A great hymn from the Danish master - Thomas Kingo (1634-1703)

To each his destiny

Sorrow and joy hand in hand go together,

                  Fortune, misfortune as neighbours do dwell,

Luck and adversity call to each other

                  Sunshine and clouds are companions as well.

                                    Earth’s brightest gold

                                    Is but fine mould,

Heaven alone is where bliss can unfold.

Gold crown and sceptre they sparkle and glitter,

                  Glitter is not, though, what royal robes imply.

Thousands of burdens a crown’s weight embitter,

                  Thousandfold cares in a sceptre’s power lie.

                                    Life for a king

                                    Unrest will bring

Heaven alone can give bliss without sting.

Everything’s fortune is waxing and waning!

                  Everyone finds his own grief in his heart!

Often a breast, though bejewelled, is complaining,

                  Weighed down by woe and by rage torn apart!

                                    Trials we have all,

                                    Some large, some small,

Heaven alone is where cares cannot gall.

Wisdom, dominion and temporal glory,

                  Vigour and youth in the years of our prime,

Hold their head high, but the end of the story

                  Is that they perish when ravished by time!

                                    All things must end

                                    None can contend

Heavenly bliss can alone all transcend!

Fairest of roses have sharp thorns aquiver,

                  Loveliest flowers their poisonous sap,

’Neath rosy cheeks can a heart always wither,

                  Strange how a destiny each does enwrap!

                                    As storm-tossed boat,

                                    Our land’s afloat,

Heaven alone all sweet bliss does promote.

Well then! No worry shall me overpower

                  Should the world not do as I’d have prevail!

No tribulation shall cause me to cower

                  Nothing shall cause my heart ever to fail!

                                    Sorrow shall die,

                                    Joy’s seeds on high

On heaven’s isle of pure bliss multiply.

Fear shall give rise to a joy that’s enduring,

                  Agony’s distaff from tufts spin fine thread!

Poverty rich robes shall make most alluring,

                  Weakness on sound legs shall rise from his bed!

                                    Envy shall stand

                                    Cornered, unmanned,

Heaven alone all of this can command!

Let then my fate and my fortune be fashioned

                  As does my LORD and my MASTER desire,

Let no spite reign, nor no envious passion,

                  Let but the world do as it would conspire!

                                    Time’s loom will stare

                                    Empty and bare,

Heaven will weave all that is to be there.