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Psalms Capítulo 128
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Original em inglês
This, as the former, is a psalm for families. In that we were taught that the prosperity of our families depends upon the blessing of God; in this we are taught that the only way to obtain that blessing which will make our families comfortable is to live in the fear of God and in obedience to him. Those that do so, in general, shall be blessed (Ps 128:1,2,4), In particular, I. They shall be prosperous and successful in their employments, Ps 128:2. II. Their relations shall be agreeable, Ps 128:3. III. They shall live to see their families brought up, Ps 128:6. IV. They shall have the satisfaction of seeing the church of God in a flourishing condition, Ps 128:5,6. We must sing this psalm in the firm belief of this truth, That religion and piety are the best friends to outward prosperity, giving God the praise that it is so and that we have found it so, and encouraging ourselves and others with it.
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Blessedness of the Godly
繁體中文
敬虔之人的福樂
上行之詩。
¹ 凡敬畏耶和華、遵行祂道的人便為有福！ ² 你要吃勞碌得來的；你要享福，事情順利。 ³ 你妻子在你的內室，好像多結果子的葡萄樹；你兒女圍繞你的桌子，好像橄欖栽子。 ⁴ 看哪，敬畏耶和華的人必要這樣蒙福！ ⁵ 願耶和華從錫安賜福給你！願你一生一世看見耶路撒冷的好處！ ⁶ 願你看見你兒女的兒女！願平安歸於以色列！
此處表明，敬虔有今生與來生這兩種生命的應許。
一、此處一再用明確的真理陳明：凡真正聖潔的，便真正有福。我們在此被確保其有福狀態的人，就是那些敬畏耶和華並遵行祂道的人——就是對神存有深深的敬畏、並以規律而恆常地順從祂旨意來證明的人。敬畏神的心何時在心中作掌管的原則，其行事的格調便也相應；我們若不作良心遵守祂的道、不在其中閒懶或退後，卻自稱是敬畏神的人，那是徒然的。這樣的人便為有福（詩一二八1），也必蒙福（詩一二八4）。神賜福他們，祂宣告他們為有福，便使他們如此。他們如今有福，將來仍必蒙福、直到永遠。這由這福分而來的福樂，在此被確保歸於：1. 一切聖徒全體：凡敬畏耶和華的，便為有福——無論他是誰；在各國中，凡敬畏神而行義的，都為祂所悅納，因此無論他在世上是高是低、是富是貧，便為有福；若宗教管轄他，宗教也必護衛他、使他富足。2. 這樣一位聖徒個人：必要這樣蒙福的人——不僅國家、在其公眾身分上的教會如此，個人在其私人利益上也是如此。3. 我們受鼓勵將之應用於自己（詩一二八2）：「你要享福；你可以取那應許的安慰，並期待其中的益處，如同它是奉你的名賜給你的一樣——只要你敬畏神並遵行祂的道。你要享福，那就是，*事情順利；*無論何事臨到你，其中必有善被帶出來；你活著的時候必順利，死的時候更美好，到永遠是最美好的。」這話在詩一二八4以一個命令注意的記號鄭重宣告：*看哪，敬畏耶和華的人必要這樣蒙福；*當憑應許中的信心看見它；當藉應許之成就的觀察看見它；當以確信它必如此之心看見它——因為神是信實的；又當以詫異它竟如此之心看見它——因為我們不配從祂得任何恩惠、任何福分。
二、在此向敬虔之人有特別的應許——他們可以倚靠這些應許，只要那乃是為神的榮耀與他們的益處；那就夠了。
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藉著神的賜福，他們必得到誠實的生計、並在其中舒適地生活。這裏所應許的，不是他們必無憂無慮、不費心力地生活，而是：*你要吃勞碌得來的。*這是一個雙重的應許，（1）他們必有事可作（因為閒懶的生活是悲慘而不舒適的生活），並且有健康、力量與心思的能力去作，而不必被迫仰賴別人供給必需的食物、如殘疾的窮人那樣靠別人的勞力生活。安靜作工、吃自己的飯，既是本分，也是憐憫（帖後三12）。（2）他們必在其職業上成功，他們與他們的家屬必享受他們所得的；別人不會來從他們口中奪去那餅，也不會被壓迫的官長或入侵的仇敵從他們奪去。神必不使其枯萎、吹散（如祂在該一9所作的），祂的賜福必使一點點走得很遠。享受自己勤勞的果子是非常愉快的；正如勞碌之人的睡眠是甘甜的，他的食物也是如此。
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他們必在其家庭關係中得著極大的安慰。正如妻子與兒女非常是一個男人的掛慮，照樣，他們若藉神的恩典成為所當是的樣子，也就非常是一個男人的喜樂——與任何受造之安慰一樣。（1）妻子必如房屋內室的葡萄樹——不僅如攀緣的葡萄作裝飾，更是如結果的葡萄有益處，其果子既榮耀神又榮耀人（士九13）。葡萄是軟弱嬌嫩的植物，需要扶持與培育，卻是非常寶貴的植物，有人甚至認為（因為它一切產品都被禁止歸拿細耳人）它就是那分別善惡樹。妻子所在之處就是丈夫的家；她的事務在那裏，那裏是她的堡壘。祢的妻子撒拉在哪裏？看哪，在帳棚裏；她還該在別處嗎？她的位置是在房屋的內室旁——不是在腳下被人踐踏，也不是在房頂上發號施令（她若如此，就不過像下一篇詩所說的房頂上的草），而是在房屋的一邊——因為她是從人肋旁取出的一條肋骨。她必是慈愛的妻子，如葡萄緊貼房屋一邊；是順服的妻子，如葡萄柔順、隨引導而生長。她必如葡萄多結果子——不僅在兒女上，也在智慧、公義、與善於管理的果子上，其枝子越過牆（創四十九22，詩八十11）——像結果的葡萄樹，不白佔地土，也不結酸葡萄或所多瑪的葡萄，倒結好果子。（2）兒女必如橄欖栽子——日後可望成為橄欖樹，雖本性是野的，卻接在好橄欖上，同享其根與肥汁（羅十一17）。父母擺設了桌子——雖只有平常的飲食——看見兒女圍繞，這是愉快的；有許多兒女足夠圍繞桌子，並且他們與父母同在、不是分散的，父母也不被迫離開他們。約伯把他從前興盛的最早實例之一列為：他的兒女都在他那裏（伯二十九5）。父母喜愛兒女同桌——以維持桌邊談話的愉快，喜見他們健康、要食物而不要藥物、喜見他們如橄欖栽子——正直而青翠，吸取良好教育的汁漿、並有望在合宜的時候成為有用。
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他們必得著神所應許、並他們所祈求的：願耶和華從錫安賜福給你——就是約櫃所在之處，也是敬虔的以色列人帶著他們敬拜前去之處。從錫安而來的福是最好的福——不是從普通的護理流出，而是從特殊的恩典流出（詩二十2）。
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他們必長壽，以享受後起世代的安慰：「願你看見你兒女的兒女，如約瑟一樣（創五十23）。你的家必被建立、延續，你也必享受看見它的快樂。」兒女的兒女——若他們是好兒女——是老人的冠冕（箴十七6），老年人易於疼愛孫輩。
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他們必看見神教會的福祉與其本國的福祉——每一個敬畏神的人對此的關切，不亞於對自己家庭興盛的關切。「你必在錫安的福中被賜福，你也必自視如此。你必一生一世看見耶路撒冷的好處——即使你活得很久——你私人的安慰也不至被公眾的患難所沖淡、所變苦。」一個好人看見兒女的兒女，不能有多少安慰——除非同時看見平安歸於以色列，並有盼望將那純全的宗教產業傳給在他以後的人；因為那才是最好的產業。
Original em inglês
Blessedness of the Godly
A song of degrees.
¹ Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
² For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
³ Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
⁴ Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
⁵ The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
⁶ Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
It is here shown that godliness has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
I. It is here again and again laid down as an undoubted truth that those who are truly holy are truly happy. Those whose blessed state we are here assured of are such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways, such as have a deep reverence of God upon their spirits and evidence it by a regular and constant conformity to his will. Where the fear of God is a commanding principle in the heart the tenour of the conversation will be accordingly; and in vain do we pretend to be of those that fear God if we do not make conscience both of keeping to his ways and not trifling in them or drawing back. Such are blessed (Ps 128:1), and shall be blessed, Ps 128:4. God blesses them, and his pronouncing them blessed makes them so. They are blessed now, they shall be blessed still, and for ever. This blessedness, arising from this blessing, is here secured, 1. To all the saints universally: Blessed is everyone that fears the Lord, whoever he be; in every nation he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him, and therefore is blessed whether he be high or low, rich or poor, in the world; if religion rule him, it will protect and enrich him. 2. To such a saint in particular: Thus shall the man be blessed, not only the nation, the church in its public capacity, but the particular person in his private interests. 3. We are encouraged to apply it to ourselves (Ps 128:2): "Happy shalt thou be; thou mayest take the comfort of the promise, and expect the benefit of it, as if it were directed to thee by name, if thou fear God and walk in his ways. Happy shalt thou be, that is, It shall be well with thee; whatever befals thee, good shall be brought out of it; it shall be well with thee while thou livest, better when thou diest, and best of all to eternity." It is asserted (Ps 128:4) with a note commanding attention: Behold, thus shall the man be blessed; behold it by faith in the promise; behold it by observation in the performance of the promise; behold it with assurance that it shall be so, for God is faithful, and with admiration that it should be so, for we merit no favour, no blessing, from him.
II. Particular promises are here made to godly people, which they may depend upon, as far as is for God's glory and their good; and that is enough.
1. That, by the blessing of God, they shall get an honest livelihood and live comfortably upon it. It is not promised that they shall live at ease, without care or pains, but, Thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands. Here is a double promise, (1.) That they shall have something to do (for an idle life is a miserable uncomfortable life) and shall have health, and strength, and capacity of mind to do it, and shall not be forced to be beholden to others for necessary food, and to live, as the disabled poor do, upon the labours of other people. It is as much a mercy as it is a duty with quietness to work and eat our own bread, 2Th 3:12. (2.) That they shall succeed in their employments, and they and theirs shall enjoy what they get; others shall not come and eat the bread out of their mouths, nor shall it be taken from them either by oppressive rulers or invading enemies. God will not blast it and blow upon it (as he did, Hag 1:9), and his blessing will make a little go a great way. It is very pleasant to enjoy the fruits of our own industry; as the sleep, so the food, of a labouring man is sweet.
2. That they shall have abundance of comfort in their family-relations. As a wife and children are very much a man's care, so, if by the grace of God they are such as they should be, they are very much a man's delight, as much as any creature-comfort. (1.) The wife shall be as a vine by the sides of the house, not only as a spreading vine which serves for an ornament, but as a fruitful vine which is for profit, and with the fruit whereof both God and man are honoured, Jdg 9:13. The vine is a weak and tender plant, and needs to be supported and cherished, but it is a very valuable plant, and some think (because all the products of it were prohibited to the Nazarites) it was the tree of knowledge itself. The wife's place is the husband's house; there her business lies, and that is her castle. Where is Sarah thy wife? Behold, in the tent; where should she be else? Her place is by the sides of the house, not under-foot to be trampled on, nor yet upon the house-top to domineer (if she be so, she is but as the grass upon the house-top, in the next psalm), but on the side of the house, being a rib out of the side of the man. She shall be a loving wife, as the vine, which cleaves to the house-side, an obedient wife, as the vine, which is pliable, and grows as it is directed. She shall be fruitful as the vine, not only in children, but in the fruits of wisdom, and righteousness, and good management, the branches of which run over the wall (Ge 49:22, Ps 80:11), like a fruitful vine, not cumbering the ground, nor bringing forth sour grapes, or grapes of Sodom, but good fruit. (2.) The children shall be as olive plants, likely in time to be olive-trees, and, though wild by nature, yet grafted into the good olive, and partaking of its root and fatness, Ro 11:17. It is pleasant to parents who have a table spread, though but with ordinary fare, to see their children round about it, to have many children, enough to surround it, and those with them, and not scattered, or the parents forced from them. Job makes it one of the first instances of his former prosperity that his children were about him, Job 29:5. Parents love to have their children at table, to keep up the pleasantness of the table-talk, to have them in health, craving food and not physic, to have them like olive-plants, straight and green, sucking in the sap of their good education, and likely in due time to be serviceable.
3. That they shall have those things which God has promised and which they pray for: The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion, where the ark of the covenant was, and where the pious Israelites attended with their devotions. Blessings out of Zion are the best-blessings, which flow, not from common providence, but from special grace, Ps 20:2.
4. That they shall live long, to enjoy the comforts of the rising generations: "Thou shalt see thy children's children, as Joseph, Ge 50:23. Thy family shall be built up and continued, and thou shalt have the pleasure of seeing it." Children's children, if they be good children, are the crown of old men (Pr 17:6), who are apt to be fond of their grandchildren.
5. That they shall see the welfare of God's church, and the land of their nativity, which every man who fears God is no less concerned for than for the prosperity of his own family. "Thou shalt be blessed in Zion's blessing, and wilt think thyself so. Thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem as long as thou shalt live, though thou shouldest live long, and shalt not have thy private comforts allayed and embittered by public troubles." A good man can have little comfort in seeing his children's children, unless withal he see peace upon Israel, and have hopes of transmitting the entail of religion pure and entire to those that shall come after him, for that is the best inheritance.
本篇與前篇一樣，是一首為家庭而作的詩篇。在前篇中我們被教導，家庭的興盛有賴於神的賜福；在本篇中我們則被教導，得著那使我們家庭安舒之福的唯一途徑，就是存敬畏神的心、順服祂而活。如此行的人，總體上必蒙福（詩 128:1-2、4）；具體而言：一、他們在所經營的事業上必興旺順遂（詩 128:2）。二、他們的親屬關係必和諧美滿（詩 128:3）。三、他們必活著看見自己的家庭養育成人（詩 128:6）。四、他們必因得見神的教會處於興旺之境而滿足（詩 128:5-6）。我們歌唱本篇時，必須堅信這真理——宗教與敬虔乃是外在興盛最親近的良友；為此歸榮耀於神，因這正是如此，且我們也已親身經歷了如此；並藉此激勵自己與他人。