聖經新普及譯本
經文細心賞
約拿書四章—約拿因上主的憐憫而生氣
約拿書給我們的印象是敍述緊湊，情節峰迴路轉。《聖經•新普及譯本》把約拿書第四章的標題定為“約拿因上主的憐憫而生氣”，表達了上主與約拿之間的張力：上主憐憫，約拿生氣。這種張力也從經文的字裏行間充分地表露出來。大家不妨細心閱讀《聖經•新普及譯本》約拿書第四章，感受這份文字的感染力，從中體會上主慈愛深厚，超乎我們所思所想。
| 約拿因上主的憐憫而生氣
| Jonah's Anger at the LORD's Mercy
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| 約拿怒氣沖沖向上主抱怨，上主只反問了他一句作回應，對比之中見上主的慈愛忍耐。 |
4約拿對上主這樣改變計劃大為不滿，非常生氣，
2就向上主抱一怨說：“上主啊，我離開家之前，不是已經說了你會這麼做嗎？就因為這樣我才逃去他施！我知道你是慈悲憐憫的上帝，不輕易發怒，有永不止息的愛。你不忍心消滅人。
3 那現在你就殺了我吧，上主！如果我預言的不能實現，我不如死了算了。”
4 上主回答說：“你這樣生氣，對嗎？”
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4This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry,
2So he compalained to the LORD about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
3 Just kill me now LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if whatl predicted will not happen"
4 The LORD replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?"
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| 生動地描述了植物的生長形態，表達上主對約拿的看顧。 |
5約拿出了城，在城東面搭了一座棚，坐在裹面，要看那城將會怎樣。
6上主上帝讓一棵枝葉繁茂的植物在那裹生長起來，它寬大的葉片很快就伸展到約拿的頭上，為他遮擋陽光。約拿覺得舒服多了，就為那棵植物心存感恩。 |
5Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.
6 And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. |
| 細緻地描述約拿對上主的作為不同的反應，形成強烈對比。 |
7然而，上帝又安排了一條蟲！第二天黎明，植物的莖被那條蟲咬斷了，就枯萎了。
8太陽升起後，上帝讓灼熱的東風吹向約拿。烈日照在他的頭上，他被曬得發昏，恨不得馬上死去，便大喊：“死了肯定比這樣活看好！” |
7But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away.
8And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. ";Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed. |
| 上主再次反問約拿，句式呼應第一次的回應R上主依然慈愛忍耐。約拿仍舊怒火中燒，上主接着表達祂的憐憫之情。三段的對比突顯上主慈愛深厚。 |
9 上帝對約拿說：“那植物死了你就生氣，這樣對嗎？”約拿反駁說：“對！我氣得簡直要死！”
10上主就說：“那棵植物不是你種的，它很快長大，很快又枯死，你甚麼也沒做，卻還懂得愛惜它：
11 尼尼微單是人就有超過十二萬活在靈性的黑暗裹*，還沒算上當中所有的動物，難道我不該愛惜這樣一座大城嗎？ |
sup>9Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?""Yes,"Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!"
10 Then the LORD said, ""You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quick.
11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,* not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city? |
| 4:11希伯來文為“分不清自己左右手的人”。 |
4:11Hebrew people who don't know their right hand from their left. |