Petter Dass once more - a hymn this time

The Second Song

Hallowed be Thy Name

To be sung to its own tune

Oh Mighty LORD! Thy precious name and glory

Throughout the world are its most famous story,

And every soul, and every thrall,

And mortals all shall tell withal

                  Thy glory.

Proper it is to hear, a thing of beauty,

That lips may call the praise of GOD their duty;

Th’abyss that glowers, the green-clad bowers

For Thy great power at every hour

                  Salute Thee.

And if folk shamefully should fail to render

All praise to GOD, forget His mercies tender,

Yet will the stones, and e’en dry bones

His pure name throne, at once make known

                  His splendour.

Yea, ere GOD all his glory shall surrender

Shall fearful whale and ocean homage render,

As ling and cod, so too their scrod,

Saithe by the squad more praise to God

                  Engender.

For GOD is GOD, though earth no fruits were giving,

And GOD is GOD, though mankind ceased from living,

Though folk should die, in heaven high

Hosts multiply, and cymbals ply

                  Thanksgiving.

Should e’er the LORD lack splendour or lack servants?

Behold, ten thousand keep a strict observance.

Ten thousand times ten thousand times

Are all their rhymes and sweetest chimes

                  Most fervent.

For at GOD’s name shall every knee be bending,

Both those who in high heaven life are spending

And those on earth, in south and north,

Likewise those cursed with trials henceforth

                  Unending.

High mountain and deep dale shall both expire,

The end of heav’n and earth too be entire,

Each rockface sheer shall disappear,

But prayers sincere to a thousand ears

                  Aspire.

And should the old be stiff and prone to sleeping,

Shall children in the womb GOD’s praise be keeping;

The dumb, the game, the blind, the lame

All do the same, so too those maimed

                  Or creeping.

I when myself from top to toe reviewing,

Find no limb’s claim can merit my eschewing,

Though fine they’re found as silken gown

All shall bow down, and sighs around

                  Be strewing.

But, oh mankind, can you believe this wholly?

Full due is giv’n to keeping GOD’s name holy,

If farmer, priest, on praise did feast

And then just ceased? Not in the least,

                  Not solely.

On earth we can’t the LORD’s name be revering

If we just nod and murmur words so cheering;

No, while alive, where’er you strive,

GOD’s word let shrive, and earthly lives

                  Be steering.

Make sure your light burns brightly and uncovered

That man your zeal and virtue can discover,

No lust embrace, but love and grace,

Devout and chaste until life’s space

                  Is over.

Hate all GOD in His word is also hating,

The excess that your life is vitiating,

Shun sin and flaws, obey GOD’s laws,

Make virtue yours, make zeal your cause

                  Elating.

But should you make sin’s broad path your endeavour,

And without shame yourself from virtue sever,

Then you are base, GOD’s name disgrace

His spirit chase, His realm deface

                  For ever.

But LORD! Prevent this plight that makes us quaver!

All that’s ungodly cause in us to waver!

That with full might we e’er may fight,

When time is right, with Thee delight

                  May savour!