關於愛，我是個小學生。

不是要一起讀聖經嗎？好啊！
看聖經學英文，是外文系學生的必修課程，我想我們不時也這麼做好了，也可謂一舉兩得。那麼受限於時間篇幅，法學英文和一般英文選讀就得偶爾停一停囉。
今天讀到了聖經的金錢觀，水深之處福音網站提到，心理學家麥爾斯（David Myers）在一項長期研究中發現，物質財富和快樂之間沒有太大相關性。過去 50 年來，許多國家漸漸脫離了貧窮，他們的快樂程度卻不升反降。 
一個令人百思不解的現象是，有些人一旦獲得了物質財富，竟然比在追求財富時期更苦悶。因為當人以賺錢為人生目標時，過程中有個目標支撐，使他能忍受某些負面情緒，然而當他達到目標後，卻發現所得並未為他帶來快樂，相反地，剩餘的儘是失望的感受。因為他沒有期望，也找不到憧憬未來的目標。於是結果往往是：年輕時用盡青春來換取財富，年老時又想用財富換回青春。[聖經生活便利貼之錢財篇]

該網站進一步引用了 10 句聖經的話，說明了人們當有的金錢觀：(有趣的是，此處所用的英文對照版本，我從不曾看過，應該是新版本吧？不過意思與諸版本相去甚微，就學習英文與入門聖經的角度而言，應該沒有太大的關係。套色單字建議背誦，劃線句型值得活用。)
1. 人若賺得全世界，卻賠上自己的魂生命，有甚麼益處？人還能拿甚麼換自己的魂生命？－馬太福音16:26
For what shall a man be profited if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul-life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul-life?－Matthew 16:26
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2. 你們看天空的飛鳥，牠們既不種，也不收，又不收積在倉裡，你們的天父尚且養活牠們。你們不比牠們貴重麼？...你們細想野地裡的百合花，怎樣生長；牠們既不勞苦，也不紡線。所以不要憂慮，說，我們要喫甚麼？喝甚麼？披戴甚麼？因為這一切都是外邦人所急切尋求的，你們的天父原知道你們需要這一切。但你們要先尋求祂的國和祂的義，這一切就都要加給你們了。－馬太福音6:26-28,31-33
Look at the birds of heaven. They do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father nourishes them. Are you not of more value than they? ...Consider well the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin thread. ...Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For all these things the Gentiles are anxiously seeking. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.－Matthew 6:26-28,31-33 
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3. 不要為那必壞的食物勞力，要為那存到永遠生命的食物勞力，就是人子要賜給你們的，因為祂是父神所印證的。－約翰福音6:27
Work not for the food which perishes, but for the food which abides unto (就是 to)  eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for Him has the Father, even God, sealed.－John 6:27
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4. 你們生活為人不可貪愛錢財，要以現有的為足；因為主曾說，『我絕不撇下你，也絕不丟棄你。』－希伯來書13:5
Let your way of life be without the love of money, being satisfied with the things which are at hand; for He Himself has said, "I shall by no means give you up, neither by any means shall I abandon you''－Hebrews 13:5 
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5. 我親愛的弟兄們，請聽，神豈不是揀選了世上貧窮的人，叫他們在信上富足，並承受祂所應許給那些愛祂之人的國麼？－雅各書2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers: Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He promised to those who love Him?－James 2:5
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6. 然而敬虔又知足，便是大利了；因為我們沒有帶甚麼到世界來，也不能帶甚麼去；只要有養生與遮身之物，就當以此為足。但那些想要發財的人，就陷在試誘、網羅、和許多無知有害的私慾裡，叫人沉溺在敗壞和滅亡中。因為貪財是萬惡之根，有人貪戀錢財，就受迷惑，離棄了信仰，用許多苦痛把自己刺透了。但你這屬神的人阿，要逃避這些事，竭力追求公義、敬虔、信、愛、忍耐、溫柔。－提摩太前書6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain; For we have brought nothing into the world, because (古用法，現代英文不重複用連接詞，此只用 for 即可) neither can we carry anything out. But having food and covering, with these we will be content. But those who intend to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all evils, because of which some, aspiring after money, have been led away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many pains. But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, meekness.－1 Timothy 6:6-11
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7. 耶和華的聖民哪，你們當敬畏祂，因敬畏祂的一無所缺。少壯獅子，還缺食忍餓；但尋求耶和華的，什麼好處都不缺。－詩篇34:9-10
Fear Jehovah, you who are His saints; For there is no lack with those who fear Him. The young lions hunger and starve, But those who seek Jehovah will not lack any good thing.－Psalms 34:9-10
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8. 少有財寶，敬畏耶和華，強如多有財寶，煩亂不安。－箴言15:16
Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah Than great treasure and turmoil with it.－Proverbs 15:16 
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9. 因為『凡屬肉體的人盡都如草，他一切的榮美都像草上的花；草必枯乾，花必凋謝，惟有主的話永遠長存。』所傳給你們的福音就是這話。－彼得前書1:24-25
For "all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass has withered, and the flower has fallen off, But the word of the Lord abides forever.'' And this is the word which has been announced to you as the gospel.－1 Peter 1:24-25
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10. 你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要心思高傲，也不要寄望於無定的錢財，只要寄望於那將百物豐富的供給我們享受的神；又要囑咐他們行善，在善事上富足，甘心分授，樂意與人同享，為著將來，替自己積存美好的根基作寶藏，叫他們持定那真實的生命。－提摩太前書6:17-19
Charge those who are rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God, who affords us all things richly for our enjoyment; To do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to distribute, to be ones willing to share; Laying away for themselves a good foundation as a treasure for the future, that they may lay hold on that which is really life.－1 Timothy 6:17-19 [應時的話：錢不夠用？10句聖經的話！]

待續