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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
简体中文
敬虔之人的福
上行之诗。
¹ 凡敬畏耶和华、遵行他道的人，便为有福。
² 你要吃劳碌得来的，你要享福，事情顺利。
³ 你妻子在你的内室，好像多结果子的葡萄树；你儿女围绕你的桌子，好像橄榄栽子。
⁴ 看哪，敬畏耶和华的人，必要这样蒙福。
⁵ 愿耶和华从锡安赐福给你。愿你一生一世看见耶路撒冷的好处。
⁶ 你看见你儿女的儿女。愿平安归于以色列。
此处表明，敬虔有今世之生的应许，也有来世之生的应许。
一、此处反复定下一条无可置疑的真理：那些真正圣洁的人，真正有福。 我们在此得蒙保证其有福状态的人，就是那些敬畏耶和华又遵行他道的人——就是那些心灵对神有深切敬畏，并以规律而持续地顺服他旨意来证明这一点的人。敬畏神的心若在心中是掌权的原则，那么为人的常态就必与之相称；我们若不一方面谨守行在他的道上、另一方面不在其中怠惰或退后，便徒然自称是敬畏神的人。这样的人是有福的（诗128:1），也必这样蒙福（诗128:4）。神赐福给他们，他宣告他们为有福，就使他们成为有福。他们现在有福，将来仍必有福，直到永远。这从赐福而来的福，在此得着保证：1. 给一切圣徒普世性地：凡敬畏耶和华的便为有福——无论他是谁；在万国中凡敬畏神、行义的人都蒙他悦纳，因此是有福的——无论他在世上是高是低、是富是贫；若宗教治理他，宗教必保护他、使他富足。2. 给这样的一位圣徒个人性地：必要这样蒙福——不仅是国家、不仅是公众意义上的教会，而是那在自己私人利益上的个人。3. 我们受鼓励把这应用在自己身上（诗128:2）：你要享福；你可以享受这应许的安慰，并期待其中的益处，如同它是按名指着你说的——只要你敬畏神、遵行他的道。你要享福，即事情顺利；无论何事临到你，都必从中得出善来；你活着的时候必顺利，死时更好，到永恒更美好。这话（诗128:4）以引人留意的口气宣告：看哪，敬畏耶和华的人，必要这样蒙福；要以信心的眼睛在应许中看，要以观察的眼睛在应许的成全上看；要以确信的态度看这事必成，因为神是信实的；也要以惊奇的态度看这事竟能如此，因为我们从他毫无功劳，不配得任何恩惠、任何赐福。
二、此处对敬虔之人有特别的应许，是他们可以倚靠的——只要是为了神的荣耀与他们的益处；那就够了。
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借着神的赐福，他们必得着诚实的生计，并安然度日。所应许的并非他们必安逸度日、无忧无虑，而是你要吃劳碌得来的。这里有双重的应许：(1) 他们必有事可作（因为懒惰的生活是悲惨不适意的生活），并必得着健康、力量与心智能力去作，不至于被迫仰赖他人得日用饮食，像那些残疾的穷人那样靠别人的劳力过活。安静作工，吃自己的饭，这既是本分，也是怜悯（帖后3:12）。(2) 他们必在自己的职业上亨通，他们和他们的家人必享受自己所得的；别人不会来从他们口中夺饼，这饼也不会被暴虐的官长或入侵的仇敌夺去。神必不使它枯干、吹去（如他曾行的，该1:9），他的赐福使少许的成为充足。享受自己勤勉的果子，非常甘美；劳碌之人的睡眠固然甜，他所吃的食物也是如此。
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他们必在自己的家庭关系中得着丰盛的安慰。妻子与儿女既是人极大的牵挂，若借着神的恩典成为所当成为的样式，便也是人极大的喜悦——胜过任何受造之乐。(1) 妻子必如房屋旁边的葡萄树——不仅如蔓延的葡萄作装饰，更如果实的葡萄有益处，其果实既使神也使人得尊荣（士9:13）。葡萄是软弱娇嫩的植物，需要支撑与呵护，却是极有价值的植物；有人认为（因为葡萄的一切产品对拿细耳人都是禁物）它就是那分别善恶树本身。妻子的本位是丈夫的家；她的事在那里，那就是她的城堡。你妻子撒拉在哪里？看哪，在帐棚里；她还在哪里呢？她的本位是在房屋的旁边——不在脚下被践踏，也不在房顶上发号施令（她若如此，不过是房顶上的草——下篇诗如此说），而是在房屋的一旁，正如她是人肋旁的一条肋骨。她要作一个有爱的妻子，如葡萄紧贴房屋的旁边；一个顺服的妻子，如葡萄可塑性极强，照着引导的方向生长。她要如果子般多结果实，不仅多生儿女，更在智慧、公义、善理的果子上多结果实——其枝子越过墙垣（创49:22；诗80:11）——如果实的葡萄树，既不荒废地土，也不结酸葡萄或所多玛的葡萄，而是结好果子。(2) 儿女必如橄榄栽子——不久便有望成为橄榄树，虽按本性是野的，却被接在好橄榄上，同享其根与肥汁（罗11:17）。对那些摆设了桌子——虽只有寻常饮食——的父母来说，看见儿女围绕桌子，是一件乐事；有许多儿女足以环绕桌子，他们与父母同在，并未分散，父母也不被他们所迫而离开。约伯把自己从前昌盛的头一个例子列为：他的儿女都在他那里（伯29:5）。父母喜欢儿女同桌吃饭，好维持席间谈话的乐趣，喜欢他们健康——要食物而非药物，喜欢他们如橄榄栽子——挺直青翠，吸吮良好教育的汁液，有望在适当时候成为有用。
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他们必得着神所应许、他们所祈求的：愿耶和华从锡安赐福给你——锡安是约柜所在，是敬虔的以色列人敬拜之处。从锡安而来的赐福是上好的赐福，并非源自寻常的护理，而是源自特别的恩典（诗20:2）。
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他们必长寿，以享受后代起发的安慰：你必看见你儿女的儿女，如约瑟一般（创50:23）。你的家必被建立、延续，你也必享受看见的喜乐。儿女的儿女若是好儿女，便是老年人的冠冕（箴17:6）——老年人往往疼爱孙辈。
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他们必看见神教会的福祉，并本国的福祉——每一位敬畏神的人对此的关切，不亚于对自己家庭的昌盛。你必因锡安的赐福而被赐福，也必自认为如此。你一生一世必看见耶路撒冷的好处——即使你寿数长久，也必不因公众的患难而使私人的安慰被削减或变苦。一个好人看见儿女的儿女，所得的安慰不多，除非他也看见以色列的平安，并有指望把那纯洁完整的信仰传承留给后来的人——因为那才是最好的产业。
英文原文
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.
本篇如前篇一样是家庭之诗。在前篇我们受教,家庭的亨通在乎神的赐福;在本篇我们受教,得那使家庭舒适之福的惟一途径,就是活在神的敬畏与顺服之中。如此行的人,笼统而言必蒙福(诗128:1,2,4);特别而言:一、他们的职业必亨通顺利(诗128:2);二、他们的亲人必和合相得(诗128:3);三、他们必长寿看见家庭成立(诗128:6);四、他们必因看见神的教会处于兴盛之境而满足(诗128:5,6)。我们必须坚信这真理而唱这首诗——即宗教与敬虔是外面亨通最好的朋友;为这事如此归荣耀给神,也为我们已如此经历而感谢他,并以此为勉励自己与他人之用。