Chapter 3
第三章
John the Baptist
施洗者约翰
1. In due course, John the Baptist came to the edge of the wilderness and preached at the banks of the Jordan.
在適當的時候，「施洗約翰」（John the Baptist）來到曠野的邊緣，在約旦（Jordan）河畔講道。
2. John the Baptist preached of baptism in accordance with the old laws of god, according to which the way to knowledge was to be prepared.
施洗約翰按照「神明」（god）的舊律法講道洗禮，根據這些律法，是要為通往知識的道路預作準備。
3. He preached that god's laws shall be followed because he is the sole ruler of this human lineage.
他講道說，神的律法應被遵守，因為他是這個人類世系的唯一統治者。
4. He preached that above god, however, stands Creation, the source of the worlds, universes and all living creatures.
然而他宣稱，在神之上的是「造化」（Creation），造化才是所有的世界、宇宙和所有生物的源頭。
［中譯者註：有關「造化」的進一步說明，請參閱《靈性教導主題：造化》之解釋。］
5. And so he taught that the genderless Creation is the mystery of all mysteries; death and life, light and darkness, being and non-being.
所以他教導說，無性別的造化是所有奧秘的奧秘；是生命與死亡，光明與黑暗，存在與非存在。
6. And so he taught once again that god, the lord and ruler of this human lineage and of those who travelled from afar, the celestial sons, holds Creation in high esteem.
因此，他再次教導說，神明，這個人類血統的主宰和統治者，以及那些從遠方來的星光之子，對造化都保有高度的敬重。
7. All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went forth to John the Baptist, acknowledging the wisdom of the old laws of god, and let themselves be baptized by him in the river Jordan.
猶地亞（Judea）和耶路撒冷所有的人都去找施洗約翰，承認神的舊律法的智慧，讓自己在約旦河裡接受他的洗禮。
8. John wore a garment made from camel's hair and a leather belt around his loins. His food consisted of locusts and wild honey.
約翰穿著駱駝毛做的衣服，腰間系著皮帶。他的食物是蝗蟲和野蜂蜜。
［中譯者註：依據《維基百科》有關「施洗約翰」（John the Baptist）的部分描述如下“根據基督教的宗教典籍《聖經》的描述，施洗者約翰長大後在曠野工作。他身穿的駱駝毛的衣服，吃的是蝗蟲野蜜，過着最簡單的生活，表現不為名位，勢利之淡泊心志。…”］
9. While he was baptizing many of the people, many Pharisees and Sadducees came to him who humiliated him with malicious talk.
當他給許多人施洗的時候，許多法利賽人（Pharisees）和撒都該人（Sadducees）來到他面前，用惡言羞辱他。
10. But John the Baptist spoke, "You brood of vipers, who told you that you will escape from future wrath, once your false teachings are revealed?
施洗約翰說：「你們這群陰險的小人，一旦你們那些虛假的教義被揭穿，你們如何得知將來怎能倖免於天理憤怒的制裁？」
11. "See to it that you bear righteous fruit of repentance and learn the truth.
「你們一定要真心悔改，並且學習真理。」
12. "Turn away from the evil of your false teachings, which you carry out with arrogance and pursuant with your greed for power and fortune.
「遠離你們那些邪惡的虛假教義吧，那些教義只是你們用傲慢來滿足對權力和財富的貪婪。」
13. "Do not think just of saying to each other, 'We have Abraham as father.'
「不要只想著互相告知：“我們是亞伯拉罕（Abraham）的後裔。”」
14. "I say to you, with his knowledge and his power, god is able to raise up children to Abraham out of these stones, because he has knowledge of the mystery of Creation.
「我告訴你們，神以他的知識和能力，能從這些石頭中生出亞伯拉罕的子女，因為他知道造化的奧秘。」
15. "Already the axe has been laid at the root of the trees. Therefore, any tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and thrown into the fire.
「斧頭已經架在樹根上了。所以，任何不能結出好果實的樹都要被砍倒，然後扔進火中燒掉。」
16. "You brood of vipers, in two times a thousand years you and your followers, who pursue false teachings out of your own arrogance in your greed for power and fortune, shall be vanquished and, on account of your lies, punished.
「你們這群陰險的小人，以及你們的那些信徒，因貪戀權勢和財富的傲慢，還有追求錯誤的教義，會在兩千年後被擊敗，並依據你們的謊言，而受到應有的懲罰。」
17. "So it shall be when humankind begins to comprehend, and when the chaff is separated from the grain.
「當人類開始理解是非，能從穀物中將穀殼分離出來時，這件事就會發生。」
18. "It will be at the time when your false teachings will be laughed at and humankind discovers the truth.
「這將是在你們的錯誤教義被嘲笑，人類發現真相的時候。」
19. "This will come to pass when humankind builds singing lights and chariots of fire, with which they can escape into the cosmos, as is done by god and his followers, the celestial sons,
「這將在人類建造會發出巨響的火光和戰車時實現，他們可以用它進入宇宙之中，就像神和他的追隨者，那些星光之子所做的一樣。」
20. "namely those who taught us the wisdom and knowledge of Creation,
「也就是那些教導我們有關造化之智慧和知識的人。」
21. "and who urged us to obey the laws of nature and live according to them.
「並敦促我們遵守自然法則，並按照法則生活的人。」
22. "Oh you renegades, you brood of vipers, get away from this place, because you are impure and cursed in your false teachings.
「哦，你們這些叛徒，你們這群陰險的小人，快離開這個地方，因為你們在錯誤的教義中，都失去了純真，並受到了詛咒。」
23. "Get away from this place, because I can by my own accord baptize you into repentance only with water; but he who comes after me is stronger than I, and I am not worthy of removing his sandals. He will baptize you with the knowledge of the spirit and with the fire of truth.
「快離開這個地方，因為我只能憑自己的力量用水為你們施洗，使你們悔改；但是那位在我之後到來的人，比我更強大，我連幫他脫鞋都不配。他將會運用靈性的知識和真理的烈火給你們施洗。」
24. "He has his winnowing fork in his hand; he will sweep his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his granary, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
「他手裡拿著簸揚小麥的耙子（winnowing fork）；他要掃他的穀場，把麥子收進他的糧倉，而要用不滅的火焰將穀殼燒盡。」
25. "The lie can never withstand the truth, which destroys evil in its fire."
「謊言永遠不能抵擋真理，真理的火焰能消滅罪惡。」
26. As John the Baptist thus spoke, behold, Jmmanuel of Galilee then approached John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
施洗約翰這樣說的時候，看哪，加利利的以馬內利就來到約旦河邊找約翰，要接受他的施洗。
27. John, however, refused him and spoke, "It is I who need to be baptized by you because you possess greater knowledge than I. And you come to me?"
然而約翰卻拒絕了這麼做，說道：「因為你擁有比我更高深的學識，應該是我要接受你的施洗，怎麼是你來找我呢？」
28. But Jmmanuel answered him, "let it happen so now, because it is fitting for us to fulfill all justice, since we are both sons of the Earth."
但以馬內利回答他說：「請不要推辭，因為我們都是地球之子，你現在這樣做，一切都是名正言順的。」
29. So John consented and baptized him.
於是約翰同意了，給他施了洗禮。
30. When Jmmanuel had been baptized, he soon came out of the water of the Jordan, and behold, a metallic light fell from the sky and rushed over the Jordan.
當以馬內利完成了受洗，剛從約旦河水裡走上岸，看哪，有一道金屬的亮光從天上降落下來，飛越過約旦河。
31. Consequently they all fell on their faces and pressed them into the sand while a voice from the metallic light spoke:
於是，當有一個聲音從金屬亮光裡傳出來的時候，他們都跪拜在地上，把臉都貼在沙子上。那聲音說：
32. "This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. He will be the king of truth, through which terrestrial humans shall rise as wise ones.
「這是我摯愛的兒子，我很高興你們所做的事。他將成為真理的國王，透過他的作為，地球上的人類將成為智慧的人。」
33. Behold, after these words Jmmanuel entered into the metallic light, which climbed into the sky, surrounded by fire and smoke, and passed over the lifeless sea, as the singing of the metallic light soon faded away.
看哪，在這些話之後，以馬內利進入了那金屬般的亮光之中，接著那亮光伴隨火焰和煙霧快速升上了天空，飛越了死海，而很快就消失了。
34. After that, Jmmanuel was no longer seen for forty days and nights.
從那以後，以馬內利就消失了四十個晝夜。
（本章結束，全書未完待續）
英文資料來自：https://archive.org/stream/pdfy-UgyOJYUQHLjjkzlT/The+Talmud+Of+Jmmanuel_djvu.txt
中文翻譯借助 Deepl Translator 的協助
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