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Deuteronomio第32章

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1 Makinig kayo, mga langit, at ako'y magsasalita, At pakinggan ng lupa ang mga salita ng aking bibig.

2 Ang aking aral ay papatak na parang ulan; Ang aking salita ay bababa na parang hamog; Gaya ng ambon sa malambot na damo, At gaya ng mahinang ambon sa gugulayin:

3 Sapagka't aking ihahayag ang pangalan ng Panginoon: Dakilain ninyo ang ating Dios.

4 Siya ang Bato, ang kaniyang gawa ay sakdal; Sapagka't lahat niyang daan ay kahatulan: Isang Dios na tapat at walang kasamaan, Matuwid at banal siya.

5 Sila'y nagpakasama, sila'y hindi kaniyang mga anak, itong kanilang kapintasan; Mga tampalasan at likong lahi.

6 Ganyan ba ninyo ginaganti ang Panginoon, O mangmang na bayan at hindi pantas? Hindi ba siya ang iyong ama na tumangkilik sa iyo? Kaniyang nilalang ka, at itinatag ka.

7 Alalahanin mo ang mga araw ng una, Isipin mo ang mga taon ng lahi't lahi: Itanong mo sa iyong ama at kaniyang ibabalita sa iyo; Sa iyong mga matanda, at kanilang sasaysayin sa iyo.

8 Nang ibigay ng Kataastaasan sa mga bansa ang kanilang mana, Nang kaniyang ihiwalay ang mga anak ng tao, Kaniyang inilagay ang mga hangganan ng mga bayan Ayon sa bilang ng mga anak ni Israel.

9 Sapagka't ang bahagi ng Panginoon ay ang kaniyang bayan; Si Jacob ang bahaging mana niya.

10 Kaniyang nasumpungan sa isang ilang sa lupain, At sa kapanglawan ng isang umuungal na ilang; Kaniyang kinanlungan sa palibot, kaniyang nilingap, Kaniyang iningatang parang salamin ng kaniyang mata:

11 Parang aguila na kumikilos ng kaniyang pugad, Na yumuyungyong sa kaniyang mga inakay, Kaniyang ibinubuka ang kaniyang mga pakpak, kaniyang kinukuha, Kaniyang dinadala sa ibabaw ng kaniyang mga pakpak:

12 Ang Panginoon na magisa ang pumatnubay sa kaniya, At walang ibang dios na kasama siya.

13 Ipinaari sa kaniya ang matataas na dako ng lupa, At siya'y kumain ng tubo sa bukid; At kaniyang pinahitit ng pulot na mula sa bato, At ng langis na mula sa batong pinkian;

14 Ng mantika ng baka, at gatas ng tupa, Na may taba ng mga kordero, At ng mga tupang lalake sa Basan, at mga kambing, Na may taba ng mga butil ng trigo; At sa katas ng ubas ay uminom ka ng alak.

15 Nguni't tumaba si Jeshurun, at tumutol: Ikaw ay tumataba, ikaw ay lumalapad, ikaw ay naging makinis: Nang magkagayo'y kaniyang pinabayaan ang Dios na lumalang sa kaniya, At niwalang kabuluhan ang Bato na kaniyang kaligtasan.

16 Siya'y kinilos nila sa paninibugho sa ibang mga dios, Sa pamamagitan ng mga karumaldumal, minungkahi nila siya sa kagalitan.

17 Kanilang inihain sa mga demonio, na hindi Dios, Sa mga dios na hindi nila nakilala, Sa mga bagong dios, na kalilitaw pa lamang, Na hindi kinatakutan ng inyong mga magulang.

18 Sa Batong nanganak sa iyo, ay nagwalang bahala ka, At iyong kinalimutan ang Dios na lumalang sa iyo.

19 At nakita ng Panginoon, at kinayamutan sila, Dahil sa pamumungkahi ng kaniyang mga anak na lalake at babae.

20 At kaniyang sinabi, Aking ikukubli ang aking mukha sa kanila, Aking titingnan kung anong mangyayari sa kanilang wakas; Sapagka't sila'y isang napakasamang lahi, Na mga anak na walang pagtatapat.

21 Kinilos nila ako sa paninibugho doon sa hindi Dios; Kanilang minungkahi ako sa galit sa kanilang mga walang kabuluhan: At akin silang kikilusin sa paninibugho sa mga hindi bayan: Aking ipamumungkahi sila sa galit, sa pamamagitan ng isang mangmang na bansa.

22 Sapagka't may apoy na nagalab sa aking galit, At nagniningas hanggang sa Sheol, At lalamunin ang lupa sangpu ng tubo nito, At paniningasan ng apoy ang mga tungtungan ng mga bundok.

23 Aking dadaganan sila ng mga kasamaan; Aking gugugulin ang aking busog sa kanila:

24 Sila'y mangapupugnaw sa gutom, at lalamunin ng maningas na init, At ng mapait na pagkalipol; At ang mga ngipin ng mga hayop ay susunugin ko sa kanila, Sangpu ng kamandag ng nangagsisiusad sa alabok.

25 Sa labas ay pipighatiin ng tabak. At sa mga silid ay kakilabutan; Malilipol kapuwa ang binata at dalaga, Ang sanggol sangpu ng lalaking may uban.

26 Aking sinabi, Aking pangangalatin sila sa malayo, Aking papaglilikatin sa mga tao ang alaala sa kanila;

27 Kundi aking kinatatakutan ang mungkahi ng kaaway; Baka ang kanilang mga kalaban ay humatol ng mali, Baka kanilang sabihin, Ang aming kamay ay tanghal, At hindi ginawa ng Panginoon ang lahat ng ito.

28 Sapagka't sila'y bansang salat sa payo, At walang kaalaman sa kanila.

29 Oh kung sila'y mga pantas, na kanilang tinalastas ito, Kung nababatid nila ang kanilang wakas!

30 Kung paanong hahabulin ng isa ang isang libo, At ang dalawa'y magpapatakas sa sangpung libo, Malibang ipagbili sila ng kanilang Bato, At ibigay sila ng Panginoon?

31 Sapagka't ang kanilang bato ay hindi gaya ng ating Bato, Kahit ang ating mga kaaway man ang maging mga hukom.

32 Sapagka't ang kanilang puno ng ubas ay mga puno ng ubas sa Sodoma, At sa mga parang ng Gomorra: Ang kanilang ubas ay ubas ng apdo, Ang kanilang mga buwig ay mapait:

33 Ang kanilang alak ay kamandag ng mga dragon, At mabagsik na kamandag ng mga ahas.

34 Di ba ito'y natatago sa akin, Na natatatakan sa aking mga kayamanan?

35 Ang panghihiganti ay akin, at gayon din ang gantingpala, Sa panahon na madudulas ang kanilang mga paa: Sapagka't ang araw ng kanilang pagdadalita ay nalalapit, At ang mga bagay na darating sa kanila ay mangagmamadali.

36 Sapagka't hahatulan ng Panginoon ang kaniyang bayan, At magsisisi dahil sa kaniyang mga lingkod; Pagka kaniyang nakitang ang kanilang kapangyarihan ay nawala, At wala ng natitira na natatakpan o naiwan.

37 At kaniyang sasabihin, Saan nandoon ang kanilang mga dios, Ang bato na siya nilang pinanganlungan;

38 Yaong mga kumakain ng taba ng kanilang mga hain, At umiinom ng alak ng kanilang inuming handog? Bumangon sila at tumulong sa inyo, At sila'y maging pagkupkop sa inyo.

39 Tingnan ninyo ngayon, na ako, sa makatuwid baga'y ako nga, At walang dios sa akin: Ako'y pumapatay, at ako'y bumubuhay; Ako'y ang sumusugat, at ako'y ang nagpapagaling: At walang makaliligtas sa aking kamay.

40 Sapagka't aking itinataas ang aking kamay sa langit, At aking sinasabi, Buhay ako magpakailan man,

41 Kung aking ihahasa ang aking makintab na tabak, At ang aking kamay ay hahawak ng kahatulan; Aking ibibigay ang aking panghihiganti sa aking mga kaaway, At aking gagantihan yaong nangapopoot sa akin.

42 At aking lalanguin ng dugo ang aking tunod, At ang aking tabak ay sasakmal ng laman; Sa dugo ng patay at ng mga bihag, Mula sa ulo ng mga pangulo ng kaaway.

43 Mangagalak kayo, O mga bansa, na kasama ng kaniyang bayan; Sapagka't ipanghihiganti ang dugo ng kaniyang mga lingkod, At manghihiganti sa kaniyang mga kaalit, At patatawarin ang kaniyang lupain, ang kaniyang bayan.

44 At si Moises ay naparoon at sinalita ang lahat ng mga salita ng awit na ito sa pakinig ng bayan, siya, at si Josue na anak ni Nun.

45 At tinapos ni Moises na salitain ang lahat ng mga salitang ito sa buong Israel:

46 At kaniyang sinabi sa kanila, Ilagak ninyo ang inyong puso sa lahat ng mga salita na aking pinatototohanan sa inyo sa araw na ito, na inyong iuutos sa inyong mga anak upang isagawa ang lahat ng mga salita ng kautusang ito.

47 Sapagka't ito'y hindi hamak na bagay sa inyo; sapagka't inyong kabuhayan, at sa bagay na ito ay inyong palalaunin ang inyong ipinagtatawid ng Jordan upang ariin.

48 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises nang araw ding yaon, na sinasabi,

49 Sumampa ka sa bundok na ito ng Abarim, sa bundok ng Nebo na nasa lupain ng Moab, na nasa tapat ng Jerico; at masdan mo ang lupain ng Canaan, na aking ibinibigay sa mga anak ni Israel, na pinakaari:

50 At mamatay ka sa bundok na iyong sinasampa, at malakip ka sa iyong bayan, gaya ni Aaron na iyong kapatid na namatay sa bundok ng Hor, at nalakip sa kaniyang bayan:

51 Sapagka't kayo'y sumalansang laban sa akin sa gitna ng mga anak ni Israel sa tubig ng Meriba ng Cades, sa ilang ng Zin; sapagka't hindi ninyo ako inaring banal sa gitna ng mga anak ni Israel.

52 Sapagka't iyong matatanaw ang lupain sa harap mo; nguni't doo'y hindi ka makapapasok, sa lupain na aking ibinibigay sa mga anak ni Israel.

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#9780

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9780. And let them take unto thee olive oil. That this signifies the good of charity and of faith, is evident from the signification of “olive oil,” as being the good of celestial love (see n. 886), but here the good of spiritual love, which is the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith. That this good is here signified by “olive oil,” is because it was for the luminary, that is, for the lampstand, and by the “lampstand” is signified the spiritual heaven (n. 9548). The spiritual heaven on earth is the spiritual church. “Oil,” and “the olive-tree,” in the Word signify both celestial good and spiritual good; celestial good where the subject treated of is the celestial kingdom or the celestial church, and spiritual good where it is the spiritual kingdom or the spiritual church. These kingdoms or churches are distinguished by their goods. The goods of the celestial kingdom, or of the celestial church, are the good of love to the Lord and the good of mutual love; and the goods of the spiritual kingdom, or of the spiritual church, are the good of charity toward the neighbor and the good of faith (n. 9741). These goods and the truths therefrom are treated of in the Word throughout, for the Word is the doctrine of good, because it is the doctrine of love to the Lord and of love toward the neighbor (see Matthew 22:35-40); and all good is of love, even the good of faith, for this comes forth from the good of love, and not without it.

[2] As the Word is the doctrine of good, therefore in order that the Word may be understood, it must be known what good is; and no one knows what good is unless he lives in good according to the Word; for when anyone lives in good according to the Word, then the Lord instills good into his life, from which the man perceives it and feels it, and consequently apprehends the nature of it; otherwise it does not appear, because it is not perceived. From this it can be seen in what state they are who merely know what is in the Word, and persuade themselves that it is so, and yet do not do it. They have no knowledge of good, consequently none of truth; for truth is known from good, and never without good, except as memory-knowledge devoid of life, which perishes in the other life.

[3] That “oil” and also “the olive” denote good, is evident from the passages in the Word where they are mentioned, as in Zechariah:

I saw a lampstand of gold. Two olive-trees were beside it; one on the right side of the flask, and the other on the left side thereof. These are the two sons of oil that stand beside the Lord of the whole earth (Zech. 4:2-3, 14); where “the two olive-trees,” and “the two sons of oil,” denote the good of love to the Lord, which is on His right, and the good of charity toward the neighbor, which is on His left. In like manner in John:

The two witnesses prophesied a thousand two hundred and sixty days. These are the two olive-trees and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth (Rev 11:3-4); where “the two olive-trees and the two lampstands” denote these same goods, which, being from the Lord, are called “the two witnesses.”

[4] Again:

I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, Hurt not the oil and the wine (Revelation 6:6); where “the oil” denotes the good of love and charity, and “the wine,” the good and truth of faith. Again:

I will set in the wilderness the cedar of Shittah, and the myrtle, and the wood of oil (Isaiah 41:19).

They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the good of Jehovah, to the wheat, and to the new wine, and to the oil (Jeremiah 31:12).

The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the grain is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth (Joel 1:10).

The floors are full of pure grain, and the presses overflow with new wine and oil (Joel 2:24).

I will give the rain of your land in its season, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, thy new wine, and thine oil (Deuteronomy 11:14).

[5] “Grain, new wine, and oil” are here spoken of, but that these things are not meant can be seen by everyone who considers; for the Word, being Divine, is spiritual, not worldly, and therefore it does not treat of the grain, the new wine, and the oil of the earth, insofar as these are of service to the body for foods, but insofar as they are of service to the soul; for all foods in the Word signify heavenly foods, as do the bread and the wine in the Holy Supper. What “the grain” and “the new wine” signify in the passages here quoted, may be seen above (n. 3580, 5295, 5410, 5959); from this it is evident what “the oil” signifies.

[6] The case is the same with all things spoken by the Lord while He was in the world, as when He said of the Samaritan that “he came to the man who was wounded by thieves, and bound up his wounds and poured in oil and wine” (Luke 10:33-34). Here are not meant oil and wine, but the good of love and of charity, by “oil” the good of love, and by “wine” the good of charity and of faith; for the subject treated of, is the neighbor, thus charity toward him (that “wine” has this signification, see n. 6377).

[7] In like manner what the Lord said of the ten virgins, of whom “five took their lamps and no oil with them, and five took also oil,” and that the latter were admitted into heaven, but the former rejected (Matthew 25:3-4, and following verses); “oil in the lamps” denotes the good of love and of charity in the truths of faith; “the virgins who took their lamps and no oil” denote those who hear the Word, read it, and say that they believe, and yet do no good in consequence, and if they do any good, it is not done from the love of good or of truth, but from the love of self and of the world.

[8] As “oil” signified the good of charity, therefore also the sick were anointed with oil and were healed, as we read of the Lord’s disciples, who “went forth and cast out demons, and anointed with oil them that were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13). And in David:

Thou wilt make fat my head with oil; my cup shall run over (Psalms 23:5); where “to make fat the head with oil” denotes to endow with celestial good.

In Moses:

Jehovah fed him with the produce of the fields; He made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the stone of the rock (Deuteronomy 32:13);

speaking of the Ancient Church; where “sucking oil out of the stone of the rock” denotes to be imbued with good through the truths of faith.

[9] In Habakkuk:

The fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall produce be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall lie, and the fields shall yield no food (Hab. 3:17);

here neither fig-tree, nor vine, nor olive, nor fields are meant, but heavenly things to which they correspond; as also everyone is able to acknowledge from himself who acknowledges that the Word treats of such things as belong to heaven and the church, thus as belong to the soul. But they who think of nothing but worldly, earthly, and bodily things, do not see the internal things, and even do not wish to see them, for they say within themselves, What are spiritual things? What are celestial things? and so, What is heavenly food? That these are such things as belong to intelligence and wisdom they indeed know when it is so said; but that they belong to faith and love, they do not desire; for the reason that they do not imbue their life with such things, and therefore do not attain to the intelligence and wisdom of heavenly truths and goodnesses.

[10] In Ezekiel:

I washed thee with waters, and I washed away thy bloods from upon thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee with broidered work. Thy garments were fine linen, silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil. But thou didst take thy broidered garments, and coveredst images; and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them (Ezekiel 16:9-10, 13, 18).

Who cannot see that in this passage are not meant garments of broidered work, fine linen, and silk, nor oil, honey, or fine flour; but Divine things which are of heaven and the church; for the subject treated of is Jerusalem, by which is meant the church; and therefore by the several things mentioned are meant such things as are of the church. That by each particular is meant some special thing of the church, is evident; for in the Word, which is Divine, there is not a word that is worthless. (That “Jerusalem” denotes the church, see n. 3654; also what is meant by “broidered work,” n. 9688; by “fine linen,” n. 5319, 9469; by “fine flour,” n. 2177; by “honey,” n. 5620, 6857; by “washing with waters,” n. 3147, 5954, 9088 and by “washing away bloods,” n. 4735, 9127)

[11] In Hosea:

Ephraim feedeth on wind, they make a covenant with the Assyrian, and oil is carried down into Egypt (Hos. 12:1).

These things are quite unintelligible unless it is known what is meant by “Ephraim,” what by “the Assyrian,” and what by “Egypt;” yet there is here described the understanding of the man of the church, which is perverted through reasonings from memory-knowledges; for “Ephraim” denotes this understanding (n. 3969, 5354, 6222, 6238, 6267); “the Assyrian,” reasoning (n. 1186); and “Egypt,” memory-knowledge (n. 9391); consequently “to carry down oil into Egypt” denotes to defile in this way the good of the church.

[12] That the Lord so often went up the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37; 22:39), was because “oil” and “the olive” signified the good of love, as also does a “mountain” (n. 6435, 8758). The reason was that while the Lord was in the world all things respecting Him were representative of heaven; for thereby the universal heaven was adjoined to Him; wherefore whatever He did and whatever He said was Divine and heavenly, and the ultimate things were representative. The Mount of Olives represented heaven in respect to the good of love and of charity; as also can be seen in Zechariah:

Jehovah shall go forth, and fight against the nations. His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before the faces of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives shall be cleft asunder, that a part thereof shall recede toward the east, and toward the sea, with a great valley; and a part of the mountain shall recede toward the north, and a part of it toward the south (Zech. 14:3-4).

[13] Here the Lord and His coming are the subject treated of; by “the Mount of Olives” is signified the good of love and of charity; thus the church, for these goods make the church. That the church would recede from the Jewish nation, and would be set up among the Gentiles, is signified by “the mountain being cleft asunder toward the east, toward the sea, and toward the north, and the south;” in like manner as by the words of the Lord in Luke:

Ye shall be cast down outside; whereas they shall come from the east, and the west, and from the north, and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:28-29).

In a universal sense by “Jehovah going forth and fighting against the nations,” and by “His feet standing upon the Mount of Olives which is before the faces of Jerusalem,” is meant that the Lord from Divine love would fight against the hells; for “the nations” denote evils which are from the hells (n. 1868, 6306), and “the Mount of Olives,” on which were His feet, denotes the Divine love.

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

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Arcana Coelestia#5954

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5954. And to all of them he gave each changes of garments. That this signifies truths initiated in good, is evident from the signification of “garments” as being truths (of which below). Thus “changes of garments” are truths which are new; and truths become new when they are initiated in good, because they then receive life. For the subject treated of is the conjunction of the natural man with the spiritual, or of the external man with the internal. When the conjunction is being effected, then truths are changed and become new, for they receive life from the influx of good (as just above, n. 5951). (That to change the garments was representative of holy truths being put on, and that hence came changes of garments, see n. 4545.)

[2] That by “garments” in the Word are signified truths, is because truths clothe good almost as the vessels do the blood, and the fibers the [animal] spirit. That a “garment” is a significative of truth is because spirits and also angels appear clothed in garments, and each according to the truths appertaining to him. Those appear in white garments who are in the truths of faith through which is good, but those appear in bright shining garments who are in the truths of faith that are from good; for good shines through the truth, and gives the resplendence (see n. 5248).

[3] That spirits and angels appear in garments can also be seen from the Word, where it is mentioned that angels were seen, as in Matthew:

The appearance of the angel sitting at the Lord’s sepulcher was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow (Matthew 28:3).

In John:

Upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white garments (Revelation 4:4).

In the same:

He that sat upon the white horse was clothed in a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. His armies which are in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 19:11, 13-14);

“garments white as snow,” and “fine white linen,” signify holy truths, for whiteness and shining white are predicated of truths (n. 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319), for the reason that they approach nearest to light, and the light which is from the Lord is Divine truth; and therefore when the Lord was transfigured, His garments appeared as the light, of which in Matthew:

When Jesus was transfigured His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became as the light (Matthew 17:2).

That “light” is Divine truth is known in the church, and that it is compared to a “garment” is evident in David:

Jehovah covereth Himself with light as with a garment (Psalms 104:2).

[4] That “garments” are truths is plain from many passages in the Word, as in Matthew:

When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man not clad with a wedding garment; and he said to him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? wherefore he was cast out into the outer darkness (Matthew 22:11-13);

who are meant by “him not clad in a wedding-garment” may be seen at n. 2132.

In Isaiah:

Wake up! wake up! put on thy strength, O Zion; put on the garments of thine ornament, O Jerusalem, the city of holiness; because there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean (Isaiah 52:1);

“garments of ornament” denote truths from good.

[5] In Ezekiel:

I clothed thee with broidered work, and shod thee with badger (taxo), and I girded thee with fine linen, and covered thee with silk. Thy garments were of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, honey, and oil (Ezekiel 16:10, 13);

speaking of Jerusalem, by which is there meant the Ancient spiritual Church which was set up by the Lord after the Most Ancient celestial Church had expired. The truths with which this church was endowed are described by the “garments;” “broidered work” is memory-knowledge, which when genuine also appears in the other life like broidered work, and like lace, as also it has been given to see; “fine linen and silk” are truths from good; but in heaven, being in the light there, these are intensely bright and are transparent.

[6] In the same:

Fine linen in broidered work from Egypt was thy sail; blue and crimson from the isles of Elishah were thy covering (Ezekiel 27:7);

speaking of Tyre, by which are represented the knowledges of truth and good (n. 1201), which when genuine are “fine linen in broidered work from Egypt;” the derivative good, or good of truth, is the “blue and crimson.”

[7] In David:

The king’s daughter is all glorious; of inweavings of gold is her garment; in embroideries shall she be brought to the king (Psalms 45:13-14).

The “king’s daughter” denotes the affection of truth; “of inweavings of gold is her garment” denotes the truths wherein is good; “embroideries” denote the lowest truths.

In John:

Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white ones, because they are worthy. He that overcometh shall be clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:4-5);

“not to defile the garments” denotes not to befoul truths with falsities.

[8] In the same:

Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, that he walk not naked, and they see his shame (Revelation 16:15);

“garments” in like manner denote truths. It is the truths of faith from the Word which are properly signified by “garments.” He who has not acquired these from that source, or he who has not acquired truths or semblances of truths from his religiosity, as the Gentiles, and applied them to life, is not in good, howsoever he supposes himself to be. For as he has no truths from the Word, or from his religiosity, he suffers himself to be led by means of reasonings equally by evil spirits as by good spirits, and thus cannot be defended by the angels. This is meant by the exhortation “to watch and to keep his garments, that he walk not naked and they see his shame.”

[9] In Zechariah:

Joshua was in defiled garments; thus he stood before the angel, who said to those who stood before him, Remove the defiled garments from before him. And unto him he said, See I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and am clothing thee with changes of garments (Zech. 3:3-4);

“defiled garments” denote truths polluted by falsities which are from evil; wherefore when these garments are removed, and others are put on, it is said, “See, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.” Anyone can know that iniquity does not pass away by a change of garments, and hence also anyone can conclude that a change of garments was representative, as was also the washing of garments, which was commanded when the people were being purified, as when they came near unto Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:14), and when they were being cleansed from things impure (Leviticus 11:25, 40; 14:8-9; Numbers 8:6-7; 19:21; 31:19-24).

[10] For cleansings from things impure are effected through the truths of faith, because these teach what good is, what charity, what the neighbor, what faith, that there is a Lord, that there is a heaven, that there is eternal life. Without truths which teach, it is not known what these things are, nor even that they are. Who from himself knows otherwise than that the good of the love of self and of the world is the only good appertaining to man; for both are the delight of his life? And who can know except from the truths of faith that there is another good which can be applied to man, namely, the good of love to God and the good of charity toward the neighbor, and that in these goods is heavenly life; and also that this good flows in through heaven from the Lord insofar as the man does not love himself more than others, and insofar as he does not love the world more than heaven? From all this it is evident that the purification which was represented by the washing of garments is effected through the truths of faith.

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