117# “苦难”表示渴望认识真理的焦虑。这从“苦难”的含义清楚可知，“苦难”是指这种焦虑，即渴望认识真理的心灵焦虑；因为此处论述的是那些愿意理解圣言，却尚未很好理解的人(参看AE112节)，当这些人不理解时，就灵而言，他们就处于一种焦虑状态。除了那些处于为了真理对真理的情感，也就是处于属灵情感的人外，没有人能知道，当这些人不理解时，他们就有这种焦虑；至于这些人是谁，可参看前文(115节)。其原因在于，他们与天堂天使结合，天使不断渴望真理，因为他们渴望聪明和智慧；他们渴望这些，就像饥饿的人渴望食物。也正因如此，聪明和智慧被称为属灵的食物。人自婴孩时就拥有这种渴望，因为当他是个婴孩，后来又长成一个男孩时，就与天堂结合；这种渴望来自天堂；但它在那些转向世界的人那里消亡。由此可知，什么是此处“苦难”所表示的心灵焦虑或属灵焦虑。
他们在阅读圣言，却没有很好地理解它时，有这种焦虑，是因为天堂和教会的一切真理都来自圣言，就隐藏在它的灵义中，只向那些与天堂结合的人打开，圣言的灵义在天堂中。然而，圣言的灵义不是直接从天堂流入人，而是流入他的情感，并通过情感流入他所拥有的知识或认知，从而点燃他的渴望；然后，他能从圣言的字义看到它们到何等程度，就在何等程度上接受纯正的教会真理。凡处于对真理的属灵情感的人都会意识到，他知道的东西极少，他不知道的东西却是无限的。此外，他还会意识到，知道并承认这一点是迈向智慧的第一步；那些以自己所知道的东西为骄傲，由此而自以为是最聪明的人没有抵达这第一步。这些人也习惯以虚假为荣，胜过以真理为荣，因为他们关注自己的名声，只受这名声影响，不受真理本身影响。他们就是那些只处于属世情感和源于这情感的渴望之人(关于他们，也可参看AE115节)。
117. And tribulation. That this signifies anxiety from the desire to know truths, is evident from the signification of tribulation, as being such anxiety; for those are here treated of who wish to understand the Word, and do not yet well understand it (as may be seen above, n. 112), and these are in a state of anxiety as to the spirit when they do not understand. That they have such anxiety when they do not understand, none can know but those who are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth, thus, who are in spiritual affection. Who these are, may be seen above (n. 115). The reason is, that they are conjoined to the angels of heaven, who continually desire truths, because they desire intelligence and wisdom. They desire these as the hungry desire food; therefore, also, intelligence and wisdom are called spiritual food. This desire man has from his infancy, because, when he is an infant, and afterwards when he becomes a boy, he is conjoined to heaven; and this desire is from heaven, but it perishes with those who turn themselves to the world. From these considerations it may be known what the anxiety of mind, or spiritual anxiety, is, which is here signified by tribulation.
[2] The reason why they have such anxiety when they read the Word and do not well understand it, is, that all the truths of heaven and the church are from the Word, and lie concealed in its spiritual sense, but are not opened to any except those who are conjoined with heaven, because that sense of the Word is in heaven. But the spiritual sense itself of the Word - does not flow into man directly from heaven, but it flows into his affection, and by this into the knowledges (cognitiones) which he has, and thus enkindles his desire, and then, so far as be can see from the literal sense of the Word, so far be receives the genuine truths of the church. Every one who is in the spiritual affection of truth perceives that there are few things which he knows, and infinitely numerous things which he does not know. He knows also that to know and acknowledge this, is the first step to wisdom; and that those have not arrived at the first step to wisdom who pride themselves on their knowledge (scientia), and thence believe themselves to be highly intelligent. Such persons also are in the habit of being more proud of falsities than of truths, for they have regard to their own fame, and are influenced by that alone, and not by the truth itself. Such are those who are only in a natural affection, and the desire thence derived (concerning whom also see above, n. 115).
117. And affliction, signifies anxiety from a longing to know truths. This is evident from the signification of "affliction," as being anxiety of mind from a longing to know truths; for those who wish to understand the Word, but who do not as yet well understand it, are here treated of (See above, n. 112), and these are in anxiety as to the spirit when they do not understand. That these have such anxiety when they do not understand, none can know except those who are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth, that is, who are in spiritual affection; who these are may be seen above (n. 115). The reason of this is, that such are conjoined to the angels of heaven, and angels continually long for truths, because they long for intelligence and wisdom; they long for these as a hungry man longs for food. For this reason also intelligence and wisdom are called spiritual food. This longing also man has from infancy, for when he is an infant, and afterwards when a child, he is conjoined to heaven, and this longing is from heaven; but with those who turn themselves to the world it perishes. From this it may be known what is the anxiety of mind or spiritual anxiety that is here signified by "affliction. "
[2] They have such anxiety when they read the Word and do not well understand it, because all the truths of heaven and the church are from the Word, and lie concealed therein in its spiritual sense, and are not opened to any except such as are conjoined to heaven, since that sense of the Word is in heaven. Yet the spiritual sense itself of the Word does not flow in with man out of heaven, but it flows into his affection, and through this into the knowledges that he has, and thus kindles his longing, and he then receives the genuine truths of the church so far as he can see them from the literal sense of the Word. Everyone who is in the spiritual affection of truth is conscious that the things that he knows are few, and the things that he does not know are infinite. He is aware, moreover, that knowing and acknowledging this is the first step towards wisdom; and that those who pride themselves on the things they know, and believe themselves on account of these to be most intelligent, have not reached this first step. Such persons also commonly glory more from falsities than from truths, for they have regard to their own reputation, and are affected by that alone, and not by truth itself. Such are they who are in natural affection only and in longing from that (See above, n. 115).
117. "Et afflictionem." - Quod significet anxietatem ex desiderio cognoscendi vera, constat ex significatione "afflictionis", quod sit anxietas mentis ex desiderio cognoscendi vera; agitur enim de illis qui volunt intelligere Verbum, et nondum bene intelligunt (videatur supra, n. 112); et hi in anxietate quoad spiritum sunt, quando non intelligunt. Quod illis talis anxietas sit quando non intelligunt, non scire possunt alii quam qui in affectione veri propter verum sunt, ita qui in affectione spirituali; quinam illi sunt, videatur mox supra (n. 115). Causa est, quia illi conjuncti sunt angelis caeli; et hi continue desiderant vera, quia intelligentiam et sapientiam; desiderant illas sicut famelicus cibum, quapropter etiam intelligentia et sapientia vocatur "cibus spiritualis." Hoc etiam desiderium est homini ab infantia, quia homo cum infans est, et dein cum puer, conjunctus est caelo, et ex caelo hoc desiderium est; sed perit apud illos qui se vertunt ad mundum. Ex his sciri potest quid anxietas mentis seu anxietas spiritualis, quae significatur hic per "afflictionem."
[2] Quod talis anxietas illis sit cum legunt Verbum et non bene intelligunt illud, est quia omnia vera caeli et ecclesiae inde sunt, et ibi recondita latent in sensu ejus spirituali, at non aperiuntur aliis quam qui conjuncti sunt caelo, quoniam ille sensus Verbi in caelo est; sed e caelo non influit ipse spiritualis sensus Verbi apud hominem, verum influit in affectionem ejus, et per hanc in cognitiones quae apud illum, et sic desiderium ejus incendit; et tunc quantum ex sensu litterali Verbi videre potest, tantum recipit genuina vera ecclesiae. Quisque qui in affectione veri spirituali est, appercipit quod pauca sint quae scit, et infinita quae non scit; novit etiam quod illud scire et agnoscere sit primus gradus ad sapientiam; et quod ad primum gradum non venerint qui ex scientiis superbiunt, ac intelligentissimos se inde credunt: hi etiam solent ex falsis plus quam ex veris gloriari; spectant enim sui famam, et hac solum afficiuntur, et non ipso vero; tales sunt qui solum in naturali affectione et inde desiderio sunt (de qua etiam videatur supra, n. 115).