頌詩譯選

神的兒女疲倦又緩慢

凌風　譯

神的兒女疲倦又緩慢，
　　在朝聖的旅途上向前，
不論強壯或軟弱，喜樂或痛苦，
　　對神上面的呼召忠誠不變！—
你們為甚麼走的這樣勉強，
　　像疑慮悲哀的集團？
為甚麼疲乏的低垂着頭？
　　為甚麼手無力疲倦？
啊，軟弱不知道救主的能力，
　　不感覺天父的護理！
短暫的勞苦，快過的陣雨，
　　是你們共有的悲戚。
雖然天空的陰雲
　　一時掩蔽當午的太陽，
他更可愛的美容微笑
　　在日暮時更加輝煌，—
衝破幽暗的包圍，
　　企圖阻止他的能力，
光明榮耀的驅除每片陰雲，
　　勝利的歸回安息。
基督徒啊，擦乾你的眼淚，
　　除去不信的疑慮，
終將從罪疚和懼怕中得贖，
　　啊，你的心甦醒愛主！

Children of God who Faint and Slow

Children of God, who, faint and slow,
　　Your pilgrim-path pursue,
In strength and weakness, joy and woe,
　　To God's calling true!-
Why move ye thus, with lingering tread,
　　A doubting, mournful band?
Why faintly hangs the drooping head?
　　Why fails the feeble hand?
O, weak to know a Saviour's power,
　　To feel a Father's care!
A moment's toil, a passing shower,
　　Is all the grief ye share.

The orb of light, though clouds awhile
　　May hide his noontide ray,
Shall soon in lovelier beauty smile
　　To gild the closing day,-
And, busting through the dusky shroud
　　That dared his power invest,
Ride throned in light, o'er every cloud,
　　Triumphant to his rest.

Then, Christian, dry the falling tear,
　　The faithless doubt remove;
Redeemed at last from guilt and fear,
　　O, wake thy heart to love.

John Bowdler（1746-1823）
English author