428.“这痛苦就像蝎子螫人的痛苦一样”表这是由于他们的说服力。这一点从前面所述（427）可推知；因为“痛苦”表示精神麻痹，这种精神麻痹就是他们的说服力给认知或理解力所造成的，就像蝎子螫人后给身体造成的麻痹那样；“蝎子”就表示这种说服力（425节）。灵界就存在这种说服力，它能夺去对真理的理解力，造成精神麻痹，因而造成心灵的忧伤；不过，这种说服力在自然界尚不为人知。
428. And their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. This symbolically means that this was owing to their persuasiveness.
This follows from what we said in no. 427 just above; for the torment symbolizes a mental numbness, which the persuasiveness of those meant by the locusts induces in the intellect, like the numbness a scorpion induces in the body by its sting. A scorpion symbolizes that persuasiveness (no. 425).
In the spiritual world one finds a persuasiveness which takes away an understanding of truth, and which induces a mental numbness and thus an anguish of heart. But this power of persuasion is unknown in the natural world.
428. 'And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man' signifies that this results from their persuasiveness. This follows from the things now stated (427); for by the 'torment' is signified the stupefaction that their persuasiveness induces on the understanding, just as the scorpion induces stupefaction on the body when it stings. 'A scorpion' signifies that persuasiveness (425). In the spiritual world there exists a persuasiveness that takes away the understanding of what is true and induces stupefaction and thus anguish of mind, but this persuasiveness is unknown in the natural world.
428. And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when it striketh a man, signifies that this is from their persuasive power. This follows from what was said, (427); for by "torment" is signified the stupor, which their persuasive power induces upon the understanding, as the scorpion does upon the body when he stings it. "The scorpion" signifies that persuasive power, (425). In the spiritual world there exists a persuasive power which takes away the understanding of truth, and induces stupor and thus distress upon the mind; but this persuasive power is unknown in the natural world.
428. "Et cruciatus illarum sicut cruciatus scorpii cum percutit hominem," significat quod hoc sit ex persuasivo illorum. - Hoc sequitur ex nunc ((n.) 427) dictis; per "cruciatum" enim significatur stupor, quem persuasivum eorum inducit intellectui, sicut scorpius corpori cum pungit; "scorpius" significat persuasivum illud (425). In mundo spirituali datur persuasivum, quod aufert intellectum veri, et inducit stuporem et sic dolorem animo, sed hoc persuasivum in mundo naturali ignotum est.