參考版本 AFV  A  Faithful Version 的希臘文 2009版本              

耶和華的事，不謀利沒有版權

16. And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham was going with them to send them on the way.

17. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do,

18. Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19. For I know him, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.”

20. And the LORD said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,

21. I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which has come to Me. And if not, I will know.”

22. And the men turned their faces away from there, and went toward Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the LORD.

23. And Abraham drew near and said, “Will You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24. Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25. Far be it from You to act in this manner, to kill the righteous with the wicked. And far be it from You, that the righteous should be as the wicked. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26. And the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

27. And Abraham answered and said, “Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak to the LORD —I who am but dust and ashes.

28. Perhaps there will be five lacking from the fifty righteous. Will You destroy all the city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

29. And he spoke to Him yet again, and said, “Perhaps there shall be forty found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for forty’s sake.”

30. And he said, “Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak. Perhaps there shall be thirty found there.” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31. And he said, “Lo now, I have taken upon myself to speak to the LORD. Perhaps there shall be twenty found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.”

32. And he said, “Oh do not let the LORD be angry, and I will speak only once more. Perhaps only ten shall be found there.” And He said, “I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

33. And the LORD went His way as soon as He had left off talking with Abraham. And Abraham returned to his place.

 (A Faithful Version)

Q

16. 用膳後，這三人起程，往所多瑪去。亞伯蘭起來相送，走了一段路，

17. 耶和華想：我行事豈能瞞著亞伯蘭？

18. 亞伯蘭必成有能力的大國，萬國會因他得福。

19. 我了解這人，會帶領他的兒孫，以至這個家族的人，謹守耶和華的道理，秉行公義和公平，這是耶和華曾經應許過的。

20. 耶和華對亞伯蘭說：所多瑪和蛾摩拉有大泣之聲，它說明那地有大惡存在。

21. 我下去，是要實地察看，是否像我聽到的。若不是，也得知沒有其事。

22. 這人就轉臉，朝所多瑪方向走去。亞伯蘭依舊站著。

23. 亞伯蘭走上前去問：若有義人，也與惡人同滅？

24. 或許當中五十位義人，都要滅？不可以為這五十義人，作出寬恕？

25. 按祢一向的態度，是不會把義人與惡人一起處置。絕不會將義人當作惡人般處理，對吧！

26. 耶和華回應：若有五十個義人，會因為他們寬饒全城。

27. 亞伯蘭進一步問：我微不足道，竟敢有這樣的要求。

28. 也許五十個當中少五個呢，會因為少了五位，都不放過？回：有四十五位，都不滅。

29. 亞伯蘭又比喻：若只有四十如何。回：即使只有四十，都不滅。

30. 亞伯蘭進一步要求：至高者不要發怒，或許只有三十位呢？回：都不滅。

31. 亞伯蘭大膽再問：得二十個又如何？回說：不滅。

32. 亞伯蘭拍心口去問：至高者請忍耐，容我說最後一句。只找到十個。回說：不滅。

33. 耶和華答完，就走了。亞伯蘭回歸住處。

這對話在摩西的描述得很生動，對話重點表達不在亞伯蘭，是耶和華如何看待這個世界。人，是世界的中心，不是一個人，也是一個人。意思是人，每個人應為自己而活。只是怎個活法，是人自己決定。

亞伯蘭問的是，在眾多人數的世界，當中有持守做人原則，就是以愛相扶，若人數很少，只剩十個如何？耶和華的回答：不滅。為什麼是十個不是一個？

在人類的歷史，就曾經有過這樣的事發生，挪亞一家就多過一個。耶和華用洪水，藉這家人重整那個烏煙瘴氣的人世。這個重整是為人，在人與人相迫之中，人若能找守著人本是無私的善性，耶和華不會輕看。不輕看就是照顧到底的意思。

到了新約，耶和華的方式改變了。不等到只剩十個，而是很多的十個。就是在大災難，那是人打人，人逼人，人害人，人殘人，攪到持守本性的都活不過來的時候，耶和華以耶穌的形象，駕雲而來，那些持守信仰，以本性活著的人，都被提到半空。留下來的都是鬼，鬼打鬼在牠們的世界，司空見慣。被提的人，在半空中看世界如何結局。

這人世終局，就在亞伯蘭去問什麼情況下，人在亂世當中，什麼人能存活？到新約，這存活的方式和可能，就明白地，經過不知多少年日，有了更為美好的安排。

由此觀之，耶和華是信實，是一個可信的明證，從舊約與亞伯蘭的對話中，在歷史漫長的洪流裡，藉新約展示出來：若有十個都不滅。是由這些自私的人，鬼打鬼般打下去，直到打無可打，自己尋絕去。

相信又明白這樣安排，是為了讓人增加智慧，你得到之餘也讓他人得藉，請分享。