This book is all that’s left me now,
這本《圣經(jīng)》,媽媽留下的唯一紀(jì)念。
Tears will unbidden start,
每當(dāng)看見,禁不住淚水撲簌,
With faltering lip and throbbing brow
雙唇囁嚅,痛苦的心在悸動(dòng),
I press it to my heart.
珍惜萬分,我將它捧在心窩。
For many generations past
追溯滄桑歲月,不堪回首,
Here is our family tree;
龐大家庭樹,清晰的家族脈絡(luò),
My mother’s hands this Bible clasped,
相片上,媽媽將《圣經(jīng)》緊握,
She, dying, gave it me.
她永遠(yuǎn)離開了,將書留給我。
Ah! well do I remember those
??!我清晰記得,
Whose names these records bear;
《圣經(jīng)》上,那多鮮活過去,
Who round the hearthstone used to close,
壁爐邊,家庭聚集的氣息,
After the evening prayer,
晚間禱告后,每天熱烈話題,
And speak of what these pages said
報(bào)紙上,時(shí)事奇聞?shì)W事,
In tones my heart would thrill!
歷歷如目,觸手可及的震撼。
Though they are with the silent dead,
盡管,親人們?cè)缫阎x世,
Here are they living still!
宛如昨天,熱鬧非凡的場景。
My father read this holy book
爸爸大聲朗讀,這本《圣經(jīng)》,
To brothers, sisters, dear;
兄弟姐妹,依偎他的身旁,
How calm was my poor mother’s look,
窘困中的媽媽,神采飛揚(yáng),
Who loved God’s word to hear!
急切期盼,聆聽上帝聲音,
Her angel face,—I see it yet!
流水的日子,蜂擁而至,
What thronging memories come!
萬家燈火,難以磨滅的記憶,
Again that little group is met
生死重逢,
Within the walls of home!
我們?cè)俣认嘤觥?/p>
Thou truest friend man ever knew,
《圣經(jīng)》,我最信任的朋友,
Thy constancy I’ve tried;
那恒久的忠貞不渝。
When all were false, I found thee true,
即便世界,充滿謊言欺詐,
My counselor and guide.
唯一真誠的你,引我前行。
The mines of earth no treasures give
即便世界,所有金礦,
That could this volume buy;
亦無法,替代你的珍貴。
In teaching me the way to live,
上帝,它教我如何處世豁達(dá),
It taught me how to die.
《圣經(jīng)》,它教我怎樣直面生死。