伊甸被遗忘的书

—— 亚当和夏娃与撒旦的冲突（上）

 

 黑色字体为原文，绿色为注解。

第五十一章

 

“他到底有什么美好的，你定要跟随他？”

“What is his beauty that you should have followed him?”

 

1.   亚当听了神的话，就带着夏娃离开花园的最北面，往南去，到他们曾经不进食［祷告］的水边。

When Adam heard these words from God, he took Eve and removed from the northern end of the garden to the south of it, by the river of water, where they once fasted.

 

2.   当他们还在路上的时候，在他们到达之前，那邪恶的撒旦，听到了神的话语和亚当有关他遮体之物的交谈。

But as they were going in the way, and before they reached that place, Satan, the wicked one, had heard the Word of God communing with Adam respecting his covering.

 

“Satan”（撒旦 ）［Strong 汇编H7854］希伯来文音译是“satan”（sä·tän'），意思为“敌人”。和“亚当”一样，同为音译。“亚当”是神以神的形象造的，却没人能对神最初的创造说出个所以然来，只有在亚当食禁果之后，有了肉身，“亚当”才成为人类的总称。而撒旦呢，就是个从希伯来文发音翻译成的名词，意思为“敌人”，没什么大不了的，没什么特殊的法力，没什么不可触碰的禁忌，来自于撒旦的，就是来自于敌人的。再举个例子，英文“strawberry”，中文翻译为“草莓”，有时候也会翻译成“士多啤梨”，没有什么特高尚的含义，“士多啤梨”其实是根据英文发音翻译而来的，说穿了，就是一“草莓”！

 

那么“Devil”（魔鬼）的起源呢？细心的可以发现，如果我们搜圣经，“魔鬼”一词就只在新约里出现过，在旧约里根本不存在，为什么？因为它根本就不是古希伯来文。

 

旧约是从古希伯来文翻译来的，而新约则是从古希腊语翻译成拉丁语，后又翻译成古英语，中世纪英语，现代英语，最终才是我们现今所读的中文。以倒叙的手法，英文“Devil”（魔鬼）的词源是从中世纪英语“devel”而来的，又从古英语“dēofol”而来，再从古德语借用拉丁语“diabolus”而来，最后，是拉丁语从古希腊语“διάβολος”一词而来。啰嗦了这么多，原文的意思就是“造谣者／毁谤者”。所以，撒旦又称魔鬼，敌人又叫做造谣、毁谤者，没什么大不了的。

 

3.   这让撒旦很伤心，就立刻赶到羊皮所在的地方，要把它扔入海里，或者用火烧毁，这样亚当和夏娃就找无法找到。

It grieved him, and he hastened to the place where the sheep-skins were, with the intention of taking them and throwing them into the sea, or of burning them with fire, that Adam and Eve should not find them.

 

4.   正当撒旦要拿［羊皮］的时候，神的话语从天而来，把他禁锢在那些羊皮的旁边，直到亚当和夏娃来到。当他们靠近他的时候，就怕他，怕他丑陋的样子。

But as he was about to take them, the Word of God came from heaven, and bound him by the side of those skins until Adam and Eve came near him. But as they neared him they were afraid of him, and of his hideous look.

 

5.   神的话语临到亚当和夏娃，对他们说，“这就是藏在蛇里的那位，他欺骗了你们，剥掉你们光明的外衣和原有的荣耀。

Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, and said to them, “This is he who was hidden in the serpent, and who deceived you, and striped you of the garment of light and glory in which you were.

 

6.   就是他承诺你们权威和神力。他到底哪里美好？他的神力在哪？他的光在哪？他身上的荣耀在哪？

This is he who promised you majesty and divinity. Where, then, is the beauty that was on him? Where is his divinity? Where is his light? Where is the glory that rested on him?

 

7.   现在，他的外形丑陋；在天使中变成令人生厌的；他已经被称作撒旦。

Now his figure is hideous; he is become abominable among angels; and he has come to be called Satan.

 

8.   亚当啊，他想要从你那里夺走这属世的羊皮外衣，销毁它，让你们无衣蔽体。

O Adam I he wished to take from you this earthly garment of sheep-skins, and to destroy it, and not let you be covered with it.

 

9.   他到底有什么美好的，你定要跟随他？听他的话让你得到了什么？看看他做的这些邪恶的事，再看看我；我，你的创造者，看看我为你做的这些好事。

What, then, is his beauty that you should have followed him? And what have you gained by hearkening to him? See his evil works and then look at Me; at Me, you Creator, and at the good deeds I do you.

 

10.  看，我禁锢住他，直到你们到来，亲眼看到他和他的软弱，他已无任何能力。”

See, I bound him until you came and saw him and beheld his weakness, that no power is left with him.”

 

撒旦（敌人），其实是软弱，无能力的。

 

11.  于是神解除禁锢，放了撒旦。

     And God released him from his bonds.

 

 

第五十二章

 

亚当和夏娃缝制第一件衣服。

Adam and Eve sew the first shirt.

 

 

1.   随后，亚当和夏娃不再说话，却因他们当初被造［的完美］，和现在需要属世的遮体之物在神前哭泣。

After this Adam and Eve said no more, but wept before God on account of their creation, and of their bodies that required an earthly covering.

 

2.   亚当对夏娃说，“夏娃啊，这就是我们要用来遮体的兽皮。当我们穿上的时候，看，也就是我们在身体覆盖了死亡的标志，就像这些皮的主人死去，干枯一样。我们也必将死亡，和消逝。”

Then Adam said unto Eve, “O Eve, this is the skin of beasts with which we shall be covered. But when we have put it on, behold, a token of death shall have come upon us, inasmuch as the owners of these skins have died, and have wasted away. So also shall we die, and pass away.”

 

有形的肉体有限期，最终必过期，必死亡。

 

3.   亚当和夏娃便取了［兽］皮，回到宝藏洞；在里面的时候，他们像已经习惯的那样，站着向神祷告。

Then Adam and Eve took the skins, and went back to the Cave of Treasures; and when in it, they stood and prayed as they were wont.

 

4.   他们在想，该怎么用这些皮做衣服；因为他们没有任何手艺。

And they thought how they could make garments of those skins; for they had no skill for it.

 

5.   神就派他的天使演示给他们看。天使对亚当说，“去取些棕榈树的刺枝来。”亚当就出去，按照天使的指令取了些回来。

Then God sent to them His angel to show them how to work it out. And the angel said to Adam, “Go forth, and bring some palm-thorns.” Then Adam went out, and brought some, as the angel had commanded him.

 

6.   天使开始当着他们的面用羊皮做衣服。在他们眼前，把刺插入羊皮。

Then the angel began before them to work out the skins, after the manner of one who prepares a shirt. And he took the thorns and stuck them into the sinks, before their eyes.

 

7.   天使又站起来，向神祷告让刺缝过的线脚隐藏起来，皮衣就像由一根刺线缝制的。

Then the angel again stood up and prayed God that the thorns in those skins should be hidden, so as to be, as it were, sewn with one thread.

 

8.   事情就按照神的指令成了；它们就成为亚当和夏娃的外衣，神给他们穿上。

And so it was, by God’s order; they became garments for Adam and Eve, and He clothed them withal.

 

创世纪里相对应的句子，

 

创世纪3:21    耶和华神为亚当和他的妻子做了皮外衣，给他们穿上。

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

 

那为什么创世纪接下来的3:22，说的是神把他们赶出花园，是有了衣服才被驱逐的吗？我个人对创世纪的记载手法实在无法评论，只能说杂乱无序，不成条理。创世纪第一章和第二章对神造万物的次序自相矛盾；而3:23写神马上让亚当去种地，4:1写亚当马上和夏娃同房生子，这种十万八千里的跳跃，实在让人无法接受。若没有此书的详细解释，只依靠创世纪的记载，那吃不吃禁果，犯不犯罪也没多大区别，不就离开花园吗，不就换个地儿住吗；不就由给动物命名变成耕地吗，不就换个活儿干吗；亚当和夏娃丝毫不停歇就同房生子，这人的“堕落”、“原罪”，对人有什么影响？

 

9.   从那时起，他们的身体被覆盖，眼中再也看不到彼此的赤裸。

From that time the nakedness of their bodies was covered from the sight of each other’s eyes.

 

10.  这发生在第五十一天要结束的时候。

     And this happened at the end of the fifty-first day.

 

11.  当亚当和夏娃的身体被覆盖，他们站着祷告，寻求神的仁慈和原谅，因神对他们的怜悯，遮盖他们赤裸的身体而感谢他。他们整晚都没停止祷告。

Then when Adam’s and Eve’s bodies were covered, they stood and prayed, and sought mercy of the Lord, and forgiveness, and gave Him thanks for that He had had mercy on them, and had covered their nakedness. And they ceased not from prayer the whole of that night.

 

12.  当黎明降临，太阳升起的时候，他们按照习惯说了祷告词；就离开洞穴。

Then when the mom dawned at the rising of the sun, they said their prayers after their custom; and then went out of the cave.

 

13.  亚当对夏娃说，“既然我们不知道洞穴的西面都有什么，让我们今天去看看。”于是，他们就往西面的边界去。

And Adam said unto Eve, “Since we know not what there is to the westward of this cave, let us go forth and see it to-day.” Then they came forth and went towards the western border.

 

    

第五十三章

 

有关西面地的预言。

The Prophecy of the Western Lands.

 

1.   他们还没走远，撒旦就朝着他们而来，藏身于他们和洞穴之间的两只三日没进食，又极度饥饿的狮子下，向亚当和夏娃靠近，仿佛要把他们撕成碎片，吞噬他们。

They were not very far from the cave, when Satan came towards them, and hid himself between them and the cave, under the form of two ravenous lions three days without food, that came towards Adam and Eve, as if to break them in pieces and devour them.

 

2.   亚当和夏娃就哭泣，求神救他们脱离狮爪。

Then Adam and Eve wept, and prayed God to deliver them from their paws.

 

3.   神的话语便临到他们，把狮子赶走。

Then the Word of God came to them, and drove away the lions from them.

 

4.   神对亚当说，“亚当啊，你在西面的边界找什么？为什么你主动离开了东面的边界，也就是你居住的地方？

And God said unto Adam, “O Adam, what seekest thou on the western border? And why hast thou left of thine own accord the eastern border, in which was thy dwelling-place?

 

5.   现在，回到洞穴，并留在里面，这样撒旦就无法欺骗你，对你实施他的意图。

Now, then, turn back to thy cave, and remain in it, that Satan do not deceive thee, nor work his purpose upon thee.

 

6.   在这西面的边界上，亚当啊，从你出的一个后裔会充满这里；会被他们自身的罪而污染，会遵从撒旦的指令，跟随他的引领。

For in this western border, O Adam, there will go from thee a seed, that shall replenish it; and that will defile themselves with their sins, and with their yielding to the behests of Satan, and by following his works.

 

这里指的是该隐，因为该隐是第一位选择跟随撒旦的亚当的后裔。该隐将在此繁衍居住，他的后代会遍布此处，直到洪水来临。

 

7.   因此，我会带来洪水，把他们全部淹没。但却会解救他们当中公义的；我会把他们带到一个遥远的地，而你现在居住的则会被废弃，荒无人烟。”

Therefore will I bring upon them the waters of a flood, and overwhelm them all. But I will deliver what is left of the righteous among them; and I will bring them to a distant land, and the land in which thou dwellest now shall remain desolate and without one inhabitant in it.”

 

第一次有关洪水的预言，和有关救赎的盟约一样，都是神亲自对亚当说的。

 

8.   在神与他们交谈过后，亚当和夏娃就回到宝藏洞。但他们的身体干枯，因为祷告和没进食，因为冒犯神而感到的悲伤，他们已经毫无力气。

After God had thus discoursed to them, they went back to the Cave of Treasures. But their flesh was dried up, and their strength failed from fasting and praying, and from the sorrow they felt at having trespassed against God.

 

 

第五十四章

 

亚当和夏娃的探寻。

Adam and Eve go exploring.

 

1.   亚当和夏娃站着祷告了整晚，直至天明。当太阳升起的时候，便离开洞穴；他们因沉重的悲伤而无法思想，不知道自己要去向何处。

Then Adam and Eve stood up in the cave and prayed the whole of that night until the morning dawned. And when the sun was risen they both went out of the cave; their heads wandering from heaviness of sorrow, and they not knowing whither they went.

 

2.   混沌中他们走到花园南面的边界。又开始沿着边界来到花园的东面，已是无路可走的尽头。

And they walked thus unto the southern border of the garden. And they began to go up that border until they came to the eastern border beyond which there was no farther space.

 

3.   负责看守的基路伯正站在花园的西门，以免亚当和夏娃突然进入花园。按照神给他的诫命，基路伯火速回转，好像要置亚当和夏娃于死地。

And the cherub who guarded the garden was standing at the western gate, and guarding it against Adam and Eve, lest they should suddenly come into the garden. And the cherub turned around, as if to put them to death; according to the commandment God had given him.

 

4.   亚当和夏娃来到花园东面的边界 —— 他们心想基路伯并没有注意 —— 他们站在门口好像要进去一样，突然手持火焰剑的基路伯降临；当他看到他们，便要上前杀死他们。因为基路伯害怕，若亚当和夏娃没有神的命令进入花园，他就会被神毁灭。

When Adam and Eve came to the eastern border of the garden – thinking in their hearts that the cherub was not watching – as they were standing by the gate as if wishing to go in, suddenly came the cherub with a flashing sword of fire in his hand; and when he saw them, he went forth to kill them. For he was afraid lest God should destroy him if they went into the garden without His order.

 

5.   基路伯的剑即将喷出火焰。但当他把剑举过亚当和夏娃［头顶］的时候，火焰却没有向他们喷出。

And the sword of the cherub seemed to flame afar off. But when he raised it over Adam and Eve, the flame thereof did not flash forth.

 

6.   基路伯就以为神蔽护亚当和夏娃，要把他们重新带回花园。基路伯便惊奇地站在那里。

Therefore did the cherub think that God was favourable to them, and was bringing them back into the garden. And the cherub stood wondering.

 

7.   他不能去天上查明神对亚当和夏娃进入花园的指令；于是，他继续站在他们旁边，不能离开，因为他害怕一旦他们没有神的允许进入花园，神就会将他毁灭。

He could not go up to Heaven to ascertain God’s order regarding their getting into the garden; he therefore abode standing by them, unable as he was to part from them; for he was afraid lest they should enter the garden without leave from God, who then would destroy him.

 

8.   亚当和夏娃看到基路伯手持火焰剑向他们冲来，就恐惧得面朝地倒下，如同死了一样。

When Adam and Eve saw the cherub coming towards them with a flaming sword of fire in his hand, they fell on their faces from fear, and were as dead.

 

这是亚当和夏娃有了肉身后的第九次死亡，前八次密集发生在他们离开花园的两天内。

 

9.   那时，天地震动；其他的基路伯从天而降，来到看守花园的基路伯这里，看到他惊奇并无语。

At that time the heavens and the earth shook; and other cherubim came down from heaven to the cherub who guarded the garden, and saw him amazed and silent.

 

10.  又有些天使来到亚当和夏娃所在的地方。他们悲喜交加。

Then, again, other angels came down night unto the place where Adam and Eve were. They were divided between joy and sorrow.

 

11.  他们喜悦，因为他们以为神蔽护亚当，要他重新回到花园；要恢复他曾享有的喜悦。

They were glad, because they thought that God was favourable to Adam, and wished him to return to the garden; and wished to restored him to the gladness he once enjoyed.

 

12.  但他们也悲伤，因为亚当像死人一样躺在那里，他和夏娃；他们心想，“亚当不是自己死去的，是神让他死的，因为他来到这里，没有神的允许就要进入花园。”

But they sorrowed over Adam, because he was fallen like a dead man, he and Eve; and they said in their thoughts, “Adam had not died in this place; but god has put him to death, for his having come to this place, and wishing to get into the garden without His leave.”

 

第五十五章

 

与撒旦的战争。

The Conflict of Satan.

 

1.   神的话语临到亚当和夏娃，让他们死而复生，对他们说，“为什么你们到这里来？你们想要进入我带你们离开的花园吗？不是今天；要等到我和你立下的盟约实现为止。”

Then came the Word of God to Adam and Eve, and raised them from their dead state, saying unto them, “Why came ye up hither? Do you intend to go into the garden, from which I brought you out? It can not be to-day; but only when the covenant I have made with you is fulfilled.”

 

神第十一次向亚当重复他们的盟约。

 

为什么我要乐此不疲地计算神重复盟约几次？亚当和夏娃死了几次？不是闲着没事儿，而是只要是属神的真理和原则，神会反复重复。神会为亚当和他的后裔提供救赎，他就会在亚当遭遇困难、悲苦的时候一直提醒亚当，不要忘记盟约，要有希望，因为那一天终究会来临。神不愿有一人灭亡，因此，会在亚当和夏娃的肉体死亡后，一再使他们复生，让他们活下去。若神是永恒不变的神，那他的真理与原则也是永恒不变的，既适用于当初，也适用于现今。

 

2.   亚当，听到神的话语，和天使们震动［翅膀］的声音，他只能用耳朵听见他们发出的声音，却看不到他们，亚当和夏娃就哭泣，对天使们说：

Then Adam, when he heard the Word of God, and the fluttering of the angels whom he did not see, but only heard the sound of them with his ears, he and Eve wept, and said to the angels:

 

3.   “属灵的啊，那侍奉神的，看看我，我再也看不见你们！当我有光明本性的时候，我看得见你们。我像你们一样敬拜；我的心远在你们之上。

“O Spirits, who wait upon God, look upon me, and upon my being unable to see you! For when I was in my former bright nature then I could see you. I sang praises as you do; and my heart was far above you.

 

4.   可现在，我犯了罪，失去了光明的本性，坠入这悲惨的状态。如今的我，看不见你们，你们也不再像以前一样侍奉我。因为我有了野兽的躯体。

But now, that I have transgressed, that bright nature is gone from me, and I am come to this miserable state. And now am I come to this, that I cannot see you, and you do not serve me As you were wont. For I am become animal flesh.

 

5.   神的天使们啊，［请代我］求与我同在的神，恢复我以往的状态；把我从这苦痛中解救出去，去除因我对他的过犯而被判处的死亡刑罚。”

Yet now O angels of God, ask God with me, to restore me to that wherein I was formerly; to rescue me from this misery, and to remove from me the sentence of death He passed upon me, for having trespassed against Him.”

 

6.   神的天使们听了这些话，就都为亚当感到难过；并诅咒欺骗他的撒旦，致使他从花园坠入苦痛；从生命坠入死亡；从平安坠入烦扰；从喜悦坠入这陌生的地。

Then, when the angels heard these words, they all grieved over him; and cursed Satan who had beguiled Adam, until he came from the garden to misery; from life to death; from peace to trouble; and from gladness to a strange land.

 

7.   天使们对亚当说，“你确是顺服了撒旦，遗弃了创造你的神的话语；你确是相信撒旦会对你履行承诺。

Then the angels said unto Adam, “Thou didst hearken to Satan, and didst forsake the Word of God who created thee; and thou didst believe that Satan would fulfil all he had promised thee.

 

8.   但现在，亚当啊，我们会让你知道，在他从天上坠落之前，支配我们的事。

But now, O Adam, we will make known to thee, what came upon us through him, before his fall from heaven.

 

9.   他聚集了他的同盟［天使］，欺骗他们，承诺会给他们一个伟大的国度，神性；也对他们许下其它誓言。

He gathered together his hosts, and deceived them, promising them to give them a great kingdom, a divine nature; and other promises he made them.

 

10.  他的同盟就相信他，以为他的话是真实的，于是他们顺服他，弃绝了神的荣耀。

His hosts believed that, his word was true, so they yielded to him, and renounced glory of God.

 

11.  他就派他们来找我们 —— 我们要按照他的指令 —— 归顺他，听信他虚假的承诺。我们不能，就没有听信于他。

He then sent for us - according to the orders in which we were-to come under his command, and to hearken to his vain promise. But we would not, and we took not his advice.

 

12.  在他反对神，于前方和神交战之后，便召集他的同盟，发动了对我们的战争。若不是和我们同在的神的力量，我们是无法战胜他，把他从天上丢下的。

Then after he had fought with God, and had dealt forwardly with Him, he gathered together his hosts, and made war with us. And if it had not been for God’s strength that was with us, we would not have prevailed against him to hurl him from heaven.

 

13.  当他从我们之中坠下的时候，天上有极大的喜悦，因为他被击落。如果他留在天上，没有一个天使能够幸存。

But when he fell from among us, there was great joy in heaven, because of his going down from us. For had he continued in heaven, nothing, not even one angel would have remained in it.

 

14.  但仁慈的神，把他从我们当中赶到这黑暗的地；他已经成为了黑暗和行不义之事的。

But God in His mercy, drove him from among us to this dark earth; for he had become darkness itself and a worker of unrighteousness.

 

15.  亚当啊，他又继续对你发起战争，直到欺骗你，使你离开花园，来到这陌生的地，所有的磨难都临到你。神带给他的死亡，他又带给了你，亚当啊，因为你确是顺服了他，确是冒犯了神。”

And he has continued, O Adam, to make war against thee, until he beguiled thee and make thee come out of the garden, to this strangle land, where all these trails have come to thee. And death, which God brought upon him he has also brought to thee, O Adam, because thou didst obey him, and didst transgress against God.”

 

神给承诺，撒旦的伪装同样也给承诺，如何分辨？神的承诺一定会实现，神的话语永恒不变；而无论再完美的伪装，再令人向往的话语，假的就是假的，真不了，空的话只是说说罢了，绝对不可能会有实现的那一天。

 

16.  于是所有的天使就欢庆赞美神，求他这次不要因为亚当想要进入花园而把他毁灭；对他有忍耐，直到承诺的实现；在这地上为他提供援助，直到他脱离撒旦的掌控。

Then all the angels rejoiced and praised God, and asked Him not to destroy Adam this time, for his having sought to enter the garden; but to bear with him until the fulfillment of the promise; and to help him in this world until he was free from Satan’s hand.