末世的樣子（二）

末世另一個現象是，執政掌權者走上邪路，遠離上帝和他的律法、原則，而且沒人有資格指斥之。另一個翻譯是and no one will rebuke them，沒人會指斥之。兩個翻譯都說得通。

記得二十多年前網絡論壇剛剛在大陸興起時，看過一個帖子，叫“批判之死”，所說就是當代世界的根本的批判精神死掉了。今天回頭想想，誠然。沒有一個至高無上的敬畏，在上者就不再有約束，在下者也不可能有真正的批判。

 

兩千多年前以賽亞書說：

 

因此，耶和華一日之間
必從以色列中剪除頭與尾，
棕枝與蘆葦－
長老和尊貴人就是頭，
以謊言教人的先知就是尾。
因為，引導這百姓的使他們走錯了路；
被引導的都必敗亡。
(以賽亞書 9:14-16 和合本)

 

這話指當時以色列社會，也指現在全世界。偏離正道，絕地天通，結果都失去立腳之地，此亦一是非彼亦一是非，同陷沼澤，互相揪打，又有什麽用處呢。

 

《塔木德》討論彌賽亞之前的現象那整段話，英譯如下，（因為不懂希伯來文，沒法自己翻譯。）

With the approach of Moshiach, insolence will increase and prices will rise sharply. The vine will yield produce but wine will be expensive. The government will turn to heresy and no one will be qualified to give rebuke. The meeting places will be used for promiscuity, the Galilee will be destroyed and the Gavlan (perhaps referring to the Golan) will be desolate. Those who live on the frontier will wander from place to place but no one will take pity on them. The wisdom of scholars will deteriorate, people who fear sin will be despised and truth won’t be found. Young people will shame their elders, old men having to stand up for the young, as per Micah 7:6, “A son despises his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” The face of the generation preceding Moshiach will be like that of a dog, a son feeling no shame before his father. Again, there is no one upon whom we can rely except for our Father in Heaven.

 

另一翻譯：

 

With the advent of the footsteps of Mashiach, insolence will increase and prices will soar; the vine will yield its fruit, yet wine will be dear; the government will turn to heresy and no one will rebuke them; the meeting place of scholars will be used for immorality; Galilee will be destroyed, Gavlan will be desolate, and those who dwell on the borders will wander about begging from town to town without being pitied; the wisdom of the scholars will degenerate, those who fear sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put old men to shame, elders will rise in deference to the young, a son will revile his father, a daughter will rise up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household; the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog; a son will not feel ashamed before his father.

So upon whom can we rely? — Upon our Father Who is in heaven.

Sotah 9:15