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Genesis 18

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1 At napakita ang Panginoon sa kaniya sa mga punong encina ni Mamre, habang siya'y nakaupo sa pintuan ng tolda, ng kainitan ng araw.

2 At itiningin ang kaniyang mga mata at nagmalas, at, narito't tatlong lalake ay nakatayo sa tabi niya: at pagkakita niya sa kanila, ay tinakbo niya upang sila'y salubungin mula sa pintuan ng tolda, at yumukod siya sa lupa.

3 At nagsabi, Panginoon ko, kung ngayo'y nakasumpong ako ng biyaya sa iyong paningin, ay ipinamamanhik ko sa iyo, na huwag mong lagpasan ang iyong lingkod.

4 Itulot mong dalhan kayo rito ng kaunting tubig, at maghugas kayo ng inyong mga paa, at mangagpahinga kayo sa lilim ng kahoy.

5 At magdadala ako ng isang subong tinapay at inyong palakasin ang inyong puso; at pagkatapos ay magsisipagtuloy kayo: yamang kayo'y naparito sa inyong lingkod, At nagsipagsabi, Mangyari ang ayon sa iyong sinabi.

6 At si Abraham ay nagmadaling napasa tolda ni Sara, at sinabi, Maghanda ka agad ng tatlong takal ng mainam na harina, iyong tapayin at gawin mong mga munting tinapay.

7 At tumakbo si Abraham sa bakahan at nagdala ng isang bata at mabuting guya, at ibinigay sa alipin; at siya'y nagmadali, upang lutuin.

8 At siya'y kumuha ng mantekilla, at ng gatas, at ng guyang niluto niya, at inihain sa harapan nila; at siya'y tumayo sa siping nila sa lilim ng punong kahoy; at sila'y nagsikain.

9 At sinabi nila sa kaniya, Saan naroon si Sara na iyong asawa? At sinabi niya Narito, nasa tolda.

10 At sinabi niya, Walang salang di ako babalik sa iyo sa ganitong panahon ng taong darating; at narito't si Sara na iyong asawa ay magkakaanak ng isang lalake. At narinig ni Sara sa pintuan ng tolda, na nasa likod niya.

11 Si Abraham at si Sara nga'y matatanda na, at lipas na sa panahon; at tinigilan na si Sara ng kaugalian ng mga babae.

12 At nagtawa si Sara sa kaniyang sarili, na sinasabi, Pagkatapos na ako'y tumanda ay magtatamo ako ng kaligayahan, at matanda na rin pati ng panginoon ko?

13 At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Abraham, Bakit tumawa si Sara, na sinasabi, Tunay kayang ako'y manganganak, na matanda na ako?

14 May anomang bagay kayang napakahirap sa Panginoon? Sa tadhanang panahon ay babalik ako sa iyo, sa taong darating, at si Sara ay magkakaanak ng isang lalake.

15 Nang magkagayo'y nagkaila si Sara, na sinasabi, Hindi ako tumawa, sapagka't siya'y natakot. Nguni't sinabi niya, Hindi gayon; kundi ikaw ay tumawa.

16 At nangagtindig doon ang mga lalake, at nangagsitingin sa dakong Sodoma; at sinamahan sila ni Abraham, upang ihatid sila sa daan.

17 At sinabi ng Panginoon, Ililihim ko ba kay Abraham ang aking gagawin;

18 Dangang si Abraham ay tunay na magiging isang bansang malaki at matibay, at pagpapalain sa kaniya ang lahat ng bansa sa lupa?

19 Sapagka't siya'y aking kinilala, upang siya'y magutos sa kaniyang mga anak at sa kaniyang sangbahayan pagkamatay niya, na maingatan nila ang daan ng Panginoon, na gumawa ng kabanalan, at kahatulan; upang padatnin ng Panginoon, kay Abraham ang kaniyang ipinangako tungkol sa kaniya.

20 At sinabi ng Panginoon, Sapagka't ang sigaw ng Sodoma at Gomorra ay malakas, at sapagka't ang kasalanan nila ay napakalubha;

21 Ay bababa ako ngayon at titingnan ko kung ginawa nga ang ayon sa sigaw na dumarating hanggang sa akin; at kung hindi ay aking malalaman.

22 At ang mga lalake ay nagsilayo roon at nagsitungo sa Sodoma datapuwa't si Abraham ay nakatayo pa sa harapan ng Panginoon.

23 At lumapit si Abraham, at nagsabi, Ang mga banal ba ay iyong lilipuling kasama ng mga masama?

24 Kung sakaling may limang pung banal sa loob ng bayan: lilipulin mo ba, at di mo patatawarin ang dakong yaon, alangalang sa limang pung banal na nasa loob niyaon?

25 Malayo nawa sa iyo ang paggawa ng ganito, na ang banal ay iyong pataying kasama ng masama, anopa't ang banal ay mapara sa masama; malayo nawa ito sa iyo: di ba gagawa ng matuwid ang Hukom ng buong lupa?

26 At sinabi ng Panginoon, Kung makasumpong ako sa Sodoma ng limang pung banal sa loob ng bayan, patatawarin ko ang buong dakong yaon, alangalang sa kanila.

27 At sumagot si Abraham, at nagsabi, Narito, ngayo'y nangahas akong magsalita sa Panginoon, akong alabok at abo lamang:

28 Kung sakaling magkukulang ng lima sa limang pung banal: lilipulin mo ba, dahil sa limang kulang, ang buong bayan? At sinabi niya, Hindi ko lilipulin kung makasumpong ako roon ng apat na pu't lima.

29 At siya'y muling nagsalita pa sa kaniya, at nagsabi, Marahil ay may masusumpungang apat na pu. At sinabi niya, Hindi ko gagawin, alangalang sa apat na pu.

30 At sinabi niya, Oh huwag magalit ang Panginoon, at ako'y magsasalita: kung sakaling may masusumpungan doong tatlong pu. At sinabi niya, Hindi ko gagawin kung makakasumpong ako roon ng tatlong pu.

31 At kaniyang sinabi, Narito ngayon, ako'y nangahas na magsalita sa Panginoon: kung sakaling may masusumpungan doong dalawang pu. At sinabi niya, Hindi ko lilipulin, alangalang sa dalawang pu.

32 At sinabi niya, Oh huwag magalit ang Panginoon at magsasalita na lamang akong minsan: kung sakaling may masusumpungan doong sangpu: at sinabi niya, Hindi ko lilipulin, alangalang sa sangpu.

33 At ang Panginoon ay nagpatuloy, pagkatapos na makipagusap kay Abraham: at si Abraham ay nagbalik sa kaniyang dako.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2219

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2219. They looked toward the faces of Sodom. That this signifies the state of the human race, is evident from the signification of “looking to the faces,” here, to the faces of Sodom. By “faces” are signified all man’s interiors, both good and evil, for the reason that they shine forth from the face (as shown in Part First,n. 358). Here therefore “faces,” because predicated of Sodom, signify interior evils, which are those of the love of self, and which evils in general are meant by “Sodom,” as will be evident from what now follows. That the worst evils of all originate from the love of self, is because the love of self is destructive of human society (as shown above, n. 2045), and of heavenly society (n. 2057); and since the perversity of the human race is thence known, by the “faces of Sodom” is here signified the state of the human race.

[2] Moreover it has been shown in Part First, in various places, what the nature of the love of self is, namely, that it is diametrically contrary to the order into which man was created. Man is distinguished above beasts by having a rational given him, to the end that everyone may will well and do well to others, as in general so in particular. This is the order into which man has been created; consequently it is love to God and love toward the neighbor that should be man’s life, and by which he should be distinguished from brute animals. This is also the order of heaven, in which it was intended man should be while he lives in the world; thus in the Lord’s kingdom; and into this kingdom he would pass when he had put off the body that had been of service to him upon the earth, and there he would rise into a state continually advancing in heavenly perfection.

[3] But the love of self is the primary and indeed the only thing that destroys all this; and not so much so the love of the world, for this is indeed opposite to the spiritual things of faith, but the love of self is diametrically opposite to the celestial things of love; for he who loves himself loves no others, but endeavors to destroy all persons whatever that do not pay reverence to him; nor does he will well and do well to anyone, except to him who is a part of himself, or can be captivated so as to be a part of himself, like something inoculated as it were with his cupidities and phantasies. Hence it is evident that from the love of self there gush forth all hatreds, all revenges and cruelties, as also all infamous simulations and deceits, and thus all heinous things against the order of human society and against the order of heavenly society.

[4] Nay, so heinous is the love of self, that when its bonds are relaxed, that is, when opportunity of free range is given it, even with those who are in the lowest condition, it so rushes on, that it not only wills to exercise dominion over neighbors and those near at hand, but also over the universe, and even over the Supreme Divine Itself. Of this the man is indeed ignorant, because he is kept in bonds not well known to him, but insofar as these bonds are slackened (as before said), so far he rushes on; and this it has been given me to know from much experience in the other life. As these things lie hidden in the love of self, they who are in the love of self, and are not endowed with the bonds of conscience, above all others hold the Lord in hatred, consequently all the truths of faith, for these are the very laws of order in the Lord’s kingdom, and these they reject so as to abominate them, which also shows itself openly in the other life. This love is also the “serpent’s head,” which the “Seed of the woman” (that is, the Lord) “treads down” (concerning which see Part First,n. 257).

[5] But the love of self is not always that which appears in the outward form as pride and haughtiness, for sometimes such persons are able to hold the neighbor in charity, for with some such an external is born, and with some it is contracted in early life, but is afterwards subjugated, the external still remaining. But those are in the love of self who despise others and make them of no account in comparison with themselves, and who care nothing for the common good, unless it is for them, and they themselves, as it were, are it, especially those who hate all by whom they are not favored and served, persecuting them, and so far as they are able depriving them of their possessions, honor, reputation, and even life. Let those who breathe such things in intention know that they are preeminently in the love of self.

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

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