每个耶稣受难日,我都会重读乔治·赫伯特的诗《祭物》("The Sacrifice")。在赫伯特的叙述中,基督通过63节诗句表达了自己的受难,每一行都充满魅力和神学见解。这是一首对史上最伟大故事的精彩重述。
为了模仿赫伯特描写耶稣受难那样写圣诞的道成肉身,我根据《祭物》创作了《礼物》。它比《祭物》更短,并且也不是什么杰作。但是正像其灵感来源一样,它深植于道成肉身的神学启示(神与我们同在)和令人心碎的美丽中(神与我们同在)。
在赫伯特作品的开头,作者向道成肉身(“是我,凡有眼的都必寻见”)表达了敬意。在我的结尾诗节,我也同样向耶稣的受难表达了敬意。把这两句分开解读是不恰当的。不过《祭物》强调的是耶稣对经历悲痛的意愿,而《礼物》则强调了祂的慷慨舍己。我写的虽是一首现代诗,但我希望它是一首能帮助我们为耶稣诞生的诸多荣耀献上感恩的诗。神与我们同在!
The Gift
Come all ye burdened, lowly, and blind, Come, all who are lost, that is, all mankind, "To me, who took eyes that I might you find": Was ever a gift like mine?
Who else but the Author of life itself Would to descend from the heavenly shelf? Into this tale I have written myself: Was ever a gift like mine?
Of love and logos, of philosophy, The sages dreamt, though only hazily; But now, at last, can all be seen in Me: Was ever a gift like mine?
Becoming low, my humiliation Secures a more splendid transformation; The lowest I'll raise in exaltation: Was ever a gift like mine?
Oh Eve, who heeded what the serpent said, The shame for commencing sin's crimson thread Can end—Your seed has come to crush his head: Was ever a gift like mine?
From Eden did the angels Adam send, But now to his offspring they do commend Me, the new Adam who will the world mend: Was ever a gift like mine?
In Abraham all nations will be bless'd, But how? Accomplishing it is my quest; I come to dress them in my righteousness: Was ever a gift like mine?
An ancient stump sends up a royal shoot, A King to whom all kings will pay tribute; But greater is the prize that I’ll impute: Was ever a gift like mine?
From Bethlehem that King would come, 'twas said. But I'll be more, their only House of Bread, And give my body that all may be fed: Was ever a gift like mine?
Do not ignore my genealogies; Both sagas of human catastrophes Are my share in our trade of fam'ly trees: Was ever a gift like mine?
For I assume Joseph's ancestral shame, Attaching its failure to my good name, So my perfection all failures might claim: Was ever a gift like mine?
Zechariah spoke of coming Sunrise from God on high, to darkened souls supplies My light, that mortals I'll immortalize: Was ever a gift like mine?
Elizabeth carries within her womb One to straighten my way, a voice from whom Disciples will learn of the true Bridegroom: Was ever a gift like mine?
A manger contains my body from cold, The very one who does the cosmos hold; The glories of Christmas are manifold! Was ever a gift like mine?
Begotten not made, yet born of virgin, Still a stranger myst'ry I illumine: How sinners are made into God’s kinsmen: Was ever a gift like mine?
The Shepherds hear first, for to them I am Inaugurating my ovine program, In which the Chief Shepherd becomes a Lamb: Was ever a gift like mine?
Mary's heart is my childhood treasury, Alas, a sword will bring it injury; Fear not, I'll heal it in my Victory: Was ever a gift like mine?
Simeon finds that for which many sought, Open, his hands receive what can’t be bought; My grace is never earned but only caught: Was ever a gift like mine?
The Magi seek me via shining star, Meet a heavenly Son, brighter by far Than all other treasure, one without par: Was ever a gift like mine?
Herod from his throne rules my land with might, But finds in my infancy cause for fright; Why, since his sins I have come to make white? Was ever a gift like mine?
My parents to Egypt with me fly, So as Israel I identify, That their wanderings I might rectify: Was ever a gift like mine?
Not only thirty years I'll be a man, My flesh is permanent, so that I can Be Advocate for an eternal span: Was ever a gift like mine?
With sufferers I come to sympathize, To take their pain and with them agonize; In me their High Priest they’ll soon recognize: Was ever a gift like mine?
Is this not why I’ve come? I’m born to die As ransom for many, their souls I’ll buy, That all wretchedness I might beautify: Was ever a gift like mine?
The tree of life I made, for man’s good; The cross of death men made, not knowing I would, As a carpenter’s son, trade wood for wood: Was ever a gift like mine?
So, as angels sang celestial chorus, Immanuel will be the most joyous Carol men will ever sing: "God with us!" Never was a gift like mine. |
礼物
来吧,凡劳苦担重担、卑贱和瞎眼的, 来吧,凡失丧的,就是所有人类, “是我,凡有眼的都必寻见”: 有何礼物像我?
除了生命的作者本身 还有谁会从高天降下? 进入我自己谱写的故事中: 有何礼物像我?
圣人只在朦胧中梦见过; 所谓爱和真理,哲学 但如今,一切终将在我之中得见: 有何礼物像我?
降为卑微, 我的屈辱成全了那更加壮丽的转变 我必高举最微小的: 有何礼物像我?
哦,听信毒蛇之言的夏娃啊, 挑起罪恶猩红之线的耻辱啊 将会结束——你的后裔要来击碎他的头: 有何礼物像我?
被天使从伊甸园驱逐的亚当, 如今他们听命于他的后裔 我,来修正世界的新亚当: 有何礼物像我?
万民因亚伯拉罕得福, 但如今?完成这福便是我的使命; 我来为他们披戴义袍: 有何礼物像我?
古老的树丕长出真枝条, 万王所供奉的那王; 而我为担罪付上极重的代价: 有何礼物像我?
预言说,王将诞生于伯利恒。 而我不止作王,还要作他们的粮仓, 舍身喂养他们: 有何礼物像我?
不要轻忽我的宗谱; 一切人类大灾难 是我为家族替罪的分: 有何礼物像我?
我拿走约瑟先祖的耻辱, 使其过失与我的美名相连, 所有的失败都因我完全: 有何礼物像我?
撒迦利亚传讲那将要来的晨光 从至高之神而来,给那黑暗中的灵魂 我的光,使凡人不朽: 有何礼物像我?
在伊利莎白的子宫里 从那修直我路的呼喊声中 门徒得以认识那真新郎: 有何礼物像我?
在寒冷中承载我身的马槽, 托住宇宙的那一位; 彰显圣诞的诸多荣耀! 有何礼物像我?
由童女生下,受生而非受造, 仍然是奇妙奥秘的启示: 罪人何以称为神的家属: 有何礼物像我?
牧羊人先听到, 我向他们宣布我的牧羊计划, 就是为首的牧羊人成为羊羔: 有何礼物像我?
马利亚的心是我儿时的至宝, 可叹,一把剑会将它刺伤; 别怕,我的得胜将医治它: 有何礼物像我?
西门找到了那众人所寻的, 伸开,他的手收到了那无价之宝; 我的恩典从不能赚取只能领受: 有何礼物像我?
博士在闪亮之星的带领下找到我, 寻到高天之子, 比其他宝藏更加在远处熠熠生辉,无暇无疵: 有何礼物像我?
希律王在宝座上带着权柄统治我的王国, 但却在我的诞生中战兢; 何必呢,我来是为将他的罪孽涂抹变白, 有何礼物像我?
父母带着我逃到埃及, 如同我民以色列, 我将结束他们的漂泊: 有何礼物像我?
我不止成为肉身三十年, 我的身体是永恒的, 做那永远的见证: 有何礼物像我?
我来怜悯苦难中的人, 拿走他们的痛苦和挣扎; 他们认出我是至高的大祭司: 有何礼物像我?
这难道不是我到来的理由吗?我向死而生 做多人的赎价,买赎他们的灵魂, 重写一切悲剧的结局: 有何礼物像我?
我为人的益处而造的生命树; 人所打造象征死亡的十字架, 木匠之子,以木换木 有何礼物像我?
所以,当天使高唱颂歌, 以马内利至高的喜乐 人们将永远高歌:“神与我们同在!” 没有礼物像我。 |
译:小芝麻;校:JFX。原文刊载于福音联盟英文网站:New Christmas Poem: 'The Gift'.