雅各書 2:1-35

英文語音

雅各當眾指責愛財、驕傲、不貞諸罪──人可尋求財富來幫助同胞──雅各譴責未經許可的多妻行為──主喜悅婦女的貞潔。約主前五四四年至四二一年。

Jacob denounces the love of riches, pride, and unchastity—Men may seek riches to help their fellowmen—Jacob condemns the unauthorized practice of plural marriage—The Lord delights in the chastity of women. About 544–421 B.C.

1 尼腓的弟弟雅各在尼腓死後，對尼腓的人民所說的話：

1 The words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake unto the people of Nephi, after the death of Nephi:

2 現在，我心愛的弟兄們，我，雅各，由於神賦予我的責任，要我認真地光大我的職務，使我的衣服不致沾上你們的罪，所以我今日上到聖殿，向你們宣布神的話。

2 Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God.

3 你們心裡明白，我一直在我蒙召的職務上努力；但是我今日的心情因更加渴望和擔心你們靈魂的福祉而比以往更沉重。

3 And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the office of my calling; but I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.

4 因為看啊，到目前為止，你們都遵守著我告訴你們的主的話。

4 For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the word of the Lord, which I have given unto you.

5 但是看啊，請聽我說，而你們會知道我藉著天地的全能創造主的幫助，能說出你們的思想，知道你們正開始犯罪，那罪在我看來是非常可憎的，是的，在神看來也是可憎的。

5 But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God.

6 是的，由於我必須指證你們內心的邪惡，我的靈非常憂傷，也使我在造物主前因羞愧而畏縮。

6 Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.

7 我必須在你們的妻子兒女面前，直言不諱地講你們的事，也使我非常憂傷，他們之中有許多人的情操在神前非常溫柔、貞潔、細膩，那是神所喜悅的；

7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;

8 我想他們上到這裡，是要聽神令人愉快的話，是的，聽那能治癒心靈創傷的話。

8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

9 因此，由於接受到神嚴格的誡命，我不得不對你們的罪行提出警告，而對那些已受傷的，非但不能安慰、治癒他們的創傷，反會擴大傷口；而那些未受傷的，非但不能飽享那令人愉快的神的話，反會像匕首刺穿靈魂那樣，使他們細膩的心靈受到傷害；這使我的靈魂極為沉重。

9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

10 但是，儘管這任務十分艱鉅，我也一定要按照神嚴格的誡命去做，在破碎的心及心地純潔者面前，也在全能之神銳利的目光注視下，把你們的邪惡和憎行告訴你們。

10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.

11 因此，我必須按照神的話的明白方式，把事實告訴你們。因為看啊，我求問主的時候，有話臨到我說：雅各，你明天上到聖殿去，把我對你說的話向這人民宣布。

11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people.

12 現在看啊，我的弟兄們，這就是我要對你們宣布的話：你們當中有許多人開始尋找金子、銀子和各種貴重的礦石，這些東西在主賜給你們與你們後裔的這塊應許地上，產量非常豐富。(明註：abound 盛產)

12 And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully.

13 由於神保佑的手最為悅納你們，你們已獲得許多財富；因為你們有些人已獲得的比你們的弟兄更豐富，就內心驕傲而自大；因為自己穿的服飾昂貴，就頸強頭昂；又因為自以為比你們的弟兄好，就迫害他們。(明註：providence=the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.)

13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.

14 現在，我的弟兄們，你們以為神會在這些事上判你們無罪嗎？看啊，我告訴你們，不會的。祂反而會定你們的罪，假如你們堅持這些事，祂的懲罰一定會很快臨到你們。

14 And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you, and if ye persist in these things his judgments must speedily come unto you.

15 啊，但願祂向你們證明，祂能刺穿你們，只要看你們一眼，就能把你們擊倒在地！

15 O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!

16 啊，但願祂能使你們除去這種罪惡與憎行。啊，但願你們聽從祂命令的話，不要讓心中的驕傲毀了你們的靈魂！

16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!

17 要為弟兄著想，像為自己著想一樣，要與人和睦相處，慷慨分享你們的財產，使他們能像你們一樣富有。

17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

18 但是，在你們尋求財富之前，當先尋求神的國。

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

19 你們經由基督獲得希望後，如果你們尋求財富，就必得到；而且你們會為了行善而尋求財富──使無衣蔽體的人有衣穿，飢餓的人有飯吃，囚禁的人得釋放，患病和受苦的人得照顧。

19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

20 現在，我的弟兄們，我已和你們談過驕傲；你們那些苦待鄰人，因神賜給你們的物品就心生驕傲，因而迫害鄰人的，你們有什麼話說？

20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?

21 難道你們不認為這種事情是創造全人類的主所憎惡的嗎？在祂看來，每個人都一樣寶貴。全人類都來自塵土；祂為了同樣的目的創造他們，要他們永遠遵守祂的誡命、榮耀祂。

21 Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his commandments and glorify him forever.

22 現在，關於驕傲，我講到此為止。要不是我必須講一個更嚴重的罪，我的心一定會為你們感到十分高興。

22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you.

23 但因為你們那更嚴重的罪，神的話使我心情沉重。因為看啊，主這樣說：這人民的罪惡逐漸增加，他們不了解經文，他們因經上記載大衛和他兒子所羅門的事情，就想當作他們淫亂的藉口。

23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

24 看啊，主說，大衛和所羅門確實有許多妻妾，這事在我眼前是可憎的。

24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

25 因此，主這樣說：我以我臂膀的大能，領這人民出耶路撒冷地，好為我從約瑟的子嗣中，興起一根正義的枝條。

25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

26 因此，我，主神，決不容許這人民做像古人那樣的事。

26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.

27 因此，我的弟兄們，請聽我說，並聽從主所說的話：你們中間任何人都只能有一個妻子，不可納妾；

27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;

28 因為我，主神，喜悅婦女的貞潔，淫亂在我眼中是一種憎行；萬軍之主這樣說。

28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

29 因此，萬軍之主說：這人民要遵守我的誡命，否則這地必因他們的緣故受咒詛。

29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

30 萬軍之主說，因為我若要為自己興起後裔，我會命令我的人民；否則他們就要聽從這些話。

30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

31 因為看啊，在耶路撒冷地，是的，及在我人民所住的各地，我人民的女兒為了她們丈夫的邪惡和憎行而憂傷、悲泣，這些我，主，都看到也聽到了。

31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.

32 萬軍之主說：我絕不容這些我從耶路撒冷地領出來的美好女兒的哭聲上到我這裡，控訴我人民中的男人，萬軍之主說。

32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.

33 萬軍之主說：他們不可因我人民的女兒溫柔，就俘虜她們，否則我必以嚴厲的咒詛懲罰他們，乃至毀滅；因為他們不可像古人那樣淫亂。

33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.

34 現在看啊，我的弟兄們，你們知道這些誡命是賜給我們的父親李海的，所以你們早已知道了；你們為自己招致了嚴重的罪罰，因為你們做了這些不該做的事。

34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done.

35 看啊，你們已經犯了比我們的弟兄拉曼人所犯的更大的罪。由於你們的壞榜樣，你們使溫柔的妻子心碎，也失去孩子的信任；他們心中的悲泣上達神前控訴你們。由於神的話十分嚴厲，這些話降下來控訴你們，許多人的心死了，被深沉的傷痛所刺穿。

35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.