Two texts
The first a hymn translated from the Welsh. I don't like the word redounds, but apart from that this hymn is a cracker!
FROM heavenly Jerusalem’s towers,
the path through the desert they trace;
and every affliction they suffered
redounds to the glory of grace;
their look they cast back on the tempests,
on fears, on grim death and the grave,
rejoicing that now they’re in safety,
through Him that is mighty to save.
And we, from the wilds of the desert,
shall flee to the land of the blest;
life’s tears shall be changed to rejoicing,
its labours and toil into rest.
There we shall find refuge eternal,
from sin, from affliction, from pain,
and in the sweet love of the Saviour,
a joy without end shall attain.
David Charles, 1762-1834;
tr. by Lewis Edwards, 1809-87
The second is in French. I haven't translated it. See how you do.
Elle chante avec les anges
Là où l'on est heureux
Ne trouvez pas étrange
Que pour elle, tout est mieux
Elle est dans la lumière
Comment imaginer?
Elle est auprès du Père
Quelle n'a cessé d'aimer
Levons nos yeux plus haut
Au-delà de ce temps
Il est un lieu si beau
Jésus nous y attend
Non, ce n'est pas mourir
Que d'aller vers son Dieu
C'est d'içi bas partir
Trouver un nouveau lieu
La vie est un voyage
Au parcours incertain
L'Au-delà, un rivage
D'un éternel matin
Nous savons tous qu'un jour
Nous serons réunis
Rassemblés pour toujours
Nous la verrons aussi
Et si nos coeurs se serrent
Nos yeux se voilent un peu
C'est qu'elle nous était chère
Un don venu de Dieu
Pour elle, le jour s'est déja levé.
J François Bussy
FROM heavenly Jerusalem’s towers,
the path through the desert they trace;
and every affliction they suffered
redounds to the glory of grace;
their look they cast back on the tempests,
on fears, on grim death and the grave,
rejoicing that now they’re in safety,
through Him that is mighty to save.
And we, from the wilds of the desert,
shall flee to the land of the blest;
life’s tears shall be changed to rejoicing,
its labours and toil into rest.
There we shall find refuge eternal,
from sin, from affliction, from pain,
and in the sweet love of the Saviour,
a joy without end shall attain.
David Charles, 1762-1834;
tr. by Lewis Edwards, 1809-87
The second is in French. I haven't translated it. See how you do.
Elle chante avec les anges
Là où l'on est heureux
Ne trouvez pas étrange
Que pour elle, tout est mieux
Elle est dans la lumière
Comment imaginer?
Elle est auprès du Père
Quelle n'a cessé d'aimer
Levons nos yeux plus haut
Au-delà de ce temps
Il est un lieu si beau
Jésus nous y attend
Non, ce n'est pas mourir
Que d'aller vers son Dieu
C'est d'içi bas partir
Trouver un nouveau lieu
La vie est un voyage
Au parcours incertain
L'Au-delà, un rivage
D'un éternel matin
Nous savons tous qu'un jour
Nous serons réunis
Rassemblés pour toujours
Nous la verrons aussi
Et si nos coeurs se serrent
Nos yeux se voilent un peu
C'est qu'elle nous était chère
Un don venu de Dieu
Pour elle, le jour s'est déja levé.
J François Bussy
Comments
She sings with the angels
There where happiness exists
Don’t find it strange
That for her, all is better
She is in the light
Can you imagine it?
She’s close to God
Who never ceases to love
Lift your eyes up
Beyond our time
There is a place so beautiful
Where Jesus waits for us
No, it’s not death
But to go towards our God
It’s from here we go
To find a new place
Life is a journey
An uncertain path
Beyond that, a shore
Of an eternal morning
We know that one day
We will be united
Together for always
We will see you also
And if our hearts strengthen themselves
Our eyes veil themselves
Because she was dear to us
A gift from God
For her, the day has begun!
David
I'm impressed! If you want I'll post what I'd do with it, but it is not far off from your translation!
I think that that "quelle" in the last line of the first strophe shoudl be "qu'elle", which makes more sense grammatically, but it's wrong in the text I was sent so I haven't changed it for fear there's something I am missing!
I hoep the studies are going well. Keep going!
She sings with the angels
There where one is happy
Don't think it strange
That for her all is better
She is in the light
How to imagine it?
She is near the Father
Who she never stopped loving.
We lift our eyes higher
Beyond this time
It's such a beautiful place
Jesus awaits us there
No, it's not dying
Rather going to her God
It's to part from down here
To find a new place
Life is a journey
Of an uncertain distance
The beyond a shore
Of an eternal morn
We all know that one day
We'll be reunited
Gathered together for ever
We'll see her too
And if our hearts are shaken/squeezed (ache?)
Our eyes are veiled a little (with tears, I guess)
It's that she was dear to us
A gift come from God
For her, the day has already dawned.