St. Maximus the confessor著,前五十首
400 sayings about love (First 50)
1、愛是靈魂善良的性情，心中有愛的人，喜愛上帝的知識更甚於自己的存在。如果人們對於塵世的事務仍有絲毫的依戀或執著，就不可能擁有這種愛的氣質。
1. Love is a good disposition of the soul by which one prefers no being to the knowledge 5 of God. It is impossible to reach the habit of this love if one has any attachment to earthly things.
2、對主的信賴，使我們升起敬畏之心。因為敬畏上帝，使我們成為心的主人；對心的主宰，使我們能夠以平靜心，忍受一切長久的磨難；平靜的安忍心，使我們升起希望；來自上帝的希望，使我們超然；超然的神態，讓我們擁有愛6 。
2. Love is begotten of detachment, 6 detachment of hope in God, hope of patient endurance and long-suffering, these of general self-mastery, self-mastery of fear of God, and fear of faith in the Lord.
3、信主的人都會敬畏懲罰；敬畏懲罰的人，都會成為內心欲望的主人；能夠主宰內心欲望的人，都能以平靜之心忍受磨難；能夠以平靜之心忍受磨難的人，將會擁有來自上帝的希望；來自上帝的希望，脫離世俗的依戀而存在；只有當心靈脫離世俗的依戀，才能升起對上帝的愛。7
3. The one who believes the Lord fears punishment; the one who fears punishment becomes master of his passions; the one who becomes master of his passions patiently endures tribulations; the one who patiently endures tribulations will have hope in God; hope in God separates from every earthly attachment; and when the mind is separated from this it will have love for God. 7
4、愛上帝的人，愛上帝的知識勝過愛一切受造物。愛上帝的人，會因為心中深層的渴望，為上帝的知識奉獻全部的身心。
4. The one who loves God prefers knowledge of him to all things made by him and is constantly devoted to it by desire.
5、如果萬事萬物都是上帝為了某些目的而創造的，那麼，上帝必定優於他的受造物。如果一個人一心追求低下的事物，而不嚮往更高尚的事物，這就代表了，他愛受造物更勝於愛上帝。
5. If all things have been made by God and for his sake, then God is better than what has been made by him. The one who forsakes the better and is engrossed in inferior things shows that he prefers the things made by God to God himself.
6、一個全心全意專注於上帝之愛的人，不會執著於任何有形的事物，甚至是自己的肉身。8
6. The one who has his mind fixed on the love of God disdains all visible things and even his own body as alien. 8
7、如果靈魂優於肉身，而上帝無可比擬地優於受造的世界，一個愛肉身勝過愛靈魂的人，還有一個愛受造界勝過愛上帝的人，與偶像崇拜者無異。
7. If the soul is better than the body and
God incomparably better than the world which he created, the one who prefers the body to the soul and the world to the God who created it is no different from idolaters.
8、一個心中沒有愛，對上帝無法付出真心，又執著於一切感官界的人，他愛自己的肉身更勝
愛靈魂，他愛受造物更勝愛上帝，我們的造物主。
8. The one who separates his mind from love and devotedness toward God and keeps it tied to any sensible thing is the one who prefers the body to the soul and things that are made to God their Creator.
9、如果知識的啟示是心靈的生命，而這個啟示又來自於愛上帝的心，那麼，我們就可以說，沒有比愛更偉大的。9
9. If the life of the mind is the illumination of knowledge and this is born of love for God, then it is well said that there is nothing greater than love. 9
10、如果心靈充滿對上帝的熱愛10，並且脫離對自己的執著，就不會再對自己或任何受造物念念不忘。因為，一旦受到神性與無限之光的啟示，就不會再執著於任何受造物，就好像，當太陽升起的時候，我們的肉眼就不會感覺到星星的存在一般。
10. When in the full ardor of its love 10 for God the mind goes out of itself, then it has no perception at all either of itself or of any creatures. For once illumined by the divine and infinite light, it remains insensible to anything that is made by him, just as the physical eye has no sensation of the stars when the sun has risen.
11、所有的美德都會幫助我們追求神性之愛，而純淨的祈禱是最上乘的美德。藉著純淨的祈禱，心會長出翅膀，飛向上帝，並且遠離對一切受造物的依戀。
11. All the virtues assist the mind in the pursuit of divine love, but above all does pure prayer. By it the mind is given wings to go ahead to God and becomes alien to all things.
12、透過愛，心靈陶醉於神性知識，並且脫離對受造物的執著，獲得超然神性的概念，11就像神聖的先知以賽亞，因為察覺到自己的卑微而大感驚愕，並且以堅定的信念，說出神聖的預言：「禍哉！我滅亡了！因為我是個唇舌不潔的人，住在唇舌不潔的人民中間，竟親眼見了君王──萬軍的上主!」12
12. When through love the mind is ravished by divine knowledge and in going outside of creatures has a perception of divine transcendence, 11 then, according to the divine Isaiah, it comes in consternation to a realization of its own lowliness and says with conviction the words of the prophet:
Woe is me for I am stricken at heart; because being a man having unclean lips, I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips and I have seen with my eyes the King, the Lord of hosts. 12
13、愛上帝的人，會忍不住去愛身邊所有人，並且愛人如己。即使別人因為內心的情慾尚未淨化，而做出冒犯他的事情，他還是會付出完全的愛。因此，當他看到別人改過和轉變時，心中會有一種廣大的、無可言喻的喜悅。
13. The one who loves God cannot help but love also every man as himself even though he is displeased by the passions of those who are not yet purified. Thus when he sees their conversion and amendment, he rejoices with an unbounded and unspeakable joy.
14、瀰漫著情慾的靈魂，是不潔的，因為它充滿了自私的愛與恨。
14. The passionate soul is impure, filled with thoughts of lust and hatred.
15、如果一個人對某人或是某事存有一絲恨意，那麼，他就完全遠離了上帝、遠離愛。因為上帝的愛，絕對不容許有一絲恨意的存在。
15. The one who sees a trace of hatred in his own heart through any fault at all toward any man whoever he may be makes himself completely foreign to the love for God, because love for God in no way admits of hatred for man.
16、我們的主說：「愛我的人，就會遵守我的誡命。」又說：「我的誡命就是愛人如己。」13 因此，一個人如果不愛身邊所有人，就沒有遵守上帝的誡命。而一個沒有遵守上帝的誡命的人，就沒有能力愛上帝，我們的主。」
16. “The one who loves me,” says the Lord, “will keep my commandments” and “this is my commandment, that you love one another.” 13 Therefore the one who does not love his neighbor is not keeping the commandment, and the one who does not keep the commandment is not able to love the Lord.
17、一個能夠用平等心去愛眾生的人，是有福的。14
17. Blessed is the man who has learnt to love all men equally. 14
18、不執著於任何墮落或無常的事物的人，是有福的。
18. Blessed is the man who is not attached to any corruptible or transitory thing.
19、一顆超越萬有的心靈是有福的。一顆沉醉在神性之美所散發的永恆光芒之中的心靈，是有福的。
19. Blessed is the mind which has gone beyond all beings and takes unceasing delight in the divine beauty.
20、如果一個人總是為了肉身欲望的滿足做打算15，而且，常常為了短暫的利益而埋怨、嫉妒身邊的人 ——– 這樣的人是在為受造物效勞，而不是為造物主效勞。16
20. The one who makes provision for the desires of the flesh 15 and bears a grudge against his neighbor for transitory things—such a man serves the creature rather than the Creator. 16
21、一個人如果能夠遠離欲樂與疾病，就能致力於更高尚的事物，為更有價值的事情服務。
21. The one who keeps his body away from pleasure and sickness keeps it as a fellow worker in the service of better things.
22、如果一個人遠離了一切世俗欲望，就能超然於一切世間煩惱。
22. The one who flees all the world’s desires puts himself beyond every worldly grief.
23、一個愛上帝的人，必定也會愛他的鄰人。一個愛上帝的人，不會緊抓住財產不放，而是仿效上帝，將金錢送給那些有需要的人。17
23. The one who loves God surely loves his neighbor as well. Such a person cannot hold on to money but rather gives it out in God’s fashion to each one who has need. 17
24、一個仿效上帝而布施的人，在布施的時候，不會去計較對方是善是惡，也不會計較對方正直與否，而是以平等心，依據對方的需求進行布施。儘管，此人因為心中的善念，而偏愛正直的人更勝於缺德的人。18
24. The one (who imitates God by giving alms) knows no difference between evil and good or just and unjust in regard to the needs of the body, but distributes to all without distinction according to their need even if he prefers the virtuous person over the wicked because of his good intention. 18
25、我們要像那先天善良、完全不受情慾的束縛的上帝一樣，以平等心去愛一切受造物，榮耀正直的人，藉著善念與之為友，並且對邪惡和愚癡的人，心存仁慈，藉事砥礪他們的心智，使他們改過向善。
25. Just as God who is by nature good and free of passion loves all in an equal way as his creatures but glorifies the virtuous man for having become his friend through his intention and has mercy on the wicked out of his goodness and converts him by chastening him in this life, so also does the one who is good and without passion through his intention love equally all men—the virtuous because of his nature and good will and likewise the wicked because of his nature and compassion by which he pities one who is foolish and makes his way in darkness.
26、愛的流露不僅僅在於分享金錢方面，更在於分享上帝的聖言與身體力行、服務人群。
26. The disposition of love is made manifest not only in the sharing of money but much more in sharing the word of God and physical service.
27、一個人如果能夠真誠地放下一切世俗的事物，並且，以愛心為身邊的人奉獻一己之力，沒有一絲虛情假意，那麼，他將立即解脫一切情慾，享受神性之愛與知識的無限回報。
27. The one who has genuinely renounced worldly matters and serves his neighbor without pretense through love soon frees himself of all passion and is rendered a sharer of divine love and knowledge.
28、如果一個人的心靈已經擁有神性之愛，對於那些緊密追隨上帝的人，永遠都不會升起厭煩之心，就像神聖的Jeremiah19曾說：他會高貴地忍受別人的一切責備和非難，而不會對別人升起任何嫌惡之心。
28. The one who has acquired divine love in himself does not grow weary of closely following after the Lord his God, as the divine Jeremiah 19 says; rather he endures nobly every reproachful hardship and outrage without thinking any evil of anyone.
29、當你受到別人的污辱，或是受到任何事物的冒犯時，請留意心中的憤怒，以免他們利用你的惱怒或憂傷，破壞你的仁慈和善行，並且讓你陷入充滿怨恨之地。
29. When you are insulted by someone or offended in any matter, then beware of angry thoughts, lest by distress they sever you from charity and place you in the region of hatred.
30、當你深受冤枉和侮辱之苦時，請務必用心去體會，這些苦痛將帶給你極大的益處，因為上帝正在利用別人對你的毀謗，洗淨你心中的驕傲。
30. Whenever you are suffering intensely from insult or disgrace, realize that this can be of great benefit to you, for disgrace is God’s way of driving vainglory out of you.
31、就好像記憶中的火焰並不能使身體變暖，所以，沒有愛的信仰也不能為靈魂帶來智慧的光明。
31. As the memory of fire does not warm the body, so faith without love does not bring about the illumination of knowledge in the soul.
32、正如太陽的光芒，會吸引人們強健的眼睛，上帝的知識，也會透過愛，自然而然地吸引純淨的心靈。
32. As the light of the sun attracts the healthy eye, so does the knowledge of God draw the pure mind to itself naturally through love.
33、當我們去除心中的無知，讓神性之光照進心中，心靈就會變得純淨無瑕。
33. The mind is pure when it is removed from ignorance and illuminated by divine light.
34、如果靈魂能夠解脫欲望20的束縛，並且在神性的愛中，享受長久的喜悅，那麼它就是純淨的靈魂。
34. The soul is pure when it has been freed from the passions 20 and rejoices unceasingly in divine love.
35、靈魂違反自然的行為，就是應該受到譴責的欲望。21
35. A blameworthy passion is a movement of the soul contrary to nature. 21
36、超然的態度，是靈魂的和平狀態，它能抵禦一切道德的墮落。
36. Detachment is a peaceful state of the soul in which it becomes resistant to vice.
37、一個人如果因為熱切的渴望與追求，而獲得了愛的果實，就算他遭遇無數的痛苦，也不會動搖心智。讓我們接受基督的門徒Stephen，還有其他如同Stephen一般的賢士之勸告，讓我們仿效基督。他為謀殺犯祈禱，他認為謀殺犯並非有意犯錯，只因內心的無知，所以他請求聖父寬恕他們的罪過。22
37. The one who has zealously acquired the fruits of love does not change from it even though he experiences countless ills. And let Stephen, Christ’s disciple, and those like him, persuade you, as well as Christ himself who prays for his murderers and asks forgiveness of his Father as for those acting in ignorance. 22
38、如果耐心和善心是愛的標記，23那麼，很顯然地，喜好爭執、戲謔的人，就會遠離愛，一個遠離愛的人，就會遠離上帝，因為「上帝是愛」。24
38. If it is a mark of love to be patient and kind, 23 the one who acts contentiously愛爭吵的 or wickedly clearly makes himself a stranger to love, and the one who is a stranger to love is a stranger to God, since “God is love.” 24
39、不要只是空口重複著Jeremiah的教導：「你就是上主的聖殿」。25不要只是空口說著：「只有信仰耶穌基督，我們的主才能使我得救。」因為，如果只是空口說白話，這一切就不可能達成。只有親身去實踐，在心中充滿愛，才能使一切實現。因為，上主不僅僅要我們去相信而已，不然「就連惡魔也相信，而且還全身顫抖。」26
39. Do not say, as the divine Jeremiah tells us, that you are the Lord’s temple. 25 And do not say that “mere faith in our Lord Jesus Christ can save me.” For this is impossible unless you acquire love for him through works. For in what concerns mere believing, “even the devils believe and tremble.” 26
40、愛的實踐，是在深思熟慮後對身邊的人所行之善，也是對痛苦、挫折的長久忍耐，並且以最合適的方式去運用一切事物。
40. The work of love is the deliberate doing of good to one’s neighbor as well as long-suffering and patience and the use of all things in the proper way.
41、一個愛上帝的人，並不會因為任何事物的逝去而感到憂傷，也不會因為哀悼著某人而喪志。因為，他只允許自己做有益身心的悲傷或哀悼，就好像受上帝祝福的保羅曾經為哥林多人哀悼那樣。27
41. The one who loves God is not sad nor does he grieve anyone because of any passing thing. Only one salutary sadness makes him sad and grieves others, the one which the blessed Paul had and with which he grieved the Corinthians. 27
42、一個愛上帝的人，會在世間過著天使般的生活，對自己的身心也會時時警覺，並且常常祈禱、唱頌讚美詩，總是找別人的好處，給予別人祝福。28
42. The one who loves God leads an angelic life on earth, fasting and being watchful and singing psalms and praying and always thinking good of everyone. 28
43、如果一個人渴望著某件事，那麼，很自然地，他一定會努力奮鬥以達到目的。現在，我們可以看到，神性是無與倫比的，是比世間一切美好更值得我們渴望的。所以，我們應該以熱切的至誠，順著自然的天性，去求取這個值得追求的至善！29
43. If anyone desires anything, he naturally strives to obtain it. Now the divine is incomparably better and more desirable than all good and desirable things. What great zeal, then, should we show to obtain what is good and desirable by nature! 29
44、不要讓下流的行為，玷污了你的身體；不要讓邪惡的思想，褻瀆你的靈魂；上帝的平安與愛，就會降臨在你的心中。
44. Do not stain your flesh with indecent actions; do not defile your soul with evil thoughts; and God’s peace will come upon you and bring love.
45、用禁食與守夜來砥礪你的肉身，全心全意勤奮地投入祈禱與唱誦讚美詩，那麼，善行之中的神性，將會降臨在你心中，帶給你無限的愛。
45. Afflict your flesh with fasting and vigils. Devote yourself diligently to psalmody and prayer, and holiness in chastity will come upon you and bring love.
46、一個有資格領受神性知識，並且藉著心中的愛，領受了神性知識之光的人，絕對不會因為內心的驕傲而吹捧自己。然而，一個還不夠資格得到神性知識的人，就很容易被驕傲之心所左右。如果一個人屬於後者，就應該要在生活中一切行為上尋求上帝，好似自己的一切言行都是為了上帝，這樣的話，此人必定能夠與上帝同行，真正脫離驕傲之心的束縛。
46. The one who is deemed worthy of divine knowledge and who through love has attained its illumination will never be blown about by the spirit of vainglory. But the one who is not yet deemed worthy of divine knowledge is easily carried to and fro by it. If such a one, then, should look to God in everything that he does, as doing everything for his sake, he will easily escape it with God.
47、一個尚未藉由愛的啟發而領受神性知識的人，會認為自己完成了許多宗教性的工作。然而，一個已經有資格領受神性知識的人，卻只會堅定的說出與Abraham長老相同的話，Abraham長老在獲得神性顯現的恩典時曾說：「我只不過是塵與土而已」。30
47. The one who has not yet obtained divine knowledge activated by love makes a lot of the religious works he performs. But the one who has been deemed worthy to obtain this says with conviction the words which the patriarch Abraham spoke when he was graced with the divine appearance, “I am but earth and ashes.” 30
48、敬畏上主之人，必定常保謙卑之心，而謙卑之心常常引人進入神性之愛與感恩之中。因為，敬畏上主之人，會謹記過去的世俗生活，還有從青年時期就使他迷惑的各種試探與過失，也會憶念著上主是如何帶領他脫離歧途、擺脫情慾，走入神性的生命。因此，一個敬畏上主之人，會懷著敬畏之心，領受上主的愛，並且以深深的謙卑之心，感恩上帝成為他生命的恩人與嚮導。
48. The one who fears the Lord always has humility as his companion and through its promptings is led to divine love and thanksgiving. For he recalls his former worldly life and different transgressions and the temptations bedeviling him from his youth, and how the Lord delivered him from all these things and made him pass from this life of passion to a divine life. And so with fear he receives love as well, ever thankful with deep humility to the benefactor and pilot of our life.
49、不要讓色慾與嗔心，玷污了你的心靈，以免心靈疏忽了純淨的祈禱，而墮入頹喪之中。31
49. Do not soil your mind by holding on to thoughts of concupiscence and anger, lest by falling from pure prayer you fall in with the spirit of discouragement. 31
50、當我們的心靈起了邪惡或愚蠢的念頭，就會與上帝疏遠32而墮落。
50. The mind falls from familiarity 32 with God whenever it consorts with wicked and foul thoughts.
