čoveka na zemlji, i bi mu žao u srcu.

7 I reče Gospod: Hoću da istrebim sa zemlje ljude, koje sam stvorio, od čoveka do stoke i do sitne životinje i do ptica nebeskih; jer se kajem što sam ih stvorio.

8 Ali Noje nađe milost pred Gospodom.

9 Ovo su događaji Nojevi: Noje beše čovek pravedan i bezazlen svog veka; po volji Božjoj svagda življaše Noje.

10 I rodi Noje tri sina: Sima, Hama i Jafeta.

11 A zemlja se pokvari pred Bogom, i napuni se zemlja bezakonja.

12 I pogleda Bog na zemlju, a ona beše pokvarena; jer svako telo pokvari put svoj na zemlji.

13 I reče Bog Noju: Kraj svakom telu dođe preda me, jer napuniše zemlju bezakonja; i evo hoću da ih zatrem sa zemljom.

14 Načini sebi kovčeg od drveta gofera, i načini pregratke u kovčegu; i zatopi ga smolom iznutra i spolja.

15 I načini ga ovako; u dužinu neka bude trista lakata, u širinu pedeset lakata, i u visinu trideset lakata;

16 Pusti dosta svetlosti u kovčeg; i krov mu svedi ozgo od lakta; i udari vrata kovčegu sa strane; i načini ga na tri boja: donji, drugi i treći.

17 Jer evo pustiću potop na zemlju da istrebim svako telo u kome ima živa duša pod nebom; šta je god na zemlji sve će izginuti.

18 Ali ću s tobom učiniti zavet svoj: i ući ćeš u kovčeg ti i sinovi tvoji i žena tvoja i žene sinova tvojih s tobom.

19 I od svega živog, od svakog tela, uzećeš u kovčeg po dvoje, da sačuvaš u životu sa sobom, a muško i žensko neka bude.

20 Od ptica po vrstama njihovim, od stoke po vrstama njenim, i od svega što se miče na zemlji po vrstama njegovim, od svega po dvoje neka uđe s tobom, da ih sačuvaš u životu.

21 I uzmi sa sobom svega što se jede, i čuvaj kod sebe, da bude hrane tebi i njima.

22 I Noje učini, kako mu zapovedi Bog, sve onako učini.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #598

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598. 'He found grace in Jehovah's eyes' means that the Lord foresaw that the human race could in that way be saved. The mercy of the Lord entails and looks to the salvation of the whole human race; and so does His grace. Consequently, the salvation of the human race is meant. 'Noah' means not only a new Church but also the faith of that Church, which was a faith that inhered in charity. The Lord accordingly foresaw that it would be possible for the human race to be saved by means of faith that inhered in charity. Such faith will be dealt with later on.

[2] In the Word however a distinction is made between mercy and grace, a distinction which depends in fact on differences in those who are their recipients. Mercy applies to those who are celestial, but grace to those who are spiritual, for celestial people acknowledge nothing other than mercy, while spiritual acknowledge hardly anything other than grace. Celestial people do not know what grace is, while the spiritual scarcely know what mercy is, for they make mercy and grace to be one and the same. The reason for the difference springs from each one's humility. People in whom there is humility of heart plead for the Lord's mercy, but those in whom there is humility of mind (cogitatio) seek His grace. Or if the latter do plead for mercy they do so in a state of temptation or with the lips only and not with the heart. Since the new Church called Noah was not celestial but spiritual, it is not said to have found mercy but to have found grace in Jehovah's eyes.

[3] The distinction made in the Word between mercy and grace is clear from very many places where Jehovah is said to be merciful and gracious, as in Psalms 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; Joel 2:13. The same distinction is made elsewhere, as in Jeremiah,

Thus said Jehovah, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness, when He went to give rest to Israel. From afar Jehovah appeared to me. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with mercy. Jeremiah 31:2-3.

Here 'grace' has reference to what is spiritual and 'mercy' to what is celestial. In Isaiah,

Therefore Jehovah will wait to grant you grace, and therefore He will exalt Himself to be merciful to you. Isaiah 30:18.

Here similarly 'grace' has regard to what is spiritual and 'mercy' to what is celestial. And further on [in Genesis] where Lot is addressing the angels,

Behold now, Your servant has found grace in Your eyes, and You have magnified Your mercy which You have shown to me in causing my soul to live. Genesis 19:19.

Here also it is clear that since he is spoken of as 'having found grace in Your eyes' grace has regard to spiritual things which are matters of faith or of the understanding. And since the expressions 'to have magnified mercy' and 'to have caused my soul to live' are used, it is equally clear that mercy has regard to celestial things, which are matters of love or of the will.

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