< 2 Peter 2 >
1 But there also came false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you, who will stealthily bring in destructive sects, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing quick destruction to themselves,
從前連在選民中,也有過假先知;同樣,將來在你們中,也要出現假教師,他們要倡導使人喪亡的異端,連救贖他們的主,也都敢否認:這是自取迅速的喪亡。
2 and many will follow out their destructive ways, because of whom the way of the truth will be spoken of [as] evil,
有許多人將要隨從他們的放蕩,甚至真理之道,也要因他們而受到誹謗。
3 and in covetousness, with forged words, they will make merchandise of you, whose judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
他們因貪吝成性,要以花言巧語在你們身上營利;可是他們的案件自古以來,就未安閒,他們的喪亡也決不稍息。
4 For if God did not spare messengers having sinned, but having cast [them] down to Tartarus with chains of deepest gloom, delivered [them], having been reserved to judgment, (Tartaroō )
天主既然沒有寬免犯罪的天使,把他們投入了地獄,囚在幽暗的深坑,拘留到審判之時; (Tartaroō )
5 and did not spare the old world, but kept the eighth person, Noah, a preacher of righteousness, having brought a flood on the world of the impious,
既然沒有寬免古時的世界,曾引來洪水淹滅了惡人的世界,只保存了宣講正義的諾厄一家八口;
6 and having turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, condemned with an overthrow, having set [them as] an example to those about to be impious,
又降罰了索多瑪和哈摩辣城,使之化為灰燼,至於毀滅,以作後世作惡者的鑑戒,
7 and He rescued righteous Lot, worn down by the conduct of the lawless in licentiousness,
只救出了那因不法之徒的放蕩生活而悲傷的義人羅特--
8 for the righteous [man] dwelling among them was tormented in [his] righteous soul, day by day, in seeing and hearing unlawful works—
因為這義人住在他們中,他正直的靈魂,天天因所見所聞的不法行為,感到苦惱--
9 the LORD has known to rescue [the] pious out of temptation, and to keep [the] unrighteous being punished to [the] day of judgment,
那麼,上主自然也知道拯救虔誠的人,脫離磨難,而存留不義的人,等候審判的日子受處罰,
10 and chiefly those following after the flesh in lust [and] defilement, and despising lordship. Bold, self-pleased, they are not afraid to speak evil of glorious ones,
尤其是存留那些隨從肉慾,而生活在污穢情慾中的人,以及那些輕視「 主權者」的人。他們都是些膽大驕傲的人,竟不怕褻瀆「眾尊榮者,」
11 whereas messengers, being greater in strength and power, do not bear a slanderous judgment against them before the LORD;
就是連力量德能大於他們的天使,也不敢在上主面前,以侮辱的言詞對他們下判決。
12 and these, as irrational natural beasts, made to be caught and destroyed—in what things they are ignorant of, slandering—in their destruction will be destroyed;
然而這些人實在如無理性的牲畜,生來就是為受捉拿,受宰殺,凡他們不明白的事就要褻瀆;他們必要如牲畜一樣喪亡,
13 doing unjustly, [they will receive] a reward of unrighteousness, esteeming pleasure in the day, [and] luxury—[they are] spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceits, feasting with you,
受他們不義的報應。他們只以一日的享受為快樂,實是些污穢骯髒的人;當他們同你們宴樂時,縱情於淫樂;
14 having eyes full of adultery, and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousnesses, children of a curse,
他們滿眼邪色,犯罪不饜,勾引意志薄弱的人;他們的心習慣了貪吝,真是些應受咒罵的人。
15 having forsaken a right way, they went astray, having followed in the way of Balaam the [son] of Bosor, who loved a reward of unrighteousness,
他們離棄正道,走入了歧途,隨從了貝敖爾的兒子巴郎的道路,他曾貪愛過不義的酬報,
16 and had a rebuke of his own iniquity—a mute donkey, having spoken in man’s voice, forbid the madness of the prophet.
可是也受了他作惡的責罰:一個不會說話的牲口,竟用人的聲音說了話,制止了這先知的妄為。
17 These are wells without water, and clouds driven by a storm, to whom the deepest gloom of darkness has been kept throughout the age; ()
他們像無水的泉源,又像為狂風所飄颺的雲霧:為他們所存留的,是黑暗的幽冥。 ()
18 for speaking swollen words of vanity, they entice in desires of the flesh—licentiousness, those who had truly escaped from those conducting themselves in error,
因為他們好講虛 偽的大話,用肉慾的放蕩為餌,勾引那些剛纔擺脫錯謬生活的人;
19 promising liberty to them, themselves being servants of corruption, for by whom anyone has been overcome, he has been brought to servitude to this one also;
應許他們自由,自己卻是敗壞的奴隸,因為人被誰制勝,就是誰的奴隸。
20 for if having escaped from the defilements of the world, in the acknowledging of the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, and again being entangled by these things, they have been overcome, the last things have become worse to them than the first,
如果他們因認識主和救世者耶穌基督,而擺脫世俗的污穢以後,再為這些事所纏繞而打敗,他們末後的處境,就必比以前的更為惡劣,
21 for it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of righteousness, than having acknowledged [it], to turn back from the holy command delivered to them,
因為不認識正義之道,比認識後 而又背棄那傳授給他們的聖誡命,為他們倒好得多。
22 and that of the true proverb has happened to them: “A dog turned back on his own vomit,” and, “A sow having bathed herself—to rolling in mire.”
在他們身上正應驗了這句恰當的俗語:「狗嘔吐的,牠又回來再吃;」又「母豬洗淨了,又到污泥裏打滾。」