旧约 - 箴言(Proverbs)第3章

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;
they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"--when you now have it with you.
Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason--when he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
The LORD'S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.
The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.
箴言第三章   第 3 章 

  箴 3:3> 慈爱和诚实,两者间有何关联? 

  3:3 慈爱与诚实都是重要的美德,不仅要常存于心,也需要有行动来表现。慈爱的人不仅感觉到爱,也诚实而认真地去爱。信实的人不仅相信真理,也为他人争取公平。思想与言语并不足以显明我们是否真正慈爱诚实,只有在我们的生活和行为上才能反映出来。 

  箴 3:5-6> “神哪!你怎么不这样做……?”──是自己比神还聪明吗? 

  3:5-6 倚靠是指完全信靠某人或某物。在我们要作重大抉择的时候,有时会觉得不能信靠任何人,甚至连神都不相信。但是神知道什么最适合我们,且比我们更清楚我们的需要,所以我们必须完全倚靠祂去作一切的抉择。我们不可忽略仔细的思考,或轻看神给我们这理性思维能力,不过我们切不可只相信自己的想法,更不可自以为聪明。我们必须甘心乐意地领受圣经与智者的矫正,更藉祷告求神指引我们作抉择,以圣经作为指南遵从神的引领。祂要保护引导我们,使我们行在正直的路上。 

  箴 3:6> 在一切所行的事上寻求神的旨意,我有时忘记,有时是不想…… 

  3:6 所罗门说,要领受神的引导,意思是我们生活的各方面都以祂为首,在所行的一切事上都寻求祂的旨意。主耶稣也强调同一个真理(参太 6:33 )。请你省察一下:什么是你最优先考虑的事,什么东西你认为最有价值?你在哪些方面还不清楚祂的旨意?祂对你有什么劝告?你可能在许多方面都已晓得神的旨意,但在能令你忧愁的那方面,你可能企图限制或不理会祂的影响。在你一切所行的事上,都要以祂为主,这样祂就会引导你,因你所行的是要成全祂的旨意。 

  箴 3:9-10> 要将最好的献给神,什么是我最好的?献给神了没有? 

  3:9-10 初熟的土产指献给神最初、也是最好的收成(参申 26:9-11 )。许多人把自己剩下来的献给神。如果他们有能力,他们就捐献。尽管这样做是诚实的,也是甘心乐意的捐献,但这种态度却是倒退的。我们应先将收入的一部分献给神,然后再用来做其他事。这表示在我们的生命之中居首位的是神,而非财产,因我们的才智金钱皆属于祂,我们只是祂所赐资源的管家。将最好的优先献给神,能帮助我们胜过贪心,使我们善用祂所赐的资源,并能领受祂特别的恩福。 

  箴 3:11-12> 我轻看、厌烦神的管教吗? 

  3:11-12 义人并不总是兴旺发达,因为神会藉着逆境管教我们。管教就是教导与管束。对许多人来说,管教常有负面的意思,因为管教人的似乎都缺乏爱心。但是,至善之神则不然,祂并不是因喜欢我们受苦而处罚我们,而是因为祂关怀我们的成长。祂知道要使我们在德行上坚强良善,就须藉祂慈爱的管教,使我们能认识是非。 

  箴 3:11-12> 爱之深,责之切。在神管教你时,你体会得到祂的爱吗? 

  3:11-12 我们被神管教的时候,有时很难明白祂的用意,直到以后回顾那时的情形才能领悟。并不是一切灾祸都直接出于神,但是当神指明我们生活中的某些罪,而我们又悖逆祂、不肯悔改时,祂就可能藉恶人、危机或祸事领我们回转归向祂。不过,即使在我们的生活上没有明显的罪恶,也会有艰难的时刻。这时,我们就应当忍耐自洁,确信神必指示我们做该做的事。 

  箴 3:16-17> 得了智慧必然健康长寿,富贵亨通吗? 

  3:16-17 箴言有多处提到得智慧的好处,包括长寿、富贵、平安。如果你不是这样的话,是否表示你缺少智慧呢?并不尽然。这些陈述只是一般的规律而非百分之百的保证。在完美的世界里,得智慧常常会有这些好处,即使在苦难的世界上,有智慧的生活往往也会带来明显的福分,不过并不是绝对的。有时因罪的介入,使一些福分要等到主耶稣再来建立祂永恒的国度时才能得到。这就是我们“行事为人必须凭信心,而不凭眼见”的原因(参林后 5:7 )。智慧终会使人得福,这是我们可以放心的。 

  箴 3:21> 真智慧与谋略有什么分别? 

  3:21 谋略是神赐给许多人的一种能力,叫人善于思考,并能作正确的抉择。而真智慧神却只赐给听从祂的人。真智慧包括谋略,也包括从教导、训练与管教而得到的知识,并因明白和实践真理而得的真知灼见。 

  箴 3:27-28> 行善早一天晚一天没关系吧?什么?我是在推辞?…… 

  3:27-28 延迟行善──无论是他人所求的,还是履行自己的承诺,都是不顾别人和不守信用的表现。拖延使你失去人的信任,也造成他人极大的不便。你要热心地向人行善,就像你对待自己一样。 

  智慧:实用的真理──《灵修版圣经注释》