颂诗译选
自我认知
亲爱的主!接受一颗罪恶的心,
它自己也在怨嫌,
並且悲伤,痛苦既多又深,
邪恶存在它中间。
那里潛伏着忿怒激烈的种子,
常会戕害我的康健;
但等到火性发作起
就煽成一片火焰。
律法拿出来贿赂
要向你买我的生命;
不满深愿意写出
你当如何待我的规定。
不信在抵挡你的恩典,
也推卻你的慈怜,
傲慢卻厚颜只重铜钱,
说:“给我,或我死也甘愿!”
我的思想多么渴望流连
寻求那些他所爱羨!
但是,啊!当责任召他回到家园,
何等的沉重裹足不前!
噢,求用救主宝血洁淨我,
改化我用你的权能,
把我作成你可爱的居所,
使我不再飘零。
Self-Acquaintance
Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.
There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the temper's work
To fan them to a flame.
Legality holds out a bribe
To purchase life from Thee;
And discontent would fain prescribe
How Thou shalt deal with me.
While unbelief withstands Thy grace,
And puts the mercy by,
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, "Give me, or I die!"
How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!
But ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!
Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood,
Transform me by Thy power,
And make me Thy belov'd abode,
And let me roam no more.
William Cowper(1731-1800)
English poet & hymn writer