947、有些人惯于欺骗，以为利用欺骗手段能得到一切，并且活在肉身时因欺骗得逞而确认这种观念。他们觉得自己似乎住在左边的一种大酒桶或大瓮中。这个酒桶或大瓮被称为“地狱酒桶”，上面有一个盖子，外面有一个小球体立在金字塔形的底座上；他们把这个小球体想象成在他们监督和掌控之下的整个宇宙。这正是他们所看到的。他们当中那些利用欺骗手段迫害无辜者的人在这个地方很久了，我被告知，有些人已经在那里呆了两百年了。当被放出来时，他们会产生这种幻觉：他们以为整个宇宙就是一个球体，他们围绕它行走，并把它踩在脚下，相信自己是宇宙之神。我有时看见他们，与他们谈论他们的这种幻觉；但他们在世上就具有这种性质，所以无法从中退出。我还多次注意到他们如何通过狡猾的欺骗败坏人们的想法，瞬间把他们的注意力转到别的方向，用其它想法取代它们，以至于让人几乎意识不到这是他们做的。其行为如此自然，令人难以置信。这就是他们的性质，所以这些灵人从不允许靠近世人，因为他们会暗中注入毒药，并且行动如此稳密，让人察觉不到。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]947. Genesis 9
The Hells (Continued): A Different Set Than Those Already Mentioned{*1} THERE are some dishonest people who think they can get anything they want by trickery and schemes, and whose success at this kind of fraud during bodily life has confirmed them in their belief. They see themselves as living in a kind of vat called Hell's Cask, off to the left.{*2} The vat has a lid, and outside it on a pyramid-shaped stand is a globe that they believe to be the universe, which they watch and control, or so it seems to them.
The ones who preyed on the innocent stay there for centuries. I was told that some have remained there for twenty centuries now.
When they are released, their hallucinations cause them to imagine that the universe is a globe, which they walk around and trample underfoot, believing themselves gods of the universe.
I have seen them several times and talked with them about their fantasy, but since they thought the same way in the world, they cannot be weaned from it.
I have also perceived on occasion how subtly, how craftily they can twist another's thinking, instantly redirect that person's thoughts, and substitute other ideas. They are so sly about it that it was hard to tell they were the ones doing it — and the way they do it is quite incredible. As this is their nature, they are barred from all contact with people on earth, for they inject quantities of venom so secretly and stealthily that no one can tell they have done it.
Footnotes:
{*1} For the hells already mentioned, see 692-700, 814-831, 938-946. [Editors]
{*2} Swedenborg almost certainly means "to the left side of the body" here. He often describes position in the other world in relation to the body, though it is not always clear whether the body is Swedenborg's own body in that world or the body of the "universal human." This macroscopic form of human is described at length at the ends of the chapters in Secrets of Heaven in which he explains the meaning of Genesis 27-43; for a listing of the relevant sections, see note 2 in 1276. Compare his 1758 work Heaven and Hell 59-67, and specifically 65 there, which says that the different communities of heaven make up the limbs and organs of that human form. [RS, LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 947
947. CHAPTER 9 CONTINUATION CONCERNING THE HELLS HERE, CONCERNING OTHER HELLS, DISTINCT FROM THOSE PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED Those who are deceitful and who suppose that they can obtain all things by deceitful craft, and who have confirmed themselves in this idea by their success in the life of the body, seem to themselves to dwell in a kind of tun or vat at the left, which is called the Infernal Tun, over which there is a covering, and outside of it a small globe on a pyramidal base, which they conceive to be the universe, under their inspection and rule. Precisely thus does it appear to them. Those of them who have deceitfully persecuted the innocent are there for ages. I was told that some have remained there already for twenty ages.* When they are let out they are possessed with such phantasy that they suppose the universe to be a globe about which they walk and which they trample with their feet, believing themselves to be gods of the universe. I have seen them at times and spoken with them about their phantasy; but as they had been of this nature in the world, they could not be withdrawn from it. I have also at times perceived with what subtle deceit they could pervert the thoughts, turning them in a moment in other directions, and substituting others, so that it could hardly be known that it was done by them, and this so naturally as to be beyond belief. Being of this character, these spirits are never admitted to men, for they infuse their poison so clandestinely and secretly as not to be noticeable. * An age (saeculum) in the Word is ten years. (See n. 433.) [REVISER]
Elliott(1983-1999) 947
947.9
THE HELLS - continued
In this section other hells that are different from those mentioned already.
People who are given to deceit, who imagine that they can get everything by the use of deceitful practices, and who during their lifetime have confirmed themselves in this notion from the fact that they have been successful in these matters, seem to themselves to be living on the left in a kind of tun, called 'the hellish tun', with a covering over it, and a small globe standing on a pyramid-shaped base outside of it, which they imagine to be the whole universe under their supervision and control. This is exactly how it appears to them. Those of them who have persecuted innocent people by the use of deceit are in that place for ages, and I have been told that some have already been there for twenty ages (saecula).a When they are let out they have this kind of delusion in which they imagine that the whole universe is a globe which they walk around and tread under their feet, believing that they are the gods of the universe. I have seen them frequently and have talked to them about this delusion of theirs. but because they had been of such a nature in the world they could not be wrested from it. I have also noticed several times how they could corrupt people's thoughts by cunning deception, and instantly divert their attention elsewhere and replace them with other ideas, doing so in such a way that one scarcely realized they were doing it. And they acted in an unbelievably natural way. Such being their nature, they are never allowed near men, for they inject their poison in so secret and hidden a fashion as to escape notice.
Latin(1748-1756) 947
947. GENESEOS CAPUT NONUM Continuatio de Infernis Hic de aliis Infernis, quae a prioribus distincta suntQui dolosi sunt, et omnia per dolosas machinationes se obtinere posse putant, et se confirmarunt in vita corporis ex eo quod talia successerint iis, ii habitare sibi videntur in tonna quadam ad sinistrum quae vocatur 'tonna infernalis,' super quam tegumentum, et extra orbiculus super basin pyramidalem, quem putant esse universum quod spectent et gubernent; ita prorsus iis apparet: qui eorum innocentes dolose persecuti sunt, ibi sunt per saecula; alibi dictum quod quidam ibi jam per viginti saecula {1} manserint: cum emittuntur, talem phantasiam habent quod putent universum esse orbem quendam, quem circum ambulant et pedibus calcant, se deos universi credentes: aliquoties mihi visi, et cum iis de phantasia eorum locutus, sed quia tales fuerunt in mundo, non potuerunt abduci. Percepi etiam aliquoties quam subtili dolo pervertere possent cogitationes, et flectere momento aliorum, et substituere alia, sic ut vix potuisset cognosci quod ab iis; et hoc tali natura ut incredibile sit; qui quia tales, nusquam admittuntur ad homines, nam venena ita clandestine et latenter infundunt, ut non appercipi possit. @1 Saeculum= 10 anni (see n. 433).$