颂诗译选
无意义的存在
在我们当中有一些人，
来到这世界只为了吃和困；
不知道为何生而又何往，
只是在消耗米粮，
吞吃了禽鸟，鱼类，和牛羊，
身后留下个空的盘盎。
乌鸦和鴞鸟也能如此行，
不幸的鸟类落得可恨的名声。
鴞鸟和乌鸦能代替他们的位置，
也能吃下米粮和屍体，
如果他们崩逝也立碑铭，
绝不要学奉承或虛谎图名，
终其一生真是乏善可陈，
只能说：“他们吃足了面包，
喝夠了杯中物，已上床就寝。”
华慈（Isaac Watts, 1674-1748），英国独立教会牧师，圣诗作家，神学家。创作英文圣诗六百余首，被称为“现代英文圣诗之父”。
Insignificant Existence
There are a number of us creep
Into this world, to eat and sleep;
And know no reason why we're born,
But only to consume the corn,
Devour the cattle, fowl, and fish,
And leave behind an empty dish.
The crows and ravens do the same,
Unlucky birds of hateful name;
Ravens or crows might fill their place,
And swallow corn and carcasses,
Then if their tombstone, when they die,
Be n't taught to flatter and to lie,
There's nothing better will be said
Than that "they've eat up all their bread,
Drunk up their drink, and gone to bed."
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
English theologian & hymn writer
