中英對照/教義和聖約/第119篇​

第一百一十九篇

Section 119

一八三八年七月八日，在密蘇里，遠西城，透過先知約瑟 • 斯密給予的啟示，答覆他以下的祈求：「主啊！向您的僕人顯示，您要求您人民多少財產作為什一奉獻」〔教會史，3:44〕。今日所了解的什一奉獻律法，在這啟示之前，尚未給予本教會。上述的祈求和以前的啟示（64：23；85：3；97：11）中提到的「什一奉獻」一詞，指的不僅是十分之一，而是奉獻給教會基金的一切自願捐獻或奉獻。主先前已給教會獻納的律法和財產的管家職務，其成員（主要是擔任領袖的長老們）都立下一條永久的聖約。由於許多人未能遵守這聖約，主就暫時收回那聖約，而代之以什一奉獻律法給全體教友。先知求問主，祂要求他們多少財產作為神聖用途。這啟示即其答覆。

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, 8 July 1838, in answer to his supplication: “O Lord! Show unto thy servant how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing” (History of the Church,3:44). The law of tithing, as understood today, had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation. The term tithingin the prayer just quoted and in previous revelations (64:23;85:3; 97:11) had meant not just one-tenth, but all free-will offerings, or contributions, to the Church funds. The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of their property he required for sacred purposes. The answer was this revelation.

1–5，聖徒要繳付他們多餘的財產，然後每年繳納他們收益的十分之一，作為什一奉獻；6–7，這樣做必能聖化錫安地。

1–5, The Saints are to pay their surplus property and then give, as tithing, one-tenth of their interest annually; 6–7, Such a course will sanctify the land of Zion.

1 主實在這樣說，我要求他們所有^ａ多餘的財產都交到我錫安的教會的主教手中，

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their ^asurplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion,

2 為了建造我的^ａ家宅，為了錫安的奠基，為了聖職，也為了我教會會長團的債務。

2 For the building of mine ^ahouse, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.

3 這將是我人民^ａ什一奉獻的開始。

3 And this shall be the beginning of the ^atithing of my people.

4 之後，那些已經這樣繳付什一奉獻的人，要每年繳納他們全部收益的十分之一；為了我神聖的聖職，這將是他們永遠常存的律法，主說。

4 And after that, those who have thus been ^atithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

5 我實在告訴你們，事情將是這樣，所有聚集到^ａ錫安地的人都要交出他們多餘的財產，作為什一奉獻，並遵守這律法，否則他們將不被認為配稱住在你們當中。

5 Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of ^aZion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you.

6 我告訴你們，如果我的人民不遵守這律法，保持其神聖，並藉這律法為我聖化^ａ錫安地，使我的規章和法典都能在那裡遵行，使那裡成為最神聖的，看啊，我實在告訴你們，那裡對你們來說，將不是錫安地。

6 And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of^aZion unto you.

7 這將是對錫安各^ａ支聯會的一個範例。正如這樣。阿們。

7 And this shall be an ensample unto all the ^astakes of Zion. Even so. Amen.