Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Matt 5:33-48

--- (T N I V) ---

Oaths

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply 'Yes,' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Eye for Eye


38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

--- (The Message) ---

Empty Promises

33-37 "And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

Love Your Enemies

38-42 "Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.' Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

43-47 "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48 "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

--- (和 合 本) ---

33 你 們 又 聽 見 有 吩 咐 古 人 的 話 , 說 : 不 可 背 誓 , 所 起 的 誓 總 要 向 主 謹 守 。
34 只 是 我 告 訴 你 們 , 甚 麼 誓 都 不 可 起 。 不 可 指 著 天 起 誓 , 因 為 天 是 神 的 座 位 ;
35 不 可 指 著 地 起 誓 , 因 為 地 是 他 的 腳 凳 ; 也 不 可 指 著 耶 路 撒 冷 起 誓 , 因 為 耶 路 撒 冷 是 大 君 的 京 城 ;
36 又 不 可 指 著 你 的 頭 起 誓 , 因 為 你 不 能 使 一 根 頭 髮 變 黑 變 白 了 。
37 你 們 的 話 , 是 , 就 說 是 ; 不 是 , 就 說 不 是 ; 若 再 多 說 , 就 是 出 於 那 惡 者 ( 或 作 : 就 是 從 惡 裡 出 來 的 ) 。
38 你 們 聽 見 有 話 說 : 以 眼 還 眼 , 以 牙 還 牙 。
39 只 是 我 告 訴 你 們 , 不 要 與 惡 人 作 對 。 有 人 打 你 的 右 臉 , 連 左 臉 也 轉 過 來 由 他 打 ;
40 有 人 想 要 告 你 , 要 拿 你 的 裡 衣 , 連 外 衣 也 由 他 拿 去 ;
41 有 人 強 逼 你 走 一 里 路 , 你 就 同 他 走 二 里 ;
42 有 求 你 的 , 就 給 他 ; 有 向 你 借 貸 的 , 不 可 推 辭 。
43 你 們 聽 見 有 話 說 : 當 愛 你 的 鄰 舍 , 恨 你 的 仇 敵 。
44 只 是 我 告 訴 你 們 , 要 愛 你 們 的 仇 敵 , 為 那 逼 迫 你 們 的 禱 告 。
45 這 樣 就 可 以 作 你 們 天 父 的 兒 子 ; 因 為 他 叫 日 頭 照 好 人 , 也 照 歹 人 ; 降 雨 給 義 人 , 也 給 不 義 的 人 。
46 你 們 若 單 愛 那 愛 你 們 的 人 , 有 甚 麼 賞 賜 呢 ? 就 是 稅 吏 不 也 是 這 樣 行 麼 ?
47 你 們 若 單 請 你 弟 兄 的 安 , 比 人 有 甚 麼 長 處 呢 ? 就 是 外 邦 人 不 也 是 這 樣 行 麼 ?
48 所 以 , 你 們 要 完 全 , 像 你 們 的 天 父 完 全 一 樣 。

No comments: