There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of greed adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.
The River Jordan makes this sea with sparking water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
The River Jordan flows on south into another sea.
Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not in the country round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.
The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead Sea.
There are two kinds of people in this world. There are two seas in Palestine.
巴勒斯坦有两片海。一片是活水，鱼儿在水里游。贪玩的水花点缀着海岸。海边树木枝繁叶茂，饥渴的树根伸进海里，吮吸滋润的海水。
约旦河用山间亮晶晶的溪流造就了这片海。于是海水在阳光下欢歌。人们在海边建房，鸟儿在海边筑巢，所有的生命都因为海的存在过着更加幸福的生活。
约旦河继续南流，流进另一片海。
这里没有游动的鱼儿，没有飘舞的树叶，没有鸟儿的鸣啭，没有孩子们的欢笑。行人改走别的路，除非事情紧迫。水上空气凝重，不管是人还是走兽飞禽都不喝这里的水。
两片海相距不远，为什么差别竟如此之大？不能怪约旦河，注入到两片海里的约旦河水是一样的。也不能怪海水所在的土壤，或者海边的乡村。
区别在这儿：加利利海接纳约旦河水但并不守着河水一滴不放。约旦河每流进一滴水，加利利海就流出一滴水。接受和付出以同样的速度在进行。
另一片海则更为精明，小气地把河水储存起来。无论你怎么利诱，它就是没有那种慷慨的冲动，滴水不放。
加利利海懂得付出，所以能活下来。另一片海丝毫不肯付出。人们称之为“死海”。
这个世界上有两种人。巴勒斯坦有两片海。