The Bible

 

Ezekiel 34

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1 At ang salita ng Panginoon ay dumating sa akin, na nagsasabi,

2 Anak ng tao, manghula ka laban sa mga pastor ng Israel, manghula ka, at iyong sabihin sa kanila, sa mga pastor, Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios: Sa aba ng mga pastor ng Israel na pinakakain ang kanilang sarili! hindi baga dapat pakanin ng mga pastor ang mga tupa?

3 Kayo'y nagsisikain ng gatas, at kayo'y nangananamit sa inyo ng lana, inyong pinapatay ang mga pinataba; nguni't hindi ninyo pinakakain ang mga tupa.

4 Hindi ninyo pinalakas ang payat, o inyo mang pinagaling ang may sakit, o inyo mang tinalian ang may bali, o inyo mang ibinalik ang iniligaw, o inyo mang hinanap ang nawala; kundi inyong pinagpunuang may karahasan at may kahigpitan.

5 At sila'y nangalat dahil sa walang pastor, at sila'y naging pagkain sa lahat ng hayop sa parang, at sila'y nangalat.

6 Ang aking mga tupa ay nagsisilaboy sa lahat ng bundok, at sa lahat na mataas na burol: oo, ang aking mga tupa ay nangalat sa buong ibabaw ng lupa; at walang magsiyasat o humanap sa kanila.

7 Kaya't kayong mga pastor, pakinggan ninyo ang salita ng Panginoon:

8 Buhay ako, sabi ng Panginoong Dios, walang pagsala na dahil sa ang aking mga tupa ay naging samsam, at ang aking mga tupa ay naging pagkain sa lahat na hayop sa parang, sapagka't walang pastor, o hinanap man ng aking mga pastor ang aking mga tupa, kundi ang mga pastor ay nagsikain, at hindi pinakain ang aking mga tupa;

9 Kaya't, Oh kayong mga pastor, pakinggan ninyo ang salita ng Panginoon:

10 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, Narito, ako'y laban sa mga pastor; at aking aalisin ang aking mga tupa sa kanilang kamay, at akin silang patitigilin ng pagpapakain ng mga tupa; at hindi na naman pakakanin ng mga pastor ang kanilang sarili; at aking ililigtas ang aking mga tupa sa kanilang bibig, upang huwag maging pagkain sa kanila.

11 Sapagka't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios: Narito, ako, sa makatuwid baga'y ako, sisiyasat ng aking mga tupa, at aking hahanapin sila.

12 Kung paanong hinanap ng pastor ang kaniyang kawan sa kaarawan na siya'y nasa gitna ng kaniyang mga tupa na nangangalat, gayon ko hahanapin ang aking mga tupa; at ililigtas ko sila sa lahat ng dako na kanilang pinangalatan sa maulap at madilim na araw.

13 At aking ilalabas sila sa mga bayan, at pipisanin ko sila mula sa mga lupain, at dadalhin ko sila sa kanilang sariling lupain; at pasasabsabin ko sila sa mga bundok ng Israel, sa tabi ng mga daan ng tubig, at sa lahat na tinatahanang dako sa lupain.

14 Aking pakakanin sila sa mabuting pastulan; at sa mga mataas na bundok ng kataasan ng Israel ay malalagay ang kanilang kulungan: doon mangahihiga sila sa mabuting kulungan; at sa matabang pastulan ay manginginain sila sa mga bundok ng Israel.

15 Ako ay magiging kanilang pastor ng aking mga tupa at aking pahihigain sila, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

16 Aking hahanapin ang nawala, at ibabalik ang iniligaw, at tatalian ang nabalian, at palalakasin ang may sakit: nguni't aking lilipulin ang mataba at malakas; aking pakakanin sila sa katuwiran.

17 At tungkol sa inyo, Oh aking kawan, ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios: Narito, ako'y humahatol sa gitna ng hayop at hayop, sa gitna ng mga lalaking tupa at mga kambing na lalake.

18 Inaakala baga ninyong munting bagay sa inyo na kumain sa mabuting pastulan, nguni't inyong marapat yapakan ng inyong mga paa ang nalabi sa inyong pastulan? at uminom sa malinaw na tubig, nguni't inyong marapat lampisawin ng inyong mga paa ang nalabi?

19 At tungkol sa aking mga tupa, kanilang kinakain ang inyong niyapakan ng inyong mga paa, at kanilang iniinom ang nilampisaw ng inyong mga paa.

20 Kaya't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios sa kanila: Narito, ako, sa makatuwid baga'y ako, ay hahatol sa matabang tupa at sa payat na tupa.

21 Sapagka't inyong itinulak ng tagiliran at ng balikat, at inyong sinuwag ng inyong mga sungay ang lahat na may sakit, hanggang sa inyong napangalat sila;

22 Kaya't aking ililigtas ang aking kawan, at hindi na sila magiging samsam; at ako'y hahatol sa tupa at tupa.

23 At ako'y maglalagay ng isang pastor sa kanila, at kaniyang papastulin sila sa makatuwid baga'y ang aking lingkod na si David; kaniyang papastulin sila, at siya'y magiging kanilang pastor,

24 At akong Panginoon ay magiging kanilang Dios, at ang aking lingkod na si David ay prinsipe sa kanila; akong Panginoon ang nagsalita.

25 At ako'y makikipagtipan sa kanila ng tipan ng kapayapaan, at aking papawiin ang mga masamang hayop sa lupain; at sila'y magsisitahang tiwasay sa ilang, at mangatutulog sa mga gubat.

26 At aking gagawing mapapalad sila at ang mga dakong nangasa palibot ng aking burol; at aking palalagpakin ang ulan sa kapanahunan; magkakaroon ng ulan ng pagpapala.

27 At ang punong kahoy sa parang ay magbubunga, at ang lupa'y magsisibol ng halaman niya, at sila'y matitiwasay sa kanilang lupain; at kanilang malalaman na ako ang Panginoon, pagka aking binali ang tali ng kanilang pamatok, at aking nailigtas sila sa kamay ng mga pinaglilingkuran nila.

28 At sila'y hindi na magiging pinakahuli sa mga bansa, o lalamunin man sila ng hayop sa lupa; kundi sila'y magsisitahang tiwasay, at walang tatakot sa kanila.

29 At aking pagkakalooban sila ng mga pananim na ikababantog, at sila'y hindi na mangalilipol pa ng kagutom sa lupain, o magtataglay pa man ng kahihiyan sa mga bansa.

30 At kanilang malalaman na akong Panginoon nilang Dios ay sumasa kanila, at sila na sangbahayan ni Israel ay aking bayan, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

31 At kayong mga tupa ko, na mga tupa sa aking pastulan ay mga tao, at ako'y inyong Dios, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #1159

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1159. And all things fat and splendid have departed from thee.- That this signifies that all goods and truths, and things auspicious and magnificent, which they have persuaded themselves, they would be able to acquire by means of that religion, are changed into the contrary, is evident from the signification of fat things, which denote goods and auspicious things therefrom, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of things splendid, which denote truths and things magnificent therefrom. The reason why this is the signification of things splendid, is, that splendour is the result of light, and the light of heaven is Divine Truth or Divine Wisdom, which is the cause of all things in the heavens shining with a splendour unknown in the world. It may be compared with the brilliancy of a diamond turned to the sun, but the splendour seen in heaven far exceeds this, just as the light of heaven exceeds the light of the world, the difference between which is so great, that while it may be illustrated by comparisons, yet it cannot be described. All the magnificent things of heaven, exist from that light, and these chiefly consist of forms corresponding to wisdom, which are such that in the world they can neither be pictured nor described. For in them art itself is in its art, and science is in its wisdom, consequently they are of ineffable beauty. It is evident from these facts why things splendid signify truths and thence things magnificent.

[2] The reason why fat things signify goods and auspicious things therefrom, is, that the fat is the best part of flesh, and that it is like oil, which signifies the good of love. That fatness signifies good and those things that belong to it, thus happiness and joys, is clear from the following passages in the Word.

In Isaiah:

"Attending attend unto me, eat ye good, that your soul may be delighted in fatness" (55:2).

To eat good signifies to appropriate good to themselves; thence by delighting in fatness is signified to be in a state of happiness and blessedness.

In Jeremiah:

"I will fill the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with good" (31:14).

Here also fatness signifies happiness and blessing from the good of love.

In David:

"My soul shall be satisfied with fat and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips" (Psalm 63:5).

The soul being satisfied with fat and fatness, signifies to be filled with the good of love and with joy therefrom. To praise with joyful lips signifies to worship by means of truths which gladden the mind.

Again:

"Thy houses shall be filled with fatness, and thou shalt cause them to drink of the stream of delights" (Psalm 36:8).

The fatness with which the houses shall be filled, signifies the good of love, and happiness therefrom, houses denoting things pertaining to the mind. The river of the delights, of which they shall drink, signifies intelligence and happiness therefrom.

[3] In Isaiah:

"In this mountain shall Jehovah Zebaoth make to all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow and of wine on the lees well refined" (25:6).

These things are said concerning the state of those who would acknowledge and adore the Lord. By that mountain is signified a new church from them; by the feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, is signified good both natural and spiritual with joy of heart; and by the lees, lees well refined, are signified truths from that good with the happiness therefrom.

In the same prophet:

"Jehovah shall give the rain of thy seed, with which thou shalt sow the earth, and bread of the produce of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous" (30:23).

The rain of seed signifies the multiplication of truth; and bread of produce the fructification of good. By fat and plenteous is signified good and truth with all its satisfaction and happiness.

In David:

"As yet they shall have increase in old age, they shall be fat and green, to show that Jehovah is right" (Psalm 92:14, 15).

To be fat and green signifies to be in goods and truths of doctrine.

Again:

"Jehovah shall remember all thy offerings and shall make fat thy burnt offering" (Psalm 20:3).

By offerings and burnt offering is signified worship, and by making it fat is signified that it is from the good of love.

The signification of fatness in Ezekiel 34:3; Genesis 27:39, and elsewhere is similar. Because fat and fatness signify the good of love, and because all worship, which is truly worship, must be from the good of love, therefore it was a law that all the fat in the sacrifices should be burnt upon the altar (Exodus 29:13, 22; Leviticus 1:8; 3:3-16; 4:8-35; 7:3, 4, 30, 31; 17:6; Numbers 18:17, 18); for the sacrifices and burnt offerings signified worship.

[4] Since the Jews and Israelites were only in external worship, and not at the same time in internal worship, and not therefore in any good of love, or in any good of charity and faith, they were therefore prohibited from eating fat and blood, and it was a law that if they ate these, they should be cut off (Leviticus 3:17; 7:23, 25). But to those who are in internal worship, and thence in external worship - as those will be who shall belong to the Lord's New Church - it is said, that they shall eat fat to fulness, and drink blood to drunkenness (ebrietas) (Ezekiel 39:19). Fat there signifies all the good of heaven and of the church, and blood all the truth of these. In the opposite sense the fat ones signify those who loathe good and who utterly despise and reject it (Deuteronomy 32:15; Jeremiah 5:28; 50:11; Psalm 17:10; 20:4; 68:31; 119:70; and elsewhere).

[5] Continuation.- Such, however, is not the lot of those who are continually evil, for these are in hell according to the loves of their life. There they think, and from their thought, speak, although they utter falsities; they also will, and, from their will they act, although their actions are evil. They appear, moreover to one another as men, although in the light of heaven they are of a monstrous form. It is therefore evident, why it is in accordance with a law of order relating to reformation, and called a law of Divine Providence, that a man is admitted into the truths of faith and the goods of love, only so far as he can be withheld from evils and kept in goods to the end of his life and that it is better that he should be always evil, than that he should be good and afterwards evil; for in this case he becomes profane. The Lord, who both provides and foresees all things, for this reason conceals the operations of His Providence, and to such a degree that man scarcely knows whether there is any providence at all. He permits him rather to attribute ordinary events to prudence, and contingencies to fortune, and even to ascribe many things to nature, rather than that, through any striking and manifest signs of the Divine Providence and Presence, he should plunge unreasonably into the midst of holy things in which he would not remain. The Lord also permits similar things in accordance with other laws of His Providence, namely, that man should enjoy freedom, and that in all that he does he should act according to reason, thus entirely as if from himself. For it is better that he should ascribe the operations of the Divine Providence to prudence and fortune, than that he should acknowledge them, and still live as a devil. From these facts it is evident that the laws of permission, which are numerous, proceed from the laws of Providence.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.