In an attempt to brighten things up....

[Hats Off]

Not exactly a good translation...

[mike]

Not exactly a good translation...

I'm sure it isn't, but it does help those of us that don't know German to get a sense of what it's about. There isn't any way to capture the exact beauty of a poem in another language; most translated poems likely take a good bit of liberty with the text particularly if it is made to rhyme in the translation.

[mercysfree]

I love sight-reading! Often the very first time I read a poem or sing a song it will touch me in such a way like God is sending it as a grace to get me through a future valley. I was especially moved by verses 2 and 3. We have fairly new hymnbooks and sang this new-to-me hymn at church on June 9. Note that date and think about what we learned right after...It meant enough at the time that I actually posted it on facebook, and sure enough, the message has come back to comfort me many times through the past few weeks.

My God, I thank Thee, who has made
The earth so bright--
So full of splendor and of joy,
Beauty and light--
So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right.

I thank Thee, too, that Thou has made
Joy to abound--
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round;
That in the darkest spot on earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain;
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain--
So that earth's bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;
We have enough, but not too much
To long for more--
A yearning for a deeper peace
Not known before.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls,
Though amply blest,
Can never find, although they seek,
A perfect rest--
Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus' breast. Amen.

--Adelaide A. Procter, 1858

[Hats Off]

1 Wo ist Jesus, mein Verlangen, Where is Jesus, my desire?
mein Geliebter und mein Freund? My beloved Lord and Friend?
Wo ist er denn hingegangen? Where is He whom I admire
Wo mag er zu finden sein? Where is He found in the end?
Meine Seel ist sehr betrübet, My soul is so filled with sorrow
mit viel Sünden abgematt't; With so many sins contrite
wo ist Jesus, den sie liebet? Where is Jesus whom she loveth
Den bezehrt sie Tag und Nacht. Who she calls for day and night.

2 Ach! ich ruf vor Angst und Schmerzen:
Wo ist denn mein Jesus bin?
Kein Ruh ist in meinem Herzen
so lang, bis ich bei ihm bin.
Ach! wer giebt mir Taubenflügel,
daß ich kann zu jeder Frist
fliegen über Berg und Hügel,
suchen, wo mein Jesus ist?

3 Er vertreibet Angst und Schmerzen, He dispels my fear and sorrow
er vertreibet Sünd und Tod, He dispels my sins indeed
wenn sie quälen in dem Herzen; For my heart would trouble borrow
er hilft Jedem aus der Noth! He helps each one out of need
Darum will ich nicht nachlassen, Therefore I won't my search weaken
will bald laufen hin und her; I shall run out here and there
auf den Feldern, auf den Straßen In the fields and streets I'll seek Him
will ich suchen mehr und mehr. I shall seek Him everywhere.

4 Liebster Jesu! laß dich finden,
meine Seele schreit in mir,
thu ihr mit den Augen winken,
laßΩ sie eilends sein bei dir!
Ach, laß mich die Gnad erlangen,
allerliebster Jesu mein,
und nimm meine Seel gefangen,
laß sie ewig bei dir sein.

5 Ach! ich sterb vor lauter Freuden,
ich find Jesum, meinen Schatz;
alle Weltlust will ich meiden,
bei ihm will ich finden Platz.
Nunmehr soll mich nichts betrüben,
was mich vor betrübet hat;
nichts als Jesum will ich lieben,
den mein Seel gefunden hat.

6 Liebster Jesu! meine Freude, Dearest Jesus, all my pleasure!
meiner Seelen schönste Zier! Thou my soul dost now adorn
Du bist meines Herzens Weide, Thou art my heart's greatest treasure
mich verlangt ja stets nach dir. This desire i shall not scorn.
Mein Herz, Sinnen und Gedanken My heart, thoughts and all my senses,
sollen dir ergebeu sein; I've submitted all to thee
laß mich nimmer von dir wanken, No More dwell on false pretences
du sollst ewig bleiben mein. Thou art all in all to me.


Source: Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch #396

Too much work to do every verse!

[steve-in-kville]

Bump

[steve-in-kville]

"Broken crayons still color."

(It was an image I've been trying to copy here but can't)

[steve-in-kville]

Yes, I do have a traditional side to me. In the not too distant past, some famous county music singer did a remake of this song. Cannot think of her name at the moment. This song speaks volumes to me!

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sisters, let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down
O sisters, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O brothers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
Come on, brothers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O fathers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O fathers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O mothers, let's go down
Let's go down; don't you want to go down?
Come on, mothers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sinners, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O sinners, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

[Aurien]

Yes, I do have a traditional side to me. In the not too distant past, some famous county music singer did a remake of this song. Cannot think of her name at the moment. This song speaks volumes to me!

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sisters, let's go down,
Let's go down, come on down
O sisters, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O brothers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
Come on, brothers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O fathers, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O fathers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O mothers, let's go down
Let's go down; don't you want to go down?
Come on, mothers, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
O sinners, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O sinners, let's go down
Down in the river to pray
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

Alison Krauss maybe? I think she might have sung this song for a movie as well.

[Robert]

[video][/video]

[steve-in-kville]

That sounds right.

"O brother where art thou" might be the movie.