(明報)2010年5月17日 星期一 05:10
【明報專訊】《聖經》不但是一部宗教經典，而且極具文學價值。《聖經》有許多優美的詞句和生動的比喻，成為西方文學的寶庫。
《舊約聖經》的《詩篇》（Psalms）收錄了150篇歌頌上帝的詩歌，部分由大衛王所作，包括第23篇：
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want（困乏）.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
篇中許多比喻成為西方文學的tropes（常用的象徵和比喻）。牧者（shepherd）比喻領導者；牧者的杖（rod and staff）象徵指引；死蔭的幽谷（the valley of the shadow of death）代表生命中的厄困；青草地（green pastures）和靜水（still waters）象徵滿足和平安，後者曾為奧巴馬的就職演辭所引用：
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.
The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.
《聖經》另一重要的比喻載於《馬太福音》7章13-14節：
Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.
走向永生的門徑狹窄，找著的人也少。進入歧途易，堅守正道難。法國作家紀德（André Gide）的小說《窄門》（La Porte Étroite） 講述女主人翁為恪守宗教的道德要求，抑壓愛情，鬱鬱而終，反映作者對宗教的複雜態度。該小說的英文譯名正是Strait is the Gate。
■作者網址﹕www.savantas.org或www.reginaip.hk
作者電郵﹕iplau@reginaip.hk
文：葉劉淑儀
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