A Hymn to God the Father

(Ben Jonson)

Hear me, O God!

A broken heart
Is my best part.
Use still thy rod,
That I may prove
Therein thy Love.

If thou hadst not

Been stern to me,
But left me free,
I had forgot
Myself and thee.

For sin's so sweet,

As minds ill-bent
Rarely repent,
Until they meet
Their punishment.

Who more can crave

Than thou hast done?
That gav'st a Son,
To free a slave,
First made of nought;
With all since bought.

Sin, Death, and Hell

His glorious name
Quite overcame,
Yet I rebel
And slight the same.

But I'll come in

Before my loss
Me farther toss,
As sure to win
Under His cross.

1
Imn ctre Dumnezeu Tatl
Auzi strigtul meu, Doamne!
i durerea inimii,
Ultima mea
nc vie parte.
Adu nuiaua
mplinete-mi dragostea.

Dac n-ai fost

Aspru cu mine,
Am umblat liber,
Am uitat
De mine i de Tine.

Att de dulce e pcatul

nct mintea bolnav se-nclin
Prea rar cu vreun regret
nainte
De a-i primi pedeapsa.

Cine-ar striga
S cear mai mult?
Cci Fiul i-ai dat
Sclavului chezie,
Cel din nimic fcut
ntru totul vndut.

Peste Moarte, Iad i Pcat

Numele lui
Cu slav a triumfat,
i eu mpotriv
Orb revoltat.

Dar m ntorc
naintea cderii,
Cderii i pierderii;
Cred n victorie
Din umbra crucii.

Traducere Paul Mihalache