238# “困苦、贫穷”表示他们不知道他们既没有真理的知识，也没有良善的知识。这从“困苦”和“贫穷”的含义清楚可知：“困苦”或可怜的是指那些缺乏真理知识的人；“贫穷”的是那些没有良善知识的人。“困苦”或可怜的和“贫穷”的就具有这种含义，这一点从圣言中的许多经文，以及这一考虑明显看出来，即：属灵的困苦和贫穷无非是真理和良善的知识的缺乏，因为当这种缺乏存在时，灵就是困苦和贫穷的；但当灵拥有这些知识时，它就是富足和富有的；因此，在圣言中，财富和财物表示属灵的财富和财物，也就是真理和良善的知识或认知，如前所示(236节)。
“困苦”的和“贫穷”或穷乏的是圣言中的许多经文用到的词语。不知道圣言灵义的人以为他们仅仅是指世上的困苦、贫穷人。然而，所指的不是这些人，而是那些未处于真理和良善，及其知识的人。事实上，“困苦的”是指那些因未处于真理的知识而未处于真理的人，“贫穷或穷乏的”是指那些因未处于良善的知识而未处于良善的人。由于这两个词表示这两者，即真理和良善，所以许多地方提到两者；如以下经文，诗篇：
我是困苦穷乏的，主却顾念我。(诗篇40:17; 70:5)
又：
耶和华啊，求你侧耳应允我，因我是困苦穷乏的。(诗篇86:1)
“困苦穷乏的”在此明显是指那些在属灵财富方面，而不是世俗财富方面困苦穷乏的人，因为大卫是指着自己说这话的；因此，他还说：“耶和华啊，求你侧耳应允我。”
又：
恶人拔剑张弓，要打倒困苦贫穷的人。(诗篇37:14)
此处“困苦贫穷的人”明显表示那些在属灵方面如此，然而又渴望真理和良善的知识之人；因为经上说，“恶人拔剑张弓”；“剑”表示与真理争战，并努力摧毁它的虚假；“弓”表示与真理的教义争战的虚假的教义；因此，经上说，他们如此行，是“要打倒困苦贫穷的人”。“剑”表示与虚假争战的真理，在反面意义上表示与真理争战的虚假(参看AE131节)；“弓”表示正反两方面意义上的教义(参看《属天的奥秘》，2686, 2709节)。
又：
恶人迫害困苦贫穷的和心里破碎的人，要杀死他们。(诗篇109:16)
以赛亚书：
愚昧人出言愚昧，他的心作罪孽，惯行伪善，说错谬的话攻击耶和华，使饥饿的灵魂空虚，使口渴的人无所可喝。他图谋恶计，用谎言毁灭困苦人，穷乏人讲公理的时候，甚至也这样行。(以赛亚书32:6, 7)
在这段经文中，“困苦贫穷的人”是指那些缺乏真理和良善的知识之人；因此，经上说：“恶人图谋恶计，用谎言毁灭困苦人，穷乏人讲公理的时候，甚至也这样行。”“用谎言”表示用虚假，“讲公理”是指讲公正。由于此处论述的是这些人，所以经上还说：“他们惯行伪善，说错谬的话攻击耶和华，使饥饿的灵魂空虚，使口渴的人无所可喝。”“惯行伪善，说错谬的话”是指出于虚假行邪恶，出于邪恶说虚假；“使饥饿的灵魂空虚”是指剥夺那些渴望良善知识的人良善的知识，“使口渴的人无所可喝”是指剥夺那些渴望真理知识的人真理的知识。同一先知书：
困苦的人必因耶和华而有欢喜，人间贫穷的必因以色列的圣者快乐。(以赛亚书29:19)
此处“困苦贫穷的”表示那些缺乏真理和良善，却又渴望它们的人；经上说，“必因耶和华而有欢喜，必因以色列的圣者快乐”，是指着这些人，而不是指着那些在世俗财富方面困苦贫穷的人说的。
由此可见在圣言的其它经文中，“困苦贫穷的”表示什么，如以下经文。诗篇：
贫穷人必不永久被忘，困苦人的希望必不永远灭没。(诗篇9:18)
又：
神必为民中的困苦人伸冤，拯救贫穷人的子孙。贫穷人呼求的时候，祂要搭救。祂要顾惜软弱和贫穷的人，拯救贫穷人的灵魂。(诗篇72:4, 12, 13)
又：
困苦人必看见，寻求耶和华的人必欢乐。因为耶和华听了贫穷人。(诗篇69:32, 33)
又：
耶和华救护困苦人脱离那对他来说太强的，救护贫穷人脱离那抢夺他的。(诗篇35:10)
又：
要使困苦贫穷的人赞美你的名。(诗篇74:21; 109:22)
又：
我知道耶和华必维护困苦人的案件、贫穷人的权利。(诗篇140:12)
以及别的地方(如以赛亚书10:2; 耶利米书22:16; 以西结书16:49; 18:12; 22:29; 阿摩司书8:4; 申命记15:11; 24:14)。这些经文提到“困苦的”和“贫穷的”这两者，是因为按照圣言的风格，论述真理的地方也论述良善；从反面意义上说，论述虚假的地方也论述邪恶，因为它们构成一体，就像婚姻。这就是为何经上一起提到“困苦的”和“贫穷的”；因为“困苦的”是指那些缺乏真理知识的人，“贫穷的”是指那些缺乏良善知识的人。圣言的预言部分几乎处处都有这样一种婚姻(参看《属天的奥秘》，683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712, 3004, 3005, 3009, 4138, 5138, 5194, 5502, 6343, 7022, 7945, 8339, 9263, 9314节)。由于同样原因，经上接下来说“瞎眼、赤身的”，因为“瞎眼的”是指那些缺乏对真理的理解之人，“赤身的”是指那些缺乏对良善的理解和意愿之人。因此，在接下来的一节，经上说，“我劝你向我买火炼的金子，又买白衣穿上”，因为“火炼的金子”表示爱之良善，“白衣”表示信之真理。此外，经上说，“叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来；又用眼药擦你的眼睛，使你能看见”，这句话表示免得邪恶和虚假被看到。在其它经文中也是这种情况；不过，除了那些知道圣言内义的人外，没有人能看到圣言的每个部分都有这样一种婚姻。
238. And miserable and poor. That this signifies that neither do they know that these have neither knowledges of truth nor knowledges of good, is evident from the signification of misery, or miserable, as being those who are destitute of the knowledges of truth; and from the signification of poor, as being those who are without the knowledges of good. That the terms miserable and poor have such signification is evident from many passages in the Word, and moreover from this consideration, that spiritual misery and poverty are nothing else but a defect of the knowledges of truth and good, for when such defect exists, the spirit is both miserable and poor; but when these knowledges are possessed, the spirit is rich and opulent; therefore by riches and wealth in the Word are signified spiritual riches and wealth, which are the knowledges (cognitiones) of truth and good, as was shown above (n. 236).
[2] Miserable and poor are terms used in many passages in the Word; but when the spiritual sense of these terms is not known, it is believed that only those are meant who are miserable and poor as to the things of the world; when nevertheless these are not meant, but those who are not in truths and goods and in the knowledges thereof. Indeed, by the miserable are meant those who are not in truths because not in the knowledges of them, and by the poor, those who are not in goods because they are not in the knowledges thereof. Because truths and goods, are meant by these two expressions, therefore in many places both are mentioned, as in David:
"I am miserable and poor, Lord, remember me" (Psalms 40:17; 70:5).
Again:
"Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, answer; for I am miserable and poor" (Psalms 86:1).
That by the miserable and poor are not meant those who are so as to worldly riches, but as to spiritual riches, is clear, because David spoke this concerning himself; therefore he also said, "Jehovah, incline thine ear, and answer."
[3] Again:
"The wicked make bare the sword, and bend their bow, to cast down the miserable and poor" (131; and that by bow is signified doctrine in both senses, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 2686, 2709.)
[4] Again:
The wicked "persecuted the miserable and poor, and the dejected in heart to slay him" (Psalms 109:16).
In Isaiah:
"The fool speaketh foolishness, and his heart doeth iniquity to practise hypocrisy and to speak error against Jehovah, to make empty the hungry soul, and to make him who thirsteth for drink to faint. He deviseth wicked devices to destroy the miserable with words of falsehood, even when the poor speaketh judgment" (32:6, 7).
In this passage, also, by the miserable and poor are meant those who are destitute of the knowledges of truth and good; therefore it is said that the wicked deviseth wicked devices to destroy the miserable with words of falsehood, even when the poor speaketh judgment; words of falsehood denote falsities, and to speak judgment denotes what is right. Because such are here treated of, it is also said that they practise hypocrisy and utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause him that thirsteth for drink to faint. To practise hypocrisy and to utter error denotes to do evil from falsity, and to speak falsity from evil; to make empty the soul of the hungry denotes to deprive of the knowledges of good those who desire them, and to cause the thirsty to faint for drink is to deprive of the knowledges of truth those who desire them. Again:
"The miserable shall have joy in Jehovah, and the poor of men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel" (29:19).
By the miserable and poor are here also signified those with whom there is a deficiency of truth and good, and who, nevertheless, desire them; of these it is said that they "shall have joy in Jehovah, and exult in the Holy One of Israel," and not of those who are miserable and poor as to worldly wealth.
[5] From these considerations it is evident what is signified by the miserable and poor in other passages in the Word, as in the following:
"The poor shall not always be forgotten; and the hope of the miserable shall not perish for ever" (Arcana Coelestia 683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712, 3004, 3005, 3009, 4138, 5138, 5194, 5502, 6343, 7022, 7945, 8339, 9263, 9314.) On this account also it is said in what follows: "And blind and naked;" for by the blind are meant those who have no understanding of truth, and by the naked those who have no understanding and will of good. Also, in the verse following, it is said, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed;" for by gold tried in the fire is meant the good of love, and by white raiment the truths of faith. And further, it is said, "That the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see," by which is meant lest the evils and falsities should be seen. The case is the same in other passages; but that such a marriage exists in every part of the Word, none can see but those who are acquainted with its internal sense.
238. And miserable and poor, signifies that they do not know that they have neither knowledges of truth nor knowledges of good. This is evident from the signification of "miserable" or "pitiable," as meaning those who are in no knowledges of truth; and from the signification of "poor" as meaning those who are in no knowledges of good. That this is the meaning of "miserable" and "poor" is evident from many passages in the Word, and also from this, that spiritual misery and poverty are nothing else than a lack of the knowledges of truth and good, for the spirit is then miserable and poor; but when the spirit possesses these it is rich and wealthy; therefore also "riches" and "wealth" in the Word signifies spiritual riches and wealth, which are the knowledges of truth and good (as was shown just above, n. 236).
[2] "Miserable and poor" are terms used in many passages in the Word. He who is ignorant of the spiritual sense of the Word believes that by these no others are meant than the miserable and poor in the world. These, however, are not meant, but those who are not in truths and goods and in the knowledges thereof; and by the "miserable" indeed, those who are not in truths because not in the knowledges of truths, and by the "poor" those who are not in goods because not in the knowledges of goods. As these two, truths and goods, are meant by these two expressions, the two in many places are mentioned together; as in the passages that now follow. In David:
I am miserable and poor, Lord, remember me (Psalms 40:17; 70:5). Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, answer me, for I am miserable and poor (Psalms 86:1).
The "miserable and poor" here mean evidently those who are miserable and poor, not in respect to worldly riches but in respect to spiritual riches, as David says this of himself; therefore he also said, "Jehovah, incline thine ear, and answer me."
[3] In the same:
The wicked draw out the sword and bend their bow, to cast down the miserable and poor (131; and that "bow" signifies doctrine in both senses, see Arcana Coelestia 2686 Arcana Coelestia 2686[1-8], 2709)
[4] So in another place in the same:
The wicked man hath persecuted the miserable and poor and the broken in heart, to slay them (Psalms 109:16).
In Isaiah:
The fool speaketh folly, and his heart doeth iniquity to practice hypocrisy and to speak error against Jehovah, to make empty the hungry soul, and to make him who thirsteth for drink to want. He counseleth wicked devices to destroy the miserable by words of a lie, even when the poor speaketh judgment (Isaiah 32:6-7).
Here likewise "the miserable and poor" mean those who are destitute of the knowledges of truth and good; therefore it is said that "the wicked counseleth wicked devices to destroy the miserable by the words of a lie, even when the poor speaketh judgment;" "by the words of a lie" means by falsities, and "to speak judgment" is to speak what is right. Because such are treated of, it is also said that he "practices hypocrisy and speaketh error against Jehovah, to make empty the hungry soul and to make him who thirsteth for drink to want." "To practice hypocrisy and to speak error" is to do evil from falsity, and to speak falsity from evil; "to make empty the hungry soul" is to deprive those of the knowledges of good who long for them, and "to make him who thirsteth for drink to want" is to deprive those of the knowledges of truth who long for them. In the same:
The miserable shall have joy in Jehovah, and the poor of men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 29:19).
Here also "the miserable and poor" signify those who are in lack of truth and good and yet long for them; of these, and not of those who are miserable and poor in respect to worldly wealth, it is said that they "shall have joy in Jehovah, and shall exult in the Holy One of Israel."
[5] From this it can be seen what is signified by the "miserable and poor" in other passages of the Word, as in the following. In David:
The poor shall not always be forgotten; and the hope of the miserable shall not perish for ever (Psalms 9:18).
In the same:
God shall judge the miserable of the people, He shall save the sons of the poor. He shall deliver the poor when he crieth, and the miserable. He shall spare the weak and the poor, and the souls of the poor He shall save (Psalms 72:4, 12-13).
In the same:
The miserable shall see, they that seek Jehovah 1shall be glad. For Jehovah heareth the poor (Arcana Coelestia 683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712, 3004, 3005, 3009, 4138, 5138, 5194, 5502, 6343, 7022, 7945, 8339, 9263, 9314.)
For the same reason it is said in what follows, "and blind and naked;" for by "the blind" one who is in no understanding of truth is meant, and by "the naked" one who is in no understanding and will of good. So in the following verse, "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried by fire, and white garments that thou mayest be clothed;" for by "gold tried by fire" the good of love is meant, and by "white garments" the truths of faith. And further, "That the shame of thy nakedness be not manifest; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see," which means, lest evils and falsities be seen. So also elsewhere. But that there is such a marriage in the particulars of the Word, none but those who know its internal sense can see.
Footnotes:
1. For "Jehovah" the Hebrew has "God."
238. "Et miserabilis et pauper." - Quod significet quod nec sciant quod illis non sint cognitiones veri nec cogitionibus boni, constat ex significatione "miseri" seu "miserabilis", quod sit qui in nullis cognitionibus veri est; et ex significatione "pauperis", quod sit qui in nullis cognitionibus boni est.
Quod "miser" et "pauper" illa significent, constat ex pluribus locis in Verbo; et praeterea ex eo, quod miseria et paupertas spiritualis non aliud sit quam defectus cognitionum veri et boni, nam tunc spiritus miser et pauper est: at vero cum illas possidet, est dives et opulentus; quare etiam per "divitias" et "opes" in Verbo significantur divitiae et opes spirituales, quae sunt cognitiones veri et boni (ut mox supra, n. 236, ostensum est).
[2] Multis in locis in Verbo dicitur "miser et pauper": qui non scit sensum spiritualem Verbi, credit quod non alii per illos intelligantur, quam qui in mundo miseri et pauperes sunt; cum tamen illi non intelliguntur, sed ii qui non in veris et bonis sunt, inque eorum cognitionibus; et quidem per "miseros" illi qui non in veris sunt quia non in cognitionibus eorum, et per "pauperes" illi qui non in bonis sunt quia non in cognitionibus eorum. Quia duo illa, nempe vera et bona, intelliguntur per duo illa nomina, ideo in multis locis utrumque dicitur; ut in sequentibus:
- Apud Davidem,
"Ego miser et pauper, Domine memento mei" (Psalms 40:18 [B.A. 17); Psalms 70:6 [B.A. 5]);
apud eundem,
"Inclina Jehovah aurem tuam et responde, quia miser et pauper ego" (Psalms 86:1);
quod per "miserum et pauperem" non intelligantur miser et pauper quoad divitias mundanas, sed quoad divitias spirituales, patet, quoniam David de se hoc loquitur; quare etiam dixit, "Jehovah, inclina aurem et responde."
[3] Apud eundem,
"Gladium nudant impii, et tendunt arcum suum, ad dejiciendum miserum et pauperem" (Psalms 37:14);
quod per "miserum et pauperem" etiam hic intelligantur qui spiritualiter tales sunt, sed usque desiderant cognitiones veri et boni, patet, nam dicitur quod "impii nudent gladium et tendant arcum"; per "gladium" enim significatur falsum pugnans contra verum et conans destruere illud, et per "arcum" doctrina falsi contra doctrinam veri; inde est quod dicatur quod hoc faciant "ad dejiciendum miserum et pauperem." (Quod per "gladium" significetur verum pugnans contra verum, et in opposito sensu falsum pugnans contra verum, videatur supra, n. 131; et quod per "arcum" significetur doctrina in utroque sensu, in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 2686, 2709.)
[4] Similiter alibi apud eundem,
Impius "persecutus est miserum et pauperem, ac dejectum corde ad interficiendum" (Psalms 109:16):
apud Esaiam,
Stultus stultitiam loquitur, et cor ejus facit iniquitatem ad faciendum hypocrisin, et ad loquendum contra Jehovam errorem, ad evacuandum animam esurientem, ac potum sitientem deficere faciat;... ipse facinora consulet ad perdendum miseros per verba mendacii, quando etiam loquitur pauper judicium" (32:6, 7);
hic per "miseros et pauperes" similiter intelliguntur illi qui destituti sunt cognitionibus veri et boni; quare dicitur quod improbus "facinora consulat ad perdendum miseros per verba mendacii", etiam "pauperem qui loquitur judicium"; per "verba mendacii" est per falsa, et "loqui judicium" est rectum: quia de his agitur, etiam dicitur quod "faciat hypocrisin, et loquatur contra Jehovam errorem, ad evacuandum animam esurientem, et potum sitientem deficere faciat"; "facere hypocrisin et loqui errorem", est facere malum ex falso ac loqui falsum ex malo; "evacuare animam esurientem" est deprivare cognitionibus boni illos qui desiderant eas, et "deficere facere potum sitientem" est deprivare cognitionibus veri illos qui desiderant eas.
Apud eundem,
"Habebunt miseri in Jehovah gaudium, et pauperes hominum in Sancto Israelis exultabunt" (29:19);
per "miseros et pauperes" etiam hic significantur qui in defectu veri et boni sunt, et tamen in desiderio ad illa; de his dicitur, quod "habituri gaudium in Jehovah et exultaturi in Sancto Israelis", et non de miseris et pauperibus quoad opes mundanas.
[5] Ex his constare potest quid significatur per "miseros et pauperes" in aliis locis in Verbo; ut in sequentibus:
- Apud Davidem,
"Non in perpetuum oblivioni tradetur pauper, ac spes miserorum peritura in aeternum" (Psalms 9:19 [B.A. 18]):
apud eundem,
Deus "judicabit miseros populi, servabit filios pauperis;... liberabit pauperem clamantem et miserum;... parcet tenui et pauperi; et animas pauperum salvabit" (Psalms 72:4, 12, 13);
apud eundem,
Videbunt miseri, laetabuntur quaerentes 1
Deum, ... quia exaudit Jehovah pauperes" (Psalm 69:33, 34 [B.A. 32 33]);
apud eundem,
"Jehovah... eripit miserum a validiori... et pauperem a spoliantibus illum" (Psalms 35:10);
apud eundem,
"Miser et pauper laudant nomen tuum" (Psalms 74:21; - Psalms 109:22);
apud eundem,
"Scio quod Jehovah facturus sit litem miseri, et judicium pauperum" (Psalms 140:13 [B.A. 12]);
et quoque alibi (Ut Esaias 10:2; Jeremias 22:16; Ezechiel 16:49; 18:12; 22:29; Amos 8:4; Deuteronomius 15:11; 24:14). Quod uterque, nempe "miser" et "pauper" in allatis locis nominetur, est quia est secundum stylum Verbi ut ubi dicitur de vero etiam dicatur de bono, ac in opposito sensu ubi de falso etiam de malo, quia unum faciunt et sicut conjugium; quare "miseri" et simul "pauperes" nominantur; per "miseros" enim intelliguntur qui in defectu cognitionum veri, et per "pauperes" qui in defectu cognitionum boni. (Quod tale conjugium sit in propheticis Verbi paene ubivis, videatur in Arcanis Caelestibus, n. 683, 793, 802, 2516, 2712, 3004, 3005, 3009, 2
4138, 3
5138, 5194, 5502, 6343, 7022, 7945, 8339, 9263, 9314.) Inde etiam est quod
sequatur, "et caecus et nudus"; per "caecum" enim intelligitur qui in nullo intellectu veri, et per "nudum" qui in nullo intellectu et voluntate boni: tum in versu sequente, "Suadeo tibi emere a Me aurum exploratum igne, et vestimenta alba ut induaris"; per "aurum" enim "exploratum igne" intelligitur bonum amoris, et per "vestimenta alba" vera fidei: et adhuc, "ne appareat pudor nuditatis tuae, et collyrio inunge oculos tuos ut videas", per quae intelligitur ne videantur mala et falsa: ita quoque alibi. Sed quod tale conjugium sit in singulis Verbi, non videre possunt alii quam qui sciunt sensum internum ejus.
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.