年除夕的祷告 A New Year Eve’s Prayer

以赛亚书 42:1- 4 Isaiah 42:1- 4

看哪，我的仆人―我所扶持所拣选、心里所喜悦的！我已将我的灵赐给他；他必将公理传给外邦。他不喧嚷，不扬声，也不使街上听见他的声音。压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将残的灯火，他不吹灭。他凭真实将公理传開。他不灰心，也不丧胆，直到他在地上设立公理；海岛都等候他的训诲。Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout 
or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed
 or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart
until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

主 啊！

我感谢您将圣灵浇灌于我， 拣选我为您所喜悦的仆人。求您扶持我，赐我力量服侍您与您的子民。求您让我不灰心，也不丧胆，直到我将公理传给外邦，在地上设立平安；使万民都得到您的福音与教导。

Dear Lord,

Thank you that you have filled us with your Holy Spirit and chosen us to be your servant.  May you strengthen me that I might be fit for your service. Please help me not falter or lose heart until I bring justice to the wronged, peace to the earth and your instructions to the nations.

以赛亚书 41:21- 4 Isaiah 41:21- 4

耶和华对假神说：你们要呈上你们的案件；雅各的君说：你们要声明你们确实的理由。可以声明，指示我们将来必遇的事，说明先前的是甚么事，好叫我们思索，得知事的结局，或者把将来的事指示我们。要说明后来的事，好叫我们知道你们是神。你们或降福，或降祸，使我们惊奇，一同观看。看哪，你们属乎虚无；你们的作为也属乎虚空。那选择你们的是可憎恶的。

Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel. “Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything — good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us. But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves.

以赛亚书 41:13-14, 16, 20 Isaiah 41:13-14, 16, 20

因为我耶和华―你的神必攙扶你的右手，对你说：不要害怕！我必帮助你。… 耶和华说：我必帮助你。你的救赎主就是以色列的圣者。… 你要以耶和华为喜乐，以色列的圣者为夸耀。好叫人看见、知道、思想、明白；这是耶和华的手所做的，是以色列的圣者所造的。

For I hold you by your right hand —
I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you…. I am the Lord, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.’ … And you will rejoice in the Lord. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means —
that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.

你不要害怕，我必帮助你。
我是你的救赎主， 我必攙扶你的右手。

这是耶和华对他孩子说的温馨话！
“Don’t be afraid, I am here to help you.” 

“I am your redeemer, I hold you by your right hand.”
What comforting words from the Lord!

以赛亚书 41:8-10 Isaiah 41:8-10

惟你以色列―我的仆人，雅各 ― 我所拣选的，我朋友亚伯拉罕的后裔，你是我从地极所领来的，从地角所召来的，且对你说：你是我的仆人；我拣选你，并不弃绝你。你不要害怕，因为我与你同在；不要惊惶，因为我是你的神。我必坚固你，我必帮助你；我必用我公义的右手扶持你。“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

主耶稣说，“若有人服事我，就当跟从我；我在那里，服事我的人也要在那里；若有人服事我，我父必尊重他。” （约翰福音 12：26）他拣选我们成为他的仆人与朋友； 并且为我们舍命。（约翰福音 15：16，13）这是何等的珍贵！

Our Lord Jesus says, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26, NASB) He has chosen us to be His servants and friends and He has laid down His life for us. (John 15:16, 13) What a privilege!

以赛亚书 41:6-7, 4 Isaiah 41:6-7, 4

他们各人帮助邻舍，各人对弟兄说：壮胆吧！ 木匠勉励银匠，用锤打光的勉励打砧的，论焊工说，焊得好；又用钉子钉稳，免得偶像动摇。谁行做成就这事，从起初宣召历代呢？就是我 ― 耶和华！我是首先的，也与末后的同在。 The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!” The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.”
 Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over. Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”

做偶像的木匠怕他们的偶像做不好，不灵，动摇不稳定，没人要。但我们的神是成就大事的神，他是起初宣召历代的上帝，是首先与未来，唯一创造天地万物的耶和华。

The idol makers are fearful that their idols are not good enough, flimsy and would fall over; not effective and no one would want them. But our Lord is the mighty God who accomplishes great things. He is the God of the generations; He is the First and the Last, the only Lord， Creator of Heaven and earth.

以赛亚书 40:26-31 Isaiah 40:26-31

    你们向上举目，看谁创造这万象，按数目领出，他一一称其名；因他的权能，又因他的大能大力，连一個都不缺。雅各啊，你为何说，我的道路向耶和华隐藏？以色列啊，你为何言，我的冤屈神并不查問？你岂不曾知道吗？你岂不曾听见吗？永在的神耶和华，创造地极的主，并不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧无法測度。

    疲乏的，他赐能力；软弱的，他加力量。就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；强壮的也必全然跌倒。但那等候耶和华的必从新得力。他们必如鹰展翅上腾；他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。

    Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

    He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

以赛亚书 40:21-25 Isaiah 40:21-25

你们岂不曾知道吗？你们岂不曾听见吗？从起初岂没有人告诉你们吗？自从立地的根基，你们岂没有明白吗？神坐在地球大圈之上；地上的居民好像蝗虫。他铺张穹苍如幔子，展開诸天如可住的帐棚。他使君王归於虚无，使地上的审判官成为虚空。他们是刚才栽上，刚才种上，根也刚才扎在地里，他一吹在其上，便都枯干；旋风将他们吹去，像碎秸一样。那圣者说：你们将谁比我，叫他与我相等呢？

Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God —
the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

以赛亚书 40:12-20 Isaiah 40:12-20

谁曾用手心量诸水，用手虎口量苍天，用升斗盛大地的尘土，用秤称山岭，用天平平冈陵呢？谁曾測度耶和华的心，或作他的谋士指教他呢？他与谁商议，谁教导他，谁将公平的路指示他，又将知识教训他，将通达的道指教他呢？

看哪，万民都像水桶的一滴，又算如天平上的微尘；他举起众海岛，好像极微之物。黎巴嫩的树林不够当柴烧；其中的走兽也不够作燔祭。万民在他面前好像虚无，被他看为不及虚无，乃为虚空。

你们究竟将谁比神，用甚么形像与神比较呢？偶像是匠人铸造，银匠用金包裹，为它铸造银炼。穷乏献不起这样供物的，就拣选不能朽坏的树木，为自己寻找巧匠，立起不能摇动的偶像。

   Who has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?

    No, for all the nations of the world
are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more
than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. All the wood in Lebanon’s forests
and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God. The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing —
mere emptiness and froth.

    To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him? Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? Or if people are too poor for that,
they might at least choose wood that won’t decay
and a skilled craftsman
to carve an image that won’t fall down!

无比的神

你们究竟将谁比神呢？用偶像与神比较呢？与我们的主先比较？ 与伟大有名的人物来比？与人的知识和智慧比较？ 与金钱财宝相比？或名誉繁荣比较呢？

God Has No Equal

To whom can you compare God? To idols?  To our ancestors? To great human heroes? To human knowledge and wisdom? To riches and wealth? To fame and glory? 

以赛亚书 40:9-11 Isaiah 40:9-11

看哪，你们的神！主耶和华必像大能者临到；他的膀臂必为他掌权。他的赏赐在他那里；他的报应在他面前。他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，慢慢引导那乳养小羊的。

“Your God is coming!” Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

主耶和华临到的时候，他必带着他的报应，并像牧人牧他的羊群， 借着他权威的膀臂引导他的小羊。When the Sovereign Lord comes, he would bring his reward with him, and like a shepherd, he would feed his flock and lead the lambs with his powerful arm.

以赛亚书 40:6-8 Isaiah 40:6-8

“凡有血气的尽都如草；他的美容都像野地的花。草必枯干，花必凋残，因为耶和华的气吹在其上；百姓诚然是草。草必枯干，花必凋残，惟有我们神的话必永遠立定。”

“People are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

花草会苦干与凋残， 耶和华的气是永存的。 生命也是短暂的，惟有我们神的话是永遠立定。耶和华创造人的灵魂；虽然肉体会衰弱，败坏与腐烂，灵魂仍然预存。灵魂是宝贵的， 我们要设法将它们带到主的怀里。The grass and flowers are temporary, they can’t compare with the breath of the Lord that lasts forever. People’s lives are the same, they are temporary, they can’t be compared to the word of God that is permanent and stands forever. Yet God has created the human spirit and it will remain after their body weakens, decays and rots away like the grass and flowers of the field. This spirit is precious and we need to do our very best to ensure they are safe in the bosom of the Lord.

以赛亚书 40:3-5 Isaiah 40:3-5

有人声喊著说：在旷野预备耶和华的路，在沙漠地修平我们神的道。一切山洼都要填满，大小山冈都要削平；高高低低的要改为平坦，崎崎嶇嶇的必成为平原。耶和华的荣耀必然显现；凡有血气的必一同看见；因为这是耶和华亲口说的。

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”

希西家王的自私与短见 The selfishness and shortsightedness of King Hezekiah

以赛亚书 39:8 Isaiah 39:8

希西家对以赛亚说：「你所说耶和华的话甚好，因为在我的年日中必有太平和稳固的景况。」

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”


希西家王只顾自己的生命得保纯，与他的年日中有太平和稳固；没有实行王的责任，保管王宫里的财宝和军器与圣殿的宝藏。这是他的自私与短见。

King Hezekiah only cared that he had gotten his life back, and the peace and security in his lifetime; he did not carry out his duty as king to protect the treasures and military equipment in the palace and armory; and the utensils in the temple. This is his selfishness and shortsightedness. (列王纪下 25:13-17; 2 Kings 25:13-17)

希西家之诗歌 Hezekiah’s Poem

以赛亚书 38:14-17 Isaiah 38:14-17

我像燕子呢喃，像白鹤鸣叫，又像鸽子哀鸣；

我因仰观，眼睛困倦。

耶和华啊，我受欺压，求你为我作保。

我可说甚么呢？ 
他应许我的， 也给我成就了。

我因心里的苦楚，在一生的年日必悄悄而行。

主啊，人得存活乃在乎此。我灵存活也全在此。

所以求你使我痊愈，仍然存活。

看哪，我受大苦，本为使我得平安；

你因爱我的灵魂便救我脱離败坏的坑，

因为你将我一切的罪扔在你的背后。

Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane,      

and then I moaned like a mourning dove.

My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help.      

I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”

But what could I say?      

For he himself sent this sickness.   

Now I will walk humbly throughout my years
      

because of this anguish I have felt.
   

Lord, your discipline is good,      

for it leads to life and health.
   

You restore my health
      

and allow me to live!
   

Yes, this anguish was good for me,     

for you have rescued me from death
      

and forgiven all my sins.


有时候主让我们受苦楚与艰难， 是要我们得痊愈与平安。

他必赦免我们的罪，并将我们一切的罪过扔在他的背后。

There are times the Lord allows troubles and sufferings, but so that he could restore our health and peace. He will surely forgive our sins and put all of them behind him.

   

希西家的祷告 Hezekiah's Prayer

以赛亚书 38:2 Isaiah 38:2 

「耶和华啊，求你记念我在你面前怎样存完全的心，按诚实行事，又做你眼中所看为善的。」

"Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.”
 
愿他的祷告也成为我们的祷告！May his prayer be our prayer too!

以赛亚书 37:14-17, 20 Isaiah 37:14-17, 20

希西家从使者手里接過书信来，看完了，就上耶和华的殿，将书信在耶和华面前展開。

希西家向

耶和华祷告说：

  「坐在二基路伯上万军之耶和华 ― 以色列的神啊，你― 惟有你是天下万国的神，你曾创造天地。

  耶和华啊，求你侧耳而听；耶和华啊，求你睁眼而看，...

  耶和华 ―我们的神啊，现在求你救我们脱離亚述王的手，使天下万国都知道唯有你是耶和华。」

After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! ... Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”