January 31

"He giveth quietness." (Job 34:29)

Quietness amid the dash of the storm. We sail the lake with Him still; and as we reach its middle waters, far from land, under midnight skies, suddenly a great storm sweeps down. Earth and hell seem arrayed against us, and each billow threatens to overwhelm. Then He arises from His sleep, and rebukes¹ the winds and the waves; His hand waves benediction² and repose³ over the rage of the tempestuous⁴ elements. His voice is heard above the scream of the wind in the cordage and the conflict of the billows, "Peace, be still!" Can you not hear it? And there is instantly a great calm. "He giveth quietness." Quietness amid the loss of inward consolations⁵. He sometimes withdraws these, because we make too much of them. We are tempted⁶ to look at our joy, our ecstasies⁷, our transports, or our visions, with too great complacency. Then love for love's sake, withdraws them. But, by His grace, He leads us to distinguish between them and Himself. He draws nigh, and whispers the assurance of His presence. Thus an infinite calm comes to keep our heart and mind. "He giveth quietness."

"He giveth quietness." O Elder Brother,

Whose homeless feet have pressed our path of pain,

Whose hands have borne the burden of our sorrow,

That in our losses we might find our gain.

"Of all Thy gifts and infinite consolings,

I ask but this: in every troubled hour

To hear Thy voice through all the tumults⁸ stealing,

And rest serene⁹ beneath its tranquil¹⁰ power.

"Cares cannot fret¹¹ me if my soul be dwelling

In the still air of faith's untroubled day;

Grief cannot shake me if I walk beside thee,

My hand in Thine along the darkening way.

"Content to know there comes a radiant morning

When from all shadows I shall find release,

Serene to wait the rapture¹² of its dawning—

Who can make trouble when Thou sendest peace?"

一月三十一日

“祂使人安静“ （伯三十四：29）

　　神能在风浪中给人安静。今天我们仍旧和祂一同在船中；在深夜离岸甚远，船到了湖中心的时候，忽然起了暴风，甚至船被波浪掩盖。这时候似乎世人联络一致地逼迫我们，地狱张了口等待吞吃我们，每一个波浪威胁我们。在这样绝望的光景中，主顶镇静地起来，斥责风和浪。在祂一挥手之下，祝福来了，风浪去了，风号浪湃，不能混乱祂的声音，“住了罢，静了罢”（可四：39）。你听见祂的声音么？“祂使人安静“。这安静不是普通的安静，乃是在失去指望和安慰中的安静。有时候祂故意把指望和安慰从我们收回，因为我们太注重这些了。我们顶容易专看喜乐，奋心，盼望，安慰，经历，恩赐，异象等等过于看主。所以为了爱的缘故，主把这些暂时收回；好叫我们靠着祂的恩典，分辨主所赐的和主自己。但是当我们以为失去了一切福份的时候，主就来了，叫我们尝到祂同在的滋味。这时候我们因为有了祂自己，就忘记了祂所收回的，心中只觉得无限的安静。“祂使人安静”。

“祂使人安静”

基督流浪的脚步，曾踏过我们痛苦的荒径，

祂的双手担承过我们悲愁的重负，

祂使人安宁，丧失之中找到新的生命。

在祢一切的赐予和无尽的安慰中，

我只祈求：在遭遇困难的时际，

听到祢的声音隐隐穿过一切喧嚣，

使我在它安静的力量下泰然休憩。

只要我灵魂寓于平静的信仰，

一切忧虑都不能使我心焦，

只要祢握着我的手，我走在祢身旁，

一切悲痛都不能使我动摇。

光明的早晨将使黑暗消散，

知道了这一点，我已心满意足，

我将静待黎明时分的狂喜，

谁还能扰乱祢所赐的安宁平静？

1 rebukes   

责难或指责( rebuke的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• His industry rebukes me. 他的勤劳使我感到惭傀。
• The manager's rebukes in loud voice and stern expression have made the clerks gathered in the out office start with alarm. 老板声色俱厉的责备把聚集在办公室外的职员们吓坏了。

2 benediction   

n.祝福；恩赐

参考例句：

• The priest pronounced a benediction over the couple at the end of the marriage ceremony.牧师在婚礼结束时为新婚夫妇祈求上帝赐福。
• He went abroad with his parents' benediction.他带着父母的祝福出国去了。

3 repose   

v.(使)休息；n.安息

参考例句：

• Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
• Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

4 tempestuous   

adj.狂暴的

参考例句：

• She burst into a tempestuous fit of anger.她勃然大怒。
• Dark and tempestuous was night.夜色深沉，狂风肆虐，暴雨倾盆。

5 consolations   

n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Recent history had washed away the easy consolations and the old formulas. 现代的历史已经把轻松的安慰和陈旧的公式一扫而光。 来自辞典例句
• When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. 诗94:19我心里多忧多疑、安慰我、使我欢乐。 来自互联网

6 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

7 ecstasies   

狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药

参考例句：

• In such ecstasies that he even controlled his tongue and was silent. 但他闭着嘴，一言不发。
• We were in ecstasies at the thought of going home. 一想到回家，我们高兴极了。

8 tumults   

吵闹( tumult的名词复数 )； 喧哗； 激动的吵闹声； 心烦意乱

参考例句：

9 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

10 tranquil   

adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的

参考例句：

• The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
• The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

11 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

12 rapture   

n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜

参考例句：

• His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.他的演说受到支持者们的热烈欢迎。
• In the midst of his rapture,he was interrupted by his father.他正欢天喜地，被他父亲打断了。