乐趣飘送 ✐2009-02-01


好青年的信条

亚谷

 

你们立志行事,都是神在你们心里运行,为要成就祂的美意。
          腓立比书第二章13节

  华尔特(Howard Arnold Walter, 1883-1918),是二十世纪的青年圣诗作家。
  华尔特生在美国康涅提克州,在校就爱诗歌,二十二岁的时候,以优異成绩毕业於普林斯顿大学。1906年,只身赴日本,在东京早稻田大学教授英文一年。少年离家远遊,慈母难免掛念。
  1907年春,他介绍给学生“使徒信经”,提到人生必须有自己的信念和标准;学生颇能夠接受。回到寓所,接到母亲来信,劝儿子效法主的榜样,拒绝试探。他立即写了这首小诗:“我的信条”(My Creed)寄给远方的母亲,表明心志。母亲收信后,知道儿子心中有主,深感欣慰,把他的诗寄给哈泼Harper's Magazine)杂誌,得接受刊於1907年五月号。刊出后,深获许多有信仰,有理想的青年人喜爱,读了都受激励。

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

我要真诚莫负人家信任深
  我要洁淨因为有人关心
  我要刚強人间痛苦才能当
  我要壮胆奋斗才能得胜
  我要壮胆奋斗才能得胜

我要爱人爱敌也爱沦落人
  我要施赠心诚义重财轻
  我要虛怀不忘我身多弱点
  我要向上学主榜样助人
  我要向上学主榜样助人(刘延芳译)

  1909年,在聚会中,一位卫理公会的信徒匹克(Joseph Yates Peek, 1843-1911),与华尔特相遇。六十六岁的老人家匹克,同小他四十岁的青年竟然谈得欢洽。临別的时候,华尔特给匹克印有“我的信条”卡片。匹克看了深为感动,並哼出了旋律。匹克自己並不会谱曲;但有个好友涂拉(Grant C. Tullar, 1869-1950)是颇有名的圣诗作曲家。匹克把想法告诉朋友:以为配上乐曲必然有助广为流传。於是涂拉将匹克心中的旋律配上和声,谱成乐曲,成为今日常唱的曲调。
  华尔特自日本返国后,入神学院就读,继往欧洲深造。1910年,任公理会的助理牧师。因为他显然有青年工作的恩赐,1912年,出任基督教青年会干事,受派赴印度,在回教徒中间,从事青年事工。
  华尔特患有心脏病,在最后一次航往印度前,医生竭力劝阻,要他早日休养,最多能再活过五年。他一笑置之,坚決的说:“如果我只有五年好活,更该回到印度,努力工作。”
  他知道责任要他该去印度,卻沒有活着回来。不过,他並沒有死於心脏病。热带的印度,流行病很多;1918年,印度时疫流行,华尔特染疾在那里去世,得年仅三十五岁。1926年,他家乡的公理会教会,为他立了一座纪念碑,上面刻着他的“信条”诗。
  原作仅有二节。有人可能因为反“信条”,或不喜欢“我要”的话太多,就加了两节。另有五节的版本,中间第三节据说是出自华尔德给他表兄葛林牧师(Theodore A. Greene)的书信。
  大约是刘廷芳在翻译(只1,2节)的时候,给冠以“青年向上歌”,收入普天颂讚诗集中。

我要真诚

我要真诚莫负人家信任深
  我要洁淨因为有人关心
  我要刚強人间痛苦才能当
  我要壮胆奋斗才能得胜
  我要壮胆奋斗才能得胜

我要爱人爱敌也爱沦落人
  我要施赠心诚义重财轻
  我要虛怀不忘我身多弱点
  我要向上学主榜样助人
  我要向上学主榜样助人

我要祈祷繁忙更要多祷告
  我要恆心不断亲近父神
  我要谛听父神慈爱微小声
  我要笃信紧步基督后尘
  我要笃信紧步基督后尘

因主忠诚对我祂也愿信赖
  因主圣洁对我祂也关怀
  基督坚強一切痛苦祂担当
  向我彰显至圣大爱无量
  向我彰显至圣大爱无量

我主爱人爱敌也爱孤苦者
  祂赐恩惠永不吝啬施赠
  我主谦卑为万民成为软弱
  我主仰望欢笑博爱扶助
  我主仰望欢笑博爱扶助

I Would Be True

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer,
I would be brave, for there is much to dare;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift;
I would look up, and laugh, and love, and lift.

I would be prayerful thru each busy moment;
I would be constantly in touch with God;
I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod;
I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod.

For Christ is true, and He it is who trust me;
For Christ is pure, and He it is who cares;
Jesus is strong, and He it is who suffered;
He showed to me, majestic love laid bare;
He showed to me, majestic love laid bare.

He is the Friend of all—the foe, the friendless;
He is the Giver who withholds no gift;
And He is humble, showing God's own weakness;
And He looks up, and laughs, and loves, and lifts;
And He looks up, and laughs, and loves, and lifts.

* Stanzas 4, 5 by J.T. Wenham

翼展视窗阔 报取智域深

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信仰宗教与文学 ✍于中旻

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人权与政权 ✍于中旻

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儒家社会主义的理想 ✍亚谷

艺文走廊

成功之道 ✍凌风

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金玉食粮议 ✍于中旻

点点心灵

白日作梦 ✍余卓雄

云彩生活

称心园艺:秋海棠 Begonia ✍余暇

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一秒钟的启示 ✍殷颖

乐趣飘送

西贝流士 ✍稽谭

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知己 ✍刘广华