By loving forces silently surrounded,
I feel quite soothed, secure, and filled with grace.
So I would like to live these days together,
and go with you into another year.
Refrain:
By loving forces wonderfully sheltered,
we are awaiting fearlessly what comes.
God is with us at dusk and in the morningand most assuredly on ev’ry day
Still matters of the past are pressing our hearts
and evil days are weighing down on us.
Oh Lord, to our souls, so scared and sore,
give rescue, as it’s that you made us for.
Refrain:
And when you pass to us the bitter chalice
of suffering, filled to the brim and more,
we take it, full of thanks and trembling not,
from this, your caring and beloved hand.
Refrain:
But if you want to please us, over and again,
with our shining sun and wondrous world,
let us muse on what is past, and then we shall,
with our lives, in all belong to you.
Refrain:
Warm and bright be our candles’ flame today,
since into gloom you brought a gleaming light,
and lead again us, if you will, together!
We know it: you are beaming in the night.
Refrain:
When silence now will snow around us ev’rywhere,
so let us hear the all-embracing sound
of greater things than we can see and wider,
your world, and all your children’s soaring hail.
Refrain
위 찬송가는 디트리히 본회퍼 목사님이 1944년 겨울 옥중에서 쓴 마지막 시입니다. 독일 기독교 음악가인 지그프리트 피에츠사가 곡을 붙여서 부른 고백 찬송입니다.
4개월후 목사님은 히틀러에 반대했다는 이유로 투옥중 2 차대전 종전을 한달여 앞두고 4월9일에 교수형으로 39세 나이에 돌아가셨다고 합니다.
