昨日聖歌136番のことを書いた。実は、昨日、以前、練馬にいたときにともに教会にお仕えした宣教師のご夫妻からのクリスマスの手紙をいただき、この讃美歌のことが記されていたのである。そこには、「原詩における1節から4節のリフレインが、5節にいたって変化していることに感動して賛美しました」ということが記されていた。ここに原詩を載せてみる。
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
Author: E. S. Elliot (1864)
Tune: MARGARET (Matthews)
1 Thou didst leave Thy thrown and Thy kingly crown
When Thou camest to earth for me,
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But in lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest,
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.
4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
Thy cross is my only plea.
5 When heaven's shall ring, and the angels sing
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee"
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.
この賛美歌の翻訳版の聖歌136と讃美歌124（新聖歌100）の歌詞のちがいについて。
原詩1節は聖歌1節、讃美歌1節と対応し、
原詩2節は聖歌2節、讃美歌2節と対応する。
原詩3節は讃美歌3節と対応するが、聖歌には対応節はない。
原詩4節は聖歌3節と讃美歌4節と対応する。
原詩5節は聖歌4節と対応するが讃美歌は対応節がない。
したがって、讃美歌124に聖歌4節を加えて歌えば一応内容が尽くせる。
聖歌136の4節は以下の通り。
天つ国の門は開き 迎えらるる時に
宣らせたまえ 「ここに汝が住まう家あり」と
さらば わが心は喜びにあふれん
モーリス＆ベティ・ジェイコブセン先生ご夫妻への返事
Dear Morris and Betty Jacobsen sensei
Thank you for your beautiful Christmas letter.
This hymn"Thou didst leave the throne" was Betty's favorite one, I think.
We have become so easily moved to tears because of age
that we cannot sing it without tears.I was especially moved by your explanation of the change of the refrain. The change is very impressive and the grace of Jesus flows into my heart deeply.
I am remembering the Christmas days when we served Oizumi Bible Church together.Thank you again for your love and patience in those days.
Please have a blessed Christmas and a happy new year.
in Jesus
Shuji and Kozue Mizukusa
