【英语成语】cast the bread upon the waters

    翻译一本知识产权专业书籍过程中，俺常常学到不少地道的英文表达，可从没有将之博客的冲动。今天则不然，很想将cast the bread upon the waters片语记录于此。细想冲动缘由，也没整太明白，也许是心灵深受其蕴涵涤荡。

    http://s11/middle/4cb1acf4gb59bb42c985a&690the bread upon the waters" TITLE="【英语成语】cast the bread upon the waters" />该成语源自《圣经》之《旧约全书》的《传道书》第11章第1节。整句为：cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days，意为：善有善报。因此，该成语的含义为：行善。http://s2/small/4cb1acf4gb59bb5590a61&690the bread upon the waters" TITLE="【英语成语】cast the bread upon the waters" />

    从字面意思理解，这是传道之人教诲人们相信，多做善事终将使其获益。与中文“好人有好报”的含义毫无二致。“许多天之后你将会发现面包仍然在那儿”其实并非指面包仍在，而是吃了该面包的鱼儿们，心甘情愿地让你将之一网打尽。

    除了字面理解之外，该片语还有深刻的宗教层面之意义。http://s9/bmiddle/4cb1acf4gb59bb61bd8b8&690the bread upon the waters" TITLE="【英语成语】cast the bread upon the waters" />左图是一幅名为“The Healing Waters”的画作。该画的寓意是：面包是耶稣，水是圣灵，鱼是世人，太阳是上帝，彩虹是希望。具体解释自己看吧：Jesus is the bread of life.  He, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit work together as one.  The Father draws the fish (the men) to His Son (the bread, the word) by casting it on the water (the Holy Spirit) who then softens the bread to make it edible (i.e. apparent to those willing to receive it).   God has a message to deliver to those He is drawing.  His message is one of hope (the rainbow) and eternal life through His Son.

Jesus told His disciples to follow Him and that He would make them fishers of men.  As professional fisherman, they knew how to use a net to catch fish.  However, Jesus would teach them a "new thing" --namely, how to catch men through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Fish as you know, will eat bread but the bread must be first softened in the water.  However, like the fish, man cannot receive the bread of Life without the power of the Holy Spirit (represented by the water) who makes the bread edible to the hungry heart of mankind.

    由此可见，除了告诫要常常行善之外，劝告信奉基督教、上帝、耶稣的意思也是明显滴。