- The Andronover Nebula
- The Primary Nebular Stage
- The Secondary Nebular Stage
- Tertiary and Quartan Stages
- Origin of Monmatia—The Urantia Solar System
- The Solar System Stage—The Planet-Forming Era
- The Meteoric Era—The Volcanic Age The Primitive Planetary Atmosphere
- Crustal Stabilization The Age of Earthquakes The World Ocean and the First Continent
57:0.1 (651.1) IN PRESENTING excerpts from the archives of Jerusem for the records of Urantia respecting its antecedents and early history, we are directed to reckon time in terms of current usage—the present leap-year calendar of 365¼ days to the year. As a rule, no attempt will be made to give exact years, though they are of record. We will use the nearest whole numbers as the better method of presenting these historic facts.
57:0.1 (651.1) 在呈現耶路瑟姆檔案中關於玉苒廈的來歷，及其早期歷史的記錄之摘錄時，我們得到指示，應按照當前的慣例，即以一年365¼天的現行閏年曆法來計算時間。一般來說，即便有記錄可查，我們也不會試圖給出確切的年份。我們將使用最接近的整數，作為呈現這些歷史事實的更好方式。
57:0.2 (651.2) When referring to an event as of one or two millions of years ago, we intend to date such an occurrence back that number of years from the early decades of the twentieth century of the Christian era. We will thus depict these far-distant events as occurring in even periods of thousands, millions, and billions of years.
57:0.2 (651.2) 當提及一兩百萬年前的事件時，我們有意用從基督紀元二十世紀早期年代回溯的年數，來標註該事件的日期。因此，我們將把這些遙遠的事件描述為發生在數千年、數百萬年乃至數十億年的整數時段內。
57:1.1 (651.3) Urantia is of origin in your sun, and your sun is one of the multifarious offspring of the Andronover nebula, which was onetime organized as a component part of the physical power and material matter of the local universe of Nebadon. And this great nebula itself took origin in the universal force-charge of space in the superuniverse of Orvonton, long, long ago.
57:1.1 (651.3) 玉苒廈起源於你們的太陽，而你們的太陽則是安卓諾瓦星雲形形色色的產物之一，該星雲曾一度作為內巴頓地方宇宙物理力量與物質材料的一個組成部分而被組織起來。而這個巨大的星雲本身，早在很久以前，就起源於奧溫頓超級宇宙中普遍存在的空間力荷中。
57:1.2 (651.4) At the time of the beginning of this recital, the Primary Master Force Organizers of Paradise had long been in full control of the space-energies which were later organized as the Andronover nebula.
57:1.2 (651.4) 當本敘述開始之時，天堂的初始類主位力組織者早已完全掌控了之後被組織為安卓諾瓦星雲的空間能量。
57:1.3 (651.5) 987,000,000,000 years ago associate force organizer and then acting inspector number 811,307 of the Orvonton series, traveling out from Uversa, reported to the Ancients of Days that space conditions were favorable for the initiation of materialization phenomena in a certain sector of the, then, easterly segment of Orvonton.
57:1.3 (651.5) 987,000,000,000年前，協同類主位力組織者兼時任奧溫頓系列的第811,307號代理性監察者，從尤沃薩出發，向亙古常在者們報告，在當時奧溫頓東部的一個特定分區內，物質空間條件已適宜啟動各種物質化現象。
57:1.4 (651.6) 900,000,000,000 years ago, the Uversa archives testify, there was recorded a permit issued by the Uversa Council of Equilibrium to the superuniverse government authorizing the dispatch of a force organizer and staff to the region previously designated by inspector number 811,307. The Orvonton authorities commissioned the original discoverer of this potential universe to execute the mandate of the Ancients of Days calling for the organization of a new material creation.
57:1.4 (651.6) 900,000,000,000年前，尤沃薩檔案的記載表明，尤沃薩均衡理事會曾向超級宇宙管理機構頒發一個許可，授權派遣一名力組織者及其屬員，前往之前由811,307號督察者指定的區域。奧溫頓當局委託這位潛在宇宙的最初發現者，去執行亙古常在者們要求組織一個新的物質性造物的指令。
57:1.5 (652.1) The recording of this permit signifies that the force organizer and staff had already departed from Uversa on the long journey to that easterly space sector where they were subsequently to engage in those protracted activities which would terminate in the emergence of a new physical creation in Orvonton.
57:1.5 (652.1) 此許可的記錄表明，這位力組織者及其屬員已從尤沃薩出發，踏上了前往那一東部空間分區的漫長旅程，隨後他們將在那裡展開那些曠日持久的活動，這些活動將在奧溫頓出現一個新的物質性造物時終止。
57:1.6 (652.2) 875,000,000,000 years ago the enormous Andronover nebula number 876,926 was duly initiated. Only the presence of the force organizer and the liaison staff was required to inaugurate the energy whirl which eventually grew into this vast cyclone of space. Subsequent to the initiation of such nebular revolutions, the living force organizers simply withdraw at right angles to the plane of the revolutionary disk, and from that time forward, the inherent qualities of energy insure the progressive and orderly evolution of such a new physical system.
57:1.6 (652.2) 875,000,000,000年前，巨大的876,926號安卓諾瓦星雲如期引發。只需力組織者及其聯絡屬員的臨在，便足以啟動此能量漩渦，它最終發展為這個巨大的空間氣旋。在這種星雲旋轉引發之後，鮮活的力組織者只需沿著垂直於旋轉盤面的角度撤回，從那時起，各種固有的能量特性便會確保這樣一個新物質系統逐步而有序的演化。
57:1.7 (652.3) At about this time the narrative shifts to the functioning of the personalities of the superuniverse. In reality the story has its proper beginning at this point—at just about the time the Paradise force organizers are preparing to withdraw, having made the space-energy conditions ready for the action of the power directors and physical controllers of the superuniverse of Orvonton.
57:1.7 (652.3) 大約在這個時候，敘事轉向超級宇宙人格體的運作。事實上，故事在這一刻——大約在天堂力組織者們準備撤回之時，才算正式開始，此時，他們已為奧溫頓超級宇宙的力量主管者和物理控制者們的行動，準備好了空間-能量條件。
57:2.1 (652.4) All evolutionary material creations are born of circular and gaseous nebulae, and all such primary nebulae are circular throughout the early part of their gaseous existence. As they grow older, they usually become spiral, and when their function of sun formation has run its course, they often terminate as clusters of stars or as enormous suns surrounded by a varying number of planets, satellites, and smaller groups of matter in many ways resembling your own diminutive solar system.
57:2.1 (652.4) 所有進化類物質造物都誕生於圓形和氣態的星雲，並且所有這類初期的星雲在其氣態存在的早期階段都是圓形的。隨著逐漸長大，它們通常會變成螺旋狀，當其形成太陽的功能完成之後，他們通常會終止於成為星團或巨大的太陽，周圍環繞著數量不等的行星、衛星和較小的物質群，在許多方面類似於你們自己的小太陽系。
57:2.2 (652.5) 800,000,000,000 years ago the Andronover creation was well established as one of the magnificent primary nebulae of Orvonton. As the astronomers of near-by universes looked out upon this phenomenon of space, they saw very little to attract their attention. Gravity estimates made in adjacent creations indicated that space materializations were taking place in the Andronover regions, but that was all.
57:2.2 (652.5) 800,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦造物已被確認為奧溫頓壯麗的初期星雲之一。當鄰近宇宙的天文學家們眺望這空間現象時，他們幾乎看不到什麼能吸引他們注意的東西。在鄰近造物中進行的引力估算表明，安卓諾瓦各區域內正在發生著空間物質化，但僅此而已。
57:2.3 (652.6) 700,000,000,000 years ago the Andronover system was assuming gigantic proportions, and additional physical controllers were dispatched to nine surrounding material creations to afford support and supply co-operation to the power centers of this new material system which was so rapidly evolving. At this distant date all of the material bequeathed to the subsequent creations was held within the confines of this gigantic space wheel, which continued ever to whirl and, after reaching its maximum of diameter, to whirl faster and faster as it continued to condense and contract.
57:2.3 (652.6) 700,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦系統逐漸呈現出巨大的規模，額外的物理控制者被派往九個週邊物質性造物，為這個快速演化的新物質系統的力量匯聚者提供支持，並予以合作。在這個遙遠的年代，所有留給後續造物的物質都被容納在這個巨大空間輪的範圍內，這個太空輪持續不斷地旋轉，並且在達到其最大直徑後，隨著它繼續凝聚和收縮，旋轉得越來越快。
57:2.4 (652.7) 600,000,000,000 years ago the height of the Andronover energy-mobilization period was attained; the nebula had acquired its maximum of mass. At this time it was a gigantic circular gas cloud in shape somewhat like a flattened spheroid. This was the early period of differential mass formation and varying revolutionary velocity. Gravity and other influences were about to begin their work of converting space gases into organized matter.
57:2.4 (652.7) 600,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦的能量動員期達到頂峰；星雲的質量達到最大。此時它是一個巨大的圓形氣體雲，形狀有點像扁平的橢球體。這是差異質量組成和不同旋轉速度的早期階段。引力和其他影響即將開始將空間氣體轉化為有組織物質的工作。
57:3.1 (653.1) The enormous nebula now began gradually to assume the spiral form and to become clearly visible to the astronomers of even distant universes. This is the natural history of most nebulae; before they begin to throw off suns and start upon the work of universe building, these secondary space nebulae are usually observed as spiral phenomena.
57:3.1 (653.1) 現在，巨大的星雲開始逐漸呈現螺旋狀，甚至遙遠宇宙的天文學家也能清楚地看到它。這是大多數星雲的自然歷史；在它們開始拋出太陽並啟動宇宙構建工作之前，這些第二階段的空間星雲通常被觀察為螺旋現象。
57:3.2 (653.2) The near-by star students of that faraway era, as they observed this metamorphosis of the Andronover nebula, saw exactly what twentieth-century astronomers see when they turn their telescopes spaceward and view the present-age spiral nebulae of adjacent outer space.
57:3.2 (653.2) 那個遙遠時代的鄰近星象研究者，在觀察安卓諾瓦星雲的這種變形時所看到的，與二十世紀的天文學家將望遠鏡轉向太空，並觀察鄰近外部空間的現代螺旋星雲時所看到的，完全一致。
57:3.3 (653.3) About the time of the attainment of the maximum of mass, the gravity control of the gaseous content commenced to weaken, and there ensued the stage of gas escapement, the gas streaming forth as two gigantic and distinct arms, which took origin on opposite sides of the mother mass. The rapid revolutions of this enormous central core soon imparted a spiral appearance to these two projecting gas streams. The cooling and subsequent condensation of portions of these protruding arms eventually produced their knotted appearance. These denser portions were vast systems and subsystems of physical matter whirling through space in the midst of the gaseous cloud of the nebula while being held securely within the gravity grasp of the mother wheel.
57:3.3 (653.3) 當質量達到最大值時，引力對氣體含量的控制開始減弱，隨之而來的是氣體逃逸階段，氣體像兩條源自母體兩側的巨大而清晰的臂膀噴湧而出。這個巨大中央核心的快速旋轉很快就使這兩股噴射的氣流呈現出螺旋狀的外觀。這兩個伸出臂膀的各部分冷卻並隨後凝結，最終形成了多節的外觀。這些較稠密的部分是巨大的物質系統和子系統，它們旋轉著穿過星雲氣態雲層中的空間，同時被母輪的引力把握牢牢抓住。
57:3.4 (653.4) But the nebula had begun to contract, and the increase in the rate of revolution further lessened gravity control; and erelong, the outer gaseous regions began actually to escape from the immediate embrace of the nebular nucleus, passing out into space on circuits of irregular outline, returning to the nuclear regions to complete their circuits, and so on. But this was only a temporary stage of nebular progression. The ever-increasing rate of whirling was soon to throw enormous suns off into space on independent circuits.
57:3.4 (653.4) 但星雲已經開始收縮，旋轉速度的加快進一步減弱了引力控制；不久，外層氣態區域便開始真正逃脫星雲核心的直接掌控，沿著輪廓不規則的環路拋入太空，又返回核心區域以完成其循環，如此往復。但這只是星雲演化過程中的短暫時期。很快，不斷加快的旋轉速度便將巨大的太陽沿著各自獨立的軌道拋向太空。
57:3.5 (653.5) And this is what happened in Andronover ages upon ages ago. The energy wheel grew and grew until it attained its maximum of expansion, and then, when contraction set in, it whirled on faster and faster until, eventually, the critical centrifugal stage was reached and the great breakup began.
57:3.5 (653.5) 這是很久很久以前，在安卓諾瓦星雲中發生的事情。能量輪不斷增長，直至達到其最大擴展程度，然後，當收縮開始時，它旋轉得越來越快，直至最終達到臨界離心階段，巨大的崩解就此開始。
57:3.6 (653.6) 500,000,000,000 years ago the first Andronover sun was born. This blazing streak broke away from the mother gravity grasp and tore out into space on an independent adventure in the cosmos of creation. Its orbit was determined by its path of escape. Such young suns quickly become spherical and start out on their long and eventful careers as the stars of space. Excepting terminal nebular nucleuses, the vast majority of Orvonton suns have had an analogous birth. These escaping suns pass through varied periods of evolution and subsequent universe service.
57:3.6 (653.6) 500,000,000,000 years年前，第一個安卓諾瓦太陽誕生了。這條熾烈的光帶掙脫了母體引力的掌控，衝向太空，在創造的宇宙中開始一段獨立的冒險。它的軌道是由其逃逸路徑決定的。這些年輕的太陽會迅速變成球形，並作為太空的恆星開始其漫長而多變的生涯。除了終末星雲核心外，絕大多數奧溫頓太陽都經歷了類似的誕生過程。這些逃逸的太陽會經歷不同的演化階段，以及後續的宇宙服務。
57:3.7 (653.7) 400,000,000,000 years ago began the recaptive period of the Andronover nebula. Many of the near-by and smaller suns were recaptured as a result of the gradual enlargement and further condensation of the mother nucleus. Very soon there was inaugurated the terminal phase of nebular condensation, the period which always precedes the final segregation of these immense space aggregations of energy and matter.
57:3.7 (653.7) 400,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦星雲的重新俘獲期開始了。由於母體核心的逐漸增大和進一步凝縮，許多鄰近的和較小的太陽被重新捕獲。很快，星雲凝結的終末階段便拉開了序幕，這個時期總是預示著這些浩瀚的能量與物質空間聚集體最終分離的到來。很快，星雲凝聚的終末階段便啟動了，這個階段總是發生在這些巨大的能量與物質空間聚合體的最終分離之前。
57:3.8 (654.1) It was scarcely a million years subsequent to this epoch that Michael of Nebadon, a Creator Son of Paradise, selected this disintegrating nebula as the site of his adventure in universe building. Almost immediately the architectural worlds of Salvington and the one hundred constellation headquarters groups of planets were begun. It required almost one million years to complete these clusters of specially created worlds. The local system headquarters planets were constructed over a period extending from that time to about five billion years ago.
57:3.8 (654.1) 這個時期之後僅僅一百萬年，內巴頓的邁克爾，一位天堂造物之子，便選定這個正在分裂的星雲，作為其宇宙構建的冒險之地。隨即，薩爾文頓的建造類世界與一百個星座總部行星群便開始興建。完成這些專門建造的世界集群幾乎需要一百萬年。地方系統總部行星群的建造從那時開始，一直持續到約五十億年前。
57:3.9 (654.2) 300,000,000,000 years ago the Andronover solar circuits were well established, and the nebular system was passing through a transient period of relative physical stability. About this time the staff of Michael arrived on Salvington, and the Uversa government of Orvonton extended physical recognition to the local universe of Nebadon.
57:3.9 (654.2) 300,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦的太陽運行環路已建立完善，整個星雲系統正經歷一段具有相對物理穩定性的過渡時期。大約在這個時候，邁克爾的屬員抵達了薩爾文頓，而奧溫頓的尤沃薩管理機構則向內巴頓地方宇宙授予了實體認可。
57:3.10 (654.3) 200,000,000,000 years ago witnessed the progression of contraction and condensation with enormous heat generation in the Andronover central cluster, or nuclear mass. Relative space appeared even in the regions near the central mother-sun wheel. The outer regions were becoming more stabilized and better organized; some planets revolving around the newborn suns had cooled sufficiently to be suitable for life implantation. The oldest inhabited planets of Nebadon date from these times.
57:3.10 (654.3) 200,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦中央星團，或稱為核心團塊，經歷了收縮與凝結的演化過程，伴隨著巨大的熱量釋放。即使在中央母體太陽輪附近的區域，也出現了相對空間。外圍區域正變得更加穩定和有序；圍繞新生太陽旋轉的某些行星已冷卻到足以適合生命植入。內巴頓最古老的居住行星可追溯到這些年代。
57:3.11 (654.4) Now the completed universe mechanism of Nebadon first begins to function, and Michael’s creation is registered on Uversa as a universe of inhabitation and progressive mortal ascension.
57:3.11 (654.4) 此時，內巴頓完善的宇宙機制首次開始啟動，邁克爾的創造物在尤沃薩被登記為一個居住及漸進性凡人揚升的宇宙。
57:3.12 (654.5) 100,000,000,000 years ago the nebular apex of condensation tension was reached; the point of maximum heat tension was attained. This critical stage of gravity-heat contention sometimes lasts for ages, but sooner or later, heat wins the struggle with gravity, and the spectacular period of sun dispersion begins. And this marks the end of the secondary career of a space nebula.
57:3.12 (654.5) 100,000,000,000年前，星雲達到凝聚張力的頂點；熱張力也達到最大值。引力與熱力較量的這個關鍵階段有時會持續很久，但遲早，熱力會戰勝重力，贏得這場鬥爭，太陽離散的壯觀時期就此開始。這標誌著一個空間星雲第二階段演化的結束。
57:4.1 (654.6) The primary stage of a nebula is circular; the secondary, spiral; the tertiary stage is that of the first sun dispersion, while the quartan embraces the second and last cycle of sun dispersion, with the mother nucleus ending either as a globular cluster or as a solitary sun functioning as the center of a terminal solar system.
57:4.1 (654.6) 星雲的第一階段呈圓形；第二級階段呈螺旋形；第三階段為第一次太陽離散期，第四階段則涵蓋第二次也是最後一次太陽離散週期，而母體核心則最終演化為一個球狀星團，或成為一個作為終端太陽系中心的孤立太陽。
57:4.2 (654.7) 75,000,000,000 years ago this nebula had attained the height of its sun-family stage. This was the apex of the first period of sun losses. The majority of these suns have since possessed themselves of extensive systems of planets, satellites, dark islands, comets, meteors, and cosmic dust clouds.
57:4.2 (654.7) 75,000,000,000年前，該星雲達到了其太陽家族階段的巔峰時期。這是第一次太陽拋失時期的高潮。這些太陽中的大多數，此後自己都已經擁有了由行星、衛星、暗島、彗星、流星以及宇宙塵埃雲組成的龐大系統。
57:4.3 (654.8) 50,000,000,000 years ago this first period of sun dispersion was completed; the nebula was fast finishing its tertiary cycle of existence, during which it gave origin to 876,926 sun systems.
57:4.3 (654.8) 50,000,000,000年前，這第一個太陽離散期完成了；該星雲正迅速完成其第三個存在周期，在此週期中它產生了876,926個太陽系。
57:4.4 (654.9) 25,000,000,000 years ago witnessed the completion of the tertiary cycle of nebular life and brought about the organization and relative stabilization of the far-flung starry systems derived from this parent nebula. But the process of physical contraction and increased heat production continued in the central mass of the nebular remnant.
57:4.4 (654.9) 25,000,000,000年前見證了星雲生命第三個週期的完成，以及源自這一母體星雲的廣袤恆星系統的形成與相對穩定。但在星雲殘餘的中央團塊中，物理收縮與加劇的熱產生過程仍在持續。
57:4.5 (655.1) 10,000,000,000 years ago the quartan cycle of Andronover began. The maximum of nuclear-mass temperature had been attained; the critical point of condensation was approaching. The original mother nucleus was convulsing under the combined pressure of its own internal-heat condensation tension and the increasing gravity-tidal pull of the surrounding swarm of liberated sun systems. The nuclear eruptions which were to inaugurate the second nebular sun cycle were imminent. The quartan cycle of nebular existence was about to begin.
57:4.5 (655.1) 10,000,000,000年前，安卓諾瓦的第四階段開始了。星雲核心團塊的溫度已達到峰值；凝聚的臨界點正在逼近。原初母核在自身內部熱凝聚張力與周圍遊離太陽系群的漸增引力潮汐牽引的雙重壓力下劇烈震顫。旨在開啟第二個星雲太陽週期的核心爆發迫在眉睫。星雲存在的第四個週期即將開始。
57:4.6 (655.2) 8,000,000,000 years ago the terrific terminal eruption began. Only the outer systems are safe at the time of such a cosmic upheaval. And this was the beginning of the end of the nebula. This final sun disgorgement extended over a period of almost two billion years.
57:4.6 (655.2) 8,000, 000,000年前，那場劇烈的最後爆發開始了。唯有外層星系能在如此宇宙劇變之際安然無恙。而這正是星雲終結階段的開端。這次最終的太陽噴吐持續了近二十億年。
57:4.7 (655.3) 7,000,000,000 years ago witnessed the height of the Andronover terminal breakup. This was the period of the birth of the larger terminal suns and the apex of the local physical disturbances.
57:4.7 (655.3) 7,000, 000,000年前見證了安卓諾瓦終極崩解的巔峰。這是較大終末太陽誕生，以及局部物理擾動達到頂峰的時期。
57:4.8 (655.4) 6,000,000,000 years ago marks the end of the terminal breakup and the birth of your sun, the fifty-sixth from the last of the Andronover second solar family. This final eruption of the nebular nucleus gave birth to 136,702 suns, most of them solitary orbs. The total number of suns and sun systems having origin in the Andronover nebula was 1,013,628. The number of the solar system sun is 1,013,572.
57:4.8 (655.4) 6,000, 000,000年前標誌著終極崩解的結束，以及你們太陽的誕生－它是安卓諾瓦第二太陽家族中倒數第五十六個成員。這次星雲核心的最後噴發產生了136,702個太陽，它們大多是孤立的星體。起源於安卓諾瓦星雲的太陽和太陽系統的總數為1,013,628個。太陽系統類太陽的數量為1,013,572個。
57:4.9 (655.5) And now the great Andronover nebula is no more, but it lives on in the many suns and their planetary families which originated in this mother cloud of space. The final nuclear remnant of this magnificent nebula still burns with a reddish glow and continues to give forth moderate light and heat to its remnant planetary family of one hundred and sixty-five worlds, which now revolve about this venerable mother of two mighty generations of the monarchs of light.
57:4.9 (655.5) 如今，偉大的安卓諾瓦星雲已不復存在，但它依然存續於源自這一空間母雲的眾多太陽及其行星家族中。這壯麗星雲的最終核心殘餘仍燃燒著，泛著微紅的光，並繼續向其剩餘一百六十五個世界的行星家族發出溫和的光和熱，現在，這些行星都環繞著這位兩代強大光之君主的崇高母親旋轉。
57:5.1 (655.6) 5,000,000,000 years ago your sun was a comparatively isolated blazing orb, having gathered to itself most of the near-by circulating matter of space, remnants of the recent upheaval which attended its own birth.
57:5.1 (655.6) 5,000,000,000年前，你的太陽還是一顆相對孤立的熾熱天體，它吸積了附近大部分的空間遊離物質，這些物質正是其誕生時伴隨的劇烈動盪所留下的殘餘。
57:5.2 (655.7) Today, your sun has achieved relative stability, but its eleven and one-half year sunspot cycles betray that it was a variable star in its youth. In the early days of your sun the continued contraction and consequent gradual increase of temperature initiated tremendous convulsions on its surface. These titanic heaves required three and one-half days to complete a cycle of varying brightness. This variable state, this periodic pulsation, rendered your sun highly responsive to certain outside influences which were to be shortly encountered.
57:5.2 (655.7) 如今，你們的太陽已達到相對穩定的狀態，但其長達十一年半的太陽黑子週期揭示了它在年輕時曾是一顆多變的恆星。在你們太陽的早期歲月，持續的收縮及隨之而來的溫度逐漸升高，在其表面引發了劇烈的震動。這些巨大的起伏需要三天半的時間才能完成一個亮度變化的週期。這種可變狀態，這種週期性脈動，使得你們的太陽對某些即將遭遇的外部影響極為敏感。
57:5.3 (655.8) Thus was the stage of local space set for the unique origin of Monmatia, that being the name of your sun’s planetary family, the solar system to which your world belongs. Less than one per cent of the planetary systems of Orvonton have had a similar origin.
57:5.3 (655.8) 至此，為蒙馬希亞的獨特起源所搭建的地方空間舞台已經就緒。蒙馬希亞是你們太陽的行星家族，亦即你們世界所屬太陽系的名稱。奧溫頓中不到百分之一的行星系統具有相似的起源。
57:5.4 (655.9) 4,500,000,000 years ago the enormous Angona system began its approach to the neighborhood of this solitary sun. The center of this great system was a dark giant of space, solid, highly charged, and possessing tremendous gravity pull.
57:5.4 (655.9) 4,500,000,000年前，龐大的安格納系統開始朝這個孤立太陽的鄰近區域靠近。這個大系統的中心是一個空間暗巨星，堅固，能荷極高，並具有巨大的引力牽引。
57:5.5 (656.1) As Angona more closely approached the sun, at moments of maximum expansion during solar pulsations, streams of gaseous material were shot out into space as gigantic solar tongues. At first these flaming gas tongues would invariably fall back into the sun, but as Angona drew nearer and nearer, the gravity pull of the gigantic visitor became so great that these tongues of gas would break off at certain points, the roots falling back into the sun while the outer sections would become detached to form independent bodies of matter, solar meteorites, which immediately started to revolve about the sun in elliptical orbits of their own.
57:5.5 (656.1) 隨著安格納越來越接近太陽，在達到太陽脈動期間最大擴張的時刻，氣態物質流如同巨型太陽舌被射入太空。起初這些燃燒的氣舌總是會回到太陽，但隨著安格納越來越近，這個龐大來訪者的引力牽引變得如此強大，以致這些氣舌會在某些點斷開，根部退回太陽，而外圍部分則分離形成獨立的物質體，即太陽隕石，它們隨即開始在各自的橢圓形軌道上圍繞太陽旋轉。
57:5.6 (656.2) As the Angona system drew nearer, the solar extrusions grew larger and larger; more and more matter was drawn from the sun to become independent circulating bodies in surrounding space. This situation developed for about five hundred thousand years until Angona made its closest approach to the sun; whereupon the sun, in conjunction with one of its periodic internal convulsions, experienced a partial disruption; from opposite sides and simultaneously, enormous volumes of matter were disgorged. From the Angona side there was drawn out a vast column of solar gases, rather pointed at both ends and markedly bulging at the center, which became permanently detached from the immediate gravity control of the sun.
57:5.6 (656.2) 隨著安格納系統逐漸靠近，太陽噴射物也變得越來越大；越來越多的物質被拉出太陽，成為周圍空間中獨立的環行體。這種情況發展了約五十萬年，直至安格納最接近太陽之時；於是，伴隨著一次週期性的內部震盪，太陽發生了局部分裂；大量物質同時從相反的兩側噴湧出來。從靠近安格納的一側，拉出了一道巨大的太陽氣柱，兩端略尖，中部明顯隆起，這道氣體柱永久地脫離了太陽的直接引力控制。
57:5.7 (656.3) This great column of solar gases which was thus separated from the sun subsequently evolved into the twelve planets of the solar system. The repercussional ejection of gas from the opposite side of the sun in tidal sympathy with the extrusion of this gigantic solar system ancestor, has since condensed into the meteors and space dust of the solar system, although much, very much, of this matter was subsequently recaptured by solar gravity as the Angona system receded into remote space.
57:5.7 (656.3) 這道從太陽分離出來的巨大太陽氣柱，隨後演化成了太陽系中的十二顆行星。太陽另一側因與這個龐大太陽系祖先的擠壓形成潮汐共振而產生的反沖性氣體噴射，此後凝結成了太陽系中的流星與空間塵埃，儘管相當大的一部分物質，在安格納星係退回遙遠的空間時，隨後又被太陽引力重新俘獲。
57:5.8 (656.4) Although Angona succeeded in drawing away the ancestral material of the solar system planets and the enormous volume of matter now circulating about the sun as asteroids and meteors, it did not secure for itself any of this solar matter. The visiting system did not come quite close enough to actually steal any of the sun’s substance, but it did swing sufficiently close to draw off into the intervening space all of the material comprising the present-day solar system.
57:5.8 (656.4) 儘管安格納成功拉出了太陽系行星的原始物質，以及如今作為小行星和流星圍繞太陽環行的大量物質，但它本身並未獲得任何太陽物質。這個來訪的星係並未接近到足以真正竊取太陽的任何物質，但它確實擺動到足夠近，將構成當今太陽系的所有物質拉入介於兩者之間的空間。
57:5.9 (656.5) The five inner and five outer planets soon formed in miniature from the cooling and condensing nucleuses in the less massive and tapering ends of the gigantic gravity bulge which Angona had succeeded in detaching from the sun, while Saturn and Jupiter were formed from the more massive and bulging central portions. The powerful gravity pull of Jupiter and Saturn early captured most of the material stolen from Angona as the retrograde motion of certain of their satellites bears witness.
57:5.9 (656.5) 從安格納成功地自太陽分離出的巨大引力凸出物不太厚重且尖細的兩端冷卻凝結的核心中，很快便小規模地形成了五個內層行星和五個外層行星；而從更厚重且凸出的中心部分，則形成了土星和木星。木星與土星的強大引力牽引早早捕獲了從安格納竊取的大部分物質，其部分衛星的逆行運動便是明證。
57:5.10 (656.6) Jupiter and Saturn, being derived from the very center of the enormous column of superheated solar gases, contained so much highly heated sun material that they shone with a brilliant light and emitted enormous volumes of heat; they were in reality secondary suns for a short period after their formation as separate space bodies. These two largest of the solar system planets have remained largely gaseous to this day, not even yet having cooled off to the point of complete condensation or solidification.
57:5.10 (656.6) 木星和土星源自巨型超熱太陽氣柱的核心，蘊含著大量高溫的太陽物質，因而閃耀著璀璨的光芒，並釋放出巨大的熱量；它們在成為獨立空間體後的短暫時期內，實際上是次級太陽。這兩顆最大的太陽系行星至今仍保持著氣態，甚至尚未冷卻到完全凝結或固化的程度。
57:5.11 (656.7) The gas-contraction nucleuses of the other ten planets soon reached the stage of solidification and so began to draw to themselves increasing quantities of the meteoric matter circulating in near-by space. The worlds of the solar system thus had a double origin: nucleuses of gas condensation later on augmented by the capture of enormous quantities of meteors. Indeed they still continue to capture meteors, but in greatly lessened numbers.
57:5.11 (656.7) 其餘十顆行星的氣體收縮核心很快就進入固化階段，於是開始吸引越來越多在附近空間中環行的流星物質。太陽系中的世界因此具有雙重起源：它們最初由氣體凝結的核心形成，然後通過捕捉大量流星而增大。它們其實仍在捕獲流星，但數量已大幅減少。
57:5.12 (657.1) The planets do not swing around the sun in the equatorial plane of their solar mother, which they would do if they had been thrown off by solar revolution. Rather, they travel in the plane of the Angona solar extrusion, which existed at a considerable angle to the plane of the sun’s equator.
57:5.12 (657.1) 行星們並未在其太陽母體的赤道平面上圍繞太陽旋轉，倘若它們被太陽的自轉拋出，那麼它們本應如此旋轉。相反，它們在安格納拉出的太陽噴射物的平面上環行，該平面與太陽赤道平面存在相當大的夾角。
57:5.13 (657.2) While Angona was unable to capture any of the solar mass, your sun did add to its metamorphosing planetary family some of the circulating space material of the visiting system. Due to the intense gravity field of Angona, its tributary planetary family pursued orbits of considerable distance from the dark giant; and shortly after the extrusion of the solar system ancestral mass and while Angona was yet in the vicinity of the sun, three of the major planets of the Angona system swung so near to the massive solar system ancestor that its gravitational pull, augmented by that of the sun, was sufficient to overbalance the gravity grasp of Angona and to permanently detach these three tributaries of the celestial wanderer.
57:5.13 (657.2) 儘管安格納未能捕獲任何太陽物質，但你們的太陽確實為其正在成形的行星家族增添了來訪系統中部分環行的空間物質。由於安格納的強大引力場，其附屬行星家族始終沿著遠離這顆暗巨星的軌道運行； 在太陽系先祖物質被噴出後不久，當安格納仍在太陽附近時，安格納系統的三大行星曾如此接近龐大的太陽系先祖，以致其引力牽拉再加上太陽的引力牽拉，足以克服安格納的引力掌控，從而將這三個空間漫遊者的附屬物永久地分離出來。
57:5.14 (657.3) All of the solar system material derived from the sun was originally endowed with a homogeneous direction of orbital swing, and had it not been for the intrusion of these three foreign space bodies, all solar system material would still maintain the same direction of orbital movement. As it was, the impact of the three Angona tributaries injected new and foreign directional forces into the emerging solar system with the resultant appearance of retrograde motion. Retrograde motion in any astronomic system is always accidental and always appears as a result of the collisional impact of foreign space bodies. Such collisions may not always produce retrograde motion, but no retrograde ever appears except in a system containing masses which have diverse origins.
57:5.14 (657.3) 所有源自太陽的太陽系物質最初都具有同向的軌道轉動方向，若非這三個外來空間體的闖入，所有太陽系物質都仍將保持相同的軌道運行方向。事實上，三個安格納附屬行星的衝擊為正在形成的太陽系注入了新的、外來的定向力，由此出現了逆行運動現象。任何天文系統中的逆行運動總是偶然的，而且總是因外來空間體的碰撞衝擊而出現。此類碰撞未必總是產生逆行運動，但逆行現象僅出現在包含不同來源物質的系統中。
57:6.1 (657.4) Subsequent to the birth of the solar system a period of diminishing solar disgorgement ensued. Decreasingly, for another five hundred thousand years, the sun continued to pour forth diminishing volumes of matter into surrounding space. But during these early times of erratic orbits, when the surrounding bodies made their nearest approach to the sun, the solar parent was able to recapture a large portion of this meteoric material.
57:6.1 (657.4) 太陽系誕生之後，太陽噴發逐漸減弱的時期隨之而來。在隨後的五十萬年裡，太陽持續向周圍的空間噴吐物質，數量卻逐漸減少。但在這些軌道不穩定的早期，當周圍天體最接近太陽時，太陽母體能夠重新捕獲其中大部分的流星物質。
57:6.2 (657.5) The planets nearest the sun were the first to have their revolutions slowed down by tidal friction. Such gravitational influences also contribute to the stabilization of planetary orbits while acting as a brake on the rate of planetary-axial revolution, causing a planet to revolve ever slower until axial revolution ceases, leaving one hemisphere of the planet always turned toward the sun or larger body, as is illustrated by the planet Mercury and by the moon, which always turns the same face toward Urantia.
57:6.2 (657.5) 離太陽最近的行星首先因潮汐摩擦而減緩了旋轉速度。此類引力作用既有助於穩定行星軌道，又會減緩行星自轉速度，致使行星轉動速度逐漸減慢，直至自轉停止，最終使行星的一半球面始終朝向太陽或更大的天體，正如水星和月球所示，它們始終以同一面朝向玉苒廈。
57:6.3 (657.6) When the tidal frictions of the moon and the earth become equalized, the earth will always turn the same hemisphere toward the moon, and the day and month will be analogous—in length about forty-seven days. When such stability of orbits is attained, tidal frictions will go into reverse action, no longer driving the moon farther away from the earth but gradually drawing the satellite toward the planet. And then, in that far-distant future when the moon approaches to within about eleven thousand miles of the earth, the gravity action of the latter will cause the moon to disrupt, and this tidal-gravity explosion will shatter the moon into small particles, which may assemble about the world as rings of matter resembling those of Saturn or may be gradually drawn into the earth as meteors.
57:6.3 (657.6) 當月球與地球的潮汐摩擦達到平衡時，地球將始終以同一半球面向月球，一天與一月的周期將趨於一致—其長度約為四十七天。當軌道達到這種穩定狀態時，潮汐摩擦將產生反向作用，它不再推動月球遠離地球，而是逐漸將衛星拉向行星。然後，在遙遠的未來，當月球接近到離地球約一萬七千七百公裏時，地球的引力作用將導致月球解體，這場潮汐引力爆發將把月球粉碎成細小顆粒，這些顆粒可能圍繞地球聚集形成類似土星的物質環，也可能作為流星逐漸被吸入地球。
57:6.4 (658.1) If space bodies are similar in size and density, collisions may occur. But if two space bodies of similar density are relatively unequal in size, then, if the smaller progressively approaches the larger, the disruption of the smaller body will occur when the radius of its orbit becomes less than two and one-half times the radius of the larger body. Collisions among the giants of space are rare indeed, but these gravity-tidal explosions of lesser bodies are quite common.
57:6.4 (658.1) 如果空間體的大小和密度相近，則可能發生碰撞。但是，如果兩個密度相近的天體大小相對不等，那麽，如果較小的天體逐漸接近較大的天體，當較小天體的軌道半徑小於較大天體半徑的兩倍半時，較小的天體就會解體。太空巨星間的碰撞實屬罕見，但較小天體的潮汐引力爆發卻很常見。
57:6.5 (658.2) Shooting stars occur in swarms because they are the fragments of larger bodies of matter which have been disrupted by tidal gravity exerted by near-by and still larger space bodies. Saturn’s rings are the fragments of a disrupted satellite. One of the moons of Jupiter is now approaching dangerously near the critical zone of tidal disruption and, within a few million years, will either be claimed by the planet or will undergo gravity-tidal disruption. The fifth planet of the solar system of long, long ago traversed an irregular orbit, periodically making closer and closer approach to Jupiter until it entered the critical zone of gravity-tidal disruption, was swiftly fragmentized, and became the present-day cluster of asteroids.
57:6.5 (658.2) 流星雨之所以成群出現，是因為它們是較大物質體的碎片，這些物質體被附近更大空間體所產生的潮汐引力所瓦解。土星的環就是一顆被瓦解衛星的碎片。木星的一顆衛星此時正危險地接近潮汐瓦解的臨界區，在數百萬年內，它要麽被木星捕獲，要麽遭受潮汐引力的瓦解。在遙遠的過去，太陽系的第五號行星沿著一條不規則軌道運行，周期性地不斷接近木星，直至進入潮汐引力瓦解的臨界區，迅速地碎片化，並形成了如今的小行星帶。
57:6.6 (658.3) 4,000,000,000 years ago witnessed the organization of the Jupiter and Saturn systems much as observed today except for their moons, which continued to increase in size for several billions of years. In fact, all of the planets and satellites of the solar system are still growing as the result of continued meteoric captures.
57:6.6 (658.3) 4,000,000,000年前，木星和土星系統便已形成，其結構與今日所見基本一致，唯其衛星仍在持續增大，這一過程已持續了數十億年。事實上，由於持續捕獲流星，太陽系中的所有行星和衛星都還在不斷增大。
57:6.7 (658.4) 3,500,000,000 years ago the condensation nucleuses of the other ten planets were well formed, and the cores of most of the moons were intact, though some of the smaller satellites later united to make the present-day larger moons. This age may be regarded as the era of planetary assembly.
57:6.7 (658.4) 3,500,000,000年前，其他十顆行星的凝結核心已充分形成，大多數衛星的核心也保持完整，盡管部分較小的衛星後來合並形成了如今較大的衛星。這個時代可被視為行星聚合的紀元。
57:6.8 (658.5) 3,000,000,000 years ago the solar system was functioning much as it does today. Its members continued to grow in size as space meteors continued to pour in upon the planets and their satellites at a prodigious rate.
57:6.8 (658.5) 3,000,000,000年前，太陽系的運行與今天基本相同。隨著空間流星以驚人的速度持續傾瀉在行星及其衛星上，其成員的體積持續增大。
57:6.9 (658.6) About this time your solar system was placed on the physical registry of Nebadon and given its name, Monmatia.
57:6.9 (658.6) 大約在此時，你們的太陽系被置於內巴頓的物理登記冊上，並被命名為蒙馬希亞(Monmatia)。
57:6.10 (658.7) 2,500,000,000 years ago the planets had grown immensely in size. Urantia was a well-developed sphere about one tenth its present mass and was still growing rapidly by meteoric accretion.
57:6.10 (658.7) 2,500,000,000年前，行星的體積已變得極其龐大。玉苒廈是一個發展完善的星球，其質量約為現今的十分之一，並仍在通過流星吸積持續快速地增長。
57:6.11 (658.8) All of this tremendous activity is a normal part of the making of an evolutionary world on the order of Urantia and constitutes the astronomic preliminaries to the setting of the stage for the beginning of the physical evolution of such worlds of space in preparation for the life adventures of time.
57:6.11 (658.8) 所有這些巨大的活動，都是在玉苒廈這樣的進化世界形成過程中的正常環節，構成了為此類空間世界物理進化的開端而搭建舞臺的天文預備條件，為時間的生命冒險做好準備。
57:7.1 (658.9) Throughout these early times the space regions of the solar system were swarming with small disruptive and condensation bodies, and in the absence of a protective combustion atmosphere such space bodies crashed directly on the surface of Urantia. These incessant impacts kept the surface of the planet more or less heated, and this, together with the increased action of gravity as the sphere grew larger, began to set in operation those influences which gradually caused the heavier elements, such as iron, to settle more and more toward the center of the planet.
57:7.1 (658.9) 在這些早期年代裏，太陽系的空間區域充滿了細小的分解體與凝聚體，由於缺乏保護性燃燒大氣層，這些空間體直接墜毀在玉苒廈的表面。這些持續不斷的沖擊使行星表面始終保持著或多或少的溫度，而隨著星球逐漸增大，引力作用也隨之增強，這些因素開始共同發揮作用，逐漸導致較重的元素（如鐵）不斷向行星中心沉降。
57:7.2 (659.1) 2,000,000,000 years ago the earth began decidedly to gain on the moon. Always had the planet been larger than its satellite, but there was not so much difference in size until about this time, when enormous space bodies were captured by the earth. Urantia was then about one fifth its present size and had become large enough to hold the primitive atmosphere which had begun to appear as a result of the internal elemental contest between the heated interior and the cooling crust.
57:7.2 (659.1) 2,000,000,000年前，地球開始明顯超過月球了。行星始終比其衛星更大，但是，直到地球捕獲了若幹巨大空間體的那個時候，體積差異才如此之大。當時玉苒廈的體積約為現在的五分之一，但已大到足夠保留原始大氣，這些大氣的出現，是炙熱地核與冷卻地殼之間內在元素較量的結果。
57:7.3 (659.2) Definite volcanic action dates from these times. The internal heat of the earth continued to be augmented by the deeper and deeper burial of the radioactive or heavier elements brought in from space by the meteors. The study of these radioactive elements will reveal that Urantia is more than one billion years old on its surface. The radium clock is your most reliable timepiece for making scientific estimates of the age of the planet, but all such estimates are too short because the radioactive materials open to your scrutiny are all derived from the earth’s surface and hence represent Urantia’s comparatively recent acquirements of these elements.
57:7.3 (659.2) 明確的火山活動可追溯到這些時期。由流星從空間帶來的放射性元素或較重元素被埋藏得越來越深，從而使地球內部的熱量持續增加。對這些放射性元素的研究將揭示，玉苒廈表層的年齡已超過10億年。鐳鐘是你們用於科學估算行星年齡最可靠的計時器了，但所有此類估算都過於保守，因為你們所能檢驗的放射性物質皆源自地表，因而僅代表玉苒廈在相對近期所獲得的這些元素。
57:7.4 (659.3) 1,500,000,000 years ago the earth was two thirds its present size, while the moon was nearing its present mass. Earth’s rapid gain over the moon in size enabled it to begin the slow robbery of the little atmosphere which its satellite originally had.
57:7.4 (659.3) 1,500,000,000年前，地球的體積僅為現在的三分之二，而月球正接近現在的質量。地球體積相對於月球的快速增長，使其得以開始緩慢掠奪其衛星最初曾擁有的稀薄大氣。
57:7.5 (659.4) Volcanic action is now at its height. The whole earth is a veritable fiery inferno, the surface resembling its earlier molten state before the heavier metals gravitated toward the center. This is the volcanic age. Nevertheless, a crust, consisting chiefly of the comparatively lighter granite, is gradually forming. The stage is being set for a planet which can someday support life.
57:7.5 (659.4) 火山活動正處於最活躍的階段。整個地球猶如一個名副其實的煉獄，地表宛如重金屬尚未向中心沉降時的熔融狀態。這就是火山時代。然而，一層主要由相對較輕的花崗巖構成的地殼正在逐漸形成。為一個終將孕育生命的行星而準備的舞臺正在搭建。
57:7.6 (659.5) The primitive planetary atmosphere is slowly evolving, now containing some water vapor, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride, but there is little or no free nitrogen or free oxygen. The atmosphere of a world in the volcanic age presents a queer spectacle. In addition to the gases enumerated it is heavily charged with numerous volcanic gases and, as the air belt matures, with the combustion products of the heavy meteoric showers which are constantly hurtling in upon the planetary surface. Such meteoric combustion keeps the atmospheric oxygen very nearly exhausted, and the rate of meteoric bombardment is still tremendous.
57:7.6 (659.5) 原始行星大氣正在緩慢演化，現已含有部分水蒸氣、一氧化碳、二氧化碳和氯化氫，但遊離氮或遊離氧含量極低或幾乎不存在。火山時代的地球大氣呈現出一幅奇特的景象。除上述列舉的氣體外，大氣中還富含大量火山氣體，隨著大氣層的成熟，也充斥著不斷撞擊行星表面的密集流星雨燃燒產物。這種流星燃燒使大氣中的氧氣幾乎耗盡，而流星撞擊的頻率依然驚人。
57:7.7 (659.6) Presently, the atmosphere became more settled and cooled sufficiently to start precipitation of rain on the hot rocky surface of the planet. For thousands of years Urantia was enveloped in one vast and continuous blanket of steam. And during these ages the sun never shone upon the earth’s surface.
57:7.7 (659.6) 不久，大氣變得更加穩定，並冷卻到足以開始在行星灼熱的巖石表面形成降雨。數千年來，玉苒廈始終籠罩在一層浩瀚而綿延不絕的水氣之中。在這些年代，太陽從未照耀過地球表面。
57:7.8 (659.7) Much of the carbon of the atmosphere was abstracted to form the carbonates of the various metals which abounded in the superficial layers of the planet. Later on, much greater quantities of these carbon gases were consumed by the early and prolific plant life.
57:7.8 (659.7) 大氣中的許多碳被提取出來，形成了行星表面富含的各種金屬碳酸鹽。後來，早期大量繁殖的植物生命消耗了更多這些碳氣體。
57:7.9 (660.1) Even in the later periods the continuing lava flows and the incoming meteors kept the oxygen of the air almost completely used up. Even the early deposits of the soon appearing primitive ocean contain no colored stones or shales. And for a long time after this ocean appeared, there was virtually no free oxygen in the atmosphere; and it did not appear in significant quantities until it was later generated by the seaweeds and other forms of vegetable life.
57:7.9 (660.1) 即使在後期，持續的熔巖流和不斷墜落的流星幾乎耗盡了空氣中的氧。即便是即將出現的原始海洋的早期沉積物，也不含任何有色巖石或頁巖。在這片海洋出現後的很長一段時間裏，大氣中幾乎沒有遊離氧；直到後來海藻及其他植物生命產生氧氣時，它才大量出現。
57:7.10 (660.2) The primitive planetary atmosphere of the volcanic age affords little protection against the collisional impacts of the meteoric swarms. Millions upon millions of meteors are able to penetrate such an air belt to smash against the planetary crust as solid bodies. But as time passes, fewer and fewer prove large enough to resist the ever-stronger friction shield of the oxygen-enriching atmosphere of the later eras.
57:7.10 (660.2) 火山時代的原始行星大氣，對流星群的碰撞沖擊幾乎沒有防護作用。數以百萬計的流星能夠穿透這樣的大氣層，以固體形態撞擊行星地殼。但隨著時間流逝，越來越少的流星能夠抵禦後期富氧大氣層日益增強的摩擦屏障。
57:8.1 (660.3) 1,000,000,000 years ago is the date of the actual beginning of Urantia history. The planet had attained approximately its present size. And about this time it was placed upon the physical registries of Nebadon and given its name, Urantia.
57:8.1 (660.3) 1,000,000,000年前，是玉苒廈歷史實際開始的日期。該行星已大致達到了其現在的大小。大約在此時，它被列入內巴頓的物理登記冊，並被命名為玉苒廈。
57:8.2 (660.4) The atmosphere, together with incessant moisture precipitation, facilitated the cooling of the earth’s crust. Volcanic action early equalized internal-heat pressure and crustal contraction; and as volcanoes rapidly decreased, earthquakes made their appearance as this epoch of crustal cooling and adjustment progressed.
57:8.2 (660.4) 大氣，連同持續不斷的降水，共同促進了地殼的冷卻。火山活動在早期平衡了內-熱壓力與地殼收縮；隨著火山急劇減少，地震隨之出現，標誌著地殼冷卻與調整的時期就此展開。
57:8.3 (660.5) The real geologic history of Urantia begins with the cooling of the earth’s crust sufficiently to cause the formation of the first ocean. Water-vapor condensation on the cooling surface of the earth, once begun, continued until it was virtually complete. By the end of this period the ocean was world-wide, covering the entire planet to an average depth of over one mile. The tides were then in play much as they are now observed, but this primitive ocean was not salty; it was practically a fresh-water covering for the world. In those days, most of the chlorine was combined with various metals, but there was enough, in union with hydrogen, to render this water faintly acid.
57:8.3 (660.5) 玉苒廈真正的地質史，始於地殼冷卻到足以形成最初的海洋之時。水蒸氣在地球冷卻表面的凝結一旦開始，便會持續直到基本完成。到這個時期結束時，海洋已遍布全球，以超過1.6公裏 的平均深度覆蓋著整個行星。當時的潮汐現象與如今所觀察到的基本相同，但這片原始海洋並非鹹的；覆蓋整個世界的實際上是一片淡水。那時，大部分氯與各種金屬結合，但仍有足夠的氯與氫結合，使海水呈弱酸性。
57:8.4 (660.6) At the opening of this faraway era, Urantia should be envisaged as a water-bound planet. Later on, deeper and hence denser lava flows came out upon the bottom of the present Pacific Ocean, and this part of the water-covered surface became considerably depressed. The first continental land mass emerged from the world ocean in compensatory adjustment of the equilibrium of the gradually thickening earth’s crust.
57:8.4 (660.6) 在這個遙遠時代的初期，應將玉苒廈視為一個被水包圍的行星。後來，更深層且因而更稠密的熔巖流湧出，覆蓋了現今太平洋的底部，導致這片被水覆蓋的地表大幅下陷。隨著地殼逐漸增厚，在對其平衡進行的補償性調整中，最初的大陸板塊從世界海洋中浮現了。
57:8.5 (660.7) 950,000,000 years ago Urantia presents the picture of one great continent of land and one large body of water, the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes are still widespread and earthquakes are both frequent and severe. Meteors continue to bombard the earth, but they are diminishing in both frequency and size. The atmosphere is clearing up, but the amount of carbon dioxide continues large. The earth’s crust is gradually stabilizing.
57:8.5 (660.7) 950,000,000年前，玉苒廈呈現出一幅由一片廣袤的大陸與一片遼闊的水域（即太平洋）組成的畫面。火山仍然遍布各地，地震既頻繁又強烈。流星持續撞擊地球，但它們的頻率和體積都在遞減。大氣正在變清，但二氧化碳含量仍然很高。地殼正在逐漸穩定下來。
57:8.6 (660.8) It was at about this time that Urantia was assigned to the system of Satania for planetary administration and was placed on the life registry of Norlatiadek. Then began the administrative recognition of the small and insignificant sphere which was destined to be the planet whereon Michael would subsequently engage in the stupendous undertaking of mortal bestowal, would participate in those experiences which have since caused Urantia to become locally known as the “world of the cross.”
57:8.6 (660.8) 大約就在此時，玉苒廈被劃歸薩坦尼亞系統進行行星管理，並被列入諾拉歇德的生命登記冊。隨後，這個小小的、微不足道的星球開始獲得行政層面的認可，它註定要成為邁克爾後來從事凡人贈與偉大事業的行星，在這裏他將參與那些使玉苒廈從此以「十字架的世界」而遠近聞名的經歷。
57:8.7 (661.1) 900,000,000 years ago witnessed the arrival on Urantia of the first Satania scouting party sent out from Jerusem to examine the planet and make a report on its adaptation for a life-experiment station. This commission consisted of twenty-four members, embracing Life Carriers, Lanonandek Sons, Melchizedeks, seraphim, and other orders of celestial life having to do with the early days of planetary organization and administration.
57:8.7 (661.1) 900,000,000年前，來自耶路瑟姆的首個薩坦尼亞探察隊抵達玉苒廈，他們奉命勘察這顆行星，並就其作為生命實驗站的適宜性提交報告。這個委員會由二十四名成員組成，包括生命載運者、拉那南德之子、默基瑟德、熾天使以及其他與早期行星組織與管理相關的天界生命類別。
57:8.8 (661.2) After making a painstaking survey of the planet, this commission returned to Jerusem and reported favorably to the System Sovereign, recommending that Urantia be placed on the life-experiment registry. Your world was accordingly registered on Jerusem as a decimal planet, and the Life Carriers were notified that they would be granted permission to institute new patterns of mechanical, chemical, and electrical mobilization at the time of their subsequent arrival with life transplantation and implantation mandates.
57:8.8 (661.2) 在對行星進行了細致入微的勘察後，該委員會返回耶路瑟姆，向系統君主提交了肯定性的報告，建議將玉苒廈列入生命實驗登記冊。於是你們的世界在耶路瑟姆被登記為十進製行星，生命運載者已獲通知，在他們後續帶著生命移植與植入的任務抵達時，將獲準創立具有機械性、化學性及電性動員的新模式。
57:8.9 (661.3) In due course arrangements for the planetary occupation were completed by the mixed commission of twelve on Jerusem and approved by the planetary commission of seventy on Edentia. These plans, proposed by the advisory counselors of the Life Carriers, were finally accepted on Salvington. Soon thereafter the Nebadon broadcasts carried the announcement that Urantia would become the stage whereon the Life Carriers would execute their sixtieth Satania experiment designed to amplify and improve the Satania type of the Nebadon life patterns.
57:8.9 (661.3) 耶路瑟姆的十二人混合委員會適時完成了對行星占用的安排，並獲得了伊甸廈七十人行星委員會的批準。這些由生命載運者的咨詢顧問所提出的計劃，最終在薩爾文頓得到認可。不久之後，內巴頓廣播發布了公告，玉苒廈將成為生命載運者進行第六十個薩坦尼亞實驗的舞臺，該實驗旨在增強並改善內巴頓生命模式中的薩坦尼亞類型。
57:8.10 (661.4) Shortly after Urantia was first recognized on the universe broadcasts to all Nebadon, it was accorded full universe status. Soon thereafter it was registered in the records of the minor and the major sector headquarters planets of the superuniverse; and before this age was over, Urantia had found entry on the planetary-life registry of Uversa.
57:8.10 (661.4) 在玉苒廈通過宇宙廣播首次被整個內巴頓認識後不久，它便獲得了完整的宇宙地位。不久之後，它便被登記在超宇宙小分區與大分區總部行星的檔案中；而在這個時代結束之前，玉苒廈已成功載入尤沃薩的行星生命登記冊。
57:8.11 (661.5) This entire age was characterized by frequent and violent storms. The early crust of the earth was in a state of continual flux. Surface cooling alternated with immense lava flows. Nowhere can there be found on the surface of the world anything of this original planetary crust. It has all been mixed up too many times with extruding lavas of deep origins and admixed with subsequent deposits of the early world-wide ocean.
57:8.11 (661.5) 整個時代的特征是頻繁而猛烈的暴風雨。地球的早期地殼處於持續變化的狀態。地表冷卻與巨大的熔巖流交替出現。在地球表面，再也找不到任何原始行星地殼的痕跡。它已被深層來源的噴發熔巖反復攪動了好多次，並摻雜了早期全球海洋的後續沈積物。
57:8.12 (661.6) Nowhere on the surface of the world will there be found more of the modified remnants of these ancient preocean rocks than in northeastern Canada around Hudson Bay. This extensive granite elevation is composed of stone belonging to the preoceanic ages. These rock layers have been heated, bent, twisted, upcrumpled, and again and again have they passed through these distorting metamorphic experiences.
57:8.12 (661.6) 在地球表面的任何地方，都找不到比加拿大東北部哈德遜灣周圍更多這些遠古前海洋巖石的變質殘留物。這片廣闊的花崗巖山體由前海洋時期的石頭構成。這些巖層曾被加熱、彎曲、扭曲、褶皺，並一次又一次經歷著這些扭曲變質的過程。
57:8.13 (661.7) Throughout the oceanic ages, enormous layers of fossil-free stratified stone were deposited on this ancient ocean bottom. (Limestone can form as a result of chemical precipitation; not all of the older limestone was produced by marine-life deposition.) In none of these ancient rock formations will there be found evidences of life; they contain no fossils unless, by some chance, later deposits of the water ages have become mixed with these older prelife layers.
57:8.13 (661.7) 在漫長的海洋時代裏，巨大的無化石疊層巖石層沉積於這片遠古海洋的底部。（石灰巖可通過化學沉澱形成；並非所有古老的石灰巖都是由海洋生物沉積而成的。）在這些古老的巖層中，無法找到生命的痕跡；它們不含任何化石，除非後來洪水年代的沉積物偶然混入了這些更古老的、前生命時期的巖層。
57:8.14 (662.1) The earth’s early crust was highly unstable, but mountains were not in process of formation. The planet contracted under gravity pressure as it formed. Mountains are not the result of the collapse of the cooling crust of a contracting sphere; they appear later on as a result of the action of rain, gravity, and erosion.
57:8.14 (662.1) 地球的早期地殼極不穩定，但山脈尚未進入形成過程。行星在形成過程中因引力壓力而收縮。山脈並非由收縮天體的冷卻地殼坍塌而形成；它們是後來在雨水、引力及侵蝕作用下才顯現的。
57:8.15 (662.2) The continental land mass of this era increased until it covered almost ten per cent of the earth’s surface. Severe earthquakes did not begin until the continental mass of land emerged well above the water. When they once began, they increased in frequency and severity for ages. For millions upon millions of years earthquakes have diminished, but Urantia still has an average of fifteen daily.
57:8.15 (662.2) 這個時期的大陸板塊持續擴大，直至覆蓋了將近地球表面的百分之十。直到大陸板塊完全露出水面後，強烈的地震才開始。一旦開始，在很長一段時間裏，它們的頻率與強度會不斷加劇。數百萬年來，地震已逐漸減弱，但玉苒廈平均每天仍有十五次。
57:8.16 (662.3) 850,000,000 years ago the first real epoch of the stabilization of the earth’s crust began. Most of the heavier metals had settled down toward the center of the globe; the cooling crust had ceased to cave in on such an extensive scale as in former ages. There was established a better balance between the land extrusion and the heavier ocean bed. The flow of the subcrustal lava bed became well-nigh world-wide, and this compensated and stabilized the fluctuations due to cooling, contracting, and superficial shifting.
57:8.16 (662.3) 850,000,000年前，第一個真正的地殼穩定化時期開始了。大多數較重的金屬已向地球中心沉澱；冷卻的地殼不再像往昔那樣大規模塌陷。陸地擡升與更重的海床之間建立了更好的平衡。地殼下方的熔巖層流動幾乎遍及全球，這補償並穩定了因冷卻、收縮和淺層漂移所導致的波動。
57:8.17 (662.4) Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes continued to diminish in frequency and severity. The atmosphere was clearing of volcanic gases and water vapor, but the percentage of carbon dioxide was still high.
57:8.17 (662.4) 火山噴發和地震的頻率與強度持續降低。大氣正在清除火山氣體和水蒸氣，但二氧化碳的比例仍然很高。
57:8.18 (662.5) Electric disturbances in the air and in the earth were also decreasing. The lava flows had brought to the surface a mixture of elements which diversified the crust and better insulated the planet from certain space-energies. And all of this did much to facilitate the control of terrestrial energy and to regulate its flow, as is disclosed by the functioning of the magnetic poles.
57:8.18 (662.5) 空氣和地球中的電擾動也在減弱。熔巖流把各種元素的混合物帶到地表，使地殼構成更加豐富，並使行星更好地隔絕某些空間能量。所有這些都大大有助於控製地球能量、調節能量流動，正如磁極的功能所揭示的那樣。
57:8.19 (662.6) 800,000,000 years ago witnessed the inauguration of the first great land epoch, the age of increased continental emergence.
57:8.19 (662.6) 八億年前見證了第一個偉大陸地時代，即大陸加速擡升時期的開啟。
57:8.20 (662.7) Since the condensation of the earth’s hydrosphere, first into the world ocean and subsequently into the Pacific Ocean, this latter body of water should be visualized as then covering nine tenths of the earth’s surface. Meteors falling into the sea accumulated on the ocean bottom, and meteors are, generally speaking, composed of heavy materials. Those falling on the land were largely oxidized, subsequently worn down by erosion, and washed into the ocean basins. Thus the ocean bottom grew increasingly heavy, and added to this was the weight of a body of water at some places ten miles deep.
57:8.20 (662.7) 自地球水圈凝結以來，先形成世界海洋，繼而匯聚成太平洋，我們應把太平洋想象為當時覆蓋了地球表面十分之九的水域。墜入海洋的流星在海底堆積，一般來說，流星由重物質構成。那些落在陸地上的流星大多被氧化，隨後經侵蝕而磨損，並被沖入大洋盆地。因此，海底變得越來越沉重，再加上某些地方深達十六公裏的水體重量。
57:8.21 (662.8) The increasing downthrust of the Pacific Ocean operated further to upthrust the continental land mass. Europe and Africa began to rise out of the Pacific depths along with those masses now called Australia, North and South America, and the continent of Antarctica, while the bed of the Pacific Ocean engaged in a further compensatory sinking adjustment. By the end of this period almost one third of the earth’s surface consisted of land, all in one continental body.
57:8.21 (662.8) 太平洋不斷加重的壓力進一步向上推擠大陸板塊。歐洲與非洲開始從太平洋深處升起，連同如今被稱為澳大利亞、南北美洲及南極大陸的那些板塊，與此同時，太平洋海床則經歷了進一步的補償性下沉調整。到這個時期結束時，地球表面近三分之一由陸地組成，全部匯集成一個大陸整體。
57:8.22 (662.9) With this increase in land elevation the first climatic differences of the planet appeared. Land elevation, cosmic clouds, and oceanic influences are the chief factors in climatic fluctuation. The backbone of the Asiatic land mass reached a height of almost nine miles at the time of the maximum land emergence. Had there been much moisture in the air hovering over these highly elevated regions, enormous ice blankets would have formed; the ice age would have arrived long before it did. It was several hundred millions of years before so much land again appeared above water.
57:8.22 (662.9) 隨著陸地不斷擡升，地球上出現了最初的氣候差異。陸地擡升、宇宙雲與海洋影響是氣候波動的主要因素。在陸地出現最多的時期，亞洲大陸的脊梁達到了約十四點五公裏的高度。倘若盤旋於這些高海拔地區的空氣中含有大量水分，便會形成巨大的冰毯；冰河時代或許會更早到來。直到數億年後，如此廣闊的陸地才再次浮出水面。
57:8.23 (663.1) 750,000,000 years ago the first breaks in the continental land mass began as the great north-and-south cracking, which later admitted the ocean waters and prepared the way for the westward drift of the continents of North and South America, including Greenland. The long east-and-west cleavage separated Africa from Europe and severed the land masses of Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Antarctica from the Asiatic continent.
57:8.23 (663.1) 750,000,000年前，大陸板塊的首次斷裂始於南北向的大裂縫，隨後海水湧入裂縫，為南北美洲（包括格陵蘭島）向西漂移鋪平了道路。東西向的長裂谷將非洲與歐洲分隔開來，並將澳大利亞、太平洋島嶼和南極洲板塊與亞洲大陸割裂開來。
57:8.24 (663.2) 700,000,000 years ago Urantia was approaching the ripening of conditions suitable for the support of life. The continental land drift continued; increasingly the ocean penetrated the land as long fingerlike seas providing those shallow waters and sheltered bays which are so suitable as a habitat for marine life.
57:8.24 (663.2) 700,000,000年前，玉苒廈正逐漸達到適宜維持生命的成熟條件。大陸漂移仍在繼續；海洋不斷以細長海灣的形式深入陸地，形成了那些特別適合海洋生物棲息的淺水區和避風港灣。
57:8.25 (663.3) 650,000,000 years ago witnessed the further separation of the land masses and, in consequence, a further extension of the continental seas. And these waters were rapidly attaining that degree of saltiness which was essential to Urantia life.
57:8.25 (663.3) 650,000,000年前，陸地板塊進一步分離，導致內陸海域進一步擴展。這些水體正迅速達到對玉苒廈生命至關重要的那種鹽度。
57:8.26 (663.4) It was these seas and their successors that laid down the life records of Urantia, as subsequently discovered in well-preserved stone pages, volume upon volume, as era succeeded era and age grew upon age. These inland seas of olden times were truly the cradle of evolution.
57:8.26 (663.4) 隨著年代更叠，歲月流轉，正是這些海洋及其後繼者記錄了玉苒廈的生命史，正如後來在保存完好、層層堆疊的石頁中發現的那樣。這些遠古時期的內陸海確實是進化的搖籃。
57:8.27 (663.5) [Presented by a Life Carrier, a member of the original Urantia Corps and now a resident observer.]
57:8.27 (663.5) [由一位生命載運者呈獻，他是原初玉苒廈團隊的成員，現為常駐觀察員。]