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(George Everard, “A Talk about the Family Bible” 1878)
（乔治·埃弗拉德，《关于家庭圣经的谈话》1878年）
It is a very common thing in our English Homes to have a large Family Bible.
在我们的英国家庭中，拥有一本大型家庭圣经是很常见的事。
Sometimes it is given as a wedding present; sometimes it is bought by careful savings a little before or after marriage.
有时它作为结婚礼物赠送；有时在结婚前后通过精心储蓄购买。
Then in this Bible are written the names of the heads of the family and the time they were married; and then often are added the names of children and when they were born; and sometimes too the sad record how they have early been taken away.
然后在这本圣经上会写下家庭户主的姓名和结婚时间；之后常常会添加孩子们的名字和出生日期；有时还会记录他们早逝的悲伤事实。
No home, it seems to me, is complete without the large Bible, around which all in the house may gather, and learn from its pages those blessed truths which alone can make the home really a happy one.
在我看来，没有大型圣经的家庭是不完整的，全家人可以围绕它聚集，从其页面中学习那些唯有它才能使家庭真正幸福的祝福真理。
If Family Prayer is like the roof of the house — the Family Bible is like the bright lamp within, which sheds light on all the household.
如果家庭祷告像是房子的屋顶——那么家庭圣经就像屋内明亮的灯，照亮整个家庭。
It also seems to me suitable that the story of births, and it may be of deaths also, should be registered in this Holy Book.
我也认为，在这本圣书中记录出生故事，可能还有死亡事件，是很合适的。
For where else can there be found any better help and guidance and consolation from the cradle to the grave?
因为从摇篮到坟墓，还有什么地方能找到更好的帮助、指导和安慰呢？
And may we not well speak of the Family Bible, because it sets forth so truly the various duties of the members of the household?
我们难道不应该好好谈谈家庭圣经吗？因为它如此真实地阐述了家庭成员的各种职责。
Fathers and mothers are instructed to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by loving correction to guide their footsteps in the way of life.
父母被教导要在主的教养和警戒下抚养孩子，通过爱的管教引导他们的脚步走上生命之路。
Children are taught to honor and obey their parents, to requite them for their kindness, and to show piety at home.
孩子们被教导要尊敬和服从父母，回报他们的善意，并在家中表现虔诚。
Husbands are exhorted to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, and to forbear all bitterness and harshness.
丈夫们被劝诫要爱妻子，如同基督爱教会一样，并要忍耐一切苦毒和严厉。
Wives are bidden to submit to their husbands and to show them reverence; and both are enjoined to live together as heirs of the grace of life.
妻子们被命令要顺服丈夫并表示尊敬；两人都被要求作为生命恩典的继承人一同生活。
Those who have servants are told to deal justly and faithfully by them, since they too have a Master in Heaven.
那些有仆人的人被告知要公正和忠实地对待他们，因为他们也有一位天上的主人。
Servants are told to do all things as the servants of Christ, living daily under His eye, striving to please Him in their daily duties — and He will pay them better wages than man ever gives.
仆人们被告知要像基督的仆人一样做所有事情，每天生活在祂的眼下，努力在日常职责中取悦祂——祂会给他们比人类给予的更好的报酬。
We have various precepts and examples which will almost bring down Heaven to earth, if they are in any measure followed, and will make each family a type of the Great Family above.
我们有各种教导和榜样，如果在某种程度上遵循，几乎能将天国带到人间，使每个家庭成为上面大家庭的缩影。
So that the Bible is indeed a Book for the Family; and where it is best loved and practiced, we shall find the most genuine and lasting happiness.
因此，圣经确实是一本家庭之书；在最被爱戴和实践的地方，我们将找到最真实和持久的幸福。
The word Bible signifies Book; and when we call it the Bible, we mean that it is the Book of books — the best Book, the wisest Book, the Book that will do us the most good of any in the world.
“Bible”（圣经）一词意味着”书”；当我们称它为圣经时，我们的意思是它是书中之书——最好的书，最智慧的书，世界上对我们最有益的书。
If all the other books in the world were destroyed, however great and irreparable the loss — if men still had the Bible, they would be far better off than if this were destroyed and all other books remained.
如果世界上所有其他书籍都被毁坏，无论损失多么巨大和无法弥补——如果人们仍然拥有圣经，他们的处境会比圣经被毁而所有其他书籍保存下来要好得多。
It is the Book that alone can tell . . .
这是唯一能告诉我们的书 . . .
how sin can be forgiven,
如何获得罪的赦免，
how temptation can be overcome,
如何战胜诱惑，
how trouble and sorrow can be met,
如何面对困难和悲伤，
how tears can be wiped away, and
如何擦干眼泪，以及
how death can be the gate of everlasting life.
如何让死亡成为通往永生的大门。
It is indeed the best companion . . .
它确实是最好的伴侣 . . .
for days of trial,
在试炼的日子里，
for the day of sickness, and
在生病的时候，以及
for the hour when we must part from all below!
在我们必须与世间一切告别的时刻！
I remember a long time ago hearing a story of a young girl traveling by railway with a clever skeptic. He went on arguing for some time with his fellow-travelers, and trying to prove the Bible untrue; when at last this young girl said that the Bible gave her all the comfort she had in the world, and as he had been trying to take this away from her — could he give her anything better? He could make no reply to this appeal, and said no more on the subject.
我记得很久以前听过一个故事，讲的是一个年轻女孩与一个聪明的怀疑论者乘火车旅行。他一直在与同行的旅客争论，试图证明圣经是不真实的；最后，这个年轻女孩说，圣经给了她在这个世界上所有的慰藉，既然他一直试图从她那里夺走这些——他能给她什么更好的东西吗？面对这个请求，他无法作出回应，也不再谈论这个话题。
Something of the same kind is told of the mother of the historian Hume. She had loved the Scriptures, but he persuaded her to give them up. When in days of sickness she wrote to him, asking him for some comfort, it is said he never answered her letter, for he knew not what comfort he could give her.
类似的事情也发生在历史学家休谟的母亲身上。她曾经热爱圣经，但他说服她放弃了。据说，当她生病时给他写信，请求得到一些安慰时，他从未回复她的信，因为他不知道能给她什么安慰。
We often find the words, “The Holy Bible” in gilt lettering upon the back. These words seem to me to be very suggestive. It is the Holy Bible, because it is the gift of a Holy God. It tells of a Savior who is “Holy, harmless, and separate from sinners.” It is written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and the great object of it is to make men holy, as God is holy. Every one who reads the Scriptures with prayer for the teaching of the Spirit becomes more and more holy. Thousands and tens of thousands who were once slaves of sin and evil — through the knowledge of the Word, have become humble, holy, happy Christians, following in the footsteps of Jesus on earth, and preparing to live with Him in glory.
我们经常在书脊上看到用金字印刷的”圣经”这几个字。这些文字对我来说意义深远。它之所以是圣经，是因为它是圣洁上帝的礼物。它讲述了一位”圣洁、无害、远离罪人”的救主。它是在圣灵的启示下写成的；它的伟大目标是使人圣洁，如同上帝是圣洁的。每一个带着祈祷阅读圣经并寻求圣灵指引的人都会变得越来越圣洁。成千上万曾经是罪恶奴隶的人——通过对圣言的认识，已经成为谦卑、圣洁、快乐的基督徒，在世上追随耶稣的脚步，并准备与祂一同在荣耀中生活。
Oh what a treasure is a well-read Bible! It is . . .
哦，一本精读的圣经是多么珍贵的宝藏啊！它是 . . .
a mine of gold,
一座金矿，
a hive full of honey,
一个充满蜂蜜的蜂巢，
a field covered with a rich harvest.
一片覆盖着丰收的田野。
It is a tree of life, of which every twig bears precious fruit.
它是生命之树，每一根枝条都结出宝贵的果实。
It is an ocean full of pearls.
它是一片充满珍珠的海洋。
It is a river full of the purest water of life.
它是一条充满最纯净生命之水的河流。
It is a sun whose beams warm and cheer the heart.
它是一轮阳光，其光芒温暖并愉悦人心。
It is a bright star that can guide the pilgrim through the darkest night.
它是一颗明亮的星星，可以引导朝圣者穿越最黑暗的夜晚。
It is a granary stored with the finest of the wheat.
它是一个储存着最优质小麦的粮仓。
It is a medicine-chest, from which we may find a remedy for every malady of the soul.
它是一个药箱，我们可以从中找到治愈灵魂每种疾病的良药。
It is a Mount Pisgah, from which we can view the promised land of Canaan.
它是毗斯迦山(Mount Pisgah)，从那里我们可以眺望迦南应许之地。
All this and much more, is the Bible to those who love to search it and explore the depths of heavenly wisdom which it contains.
对于那些喜爱探索圣经并挖掘其中蕴含的天国智慧深度的人来说，圣经就是这一切，甚至更多。
Dear reader, whatever you forget, never, never forget day by day to read something out of this precious Book.
亲爱的读者，无论你忘记什么，都永远不要忘记每天阅读这本宝贵书籍中的一些内容。
We are told of one who found a Bible covered with dust. He took it up and wrote on it with his ringer the two letters, very large, “S.S.”
我们听说有人发现了一本蒙尘的圣经。他拿起它，用手指在上面写下了两个很大的字母，”S.S.”
When asked what he meant by those two letters, he said, “S.S. signifies SLOTHFUL Servant.” He meant to say to its possessor, “You have had God’s Word in your house — but you have neglected to read it. God has told you in this Book all that you need to know in order to be saved; but you have taken no pains or trouble to learn that which God has revealed.”
当被问及这两个字母的含义时，他说：”S.S.代表懒惰的仆人(SLOTHFUL Servant)。”他的意思是要对圣经的拥有者说，”你家里有上帝的话语——但你却忽视了阅读它。上帝在这本书中告诉了你为得救所需知道的一切；但你却没有花心思或费力去学习上帝所启示的内容。”
But the letters might have had another and encouraging meaning. “S.S.” might signify “Search the Scriptures.” Whatever you have done hitherto, begin now to search them daily as for hidden treasures. Go deep into this precious mine. Ponder what you read. Compare one part with another. Compare the commands and precepts with your own daily life. Bring its promises to bear on your heart and temptations.
但这些字母可能有另一个令人鼓舞的含义。”S.S.”可能意味着”搜索圣经”。无论你以前做过什么，现在就开始每天搜索它们，如同寻找隐藏的宝藏。深入这个宝贵的矿藏。思考你所读的内容。将一部分与另一部分进行比较。将其中的命令和教诲与你的日常生活进行比较。让其中的应许对你的内心和诱惑产生影响。
Or “S.S.” might signify “Savior of Sinners.” This is the great message of the Bible. It tells of Christ coming into the world to save the lost. It tells of Him as able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him. We are therefore to read it that we may lay hold of the great salvation which He brings to us. We are to learn out of it, His fullness and all-sufficiency to meet every need, and His readiness and delight to save those who come to Him.
或者”S.S.”可能意味着”罪人的救主”。这是圣经的重大信息。它讲述了基督来到世上拯救迷失者。它讲述了祂能够彻底拯救那些通过祂来到上帝面前的人。因此，我们要阅读它，以便抓住祂带给我们的伟大救恩。我们要从中学习祂的丰盛和全然足够以满足每一个需求，以及祂拯救那些来到祂面前之人的准备和喜悦。
“Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ.”
“蒙福的主，你使所有圣经都为我们的学习而写，求你使我们能如此明智地听它们、读它们、标记它们、学习它们，并在内心消化它们，以便通过你圣言的忍耐和安慰，我们可以拥抱并永远坚持你在我们的救主耶稣基督里给予我们的永生的蒙福盼望。”
We see here that when we read or hear the Scriptures, we should pay good heed to each word — to each verse and sentence. There are depths and heights in many of the simplest verses that we can never reach. Therefore we ought to turn them over again and again in our minds. We must “mark, learn, and inwardly digest” them. A few verses or even a single verse well thought over, and still better, well prayed over — will bring more profit and help than many chapters listlessly or carelessly read.
我们在这里看到，当我们阅读或听到圣经时，我们应该仔细注意每一个词——每一节和每一句。许多最简单的经文中都有我们永远无法达到的深度和高度。因此，我们应该在心中反复思考它们。我们必须”标记、学习并内心消化”它们。仔细思考几节经文，甚至一节经文，更好的是，认真祷告过的经文——将带来比漫不经心或草草阅读许多章节更多的益处和帮助。
I remember a Christian man who would write out on a piece of paper in the morning the verse or verses that had most struck him in his morning portion, and walking through the fields or by the wayside would ponder the passage through the day.
我记得有一位基督徒，他每天早晨会把在晨读中最打动他的一节或几节经文写在纸上，然后在田野间或路边散步时整天思考这段经文。
The great aim of the Scripture is to lead us to embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of the Gospel.
圣经的伟大目标是引导我们拥抱并永远坚持福音的蒙福盼望。
We are like shipwrecked sailors. We are in great danger by reason of our sinful and lost condition. We are in peril of eternal death, and of sinking to a more fearful abyss than that of the great Atlantic. But in the Scriptures our merciful God throws us out the rope of salvation. He declares that Christ has died for our sins, and that there is salvation in Him for the greatest sinners. But we must “embrace and ever hold fast” this blessed hope. As the sailor must take hold and then keep hold of the rope — so must we in our hearts believe in Christ and cleave to Him. By the calls and promises of the Word we are invited at once, without any delay, to come to Christ, to trust our souls to Him, to accept a free pardon, and the help of His Holy Spirit.
我们就像遇难的水手。由于我们罪恶和迷失的状态，我们处于巨大的危险之中。我们面临永恒死亡的危险，可能沉入比大西洋更可怕的深渊。但在圣经中，我们仁慈的上帝向我们抛出救赎之绳。祂宣告基督已经为我们的罪而死，并且在祂里面有对最大罪人的救赎。但我们必须”拥抱并永远坚持”这蒙福的盼望。就像水手必须抓住并继续握住绳子一样——我们也必须在心中相信基督并紧紧依附祂。通过圣言的呼召和应许，我们被立即邀请，毫不迟疑地来到基督面前，将我们的灵魂托付给祂，接受免费的赦免，以及祂圣灵的帮助。
This is the first great object of the Bible, namely, to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
这是圣经的第一个伟大目标，即使我们”因信基督耶稣，得以有得救的智慧”。
But a second great object for which the Bible is given, is to enable us to hold fast this hope.
但圣经被赐予的第二个伟大目标，是使我们能够坚持这个盼望。
We must “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” And the Bible shows how it is possible to do this. It warns against rocks that are near. The fear of man, the allurements of worldly pleasures, the snare of pride, the temptation of doubt and unbelief — against these we must watch.
我们必须”坚持信心和盼望的喜乐，直到最后。”圣经展示了如何做到这一点。它警告我们要提防近在咫尺的暗礁。对人的惧怕、世俗快乐的诱惑、骄傲的陷阱、怀疑和不信的试探——我们必须警惕这些。
The Bible gives great encouragement to persevere. It leads us to “patience and comfort,” by the assurance that Christ is ever at hand to support us when we are tempted, and to hear our prayers. It brings before us the faithfulness of God to His people, and the blessed truth that He will never leave nor forsake those who trust in Him. It points us to the Heavenly City where there shall be no more sorrow nor sighing, and where the former things are passed away. Thus we are taught to “hold fast” the blessed hope until we have passed safely through the waves of this troublesome world and have reached the haven where we would be.
圣经给予我们极大的鼓励去坚持。它通过确保基督在我们受试探时随时支持我们，聆听我们的祷告，引导我们获得”忍耐和安慰”。它向我们展示了上帝对祂子民的信实，以及祂永不离弃信靠祂之人的蒙福真理。它指引我们到天国，那里不再有悲伤和叹息，昔日的事物都已过去。因此，我们被教导要”坚守”这蒙福的盼望，直到我们安全度过这个充满麻烦的世界的波涛，到达我们向往的避风港。
There is one more thought before I leave this subject. It seems to me that the possession of a Bible brings with it a great responsibility. If you have had a Bible, but have never followed its blessed lessons — will it not prove to be a millstone around your neck in the Great Day?
在结束这个话题之前，我还有一个想法。在我看来，拥有一本圣经意味着巨大的责任。如果你有一本圣经，却从未遵循其蒙福的教导——在审判大日，这不会成为你脖子上的磨石吗？
“Ah,” you will say, “I had a Bible. It told me plainly that the sinner must perish. It told me that only One could save me — He who died for sinners on the tree. It told me of the glories of Heaven and the woes of Hell. But I never cared for my soul. I never thought of my sins. I never trusted in my Savior. I never prayed for the help of the Spirit. And now that Bible bears witness to me that my ruin lies at my own door!”
“啊，”你会说，”我有一本圣经。它明确告诉我罪人必须灭亡。它告诉我只有一位能救我——就是那位在十字架上为罪人而死的祂。它告诉我天堂的荣耀和地狱的苦难。但我从未关心过我的灵魂。我从未思考过我的罪。我从未信靠我的救主。我从未祈求圣灵的帮助。现在这本圣经见证我的毁灭是我自己造成的！”
Dear reader, let this never be the case with you. May your experience be like that of a Hindu who had a copy of the New Testament presented to him, and who learned the secret of peace from its pages: “I read, I pondered, I wondered, I believed. I gazed upon the cross of Christ, and as I gazed the ponderous load fell off my heart; I rejoiced in Jesus.”
亲爱的读者，愿这种情况永远不会发生在你身上。愿你的经历能像那位被赠予一本新约圣经的印度教徒一样，他从书页中学到了平安的秘诀：”我阅读，我思考，我惊叹，我相信。我注视着基督的十字架，当我凝视时，沉重的负担从我心中卸下；我因耶稣而欢欣。”