Wisdom:Chapter 16

Index

Wisdom:Chapter 16

智慧篇	Wisdom
¹因此，天主用同樣的動物來懲罰他們，使他們受許多動物的殘害，很為適當。	¹That is why this people received the punishment they deserved through similar animals and hordes of tormenting insects.
²正與此懲罰相反，你卻恩待了你的百姓，為滿足他們的食慾；給他們預備了珍奇的美味──鵪鶉，當作食物。	²But in contrast to this punishment it was kindness you showed to your people by providing quails - a delicious food - for them.
³那些想進食的埃及人，一看見上主遣來的醜陋的動物，連原有的食慾都失去了；至於你的百姓，雖遭受了片時的飢餓，卻分享了奇異的美味。	³As for the Egyptians, in spite of their fierce hunger, they were restrained by disgust from eating because of the repulsive sight of the creatures sent against them. But the Israelites after being deprived for a time were then given the finest food.
⁴因為，埃及人殘忍無道，理應遭受難挨的飢餓；至於你的百姓受餓，只是為叫他們明白，他們的仇敵受了如何的痛苦。	⁴It was necessary for their oppressors to suffer severe want, but enough for your people to know how the enemy was punished.
⁵以色列人固然也受到了猛獸的殘害，和毒蛇的咬傷；	⁵Indeed when they experienced the fury of wild animals and the bites of writhing snakes, your anger did not endure.
⁶但你的憤怒並沒有堅持到底，只不過是為警戒他們，使他們暫時驚惶，獲得救援的標記，好想起你的法令；	⁶Their temporary affliction served as a warning; then they were given a sign of salvation to remind them of the prescriptions of your law.
⁷凡轉向這標記的，並不是因着所瞻望的記號得救，而是因着你，萬民的救主。	⁷For whoever turned towards it was saved, not by the image he saw, but by you, Lord, the Savior of all.
⁸藉此，你向我們的仇敵證明：是你救人脫免一切災禍；	⁸In that way you taught our enemies that it is you who deliver us from every evil.
⁹因為蝗蟲和蒼蠅咬死了他們，卻沒有醫治他們生命的方法，因為他們理應遭受這樣的刑罰。	⁹They were, in fact, killed by the sting of insects and flies for which there was no cure since they deserved punishment from these creatures.
¹⁰但是你的子民，卻沒有為毒蛇的牙所制勝：這是因為你的仁慈前來救助，治好了他們。	¹⁰Your children instead were not overcome, even by the fangs of venomous serpents, for your mercy intervened and healed them.
¹¹他們被咬後，即刻獲治，是要他們記念你的話，免得他們深深遺忘，而不注意你的仁慈。	¹¹Bites quickly healed reminded them of your commands, lest they fall into deep oblivion and forget your kindness.
¹²醫好他們的，並不是草樂，也不是膏藥，上主，而是你那治好一切的話。	¹²No herb, no ointment healed them but your word, Lord, that heals all.
¹³因為，是你掌握生死的大權，引人下入陰府的門，而又領回。	¹³You are Lord of life and death; you bring down to the gate of the netherworld and bring back again.
¹⁴人固然可以因邪惡而殺人，卻不能使已離去的神魂再回來，也不能解救一個被囚在陰府中的靈魂。	¹⁴Man in his wickedness is able to kill but he cannot bring back the departed spirit or rescue the snatched soul.
¹⁵逃出你的掌握，那是不可能的。	¹⁵It is impossible to escape your hand.
¹⁶為此，那不肯承認你的敗類，遭受了你大力手臂的打擊，受那罕有的大雨、冰雹與無情暴雨的襲擊，並為火所毀滅。	¹⁶The godless, refusing to acknowledge you, were scourged by the strength of your arm, lashed by relentless downpours, hail, and pitiless storms, and consumed by fire.
¹⁷最堪驚奇的，是在能熄滅一切的水中，火燄反而更為熾烈，因為世界都為義人而戰：	¹⁷But this was the most astounding: water, powerful to quench, made fire burn more fiercely. For the elements fight on the side of the righteous.
¹⁸有時火勢緩和，免得燒掉那些為對付不虔敬的人所派來的野獸，令他們見了，自知難逃天主正義的追擊；	¹⁸At times the flame abated to spare the insects thrust against the wicked, that they might know they were pursued by God's sentence.
¹⁹有時火在水中反燒得異常熾烈，為燒盡毀滅不義之田的出產。	¹⁹At other times, in the midst of water the flame rose more fiercely than fire to destroy the harvest of an unholy land.
²⁰相反地，你用天神之糧，養育了你的子民；他們不必操勞，你從天上給他們降下了現成的食糧，具有各種美味，適合各人的口味。	²⁰But to your people you gave the food of angels and from heaven sent bread already prepared and suiting all tastes, having every flavor.
²¹你賜予的食糧，合乎取食者的嗜好，隨着人的願望而變化，這表明你對待兒女如何恩愛。	²¹In this way you revealed your loving kindness to your children.
²²雪和冰遇着火並不融化，這是使他們知道：為毀滅仇敵的收穫，火曾在冰雹中熾燃，在雨水中閃爍；	²²Satisfying all needs, this bread provided what each one wanted. That food, having the appearance of snow and ice, resisted fire and did not melt; thus they understood how their enemy's harvest was destroyed by fire in the midst of hail, while lightning flashed in the falling rain.
²³但為養育義人，火卻忘記了自己的本能。	²³This same fire seemed to forget its own nature in order to spare the food of the righteous.
²⁴實在，在受造物都服從你，自己的造主，致力懲罰不義的人，恩待信賴你的人。	²⁴Your creation is at your service for you are its Author. It works to punish the wicked and withdraws for the benefit of those who put their trust in you.
²⁵因此，「瑪納」就依照你那養育眾人的恩寵，起種種變化，來適應需求者的願望，	²⁵In the service of your bounty which attends to everything, creation made itself manifold and adjusted to the wish of everyone.
²⁶為使你所愛的子女們知道：上主，養育世人的，不是各種果食，而是你的言語，保全了信賴你的人。	²⁶Then the children you love learned that it is not crops of whatever kind which nourish mankind, but your word that sustains those who trust you.
²⁷因為，火所不能燒毀的，因着溫和的一線陽光，立即融化，	²⁷That food which resisted fire, simply melted in the warmth of a fleeting sunbeam,
²⁸使人知道：在太陽沒有升起以前，就應讚頌你；在曙光破曉時分，就該祈求你；	²⁸teaching us that we must rise before the sun to give thanks and pray to you at dawn.
²⁹因為，不知恩者的希望，就如冬天的霜，勢必消溶，逝去有如無用的流水。	²⁹The hope of the ungrateful will melt like winter frost and flow away like water that is not being used.

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