圣经文本

 

Ézéchiel第16章

学习

   

1 La parole de l'Eternel me fut aussi [adressée], en disant :

2 Fils d'homme, fais connaître à Jérusalem ses abominations.

3 Et dis : ainsi a dit le Seigneur l'Eternel à Jérusalem : tu as tiré ton extraction et ta naissance du pays des Cananéens; ton père était Amorrhéen, et ta mère, Héthienne.

4 Et quant à ta naissance, le jour que tu naquis ton nombril ne fut point coupé, tu ne fus point lavée dans l'eau, pour être nettoyée; tu ne fus point salée de sel, ni emmaillotée.

5 Il n'y a point eu d'œil qui ait eu pitié de toi, pour te faire aucune de ces choses, en ayant compassion de toi ; mais tu fus jetée sur le dessus d'un champ, parce qu'on avait horreur de toi le jour que tu naquis.

6 Et passant auprès de toi je te vis gisante par terre dans ton sang, et je te dis : vis dans ton sang; et je te redis [encore] : vis dans ton sang.

7 Je t'ai fait croître par millions, comme croît l'herbe d'un champ; et tu crûs et tu devins grande, tu parvins à une parfaite beauté; ton corps se forma et tu devins nubile, mais tu étais abandonnée et sans habits.

8 Et je passai auprès de toi, et je te regardai, et voici ton âge était l'âge d'être mariée : et j'étendis sur toi le pan de ma robe, et je couvris ta nudité; et je te jurai, et j'entrai en alliance avec toi, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel, et tu devins mienne.

9 Et je te lavai dans l'eau, et en t'y plongeant j'ôtai le sang de dessus toi, et je t'oignis d'huile.

10 Je te vêtis de broderie, je te chaussai [de peaux de couleur] d'hyacinthe, je te ceignis de fin lin, et je te couvris de soie.

11 Je te parai d'ornements, je mis des bracelets en tes mains, et un collier à ton cou.

12 Je mis une bague sur ton front, des pendants à tes oreilles, et une couronne de gloire sur ta tête.

13 Tu fus donc parée d'or et d'argent, et ton vêtement était de fin lin, de soie, et de broderie; tu mangeas la fleur du froment, et le miel, et l'huile; et tu devins extrêmement belle, et tu prospéras jusques à régner.

14 Et ta renommée se répandit parmi les nations à cause de ta beauté, car elle était parfaite, à cause de ma magnificence que j'avais mise sur toi, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel.

15 Mais tu t'es confiée en ta beauté, et tu t'es prostituée à cause de ta renommée, et tu t'es abandonnée à tout passant pour être à lui.

16 Et tu as pris de tes vêtements, et t'en es fait des hauts lieux de diverses couleurs, tels qu'il n'y en a point, ni n'y en aura [de semblables], et tu t'y es prostituée.

17 Et tu as pris tes bagues magnifiques, faites de mon or et de mon argent, que je t'avais donné, et tu t'en es fait des images d'un mâle, et tu as commis fornication avec elles.

18 Et tu as pris tes vêtements de broderie, et les en as couvertes : et tu as mis mon huile de senteurs et mon parfum devant elles.

19 Et mon pain que je t'avais donné, la fleur du froment, et l'huile, et le miel que je t'avais donné à manger, tu as mis cela devant elle en sacrifice de bonne odeur; il a été fait ainsi, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel.

20 Tu as aussi pris tes fils et tes filles que tu m'avais enfantés, et tu les leur as sacrifiés pour être consumés. Est-ce peu de chose, ce qui est procédé de tes adultères;

21 Que tu aies égorgé mes fils, et que tu les aies livrés pour les faire passer [par le feu], à l'honneur de ces [idoles]?

22 Et parmi toutes tes abominations et tes adultères, tu ne t'es point ressouvenue du temps de ta jeunesse, quand tu étais sans habits et toute découverte, et gisante par terre dans ton sang.

23 Et il est arrivé après toute ta malice, (Malheur, Malheur à toi! dit le Seigneur l'Eternel.)

24 Que tu t'es bâti un lieu éminent, et t'es fait des hauts lieux par toutes les places.

25 A chaque bout de chemin tu as bâti un haut lieu, et tu as rendu ta beauté abominable, et tu t'es prostituée à tout passant, et tu as multiplié tes adultères.

26 Tu t'es abandonnée aux enfants d'Egypte, tes voisins qui ont une taille avantageuse; et tu as multiplié tes adultères pour m'irriter.

27 Et voici, j'ai étendu ma main sur toi, et j'ai diminué ton état, et je t'ai abandonnée à la volonté de celles qui te haïssaient, [savoir] des filles des Philistins, lesquelles ont honte de ton train qui n'est que méchanceté.

28 Tu t'es aussi abandonnée aux enfants des Assyriens, parce que tu n'étais pas encore assouvie; et après avoir commis adultère avec eux, tu n'as point encore été assouvie.

29 Mais tu as multiplié tes adultères dans le pays de Canaan jusques en Caldée, et tu n'as point encore pour cela été assouvie.

30 O! que ton cœur [est] lâche, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel, d'avoir fait toutes ces choses-là, qui sont les actions d'une insigne prostituée.

31 De t'être bâti un lieu éminent à chaque bout de chemin, et d'avoir fait ton haut lieu dans toutes les places. Et encore n'as-tu pas fait comme les femmes débauchées, en ce que tu n'as point tenu compte du salaire.

32 Femme adultère, tu prends des étrangers au lieu de ton mari.

33 On donne un salaire à toutes les prostituées, mais toi tu as donné à tous tes adultères les présents, que ton mari t'avait fait et tu leur as fait des présents, afin que de toutes parts ils vinssent vers toi, pour se plonger avec toi dans le crime.

34 Et il t'est arrivé dans tes fornications tout le contraire de ce qui arrive aux [autres] femmes, car personne ne te recherchant pour commettre adultère tu as donné des présents, et aucun présent ne t'a été donné; tu as donc agi tout au contraire [des autres femmes de mauvaise vie].

35 C'est pourquoi, ô adultère, écoute la parole de l'Eternel :

36 Ainsi a dit le Seigneur l'Eternel : parce que ton venin s'est répandu, et que dans tes excès tu t'es abandonnée à ceux que tu aimais, et à tes abominables idoles, et que tu as mis à mort tes enfants, lesquels tu leur as donnés;

37 A cause de cela voici, je vais assembler tous tes adultères, avec lesquels tu as pris tes plaisirs, et tous ceux que tu as aimés, avec tous ceux que tu as haïs; même je les assemblerai de toutes parts contre toi, et je découvrirai ta honte à leurs yeux et ils verront ton infamie.

38 Et je te jugerai comme on juge les femmes adultères, et celles qui répandent le sang; et je te livrerai pour être mise à mort selon ma fureur et ma jalousie.

39 Je te livrerai, dis-je, entre leurs mains; et ils détruiront tes lieux éminents, et démoliront tes hauts lieux; ils te dépouilleront de tes vêtements, et emporteront tes bagues dont tu te parais, et te laisseront sans habits et toute découverte.

40 Et on fera monter contre toi un amas de gens qui t'assommeront de pierres, et qui te perceront avec leurs épées.

41 Puis ils mettront le feu à tes maisons, et feront ces exécutions sur toi en la présence de plusieurs femmes, et je te garderai bien de t'abandonner, et même tu ne donneras plus de salaires.

42 Et je satisferai ma fureur sur toi, tellement que ma jalousie se retirera de toi; et je serai en repos, et ne me courroucerai plus.

43 Parce que tu ne t'es point souvenue du temps de ta jeunesse, et que tu m'as provoqué par toutes ces choses-là; à cause de cela voici, j'ai fait tomber la peine de tes crimes sur ta tête, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel; et tu n'as pas fait cette réflexion dans toutes tes abominations.

44 Voici, tous ceux qui usent de proverbe feront un proverbe de toi, en disant : telle qu'[est] la mère, telle [est] sa fille.

45 Tu [es] la fille de ta mère, qui a dédaigné son mari et ses enfants; et tu [es] la sœur de chacune de tes sœurs, qui ont dédaigné leurs maris et leurs enfants; votre mère était Héthienne, et votre père était Amorrhéen.

46 Et ta grande sœur c'est Samarie, avec les villes de son ressort, laquelle se tient à ta gauche; et ta petite sœur qui se tient à ta droite, c'est Sodome avec les villes de son ressort.

47 Et tu n'as pas [seulement] marché dans leurs voies, et fait selon leurs abominations, comme si c'eût été fort peu de chose, mais tu t'es corrompue plus qu'elles dans toutes tes voies.

48 Je suis vivant dit le Seigneur l'Eternel, que Sodome ta sœur, elle ni les villes de son ressort, n'ont point fait comme tu as fait, toi et les villes de ton ressort.

49 Voici, ç'a été ici l'iniquité de Sodome ta sœur, l'orgueil, l'abondance de pain, et une molle oisiveté; elle a eu de quoi, elle et les villes de son ressort, mais elle n'a point assisté l'affligé, et le pauvre.

50 Elles se sont élevées, et ont commis abomination devant moi, et je les ai exterminées, comme j'ai vu [qu'il était à propos de faire].

51 Et quant à Samarie, elle n'a pas péché la moitié autant que toi; car tu as multiplié tes abominations plus qu'elles, et tu as justifié tes sœurs par toutes les abominations que tu as commises.

52 C'est pourquoi aussi porte ta confusion, toi qui as jugé chacune de tes sœurs, à cause de tes péchés, par lesquels tu as été rendue plus abominable qu'elles; elles sont plus justes que toi; c'est pourquoi aussi sois honteuse, et porte ta confusion, vu que tu as justifié tes sœurs.

53 Quand je ramènerai leurs captifs, les captifs, [dis-je], de Sodome, et des villes de son ressort, et les captifs de Samarie, et des villes de son ressort, [je ramènerai] aussi les captifs de ta captivité parmi elles;

54 Afin que tu portes ta confusion, et que tu sois confuse à cause de tout ce que tu as fait, et que tu les consoles.

55 Quand ta sœur Sodome, et les villes de son ressort, retourneront à leur état précédent ; [et] quand Samarie, et les villes de son ressort, retourneront à leur état précédent, aussi toi, et les villes de ton ressort, retournerez à votre état précédent.

56 Or ta bouche n'a point fait mention de ta sœur Sodome au jour de tes fiertés.

57 Avant que ta méchanceté fût découverte; comme elle le fut au temps de l'opprobre des filles de Syrie, et de toutes celles d'alentour, [savoir] les filles des Philistins, qui te pillèrent de tous côtés.

58 Tu portes sur toi ton énormité et tes abominations, dit l'Eternel.

59 Car ainsi a dit le Seigneur l'Eternel : je te ferai comme tu as fait, quand tu as méprisé l'exécration du serment, en violant l'alliance.

60 Mais pourtant je me souviendrai de l'alliance que j'ai traitée avec toi dans les jours de ta jeunesse, et j'établirai avec toi une alliance éternelle.

61 Et tu te souviendras de tes voies, et en seras confuse, lorsque tu recevras tes sœurs, tant tes plus grandes, que tes plus petites, et je te les donnerai pour filles; mais non pas selon ton alliance.

62 Car j'établirai mon alliance avec toi, et tu sauras que je suis l'Eternel.

63 Afin que tu te souviennes [de ta vie passée], que tu en sois honteuse, et que tu n'ouvres plus la bouche, à cause de ta confusion, après que j'aurai été apaisé envers toi, pour tout ce que tu auras fait, dit le Seigneur l'Eternel.

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Apocalypse Explained#695

学习本章节

  
/1232  
  

695. And to give the reward to thy servants the prophets and to the saints.- That this signifies heaven to those who are in truths of doctrine and in a life according to them, is evident from the signification of giving reward, as denoting salvation, consequently heaven; from the signification of his servants the prophets, as denoting those who are in truths of doctrine, for those are called servants of the Lord who are in truths, because truths serve to produce, confirm, and preserve good, and whatever serves good, serves the Lord, for all good is from the Lord, and they are called prophets who teach doctrine, therefore in an abstract sense, they signify doctrine (that those are called servants of God who are in truths, may be seen above, n. 6, 409; and prophets, those who teach doctrine, and in an abstract sense doctrines, n. 624); and from the signification of saints, as denoting those who are in the truths of doctrine from the Word, and in a life according them (concerning which see above n. 204). It is therefore evident, that to give the reward to his servants the prophets, and to the saints, signifies heaven to those who are in truths of doctrine and in a life according to them.

[2] That reward signifies salvation, and thus heaven, is evident without enlargement and explanation. But because few know what is properly meant by reward, it shall be stated. Reward properly means that delight, blessedness, and happiness which is contained in the love or affection for good and truth; this love or affection has in itself all that joy of heart which is called heavenly joy, and also heaven. The reason is, that the Lord is in this love or affection, and with the Lord also heaven. It is this joy, therefore, or this delight, blessedness, and happiness, that is properly meant by the reward which those will receive who do good and speak truth from love and affection for good and truth, thus from the Lord, and not in any way from themselves; and as they do this from the Lord, and not from themselves, therefore the reward is not of merit but of grace. From these things it is evident, that he who knows what heavenly joy is, may know also what reward is. What heavenly joy is in its essence may be seen in Heaven and Hell 395-414). This therefore is the signification of the reward which is given to those who are in truths from good; but the reward that those have who are in falsities from evil is joy or delight, and good fortune and happiness, in the world, but hell after their departure out of the world.

[3] From these few things the signification of reward in the following passages is clear.

In Isaiah:

"Behold the Lord Jehovih cometh in might; behold his reward is with him, and his recompense before him" (40:10).

In the same:

"Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh, and his recompense before him" (62:11).

And in the Apocalypse:

"Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every one as his work shall be" (22:12).

Behold the Lord Jehovih cometh in might, and behold thy salvation cometh, and behold he cometh quickly, signify the first and second coming of the Lord. His reward is with him, signifies heaven, and all things pertaining to it, as above, for where the Lord is, there is heaven, heaven not being heaven from the angels there, but from the Lord with the angels. That they will receive heaven according to the love and affection for good and truth from the Lord, is meant by, his recompense before him, and by giving to every one as his work shall be. The work for which heaven shall be given as a reward, means nothing else than work from the love or affection for good and truth, for every work in man must spring out of that from which heaven exists. For a work derives its all from love or affection, just as an effect derives its all from the efficient cause, therefore as is the love or affection, so is the work. It is consequently evident what is meant by the work according to which it shall be given to every one, and what by recompense.

[4] Similarly in Isaiah:

"I Jehovah, who love judgment, will give the reward of their work in truth, and will make with them a covenant of eternity" (61:8).

The judgment which Jehovah loves signifies truth in faith, affection, and act, for man has judgment from truth, both when he thinks and desires truth, and when he speaks truth and acts according to it. And because this is signified by judgment, therefore it is said, "I will give the reward of their work in truth," that is, heaven according to faith in and affection for truth in act. And as from this there is conjunction with the Lord, from whom reward comes, therefore it is also said, "I will make with them a covenant of eternity"; for covenant, in the Word, signifies conjunction by love, and a covenant of eternity signifies conjunction by the love of good and truth, for this love being of the Lord Himself because it proceeds from Him, is conjunctive.

[5] That to love good and truth for the sake of good and truth is reward, because the Lord and heaven are in that love, is also evident from the following passages.

In Matthew:

"Do not ye your alms before men, to be seen of them, for otherwise ye have no reward of your Father, who is in the heavens. When thou doest alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men; verily I say to you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret; then thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee openly. And if thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men; verily I say to you, they have their reward; but thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father, who is in secret; then thy Father who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (6:1-6).

By alms, in the most general sense, is signified all the good which a man desires and does, and by praying, in the same sense, is signified all the truth which a man thinks and speaks. Those who do these two things in order to be seen, that is, to make a display, do good and speak truth for the sake of themselves and ofthe world, that is, for the sake of glory, which is the delight of self love, and this they receive from the world. Because delight in glory is the reward of such persons, it is said that they have their reward; but this delight in glory, which in the world seems to them like heaven, is changed into hell after their departure out of the world. But those who do good and speak truth, not for the sake of themselves and of the world, but for the sake of good itself and truth itself, are meant by those who do alms in secret, and who pray in secret, for these act, and pray from love or affection, thus from the Lord. This therefore is to love good and truth for the sake of good and truth; of these therefore it is said, that their Father in the heavens will reward them openly. Thus reward is to be in goods and truths from love or affection, which is the same thing as to be in them from the Lord, since in these is heaven together with all the happiness and blessedness of heaven.

[6] In Luke:

"When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not the rich, lest haply they should call thee in return, and a recompense be made thee, but call the poor, then shalt thou be blessed, for they have not wherewith to recompense thee; for it shall be recompensed thee in the resurrection" of the dead (14:12-14).

To make a dinner and a supper, and to call them, signifies the same as giving to eat and drink, or giving bread and wine, namely, to do good to the neighbour, and to teach truth, and thus to be associated in love. Those therefore who do this with a view to be recompensed, do it not for the sake of good and truth, thus not from the Lord, but for the sake of themselves and the world, and thus from hell; while those who do this, not for the purpose of being recompensed, do it for its own sake, namely, for the sake of good and truth; and those who act for the sake of these act from them, thus from the Lord, who is the source of these with man. The heavenly blessedness which is in and thus from those deeds is reward, and is meant by, it shall be recompensed thee in the resurrection of the dead.

[7] In the same:

"Rather love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; then shall your reward be much, and ye shall be sons of the Most High" (6:35).

The signification of these words is similar to that above, namely, that good is not to be done for the sake of recompense, that is, for the sake of self and the world, thus not for the sake of reputation, glory, honour, and gain, but for the sake of the Lord, that is for the sake of good itself and truth itself which they have from the Lord, and in which therefore the Lord is. To love enemies and do good to them, means here in the nearest sense, to love the Gentiles and do good to them, and this by teaching them truth and leading them to good by means of it; for the Jewish nation called their own people brethren and friends, but they called the Gentiles foes and enemies. To lend signifies to communicate the goods and truths of doctrine from the Word; hoping for nothing again, signifies, not for the sake of any thing of self and of the world, but for the sake of good and truth. Then shall your reward be much, signifies that then heaven with its happiness and delights shall be theirs; and ye shall be sons of the Most High, signifies because they do these things not from themselves but from the Lord. For he who does good and teaches truth from the Lord is His son, but not he who does good from self; and this is what every one does who looks to honour and gain as the end of his actions.

[8] In Matthew:

"He that receiveth a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward; he that receiveth a just man, in the name of a just man, shall receive a just man's reward. Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a drink of cold [water] only, in the name of a disciple, he shall not lose his reward" (10:41, 42).

How these words of the Lord are to be understood, no one can see except from their internal or spiritual sense; for who can know what is meant by receiving a prophet's reward, and a just man's reward, and by receiving a prophet and a just man in the name of a prophet and of a just man? also what is meant by the reward which he shall receive who shall give to drink unto one of the little ones a drink of cold [water] only, in the name of a disciple? Without the internal spiritual sense, who can see that these words mean that every one will receive heaven and the joy thereof according to his affection for truth and good, and according to obedience?

[9] That this is the meaning becomes evident, when it is seen that prophet means the truth of doctrine, just man, the good of love, and disciple, the truth and good of the Word and of the church, and that in their name means for the sake of these, and according to their quality in those who do and teach them; also that reward means heaven, as said above, namely, that heaven is with every one in the measure of his affection for truth and good, and according to its quantity and quality. For all things of heaven are inscribed on these affections, since no one can possess these affections except from the Lord, for it is the Divine proceeding from the Lord, in which and from which heaven is.

[10] To give to drink a drink of cold [water] only unto one of the little ones, in the name of a disciple, means to do good and teach truth from obedience, for water signifies truth in affection, and cold water, truth in obedience, for obedience alone is a natural and not a spiritual affection, and is therefore comparatively cold; and a disciple in whose name or for whose sake it is given to drink, signifies the truth and good of the Word and of the church. That a prophet signifies the truth of doctrine, may be seen above (n. 624); that a just man signifies the good of love (n. 204); that a disciple signifies the truth and good of the Word and of the church (n. 100, 122); and that name signifies the quality of a thing and state (n. 102, 135, 148, 676).

[11] In Mark:

"Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward" (9:41).

These words also mean that those shall receive the delight of heaven who from affection hear, receive, and teach the truth, because truth and the affection for it are from the Lord, thus for the Lord's sake and consequently also for the truth's sake, since because ye are Christ's signifies for the sake of Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord. That Christ is the Lord as to Divine Truth, and thus Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, may be seen above (n. 684, 685).

[12] In Zechariah:

"The foundation of the house of Jehovah Zebaoth was laid, that the temple might be built; for before these days there was no reward of man, or reward of beast, and to him that went out and to him that came in no peace from the enemy. Now the seed of peace; the vine shall give fruit, and the earth shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew" (8:9, 10, 12).

These things are spoken of a new church to be established by the Lord at the devastation of the old. The new church which shall be established is signified by the house of Jehovah Zebaoth whose foundation was laid, and by the temple which shall be built; the house of Jehovah signifies the church as to good, and the temple, the church as to truth, as may be seen above (n. 220). Before these days there was no reward of man, or reward of beast, signifies that before this no one had any spiritual affection for truth and good, or any natural affection for truth and good, man signifying spiritual affection for truth, beast, natural affection for good, and reward heaven, which those possess who are in affections for truth and good. That man signifies spiritual affection for truth, and consequent intelligence, may be seen above (n. 280, 546, 547); and that beast signifies natural affection (n. 650).

[13] To him that went out and to him that came in, no peace from the enemy, signifies that heretofore they had been infested by hell in every state of life, going out and coming in signifying the state of life from beginning to end, no peace, infestation by evils and falsities therefrom, while enemy signifies hell, the source of evils and falsities. The seed of peace signifies the truth of heaven and of the church, which is from the Lord; this is called the seed of peace, because it defends against the hells, and gives security. The vine shall give its fruit, and the earth its produce, signifies that spiritual affection for truth shall bring forth the good of charity, and natural affection for good and truth shall, bring forth the works of charity, the vine signifying the church as to the spiritual affection for truth, the earth, the church as to the natural affection for truth, fruit, the good of charity, and produce, the works of that good. The heavens shall give dew signifies that these things are from influx through heaven from the Lord.

[14] In John:

"Lift up your eyes, and behold the fields that they are white already for harvest, and he that reapeth receiveth reward and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (4:35, 36).

These things also are said of a new church from the Lord. That it is at hand is signified by the fields being white already for harvest; those of that church who are in the spiritual affection for truth, and thus in heaven, are meant by, he that reapeth receiveth reward, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life; and the Lord Himself, from whom the affection for truth, and heaven are derived, is meant by he that soweth may rejoice together [with him that reapeth.]

[15] In Jeremiah:

"Rachel mourning for her sons, refused to be comforted for her sons, because they were not. But refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, for there is reward for thy labour; for they shall return from the land of the enemy, and there is hope for thy latter end, for thy sons shall return to their own border" (31:15-17; Matthew 2:18).

That these words refer to the infant boys that were put to death in Bethlehem by command of Herod is evident from the passage cited in Matthew, but what this signified has not yet been known; the signification is this, that when the Lord came into the world, there was no spiritual truth remaining. For Rachel represented the internal spiritual church, and Leah, the external natural church, Bethlehem the Spiritual, and the boys who were put to death, truth from that source. That there was no spiritual truth any longer remaining is signified by Rachel mourning for her sons, and refusing to be comforted for her sons, because, they were not.

[16] That henceforth there will be no grief on that account, because the Lord has been born, from whom there will be a new church, which will be in truths from spiritual affection, is signified by, refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, for there is reward for thy labour, His reward signifying heaven with those who will be of that church from a spiritual affection for truth, and labour signifying the Lord's combat against the hells, and the subjugation of them, in order that a new church might be established. That a new church will be established in the place of the one that perished, is signified by they shall return from the land of the enemy, and there is hope for thy latter end, also by, thy sons shall return to their own border; to return from the land of the enemy signifies to be brought out of hell, hope for thy latter end, signifies the end of the former church and the beginning of the new, while the sons returning to the border signifies that spiritual truths will exist with those who will be of that new church.

[17] Again in Isaiah:

"I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength in emptiness and vanity; yet surely my judgment is with Jehovah and the reward of my work with my God" (49:4).

This also is said of a new church to be established by the Lord. That it could not be established with the Jewish nation, because truths could not be received by that nation from any spiritual affection, is meant by, I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength in emptiness and vanity. That still a spiritual church is being provided by the Lord, namely, among the nations, is signified by, my judgment is with Jehovah, and the reward of my work is with my God; reward here signifies the church which is in the spiritual affection for truth; labour and work signify the combat of the Lord against the hells, and their subjugation by means of which He restored the equilibrium between heaven and hell, in which man is able to receive truth, and become spiritual. Concerning this equilibrium see Heaven and Hell 589-603), and the Last Judgment 33, 34, 73, 74).

[18] In David:

"Lo, sons are a heritage of Jehovah, a reward the fruit of the womb; as darts in the hand of the mighty, so are sons of youth; happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, when they shall speak with enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:3-5).

What sons, the fruit of the womb, darts, the quiver, and enemies in the gate signify, may be seen above (n. 357:10), where it is also shown that reward signifies the happiness which those enjoy who are in heaven.

[19] In the Evangelists:

"Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil word against you falsely," for Christ's sake; "rejoice and be exceeding glad, for your reward is great in the heavens; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11, 12; Luke 6:22, 23).

This is said of those who fight and conquer in temptations induced by evils, thus by hell; temptations are signified by reproaching, persecuting, and saying an evil word falsely for Christ's sake, for temptations are assaults upon and infestations of truth and good by falsities and evils. "Christ" means Divine Truth from the Lord, which is assaulted, and on account of which they are infested. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, because great is your reward in the heavens, signifies heaven and its joy with those who are in the spiritual affection for truth, for such alone fight and conquer, because the Lord is in that affection, and resists and conquers for man in the combats of temptations. For so persecuted they the prophets who were before you, signifies that formerly they similarly assaulted the truths of doctrine with those who were in the spiritual affection for truth, for prophets, in an impersonal sense, signify truths from the Word, or from the Lord.

From what has been now cited from the Word, it is evident that reward signifies heaven in respect to its happiness, blessedness, and delight, which those have who are in the spiritual affection for truth and good, and that the reward is that affection itself; for whether you say that affection, or heaven, it amounts to the same thing, since heaven is in and from that affection.

[20] But those who speak truth and do good, not from a spiritual but only from a natural affection, and who continually think of heaven as a reward, were represented in the Israelitish church by hirelings, concerning whom there were many statutes in that church. As that the hirelings should not eat of the passover (Exodus 12:43, 45); that they should not eat of the holy things (Leviticus 22:10), that the wages of a hireling should not abide with any one all night until the morning (Leviticus 19:13); they should not oppress a "hireling that is poor and needy, of thy brethren, or of the stranger who is in thy land, and in thy gates; in his day thou shalt give him his hire, so that the sun may not go down upon it, lest he cry against thee unto Jehovah and it be in thee a sin" (24:14, 15).

In Malachi:

I will "be against the oppressors of the hireling in his wages, of the widow and of the fatherless, and against them that turn aside the stranger and fear not me" (3:5); and elsewhere.

Hirelings were not to eat of the passover, or of things sanctified, because they represented those who are natural and not spiritual, and the spiritual are of the church, but not the natural. For to look to heaven as a reward for the goods which they do, is natural, since the Natural considers good to be from itself, and thus heaven to be the reward thereof, and this makes good meritorious. But it is otherwise with the Spiritual, which acknowledges that good is not from itself, but from the Lord, and thus that heaven is from mercy, and not from any merit. But because [those signified by hirelings] nevertheless do good, although not from a spiritual but a natural affection, which is obedience, and at the same time think of heaven as a reward, therefore they are mentioned among the needy, the poor, the strangers, the fatherless, and the widows, because they are in a state of spiritual poverty. For genuine truths are to them obscure, because light from heaven does not flow in through the spiritual man into their natural; this is why they are classed among those mentioned above, and why it was commanded that their reward should be given them before the going down of the sun. Such persons are also in the lowest parts of the heavens, where they are in a state of servitude, and are there rewarded according to their works. But more may be seen upon these things in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 150-158).

[21] But hirelings who do not think of reward in heaven, but of reward in the world, that is who do good for the sake of gain, whether it be honours or wealth, consequently from the love of honours or wealth, that is for the sake of self and of the world, are infernal-natural. These hirelings are meant in John:

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd layeth down his soul for the sheep, but the hireling seeth the wolf and forsaketh the sheep, and fleeth, because he is a hireling" (10:11-13),

and in Jeremiah:

"Egypt is a very beautiful heifer; destruction cometh from the north, her hirelings are like fatted calves, for they also have turned themselves back, they flee together, they stood not, because the day of their destruction is come upon them" (46:20, 21);

and also elsewhere, as in Isaiah (16:14; 21:16).

[22] As reward, in the Word, signifies heaven, which those have who are in the spiritual love of truth and good, so reward, in the opposite sense, signifies hell, which those have who are in the love of falsity and evil; this is the signification of reward in David:

"He shall put on cursing as his garment, and it hath entered into the midst of him as waters, and as oil between his bones; this is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, and of them that speak evil against my soul" (Psalm 109:18, 20).

These words, in the spiritual sense, are to be understood of the Lord; for where David speaks of himself in the Psalms, in that sense the Lord is meant, David as a king representing the Lord, and thus signifying Him as to the spiritual Divine, which is the royalty of the Lord. The reward of the Lord's adversaries and of them that speak evil against His soul, is described as hell from the love of falsity and evil, as follows, "he shall put on cursing as his garment, and it hath entered into the midst of him as waters, and as oil between his bones." Hell which is received in externals and in internals is described by those two expressions, cursing put on as a garment describing the hell that is received in externals, and cursing entering into the midst of him as waters, and as oil between his bones describing the hell that is received in internals. It is said as waters and as oil, because waters signify falsities from faith, and oil, evils from love, therefore the two expressions mean the love or affection for falsity and evil, which is hell, as is evident also from this fact, that love imbibes everything which agrees with it, just as a sponge imbibes water and oil; for the love of evil is nourished upon falsities, and the love of falsity is nourished upon evils; and love being such, it is therefore said that cursing enters into the midst of him as waters, and as oil between his bones.

[23] Because reward, in the opposite sense, signifies hell as to the affection for falsity from evil, therefore the falsification of truth is everywhere in the Word called the reward of whoredom.

As in Hosea:

"Rejoice not, O Israel, to exultation as the nations, because thou hast committed whoredom under God; thou hast loved the reward of whoredom upon every corn-floor; the floor and the press shall not feed them [and the new wine (mustum) shall deceive her]" (9:1, 2).

To commit whoredom under God signifies to falsify the truths of the Word, and to apply the holy things of the church to idolatries. To love the reward of whoredom, signifies delight in falsifying and in falsity, and also in idolatry, from infernal love. Upon every corn-floor, signifies all things of the Word and of doctrine from the Word, for corn, from which bread is made, signifies every thing that spiritually nourishes, while the floor signifies where it is collected together, consequently the Word. The floor and the press shall not feed them, signifies not to draw from the Word the good things of charity and of love, that is, those things which nourish the soul, for the floor there denotes the Word as to the goods of charity, and the press, as to the goods of love, the press here meaning oil, for which there were presses as well as for wine. And the new wine shall deceive her, signifies that neither shall there be any truth of good, for new wine (mustum), just as wine (vinum), signifies truth from the good of charity and love.

[24] In Micah:

"All the graven images" of Samaria "shall be beaten to pieces, and all the rewards of her whoredom shall be burned in the fire, and I will lay waste all their idols, for she hath gathered them from the reward of whoredom, therefore to the reward of whoredom shall they return; therefore I will lament and howl, I will go stripped and naked" (1:7, 8).

Samaria means the spiritual church as to the truths of doctrine, here, as to falsities of doctrine; for by their graven images are signified things falsified, which are from [their] own intelligence; the rewards of her whoredom which shall be burned in the fire signify falsifications of truth from the love of falsity from evil, and thence from infernal delight; and as that love is from hell, it is said, that they shall be burned in the fire, fire signifying love in both senses. And I will lay waste all their idols, signifies that falsities must be destroyed; for from the reward of whoredom she gathered them signifies from the love of falsity which is from evil, and from consequent infernal delight; therefore to the reward of whoredom shall they return, signifies that all things of that church will be truths falsified, because such is their source. Therefore I will lament and howl signifies the grief of the angels of heaven and of the men of the church in whom the church is, and thus with whom the Lord is. I will go stripped and naked signifies mourning on account of the vastation of all truth and good. That graven images and idols signify doctrinals from one's own intelligence favouring the loves of self and of the world, and the principles derived therefrom, consequently the falsities of doctrine, of religion, and of worship, may be seen above (n. 587, 654).

[25] In Ezekiel:

"Thou hast built thy height at the head of every way, and thy lofty place in every street; neither hast thou been as a harlot to glory in reward; the adulterous woman received strangers instead of her husband; they give reward to all harlots, but thou hast given thy rewards to all thy lovers, and hast bribed them, that they might come unto thee from all sides in thy whoredoms. Thus it was contrary in thee from women in thy whoredoms, that they went not after thee to commit whoredom in giving a reward, and no reward was given thee, therefore thou hast been contrary" (Ezekiel 16:31-44).

This chapter treats of the abominations of Jerusalem, that is, of those things of the Jewish church that are to be abhorred, because they not only perverted and adulterated the goods of the Word, but also adopted falsities of religion and of worship from idolatrous nations, and by that means adulterated the truths and goods of the Word, and confirmed these adulterations. The signification of building a height at the head of every way, and making a lofty place in every street, may be seen above (n. 652:17). That adulteries and whoredoms, in the Word signify adulterations and falsifications of the truth and good of the church, may be seen above (n. 141, 511). Not to have been as a harlot to glory in reward signifies not to have so falsified the truths of the Word from a delight of affection; the adulterous woman received strangers instead of her husband signifies the perversion of the truths and goods of the Word by the falsities of other nations. They give reward to all harlots, but thou hast given thy rewards to all thy lovers, and hast bribed them, signifies that they loved the falsities of religion and of worship of other nations, a reward or gift of whoredom denotes the love of falsifying by means of the falsities of others; that they might come to thee from all sides in thy whoredoms signifies that falsities were searched for in every direction, by means of which they falsified truth. Thus it was contrary in thee from women in their whoredoms, that they went not after thee to commit whoredom in giving a reward, and no reward was given thee, therefore thou hast been contrary, signifies the delight of the love and affection for falsifying the truths of their church by means of the falsities of other religions, and of confirming those falsifications; the delight of love and affection towards the falsities of other religions is here meant by reward or a gift of whoredom.

[26] From what has now been adduced, it is evident what is spiritually meant by reward in both senses; for that which affects with delight and joy is spiritual reward. For example there are riches, possessions, honours, and gifts, with which a man is rewarded for well-doing; these things are not reward spiritually understood, but the delights and joys which proceed from them. Much more is this the case with the heavenly reward, that the man of the church who lives well will receive, which is the spiritual affection for truth, and intelligence and wisdom therefrom, which is the source of blessedness and happiness. Moreover, in heaven there are opulence and magnificence which proceed from heavenly love, as its correspondent; yet in heaven opulence and magnificence are not regarded as reward, but the Spiritual from which they are. This also is meant by the price of a work, and by the reward, which is in the Lord and from the Lord (Isaiah 40:10; 61:8; 62:11; Luke 6:35; 14:12-14; and elsewhere).

  
/1232  
  

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