1. Hello, listening friends, and welcome to this new series of broadcasts.
亲爱的朋友，你好，欢迎你收听这个新的系列信息。
2. This new series is called “Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Sands,”
我们把这个新的系列信息称为：“在流沙的世界里要站立得稳。”
3. and it focuses on the Book of Daniel.
内容主要集中在但以理书。
4. Everyone agrees that peer pressure is a powerful force in any society.
每个人都会同意，在任何的社会阶层里，同龄人的压力都是一股强大的力量。
5. It is most prevalent, especially among young people;
尤其是在年轻人中最为普遍；
6. but many adults fall victim to peer pressure also.
但也有许多成年人，成为同龄人压力的牺牲品。
7. Very prominent social scientists have discovered the following facts:
一些杰出的社会学家，发现了下面的这些事实：
8. seventy-five percent of students are more influenced by their peers than their parents.
百分之七十五的学生，受同龄人的影响超过家长的影响。
9. On the other hand, 75 percent of parents believe that peer pressure is no real influence on their children.
而另一方面，百分之七十五的家长相信，同龄人的压力并没有真正影响到他们的孩子。
10. That tells me that a lot of parents are completely ignorant about peer pressure.
这告诉我们，很多家长完全地忽略了同龄人的压力。
11. Let me tell you three things about peer pressure.
有关同龄人的压力，我想讲三点：
12. First, there is neutral pressure that has no permanent good or bad effect on our lives.
第一，有一种是中性的压力，从长远来说，对我们的生活没有好的或坏的影响。
13. Second, there is a positive peer pressure that brings out strength and draws out our good values;
第二，有一种是正面的同龄人压力，能够强化我们，并提升我们好的质量；
14. and, third, there is negative peer pressure.
第三，也有一种是负面的同龄人压力。
15. The only answer to negative peer pressure is to learn to say, “No.”
对待负面的同龄人压力，唯一的办法就是学会说：“不。”
16. Say it firmly and say it often;
要坚定地说，经常地说；
17. and, as you do that, you will grow to say it confidently.
当你这样做的时候，才能逐渐自信地将它说出来。
18. Not only that, but the most important thing that you can do is for you to become the positive peer pressure on others.
另外，你要做的最重要的一件事，就是成为一个能带给别人正面的同龄人压力的人。
19. Instead of being a pressure acceptor, you can become a pressure giver.
你可以成为一个施加压力的人，而不仅仅是接受压力的人。
20. You can make it acceptable to be different;
你可以成为一个与众不同的人，而别人仍然接纳你；
21. and you will be amazed at how quickly others will follow you.
你将惊奇地发现，别人多么快地就会来跟随你。
22. Today, I want to tell you about four young men.
今天，我想跟你讲四个年轻人的故事。
23. These four young men decided to say, “No”;
这四个年轻人决定说：“不”；
24. and they became the positive peer pressure for others.
他们给别人带来了正面的同龄人压力。
25. Those four young men became positive examples for the entire Babylonian Empire.
这四个年轻人，成为了整个巴比伦王国的正面楷模。
26. They became leaders, instead of followers.
他们成为领袖，而不是追随者。
27. How did this happen?
这是怎样发生的呢？
28. Around the year 605 BC,
大约在公元前605年，
29. after Israel refused God’s warning through the Prophet Jeremiah,
当以色列民拒绝了神透过耶利米先知所发出的警告之后，
30. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Israel.
巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒入侵了以色列，
31. He pillaged the country of its treasures and of its best people.
他掠夺了这个国家的财富和百姓中的精英，
32. He took the brightest and the most intelligent into his own court.
他将他们中最聪明最有智慧的人带到了自己的宫中。
33. Four of those were named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
他们中间的这四个人名叫但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亚撒利雅。
34. Now, if you have your Bible, turn with me to the Book of Daniel, Chapter 1, verses 1 to 16;
现在，如果你手中有圣经，请跟我一起翻到但以理书第1章1到16节；
35. Now, listen as you hear the Word of God spoken.
请你留心听神的话语。
36. Daniel 1:1-16.
但以理书第1章1到16节。
37. These four men were like four candles lit up in the dark alley of Babylon,
这四个人就像四根蜡烛，照亮了巴比伦黑暗的小径。
38. like four stars in the bleak Babylonian skies.
像四颗明星，悬挂在巴比伦黯淡的夜空中。
39. Four young men in a hostile environment;
这四个年轻人，身处充满敌意的环境之中；
40. and, if they could prevail, so can you.
如果他们都能够获胜，你也可以。
41. It is easy to be spiritual in the middle of a large group.
身处一个大的属灵群体之中，属灵就很容易。
42. Who you really are shines through when you are in the middle of rowdy unbelievers.
只有身处一群粗暴的非信徒中间，发出光泽的时候，才能真正显明你的本质。
43. Spiritual integrity does not need the protection of a safe environment to grow in;
灵性上的完善，并不需要在一个安全环境的保护下才能成长；
44. but spiritual integrity grows best when it is exposed to the storms of snow and wind and hail.
灵性上的完善，反而是在暴风雪和冰雹之下成长得最好。
45. Think of these four young men.
想一想这四个年轻人，
46. Their leader was a 14-year-old boy who was abducted from his home and family.
他们的领袖是一个十四岁的男孩，被人从他的家中绑架来的。
47. These four were taken to a strange land;
这四个年轻人被掳到了一个陌生之地；
48. and, there, they became subject to subtle, but powerful, indoctrination;
在那里，他们受到了阴险而又强有力的教导；
49. and, yet, Daniel and his three friends purposed in their hearts to please God.
然而，但以理和他的三个朋友已在他们心中定意要讨神喜悦。
50. My listening friend, I want you to look with me at three things in Daniel, Chapter 1.
亲爱的朋友，我想与你一起，从三个方面来看但以理书第1章，
51. First, the prevailing circumstances.
首先是，主流的环境。
52. Secondly, the pressure to compromise;
第二是，妥协的压力。
53. and, thirdly, the power of conviction.
第三是，信心的能力。
54. Let’s look at number one, the prevailing circumstances.
让我们先来看第一点，主流环境。
55. King Nebuchadnezzar was ruthless, but he was also clever.
尼布甲尼撒王非常残忍，也很聪明。
56. His method was to take the cream of the crop from every nation that he conquered and use them for his service.
他的办法是把所征服的每一个国家的精英掳来，让他们为他效力。
57. He put these young minds into a sort of college program.
他让这些年轻人接受高等教育。
58. Daniel and his friends were obviously among the brightest and the smartest in the whole empire.
很显然，但以理和他的朋友们是整个国家中最聪明的人之一。
59. They were athletic and good-looking and intelligent.
他们既强壮，相貌俊美又有智慧。
60. Students at Nebuchadnezzar’s school had to be able to endure three years of grueling study.
在尼布甲尼撒王的学校中，学生们要忍受三年最艰苦的学习。
61. They studied literature, mathematics, science, politics, history and geography;
他们要学文学，数学，科学，政治，历史和地理；
62. so, these four guys, Daniel and his three friends, were among the privileged and the elite;
这四个年轻人，但以理和他的三个朋友，是属于那些享有特权的精英；
63. and, for such select few, there was a special menu that was loaded with rich food and wine.
被挑选出来的这一小部分人，可以享受特别的食物，全都是美酒佳肴。
64. Above all else, these students had to forget all thought of being servants of God.
除了这些之外，学生们还必须打消一个念头，那就是做神的仆人。
65. They had to become servants of the mighty Nebuchadnezzar.
他们要作尊贵的尼布甲尼撒王的仆人。
66. To help in this process of introduction, their names had to be changed.
为了实现这一目标，在教导的过程中，他们被迫更改自己的名字。
67. Why?
为什么呢？
68. In order that they would forget their identity.
为的是让学生忘记自己的身分。
69. Daniel, which means “God has judged,” was changed to “Belteshazzar,” which means “the keeper of the hidden treasure of the god of Baal”.
但以理原来的意思是“神审断”，被改成“伯提沙撒”，意思是“巴力秘密财宝的守护者”。
70. Hananiah, which means, “Jehovah has been gracious,” became “Shadrach,” which is a part of the name of the pagan deity, Marduk.
哈拿尼雅原意为“耶和华是有恩典的”，变成了“沙得拉”，是外邦人的神马杜克名字的一部分。
71. Mishael, which means, “who is like God?” became “Meshach,” which is the ancient name of Venus;
米沙利原意为“与神一样”，变成了“米煞”，是维纳斯神的古代称呼；
72. and Azariah, which means, “Jehovah has helped,” became “Abednego,” which means “the servant of Nebo.”
亚撒利雅原意为“耶和华帮助的人”，变成了“埃布尔尼歌”，意思是“尼布的仆人”。
73. The new culture was telling them, “Forget your faith.”
新的文化不断地告诉他们：“要忘掉你的信仰。”
74. These were their circumstances.
这就是他们所处的环境。
75. The question is, “Would they capitulate?”
问题是，“他们会屈服吗？”
76. Secondly, we see the pressure to compromise in verses 8 to 16.
第二，我们在第8到16节中可以看到妥协的压力。
77. The devil will always begin by surrounding you with circumstances that are designed to make you forget biblical truth;
魔鬼总是在一开始的时候，先把你放在一种环境中，就是刻意使你忘记圣经真理的环境；
78. then, he will tempt you;
然后，他会来试探你；
79. then, he will pressure you to compromise.
接着，他会逼迫你妥协。
80. The reason why the Israelites were taken into captivity in the first place was because they had been a nation of compromisers.
以色列民之所以被掳，就是因为他们已变成了一个妥协的国家。
81. They had become idolaters;
他们已成为拜偶像的人；
82. and, so, these four boys found themselves among the elite of this pagan culture.
因此，这四个男孩发觉自己成了外邦人文化中的特权阶级。
83. While most of their fellow Hebrews were already knee-deep in compromise and apostasy, these Hebrew boys stood firm and would not compromise.
当大多数的希伯来同胞已深陷妥协和变节的泥沼时，这几个希伯来男孩却可以站立得稳，不愿妥协。
84. As these four boys looked around, they saw that everyone in their community was eating and drinking from the King’s kitchen;
这四个男孩环顾四周，他们发现这个圈子里的同伴，人人都在吃喝享用王的食物；
85. and Daniel and his friends could not do that and sin toward God.
但以理和他的朋友们却没有这么做，没有得罪神。
86. Some of you may say, “But isn’t that silly to refuse to eat the King’s food?
有些人也许会说：“拒绝吃王的食物不是很傻吗？
87. Did they have to stick to food that is legal?”
难道他们一定得坚持吃那些合法的食物吗？”
88. Actually, this food has nothing to do with the legal food.
事实上，这些食物与是否合法没有任何关系。
89. The reason they refused to eat from the King’s table was because that food had been offered to idols before it was served.
他们拒绝吃王桌上的食物，是因为那些食物在端上来之前曾被用来供奉偶像。
90. Someone may say, “Why make such a fuss about small issues, such as eating food offered to idols?
有些人也许会说：“为什么要对吃供奉过偶像的食物这一类的小事，如此大惊小怪呢？
91. Think of how influential you will be in the King’s palace.
应该想想，你将在王宫里多么的有势力，
92. Take advantage of the situation…”
应该利用这个时机……”
93. but Daniel’s response was, “No.
可但以理的回答却是：“不，
94. It may cost me my life, but I will keep my eternal life.”
这也许会断送我的性命，但我可以保住永生。”
95. Daniel, being the intelligent and gifted man that he was, objected without being objectionable.
但以理，作为一个聪明而又有天赋的人，没有用排斥他人的方式来拒绝。
96. He politely asked the boss to release him from the obligation of eating such food.
他有礼貌地要求他的主管，免除他吃这种食物的义务。
97. Jesus said, “When you are faithful with little, you’ll be faithful with much;”
耶稣说：“人在最小的事上忠心，在大事上也忠心”；
98. and, because Daniel would not compromise with little things as a young man of fourteen, sixty years later, he would not compromise with the big things.
由于这个14岁的年轻人但以理，在小事上不妥协，60年后，他在大事上也不会妥协。
99. The prevailing circumstances.
主流的环境，
100. The pressure to compromise;
妥协的压力；
101. thirdly, the power of conviction.
第三是，信心的能力。
102. If you look at verses 17 to 21,
如果你查考17到21节，
103. you will find that, when you honor God, God will honor you.
你会发现，当你想荣耀神的时候，神就让你受尊重。
104. When you put God first, He will deliver you.
当你让神居首位的时候，祂就让你得释放。
105. When you refuse to compromise, He will stand with you.
当你拒绝妥协的时候，祂就和你站在一起。
106. Daniel and his three friends finished their three-year course; and, now, it was time for final exams.
但以理和他的三个朋友完成了他们三年的课程，现在是结业考试的时候了。
107. In those days, the exams were not written exams. They were oral exams.
那时候，考试不是书面的，而是口试。
108. They had to appear before the King, himself, who personally examined each one of the candidates;
他们要来到王本人面前，由他来考查每一个考生；
109. and the King’s assessment of Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego is recorded in verses 19 to 20.
王对但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亚撒利雅的评价记载在第19到20节。
110. They were the best of the best.
他们是最优秀的。
111. They were better than all of their graduating class and the whole school;
他们比整个学校毕业班的同学都优秀；
112. but that was not all.
但这还不是全部。
113. They were given the top jobs in the King’s court.
他们得到了王宫里最优厚的职位。
114. In fact, Daniel remained in the second highest position in the land for 70 years;
事实上，但以理在第二高的职位上待了70年之久；
115. and, so, my friend, I want to tell you as I conclude,
因此，亲爱的朋友，在结束的时候，我想告诉你：
116. that, when you refuse to compromise on little things,
当你在小事上拒绝妥协的时候，
117. when you honor the Lord with all you are,
当你全心全意来荣耀神的时候，
118. then watch and see how He will honor you.
你可以观察，来看看神会怎样提升你。
119. Let me share a verse with you that I hope that you will memorize.
我要与你来分享一节经文，希望你能背诵。
120. It is in 1 Samuel, Chapter 2, verse 30.
撒母耳记上2章30节，
121. “‘Those who honor Me, I will honor,’ says the Lord.”
“主说：‘尊重我的，我必重看他。’”
122. That is the promise of God,
这就是神的应许，
123. and He never reneges on His promises.
祂从不违背自己的应许。
124. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
