智慧篇第六章——君王、审判与对智慧的追求
^8:本章呼吁统治者向神交账,然后将智慧描绘为光辉可寻、热爱者易得、通往国度之路。
智慧篇
第6章
- 1.王者当求智慧 因此，王们要听从，理解；地极的审判官要学習。Kings Should Seek Wisdom Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
- 2.你们这些管辖许多人的和夸口有许多国的，请听从。Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.
- 3.因为你的统治权是从主那里来的，你的权威是从至高者那里来的，祂要察看你的行为，并审问你的谋划。For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
- 4.因为你们作为他的国的仆人，没有按照正义治理，也没有遵守律法，也没有按照神的旨意行事，Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God,
- 5.他将会突然而猛烈地临到你，因为严厉的判断降临在高位的人身上。he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
- 6.最卑微的人也可能因怜悯而得到赦免，但有权势的人将会受到严厉的考验。For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy, but mighty men will be mightily tested.
- 7.因为万物的主，不会惧怕任何人，也不会因为地位高就给予特别的敬意；因为他自己造了大小各样的东西，并且一样关心它们。For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one, nor show deference to greatness; because he himself made both small and great, and he takes thought for all alike.
- 8.但有严厉的审判在等待有权势的人。But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.
- 9.于此，我对你们这些君王说，我的话语是对你们说的，希望你们能学习智慧，不要违背。To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed, that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
- 10.因为那些以圣洁的方式侍奉圣物的人将被使圣洁，并且那些被教导这些事的人将找到辩护。For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness, and those who have been taught them will find a defense.
- 11.所以你们要仰慕我的言语，渴望我的言语，你们就得教训。Therefore set your desire on my words; long for them, and you will be instructed.
- 12.智慧的描述 智慧光辉永恒，她可以被爱她的人轻易辨认，也可以被寻求她的人发现。Description of Wisdom Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her.
- 13.她急切地让那些渴望她的人认识她。She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
- 14.清早起来寻求她的，那人是不会遇见困难的，因为他会看见她坐在他的门口。He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates.
- 15.专心于她就是完全的悟道，为了她而警醒的人很快就会摆脱烦恼，To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and he who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
- 16.因为她周游寻找配得上她的， 并在他们的道路上亲切显现给他们， 在他们的一切思念中遇见他们。because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
- 17.智慧的起始是最真诚地渴望教诲，对教诲的关心就是爱她，The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is love of her,
- 18.爱她就是遵守她的律法，注意她的律法就是永生的保证，and love of her is the keeping of her laws, and giving heed to her laws is assurance of immortality,
- 19.并且不死带来人与神的亲近；and immortality brings one near to God;
- 20.所以渴望智慧会带来一个王国。so the desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
- 21.因此，若你们这些人民的君王喜爱王座和权杖，就当尊敬智慧，这样你们才能永远统治。Therefore if you delight in thrones and scepters, O monarchs over the peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign for ever.
- 22.我要告诉你们什么是智慧以及她是如何来的，我不会对你们隐瞒任何秘密，我将从创造的开始追溯她的源头，并使人们清楚地认识她，我不会掩盖真相；I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, and I will hide no secrets from you, but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, and make knowledge of her clear, and I will not pass by the truth;
- 23.我也不会与病态的嫉妒为伴，因为嫉妒不会与智慧相伴。neither will I travel in the company of sickly envy, for envy does not associate with wisdom.
- 24.许多智慧的人是世界的救恩，明智的君王是他百姓的稳固。A multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, and a sensible king is the stability of his people.
- 25.因此要受我的教诲，你们就可以得益。Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
这段经文的意思
^8:本章以直接劝勉列国的君王与审判者开篇(1—3节),将政治权柄奠基于神的主权之下:统治权乃由主而来,由至高者所赐。因此,权柄是受托的,并非绝对的,赐权者必『鉴察你们的作为,查究你们的筹谋』,此为本章其余论证之框架:统治须向神交账,而统治的尺度在于公义、律法与合乎神旨意之事(4节)。
^8:4—8节阐明失政之果:高位者将受『严厉的审判』,『有权势的人将受严厉的考验』。此论为神学性的,并非社会学的:主并不因地位之高而有所偏待,因他『造了大小万物,并顾念一切』,身份并不换取宽容;反而身份提升所要求之尺度。本章继而由警告转入邀请(9—11节):『当慕求我的言语』,因『受教者必得辩护』。
^8:12—25节构成对智慧之持续的拟人化描绘:她是光辉而活跃的形象,『欣然使人认识她』(13节),坐于寻求者之门(14节),并『四处寻找配得她的人』(16节)。一连串因果关系贯穿全段:真诚受教之心→爱慕智慧→谨守其律法→得享不朽之保证→亲近神→『一个国度』。本章末以王权的合法性与追求智慧重新连结:君王若渴望宝座,就当尊荣智慧,『使你永居王位』(21节);说话者并应许追溯智慧『自创世之初的来历』(22节)。
背景
^8:本章位于智慧篇第五章(不敬者见义人得伸)与第七章(渴望智慧者第一人称反思智慧本性)之间,而所提供的资料未给出更多章节内容。本章注释说明此为对P0/P1章节集之外章节的补填,所列经文即所可用之全部文本。鉴于缺乏前后章节,我们只能指出其内部之脉络:对君王之劝勉(1—11节)与智慧之描绘(12—25节)以一段连贯之言呈现,智慧之拟人化延伸了智慧文学他处已有之意象——智慧女神被描绘为光辉而活跃者。
^8:所提供之cross_references与original_words列表皆为空,本文仅依据本章自身所述,不引入平行经文、抄本札记或词义之分析。
常见问题
^8:智慧篇第六章之说话者是谁?听众为何人?
^8:本章以一段连贯之言呈现,听众为『君王』与『地极的审判者』(1节)、『统治众多百姓的人』(2节),并以『万民之君王』(21节)作结。说话者之名未见于所提供之文本中,但其应许追溯智慧『自创世之初的来历』(22节),以此自居于智慧之教师。
^8:本章何以言『有权势的人将受严厉的考验』?
^8:5—7节自神学论之根基而言此语:因『万物之主』并不偏袒尊大——他『造了大小万物,并顾念一切』。权柄为受托之责(3节),而居高位者将受更严之查问(8节)。身份提高交账之标准,并不获取宽容。
^8:本章如何描绘智慧?
^8:智慧被拟人化为光辉而不衰者(12节)、热切自显者(13节)、坐于寻求者之门户者(14节)、并主动『四处寻找配得她的人,在其思念中与他们相遇』者(16节)。全段展开一链因果:真诚受教之心→爱慕智慧→谨守其律法→得享不朽之保证→亲近神→『一个国度』(17—20节)。她亦被描绘为只与真理相合,不容嫉妒(16节)。