987、“地上一切的走兽”表示属于低级心智的欲望。这从圣言中“走兽”的含义清楚可知，“走兽”要么表示情感，要么表示恶欲。对良善的情感由温驯、有用和洁净的走兽来表示；对邪恶的情感，也就是恶欲由凶猛、无用和不洁的走兽来表示（参看45，46，142，143，246，776节）。它们在此因表示恶欲，故被称为“地上的走兽”，而非田间的走兽。至于重生之人对恶欲的掌控，要知道，人们若以为能凭自己制伏邪恶，就大错特错了，并且也决不会重生。因为人无非是邪恶，就是一堆邪恶；他的整个意愿只在于邪恶，如前一章所说的，即：“人心的想象从小就邪恶”（8:21）。活生生的经历向我表明，一个世人或灵人，甚至一位天使，就其本身，即他的整个自我而言，不过是最肮脏的粪便；当独自一人时，他所沉思的，都是仇恨、报复、残忍和最污秽的通奸。这些东西都是他自己的，也是构成他意愿的东西。
如若反思一下，仅从以下考虑谁都能清楚看到这个问题，即：当人出生时，在所有野兽和牲畜当中，他是最低级的生物。当他长大，成为自己的主人，可以为自己的行为负责时，若没有外在的法律约束和他为了尽可能获得极大的影响力和财富而强加给自己的约束阻碍，他必冲进各种暴行，并且不会停下来，直到他征服宇宙中的所有人，攫取所有人的财富；除了那些屈服于他，成为他卑微的奴仆之人外，他也不会放过任何人。这就是每个人的本性，尽管那些没有机会或能力实现的人，以及那些受制于上述约束的人没有意识到这一点。一旦得到机会和能力，约束放松，他们就会尽可能地狂奔。野兽却从未表现出这样的本性，而是生在某种自然秩序中。其中凶猛的捕食性动物伤害其它动物只是为了自卫；它们吞吃其它动物也只是为了缓解饥饿；一旦饥饿缓解，它们就不再造成伤害。而人类却完全不同。由此清楚可知人的自我和意愿是何性质。
既然人是一大堆可怕的邪恶和粪便，那么很明显，他凭自己决不能战胜邪恶。说邪恶掌控邪恶，并且不仅能掌控邪恶，还能掌控地狱，这绝对是自相矛盾。因为每个人都通过恶灵与地狱相联，他里面的邪恶由此被激活。从这些考虑谁都能知道，并且头脑正常的人还能推断出，唯独主能掌控人里面的邪恶和与他同住的地狱。为叫人里面的邪恶，也就是时时刻刻试图强行进入他，并永远毁灭他的地狱能被制伏，人被主重生，并被赋予一个新意愿，也就是良心，主唯独通过这良心实现一切良善。信仰的要点是这些：人无非是邪恶；一切良善皆来自主。因此，人不仅应该知道这些要点，还应承认并相信它们。如果他活在肉身时不承认也不相信，那么在来世，这一点会令人信服地向他证明。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]987. The fact that on every beast of the earth means over cravings in the lower mind is established by the symbolism of a beast in the Word. There beasts symbolize passions, or cravings. Beasts that are tame, useful, and clean symbolize passions for something good. Beasts that are savage, useless, and unclean symbolize passions for evil, or cravings.{*1} For more on this, see 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 776.
Because they symbolize cravings here, they are called beasts of the earth, not beasts of the field.
In respect to the mastery exercised by regenerate people over their cravings, everyone needs to realize the tremendous error and totally unregenerate nature of people who imagine that they can subdue evil by their own efforts. Human beings are nothing but evil. We are a mass of evils. Our whole will is unmitigated evil. That is why Genesis 8:21 said, "What human hearts fabricate is evil from their youth."
Personal experience has shown me that people and spirits — and even angels, viewed in themselves (that is, their whole selfhood) — are the most worthless excrement. It has also shown me that when left to themselves, all they meditate is hatred, vengefulness, cruelty, and the foulest adulteries. These are their own impulses; these are their will.
[2] Anyone can see the same thing simply by musing on this, that at birth we are the basest living creatures among all the wild animals and beasts. After growing up and coming into our own, we would plunge into atrocities of every kind if various restraints did not stop us — external legal restraints, and restraints we place on ourselves in seeking to grow as influential and rich as possible. We would not stop until we had overpowered every person in the universe and raked up everyone's wealth. We would spare none but those who submitted to us as lowly slaves. That is what each of us is like, although we do not perceive it when we have no opportunity or power to achieve it, and when we are under restraint, as mentioned. If opportunity and ability presented themselves and the restraints were loosened, we would run just as wild as we could.
Animals are not at all the same. They are born into a kind of preordained system of nature. The savage predators among them do hurt other animals, but only to protect themselves; and when they eat other animals, they are satisfying their hunger. Once satisfied, they inflict no more harm. Humans are completely different.
These things demonstrate what human selfhood and human will are like.
[3] Since we are such a horrible, massive heap of wickedness and dung, we obviously have no ability whatever to conquer evil on our own. It is absolutely self-contradictory to say that evil can control evil, and not only that it can control evil but that it can control hell. Each of us communicates with hell by means of evil spirits, and it is this contact that arouses the evil in us.
From this anyone can see or (if sane) come to the conclusion that only the Lord can control the evil and the hell we harbor within.
In order to subdue the evil in us — or in other words, to subdue hell, which spends every second trying to attack and destroy us forever — the Lord regenerates us and gives us the gift of a new will, which is conscience. Through it, the Lord alone achieves every positive result.
Faith teaches that we are nothing but evil and that everything good is from the Lord, so we must not only learn it but also acknowledge and believe it. If we do not acknowledge and believe it in this life, it will be vividly demonstrated to us in the other life.
Footnotes:
{*1} The "tame, useful, and clean" animals mentioned in the Bible, also referred to as "beasts of the field," include sheep, goats, and cattle; the "savage, useless, and unclean" animals, also referred to as "beasts of the earth," include bears, wolves, scorpions, serpents, and mice (2180:2, 3218). Although the application of negative terms to animals may surprise today's readers, who are more likely to assess animals with respect to their ecological function than their symbolic function, Swedenborg's human-dependent assessment of animals is consistent with his human-centric theology: animals are classed as either useful or useless depending exclusively on their direct impact on humans. Furthermore, Swedenborg states that the signification of animals in the Bible correlates with the meaning of animals as they appear in the spiritual world — that is, as spontaneous representations of the emotions and thoughts of spirits and angels. It follows from this that "every animal symbolizes a characteristic that falls into one of the categories of human qualities" (10042:2). For a discussion of the origin of animals and plants that are harmful to humans, see in particular Divine Love and Wisdom 338-348; similarly, with less detail, True Christianity 78. For an extensive discussion of animals by Swedenborg, see his posthumously published work written in 1758-1759, Revelation Explained (Swedenborg 1994-1997a) 1196-1202. (The discussion there is continued serially in the latter subsections of each section.) [SS, LSW]
Potts(1905-1910) 987
987. Upon every beast of the earth. That this signifies over the cupidities of the lower mind, is evident from the signification of "beasts" in the Word, where they signify either affections or cupidities, affections of good being signified by gentle, useful, and clean beasts; and affections of evil, or cupidities, by those that are fierce, useless, and unclean (concerning which see above, n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 776). Here, as cupidities are signified, they are called "beasts of the earth" not beasts of the field. With regard to the rule of the regenerate man over cupidities, it is to be known that those are in the greatest error, and are by no means the regenerate, who believe that they can of themselves rule over evils. For man is nothing but evil; he is a mass of evils; all his will being merely evil; which is what is said in the preceding chapter (8:21): that "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." It has been shown me by living experience that a man and a spirit, even an angel, in himself regarded, that is, as to all that is his own, is but vilest excrement; and that left to himself he breathes nothing but hatred, revenge, cruelty, and most foul adultery. [2] These things are his own; these are his will; as must also be evident to everyone if he reflects, merely from this, that man when born is, among all wild animals and beasts, the vilest creature living. And when he grows up and becomes his own master, if not hindered by outward bonds of the law, and bonds which he imposes on himself for the purpose of gaining great honor and wealth, he would rush into every crime, and not rest until he had subjugated all in the universe, and raked together the wealth of all in the universe; nor would he spare any but those who submitted to be his humble servants. Such is the nature of every man, although those are unaware of it who are powerless and to whom such attempts are impossible, and also those who are in the bonds above mentioned. But let the possibility and power be given, and the bonds be relaxed, and they would rush on to the extent of their ability. Wild animals never show such a nature. They are born into a certain order of their nature. Those which are fierce and rapacious inflict injury on other creatures, but only in self-defense; and their devouring other animals is to allay their hunger, and when this is allayed they do harm to none. But it is altogether different with man. From all this it is evident what is the nature of man's Own and will. [3] Since man is such mere evil and excrement, it is evident that he can never of himself rule over evil. It is an utter contradiction for evil to be able to rule over evil, and not only over evil, but also over hell; for every man is in communication through evil spirits with hell, and thereby the evil in him is excited. From all this everyone may know, and he who has a sound mind may conclude, that the Lord alone rules over evil in man and over hell with him. In order that the evil in man may be subjugated, that is, hell, which strives every moment to rush in upon him and destroy him forever, man is regenerated by the Lord and endowed with a new will, which is conscience, through which the Lord alone performs all good. These are points of faith: that man is nothing but evil; and that all good is from the Lord. They are therefore not only known by man, but also acknowledged and believed; and if he does not so acknowledge and believe in the life of the body, it is shown him to the life in the life to come.
Elliott(1983-1999) 987
987. 'Upon every beast of the earth' means the desires that belong to the lower mind. This is clear from the meaning of 'beast' in the Word, where beasts mean either affections or else evil desires. Affections for what is good are meant by gentle, useful, and clean beasts, while affections for what is evil, that is, evil desires, are meant by savage, useless, and unclean ones - see 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 776. Because here they mean evil desires they are called 'beasts of the earth', not beasts of the field. As for a regenerate person's rule over evil desires, it should be recognized that people err very greatly and are in no sense regenerate who believe they are able to rule over evils from themselves. For a human being is nothing but evil, he is one mass of evils, and his whole will consists solely in evil. This was stated in the previous chapter - 'the imagination of man's heart is evil from his childhood', 8:21. I have been shown by actual experience that a man or a spirit, and even an angel, regarded in himself, that is, as to his entire proprium, is vilest excrement, and left to himself breathes out nothing but hatred, revenge, cruelty, and most filthy adultery. These are the things that are his own, and are the things which constitute his will.
[2] This matter also becomes clear to anyone if he reflects, merely from the consideration that when a person is born he is the lowest thing alive among all wild animals and beasts. And when he grows up and becomes responsible for his own actions he would rush into every kind of ungodliness but for external legal restraints and the restraints he imposes on himself to the end that he may become pre-eminent and very wealthy. He would not rest content until he had made everyone throughout the world subject to himself and had raked in the wealth of everyone in it. He would spare no one except those who surrendered to him as his mere slaves. Such is the nature of everyone, though those people do not recognize it who do not have the opportunity and ability to behave in that way, or who are subject to the restraints mentioned above. But once the opportunity and ability have been provided and the restraints have been loosened, they would plunge themselves, as far as they were able, into such actions. Wild animals never demonstrate natures such as this, but are born into a certain natural order. Those that are savage beasts of prey do inflict harm on other animals, yet only in self-defence; and their devouring of other creatures is so that they may satisfy their hunger. And once that is satisfied they harm none. The human being however is altogether different. From this it is clear what man's proprium is and what his will is.
[3] Since a person is just so much evil and excrement, it is clear that he cannot possibly from himself rule over evil. To say that evil can rule over evil is an utter contradiction. And this applies not only to ruling over evil but also over hell, for everybody is in communication with hell by means of evil spirits, and it is from that source that the evil residing with him is activated. From these considerations anyone may know, and he who is mentally normal may conclude, that it is the Lord alone who rules over evil residing with man and over hell residing with him. So that the evil residing with a person, that is, hell which is trying moment by moment to force its way into him and destroy him eternally, may be overpowered, a person is regenerated by the Lord and has a new will conferred on him, which is conscience, and through which the Lord alone works everything good. These considerations are matters of faith, that is to say, the considerations that man is nothing but evil and that everything good comes from the Lord. A person ought therefore not merely to know them but also acknowledge and believe them. If he does not acknowledge and believe during his lifetime, it is demonstrated to him convincingly in the next life.
Latin(1748-1756) 987
987. Quod 'super omnem bestiam terrae' significet super cupiditates quae sunt animi, constat a significatione 'bestiae' in Verbo, ubi per illas significantur vel affectiones vel cupiditates; affectiones boni per bestias mites, utiles, mundas; affectiones mali seu cupiditates per bestias immites, inutiles, immundas; de quibus videatur n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 776: hic quia significant cupiditates, vocantur 'bestiae terrae,' non bestiae agri. Quod dominium hominis regenerati super cupiditates attinet, sciendum quod in maximo errore sint et nusquam regenerati, qui credunt quod possint ex se dominari super mala; homo enim non est nisi malum, est congeries malorum, omnis ejus voluntas est mere malum; quod est quod dictum, cap. praec. viii 21, 'figmentum cordis hominis est malum a pueritia ejus'. Ostensum mihi est per vivam experientiam quod homo et spiritus, immo angelus, in se spectatus, hoc est, omne ejus proprium, sit vilissimum excrementum; et quod sibi relictus non spiret nisi odia, vindictas, crudelitates et adulteris foedissima; haec sunt ejus propria et haec sunt ejus voluntas: [2] quod etiam unicuivis si reflectit, constare potest solum ex eo quod homo dum nascitur, est vilissimum vivum inter omnes feras et bestias; et cum adolescit ac sui juris fit, nisi vincula externa quae sunt legis, et vincula quae sibi facit ut maximus sit et ditissimus, impedirent, rueret in omne nefas, nec quiesceret priusquam omnes in universo subjugaverit et omnium in universo opes corraserit, nec parceret ulli nisi qui se ut servos viles submitteret; talis est unusquisque homo, tametsi ii non percipiunt qui in impossibilitate et impotentia sunt et qui in vinculis illis, de quibus dictum; sed data possibilitate et potentia, et relaxatis vinculis, tantam ruerent quantum possent: ferae nusquam sunt tales; hae nascuntur in quendam naturae ordinem; quae immites et rapaces sunt, inferunt aliis malum, sed modo se tutandi causa; et quod devorent alias, est ut sedent famem, qua sedata nulli nocent: sed aliter prorsus homo: inde constat quid proprium hominis et quid ejus voluntas. [3] Cum homo tale et tantum malum et excrementum est, constat quod nusquam ex se dominari possit super malum; contradictorium prorsus est quod malum dominari possit super malum; nec solum super malum sed et super infernum; nam unusquisque homo per malos spiritus communicat cum inferno, inde malum quod apud eum, excitatur: ex his unusquisque scire, et qui sanae mentis est, concludere potest quod solus Dominus sit Qui dominatur super malum apud hominem et super infernum quod apud hominem. Ut subjugari queat malum apud hominem, hoc est, infernum quod unoquovis momento irruere in hominem conatur et eum in aeternum perdere, homo a Domino regeneratur, et nova voluntate quae est conscientia, donatur, per quam Dominus solus operatur omne bonum. Haec sunt fidei, nempe quod homo non sit nisi malum, et quod omne bonum a Domino; quare homo illa non solum sciet sed etiam agnoscet et credet; si non in vita corporis agnoscit et credit, in altera vita ei ad vivum ostenditur.