义人和恶人的结局

大卫的诗。

37 不要因为恶人而烦恼,
也不要羡慕作恶之人,
因为他们如瞬息枯萎的草芥,
又如转眼消逝的绿草。

要信靠耶和华,要行善,
要在这片土地上安然度日。
要以耶和华为乐,
祂必成全你的愿望。
要把一切交托给耶和华,
信靠祂,祂必帮助你,
使你的公义如晨光照耀,
你的仁义如日中天。
要在耶和华面前安静,
耐心等候祂,
不要因恶人道路通达、阴谋得逞而愤愤不平。
你要抑制怒气,除掉愤怒;
不要心怀不平,
那会导致你作恶。
因为作恶的终必灭亡,
但等候耶和华的必承受土地。
10 再过片刻,恶人必不复存在,
无处可寻。
11 但谦卑人必承受土地,
得享太平。

12 恶人谋害义人,
对他们咬牙切齿。
13 但耶和华嗤笑邪恶人,
因为祂知道他们末日将临。
14 恶人拔剑张弓要消灭穷苦人,
杀戮正直人,
15 但他们的剑必刺穿自己的心,
他们的弓必被折断。

16 义人淡泊一生强过恶人财富如山。
17 因为恶人的势力终必瓦解,
耶和华必扶持义人。
18 耶和华天天看顾纯全无过的人,
他们的产业永远长存。
19 他们在灾难中不致绝望,
在饥荒时仍得饱足。
20 但恶人必灭亡,
上帝的仇敌必像野地枯萎的花草,
消逝如烟。

21 恶人借债不还,
义人慷慨给予。
22 蒙耶和华赐福的人必承受土地,
被耶和华咒诅的人必遭铲除。
23 耶和华引领义人的脚步,
喜悦他们所走的路。
24 他们即使失脚,也不会跌倒,
因为耶和华的手扶持他们。

25 从幼年到老年,
我从未见过义人遭弃,
也未见其后人讨饭。
26 他们乐善好施,
后代都蒙祝福。

27 你要离恶行善,
就必永远安居。
28 因为耶和华喜爱正义,
不丢弃信靠祂的人,
永远保护他们。
恶人的后代必被铲除。
29 义人必承受土地,
在地上永远安居。

30 义人口出智慧,诉说正义,
31 铭记上帝的律法,
从不失脚。

32 恶人窥探义人,
伺机谋害。
33 但耶和华不会让恶人得逞,
也不会让义人在审判时被定罪。

34 要等候耶和华,
坚守祂的道,
祂必赐你土地,使你有尊荣。
你必亲眼看见恶人被铲除。
35 我见过邪恶残暴之人,
乍看如葱茏的黎巴嫩香柏树,
36 再一看,
他已经消失得无影无踪,
无处可寻。
37 你看那纯全正直、爱好和平的人,
他们前途美好。
38 罪人必遭毁灭,
恶人必被铲除。
39 耶和华拯救义人,
患难时作他们的庇护所。
40 耶和华帮助他们,
拯救他们脱离恶人,
因为他们投靠祂。

受苦者的祈求

大卫求上帝眷顾的诗。

38 耶和华啊,
求你不要在发怒时惩罚我,
不要在烈怒下管教我。
因为你的箭射穿我,
你的手击打我。
你的怒气使我浑身是病,
我的罪恶使我骨头朽烂。
我的罪恶滔天,使我不堪其重。
我因愚昧而伤口溃烂流脓。
我疼得弯腰驼背,
终日哀伤。
我的腰灼痛难忍,
我浑身是病。
我精疲力尽,彻底崩溃;
我心中悲伤,呻吟不止。
主啊,你知道我的渴望,
听见了我的叹息。
10 我的心砰砰直跳,
气力衰竭,
眼睛黯淡无光。
11 因我的疾病,朋友同伴回避我,
亲人远离我。
12 谋害我的人设下陷阱,
想害我的人威胁我,
整天图谋奸计。
13 但我像听不见的聋子,
无法说话的哑巴。
14 我就像一个不能听、不能辩的人。
15 耶和华啊,我等候你;
主,我的上帝啊,你必应允我。
16 我曾求告你,
别让他们幸灾乐祸,
在我失脚时沾沾自喜。
17 我快要跌倒,
我的痛苦无休无止。
18 我要承认我的罪过,
罪恶使我心里惴惴不安。
19 我的仇敌势力强大,
无故恨我的人不计其数。
20 我追求良善,
他们就恨我,以恶报善。
21 耶和华啊,求你不要撇弃我!
我的上帝啊,求你不要远离我!
22 拯救我的主啊,
求你快来帮助我!

受苦者的呼求

大卫的诗,交给乐长耶杜顿。

39 我说:“我要谨言慎行,
免犯口舌之罪。
只要身边有恶人,
我就用嚼环勒住自己的口。”
然而,我默不作声,
连好话也不出口时,
内心就更加痛苦。
我心如火烧,越沉思越烦躁,
便开口呼求:
“耶和华啊,求你让我知道我人生的终点和寿数,
明白人生何其短暂。
你使我的生命转瞬即逝,
我的岁月在你眼中不到片刻。
人的生命不过是一丝气息,(细拉)
人生不过是幻影,
劳碌奔波却一场空,
积蓄财富却不知谁来享用。
主啊,如今我盼望什么呢?
你是我的盼望。
求你救我脱离一切过犯,
不要让愚昧人嘲笑我。
我默然不语,一言不发,
因为我受的责罚是出于你。
10 求你不要再惩罚我,
你的责打使我几乎丧命。
11 因为人犯罪,你管教他们,
使他们所爱的被吞噬,像被虫蛀。
世人不过是一丝气息。(细拉)

12 “耶和华啊,
求你垂听我的祷告,
倾听我的呼求,
别对我的眼泪视若无睹。
因为我在你面前只是客旅,
是寄居的,
正如我的祖先。
13 求你宽恕我,
好让我在离世之前能重展笑容。”

Psalm 37[a]

Of David.

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious(A) of those who do wrong;(B)
for like the grass they will soon wither,(C)
    like green plants they will soon die away.(D)

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land(E) and enjoy safe pasture.(F)
Take delight(G) in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.(H)

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him(I) and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward(J) shine like the dawn,(K)
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still(L) before the Lord
    and wait patiently(M) for him;
do not fret(N) when people succeed in their ways,(O)
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.(P)

Refrain from anger(Q) and turn from wrath;
    do not fret(R)—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,(S)
    but those who hope(T) in the Lord will inherit the land.(U)

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(V)
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(W)
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.(X)

12 The wicked plot(Y) against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth(Z) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.(AA)

14 The wicked draw the sword(AB)
    and bend the bow(AC)
to bring down the poor and needy,(AD)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(AE)
    and their bows will be broken.(AF)

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth(AG) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(AH)
    but the Lord upholds(AI) the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(AJ)
    and their inheritance will endure forever.(AK)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:(AL)
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(AM)

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(AN)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses(AO) will be destroyed.(AP)

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(AQ)
    of the one who delights(AR) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(AS)
    for the Lord upholds(AT) him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(AU)
    or their children begging(AV) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(AW)
    their children will be a blessing.[b](AX)

27 Turn from evil and do good;(AY)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.(AZ)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.(BA)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.(BB)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(BC)
    and dwell in it forever.(BD)

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(BE)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(BF)
    their feet do not slip.(BG)

32 The wicked lie in wait(BH) for the righteous,(BI)
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(BJ) when brought to trial.(BK)

34 Hope in the Lord(BL)
    and keep his way.(BM)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,(BN) you will see(BO) it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing(BP) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.(BQ)

37 Consider the blameless,(BR) observe the upright;(BS)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.[d](BT)
38 But all sinners(BU) will be destroyed;(BV)
    there will be no future[e] for the wicked.(BW)

39 The salvation(BX) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(BY)
40 The Lord helps(BZ) them and delivers(CA) them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves(CB) them,
    because they take refuge(CC) in him.

Psalm 38[f]

A psalm of David. A petition.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(CD)
Your arrows(CE) have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health(CF) in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones(CG) because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed(CH) me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.(CI)

My wounds(CJ) fester and are loathsome(CK)
    because of my sinful folly.(CL)
I am bowed down(CM) and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.(CN)
My back is filled with searing pain;(CO)
    there is no health(CP) in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;(CQ)
    I groan(CR) in anguish of heart.(CS)

All my longings(CT) lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing(CU) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(CV) my strength fails(CW) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.(CX)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(CY)
    my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(CZ)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(DA)
    all day long they scheme and lie.(DB)

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(DC)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(DD) for you;
    you will answer,(DE) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(DF)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(DG)

17 For I am about to fall,(DH)
    and my pain(DI) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(DJ)
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(DK) without cause[g];
    those who hate me(DL) without reason(DM) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(DN)
    lodge accusations(DO) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;(DP)
    do not be far(DQ) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(DR) to help me,(DS)
    my Lord and my Savior.(DT)

Psalm 39[h]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

I said, “I will watch my ways(DU)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(DV)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(DW)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent,(DX)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(DY) increased;
    my heart grew hot(DZ) within me.
While I meditated,(EA) the fire(EB) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(EC)
    let me know how fleeting(ED) my life is.(EE)
You have made my days(EF) a mere handbreadth;
    the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(EG)
    even those who seem secure.[i]

“Surely everyone goes around(EH) like a mere phantom;(EI)
    in vain they rush about,(EJ) heaping up wealth(EK)
    without knowing whose it will finally be.(EL)

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(EM)
Save me(EN) from all my transgressions;(EO)
    do not make me the scorn(EP) of fools.
I was silent;(EQ) I would not open my mouth,(ER)
    for you are the one who has done this.(ES)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
    I am overcome by the blow(ET) of your hand.(EU)
11 When you rebuke(EV) and discipline(EW) anyone for their sin,
    you consume(EX) their wealth like a moth(EY)
    surely everyone is but a breath.(EZ)

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;(FA)
    do not be deaf(FB) to my weeping.(FC)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(FD)
    a stranger,(FE) as all my ancestors were.(FF)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”(FG)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
  3. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
  4. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
  5. Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
  6. Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
  7. Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
  8. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  9. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

保罗在亚基帕王面前申辩

26 亚基帕对保罗说:“准你为自己辩护。”于是保罗伸手示意,然后为自己辩护说: “亚基帕王啊,面对犹太人对我的种种控告,我今天很荣幸可以在你面前申辩, 尤其是你对犹太习俗和各种争议都十分熟悉。因此,求你耐心听我说。

“我从小在本族和耶路撒冷为人如何,犹太人都知道。 他们认识我很久了,如果他们肯作证的话,他们可以证明我从小就属于犹太教中最严格的法利赛派。 现在我站在这里受审,是因为我盼望上帝给我们祖先的应许。 我们十二支派日夜虔诚地事奉上帝,盼望这应许能够实现。王啊!就是因为我有这样的盼望,才被犹太人控告。 上帝叫死人复活,你们为什么认为不可信呢? 我自己也曾经认为应该尽一切可能反对拿撒勒人耶稣。 10 我在耶路撒冷就是这样做的。我得到祭司长的授权,把许多圣徒[a]关进监狱。他们被判死刑,我也表示赞同。 11 我多次在各会堂惩罚他们,逼他们说亵渎的话,我对他们深恶痛绝,甚至到国外的城镇去追捕、迫害他们。

保罗信主的经过

12 “那时,我带着祭司长的授权和委托去大马士革。 13 王啊!大约中午时分,我在路上看见一道比太阳还亮的光从天上照在我和同行的人周围。 14 我们都倒在地上,我听见有声音用希伯来话对我说,‘扫罗!扫罗!你为什么迫害我?你很难用脚去踢刺。’ 15 我说,‘主啊,你是谁?’主说,‘我就是你所迫害的耶稣。 16 你站起来。我向你显现,是要派你做我的仆人和见证人,把你所看见的和以后我将启示给你的事告诉世人。 17 我将把你从你的同胞和外族人手中救出来。我差遣你到他们那里, 18 去开他们的眼睛,使他们弃暗投明,脱离魔鬼的权势,归向上帝,好叫他们的罪得到赦免,与所有因信我而圣洁的人同得基业。’

保罗放胆传道

19 “亚基帕王啊!我没有违背这从天上来的异象。 20 我先在大马士革,然后到耶路撒冷、犹太全境和外族人当中劝人悔改归向上帝,行事为人要与悔改的心相称。 21 就因为这些事,犹太人在圣殿中抓住我,打算杀我。 22 然而,我靠着上帝的帮助,到今天还能站在这里向所有尊卑老幼做见证。我讲的不外乎众先知和摩西说过要发生的事, 23 就是基督必须受害,并首先从死里复活,将光明带给犹太人和外族人。”

24 这时,非斯都打断保罗的申辩,大声说:“保罗,你疯了!一定是你的学问太大,使你神经错乱了!”

25 保罗说:“非斯都大人,我没有疯。我讲的话真实、合理。 26 王了解这些事,所以我才敢在王面前直言。我相信这些事没有一件瞒得过王,因为这些事并非暗地里做的。 27 亚基帕王啊,你信先知吗?我知道你信。”

28 亚基帕王对保罗说:“难道你想三言两语就说服我成为基督徒吗?”

29 保罗说:“不论话多话少,我求上帝不仅使你,也使今天在座的各位都能像我一样,只是不要像我这样带着锁链。”

30 亚基帕王、总督、百妮姬及其他在座的人都站起来, 31 走到一边商量说:“这人没有做什么该判死刑或监禁的事。” 32 亚基帕王对非斯都说:“这人要是没有向凯撒上诉,已经可以获释了。”

Footnotes

  1. 26:10 保罗在这里指的是信耶稣的基督徒。

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”(A)

So Paul motioned with his hand(B) and began his defense: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you(C) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,(D) and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs(E) and controversies.(F) Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

“The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,(G) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time(H) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect(I) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.(J) And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes(M) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.(N) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.(O) Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)

“I too was convinced(Q) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(R) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(S) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people(T) in prison,(U) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(V) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(W) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice(X) saying to me in Aramaic,[a](Y) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.(Z) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(AA) 17 I will rescue you(AB) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(AC) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(AD) and turn them from darkness to light,(AE) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(AF) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(AG)

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(AH) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(AI) then to those in Jerusalem(AJ) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(AK) I preached that they should repent(AL) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(AM) 21 That is why some Jews seized me(AN) in the temple courts and tried to kill me.(AO) 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen(AP) 23 that the Messiah would suffer(AQ) and, as the first to rise from the dead,(AR) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”(AS)

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,(AT) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning(AU) is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent(AV) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things,(AW) and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(AX)

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”(AY)

30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice(AZ) and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”(BA)

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free(BB) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew