서론
Psalm 113 Introduction
英文原文
The author of this psalm, as of those which immediately precede it, is unknown. It is very general in its character, and has no allusion to any circumstances by which one could determine the name of the author, or the occasion on which it was written. In connection with the five following psalms, it constitutes what was known among the Hebrews as the "Hallel'; that is, the song of praise, sung on great occasions, at the annual festivals, and especially at the Passover and the Feast of tabernacles. Buxtorf, Lexicon. Tal., p. 613, et al.
This psalm, which is expressive of the majesty of God, as having a claim to universal praise, consists essentially of two parts:
I. The general statement that God is to be praised, and a call on all to engage in that service, Psalm 113:1-3.II. Reasons why he should be praised, Psalm 113:4-9.
(1) he is exalted above all nations, Psalm 113:4;
(2) None can be compared with him, Psalm 113:5;
(3) he is condescending, and looks with interest on the things in heaven and on earth, Psalm 113:6;
(4) He exalts the poor to positions of honor and influence, Psalm 113:7-8;
(5) He constitutes and appoints families, with all that is tender and joyous in the domestic relation, Psalm 113:9.
1
Psalm 113:1
「你們要讚美耶和華」——旁註作「哈利路亞」，與希伯來文相同。參見 Psalm 106:1 的註釋。
「耶和華的僕人哪，你們要讚美」——你們這些宣稱事奉順服祂、承認祂為你們之神的人。在原文裏，這也是「哈利路」一詞——希伯來文 הללוּ（halelû）。
「讚美耶和華的名」——仍是同一個詞「哈利路」。耶和華的名在此一如慣常的用法，乃指耶和華自己。
英文原文
Praise ye the Lord - Margin, as in Hebrew, "Hallelujah." See the notes at Psalm 106:1.
Praise, O ye servants of the Lord - You who profess to serve and obey him; who acknowledge him as your God. In the original this is also the word "Hallelu," הללוּ halelû.
Praise the name of the Lord - Still the same word "Hallelu." The name of the Lord is put here, as it is often, for the Lord himself.
2
Psalm 113:2
「耶和華的名是應當稱頌的」——願耶和華受稱頌；或者說，願耶和華的名蒙稱頌。
「從今時直到永遠」——如今直到永遠。祂如今配得頌讚，祂也永遠配得。祂現在如何，將來也永遠如何；頌讚如今既是恰當的，它也必存到永永遠遠。永恆的神配得永恆的頌讚。
英文原文
Blessed be the name of the Lord - Blessed be the Lord; or; Let the name of the Lord be blessed.
From this time forth and for evermore - Now and forever. He is worthy of praise now, and he ever will be. What he is now, he will always continue to be; and as praise is proper now, it will be forever and ever. An eternal God has claims to eternal praise.
3
Psalm 113:3
「從日出之地……」——從最遠的東方到最遠的西方——因為升起與落下的日頭，乃是我們在地平線上所能望見最遙遠之物。
「耶和華的名是應當稱頌的」——這並非說這名「將要」被稱頌——儘管這確實是真的；而是說這名「應當」受稱頌——它配得普天下一切的讚美。東方與西方的萬民——各處的人——都「當」稱頌並敬拜這名。
英文原文
From the rising of the sun ... - From the farthest east to the farthest west - the sun in its rising and setting being the remotest object that we see in the horizon.
The Lord's name is to be praised - This does not mean that it "will" be - though that is true; but that it "ought" to be - that it is worthy of universal praise. All people in the east and in the west - everywhere - "should" praise and adore that name.
4
Psalm 113:4
「耶和華超乎萬民之上」——希伯來文是「耶和華被高舉，超乎萬民」。意思是：祂統管萬民；引導萬民的事務；祂是他們的主權君王。按事實、也按情勢的必然，祂坐在高於世上一切君王與國度的寶座上。祂不僅是一國的主權者，更是萬國的主權者；萬國都當承認這一點，這是理所當然的。
「他的榮耀高過諸天」——即那使祂顯為榮耀的。祂榮耀性情的彰顯並不限於地上；它延及諸天；也不限於肉眼可見的諸天；它遠遠超越，直達無垠太空的領域。宇宙——大地與衆星的世界——都滿了祂榮耀的彰顯；而在受造之物的邊界以外（若真有邊界），神也在那裏——沒有限量——同一位神——在那裏也配受普世的頌讚！誰能測透這樣一位神？參 Psalm 8:1 的註釋。
英文原文
The Lord is high above all nations - Hebrew, Exalted above all nations is Yahweh. That is, he rules over all nations; he directs their affairs; he is their sovereign king. As a matter of fact, and from the necessity of the case, he is on a throne which is elevated above all the kings and kingdoms of the world. He is the Sovereign not only of one nation, but of all; and it is meet that this should be acknowledged by them all.
And his glory above the heavens - That which renders him glorious. The manifestations of his glorious character are not confined to the earth; they extend to the heavens; they are not confined to the visible heavens; they extend far beyond, in the regions of illimitable space. The universe - the earth and the starry worlds - all are full of the manifestations of his glory; and far beyond the bounds of created things (if they have a boundary), God is there - without limit - the same God - worthy there of universal praise! Who can comprehend such a God? Compare the notes at Psalm 8:1.
5
Psalm 113:5
「誰像耶和華——我們的神呢？」——誰能與我們的神耶和華相比呢？參 Isaiah 40:17-25 的註釋。其意是：沒有任何受造物——沒有任何偶像——能與耶和華相比。這話特別指着隨即明言的屬性而說——祂自己謙卑，觀看天上地下的事；祂抬起貧窮人等。就神「大體」而論，沒有受造之物能與祂相比，這是真實的；就祂的每一屬性而論，它們遠超一切受造的卓越，這也是真實的。
「他坐在高處」——邊註作「自己升高而居」。按字面是「使自己高居的那位」。這話適用於坐在崇高寶座上的那一位。比較 Psalm 8:1。祂的居所——祂的寶座——祂永久的座位——在天上：如此之高、如此尊貴，以致俯視大地、甚至觀看諸天，也需要無限的屈尊。
英文原文
Who is like unto the Lord our God? - Who can be compared with Yahweh our God? See the notes at Isaiah 40:17-25. The meaning is, that no creature - no idol - can be compared with Yahweh. The remark here has special reference to his attributes as immediately specified - his humbling himself to behold the things in heaven and in earth; his raising up the poor, etc. It is true "in general," in regard to God, that no creature can be compared with him; it is true, in regard to each one of his attributes, that they are far above all created excellence.
Who dwelleth on high - Margin, "exalteth himself to dwell." Literally, "The one making high to sit." The language is applicable to one who is seated on a lofty throne. Compare Psalm 8:1. He has his dwelling - his throne - his permanent seat - in the heavens: so high and exalted that it requires infinite condescension to look upon the earth, or even upon the heavens.
6
Psalm 113:6
自己謙卑……——他高到一個地步，甚至必須俯身，才能觀看那在我們看來至高的物；而他實在這樣俯身，垂顧他在天上地下所造之物。
觀看天上地下的事——更字面的譯法是「觀看天上與地」。即使觀看天——它對我們已是如此之高——更遑論觀看地——與天空浩大之天體相比，它是如此微不足道——對神而言都是自甘謙卑。他必須俯身——即使僅為觀看太陽、星宿、遙遠的諸世界！然而他確實這樣行。沒有一個世界不是他恆常鑒察的；沒有一個受造之物，其好處不是他所看顧的；沒有一隻昆蟲、一朵花、一粒微塵，不是他以最細緻的注意加以垂顧，彷彿再無別的事物需要他的看顧似的。
英文原文
Who humbleth himself ... - So high that it is necessary he should stoop even to behold the things which seem most lofty to us; and who actually does stoop thus to regard the things which he has made in heaven and on earth.
To behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! - More literally, "to look in heaven and in earth." Even to look on heaven, high as it is to us - still more to look on earth, so insignificant as compared with the vast bodies in the heavens - is condescension on the part of God. It requires him to stoop - even to look on the sun - the stars - the distant worlds! Yet he does this. There is not a world which he does not survey constantly; not a creature whose interests he does not regard; not an insect - a flower - an atom - that he does not regard with as much minute attention as though there were nothing else to demand his care.
7
Psalm 113:7
「他從灰塵裏抬舉貧寒人」——即從人生最卑微的境況中。神把他們高舉到富足、尊位、榮譽的境況。祂有能力這樣行;祂也確實這樣行。這並不是要斷言為一條普遍真理,也不是要斷言事情總是如此;而是說,這乃是顯明祂的威嚴、祂的權能和祂的良善、並為讚美立下根基的事之一。
「從糞堆中提拔窮乏人」——即從最赤貧的境況中。這樣的事例足夠眾多,足以支持這樣的斷言,並表明這是稱頌神的合宜根基。
英文原文
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust - From the most humble condition in life. He exalts them to conditions of wealth, rank, honor. He has power to do this; he actually does it. This is not intended to be affirmed as a universal truth, or to assert that it is always done, but that it is among the things which show his majesty, his power, and his goodness, and which lay the foundation for praise.
And lifteth the needy out of the dunghill - From the condition of lowest poverty. Instances are sufficiently abundant in which this is done, to justify such an assertion, and to show that it is a proper foundation of praise to God.
8
Psalm 113:8
「使他們與王子同坐」 — 即賜他一個等次——一個地位——與世上的貴族偉人同列。世界歷史上有許多這類事例。英格蘭的貴族中，包括好幾位大法官，不乏這樣從極卑微的生活中被提拔起來的人；而且在每一個國家中，神都顯明他有權能，賜給地位最卑微的人一個名字和位置，是任何世襲的頭銜與尊榮都無法賦予的：正如莎士比亞不過是一位手套匠兼羊毛商的兒子。神有能力進入最簡陋的貧寒茅舍，從那裡興起一代之中最傑出的天才與偉人。沒有甚麼比神這樣握有對世上列國的權能更絕對的了；這樣一位擁有此權能而又施行此權能的，理當受人的讚美與尊崇。
「就是與本國的王子同坐」 — 在那些被選出來、治理他為自己所選之民的人中間。這裡隱含的意思是：這比在外邦人中——在不認識真神的民中——被高舉掌權更為尊榮。被算為配得治理一個基督教國家，比治理一個異教民族更榮耀；在教會中作掌權者——治理那些神為自己救贖的人——比執掌一個屬世的政府更榮耀。
英文原文
That he may set him with princes - May give him a rank - a position - with nobles and great people upon the earth. Many instances of this nature have occurred in the history of the world. Not a few of the nobles of England, including several of its lord chancellors, have been raised thus from very humble life; and in every nation God shows that he has power to give to those of humblest rank a name and place which no hereditary titles and honors can bestow: thus Shakespeare was the son of a glover and woolstapler. God has power to come into the humblest cottage of poverty, and to bring forth those who shall stand foremost in their generation as people of genius and power. Nothing is more absolute than the power which God thus holds over the nations of the earth, and it is meet that a Being who has this power, and who exercises it, should be praised and honored.
Even with the princes of his people - Among those who are selected to preside over the people whom he has chosen for himself. It is implied here that this would be a higher honor than to be exalted to power among a pagan people - a people ignorant of the true God. It is a higher honor to be counted worthy to rule a Christian nation than a pagan people; it is a higher honor to be a ruler in the church - over those whom God has redeemed for himself - than it is to administer a secular government.
9
Psalm 113:9
「他使不能生育的婦人安居家中……」——邊註如希伯來文作「住在房屋中」；即處於一家之首，掌管家務。見 Psalm 68:6 的註釋。參 1 Samuel 2:5。這也是被提出來作為神當受讚美、當受敬拜的一個理由。在一切後嗣的盼望都已斷絕的情形下，他介入其中，使喜樂洋溢於一家之中。我們放眼四望，都可以看見許多讚美神的理由——在他肯俯就人間事務上——在他把窮人從最卑微的境況中提拔起來上——在他把卑微之輩提升到尊榮、信任、財富和權柄的位置上；然而，歸根結底，我們若想找到最能溫柔地打動人心、又與心靈最熾熱的情感相連的讚美理由，最有可能是在家庭的小圈子裏——在將家庭成員連結在一起的那互相的愛、共同的喜樂、溫柔的情感之中。在這樣的家庭裏，本詩開頭與結尾的話——「哈利路亞」「哈利路亞」——尤其貼切；地上若有任何群體該把這話應用在自己身上，那就該是這樣的家庭：一切溫柔、聖潔、可愛的事物都在呼召它「讚美」耶和華。
英文原文
He maketh the barren woman to keep house ... - Margin, as in Hebrew, "to dwell in a house." That is, to be at the head of a family. See the notes at Psalm 68:6. Compare 1 Samuel 2:5. This, too, is suggested as a reason why God should be praised and adored. In instances where all hope of posterity is cut off, he interposes, and diffuses joy through a dwelling. We may look abroad, and see abundant occasion for praising God, in his condescension to human affairs - in his lifting up the poor from the humblest condition - in his exalting those of lowly rank to places of honor, trust, wealth, and power; but, after all, if we wish to Find occasions of praise that will most tenderly affect the heart, and be connected with the warmest affections of the soul, they will be most likely to be found in the domestic circle - in the mutual love - the common joy - the tender feelings - which bind together the members of a family. In such a family, the words with which this psalm begins and ends, "Hallelujah," "Hallelujah," are especially appropriate; and if any community on earth should apply these words to itself it should be such a family, called upon by everything tender, holy, and lovely, to "praise the" Lord.
本詩與前面幾篇詩一樣，作者不詳。它的性質十分籠統，沒有任何暗指，可使人據以判定作者的名字或寫作的場合。它與隨後五篇詩相連，構成希伯來人所稱的「哈利爾」（Hallel），即頌讚之詩，在重大的場合、年度的節日詠唱，尤其是在逾越節與住棚節。見 Buxtorf，Lexicon. Tal., p. 613 等。
本詩頌揚神的主權威嚴，宣告他配得普世的讚美，基本上由兩部分構成：
一、陳明神當受讚美，並呼召所有人投身這項事奉，Psalm 113:1-3。
二、他當受讚美的理由，Psalm 113:4-9。
(1) 他超乎萬民之上，Psalm 113:4；
(2) 無人能與他相比，Psalm 113:5；
(3) 他俯就垂顧，以天上的事和地上的事為念，Psalm 113:6；
(4) 他抬舉貧窮人，使他們居於尊貴有勢之位，Psalm 113:7-8；
(5) 他立定安排家家戶戶，使家庭關係中一切溫馨歡樂之事得以存立，Psalm 113:9。