頌詩譯選

孩子們都已進來了嗎？

凌風 譯

夜晚臨近時我常回想
那一幢老屋建在山上，
那庭院寬廣百花綻放
孩子們自由的戲遊歡暢。

深黑的夜終於降臨，
歡笑也歸於低沉，
母親周圍巡視並且問說：
“孩子們都已進來了嗎？”

許多許多年已經過去，
那山上的老屋空庭
不再有孩子們的腳步響聲
一切都寂靜，那麼的寂靜。

但夜影伸展時我仍然看見，
雖然已經過了許多年
我能夠聽到母親的呼問：
“孩子們都已進來了嗎？”

我在想，如果夜幕落下
地上最後的日子過完，
當我們跟外面的世界道別再見，
完全倦於我們兒時的戲玩，

當我們面見那位愛孩子們的主 祂受死救他們脫離罪苦， 我們是否聽到祂像母親呼問： “孩子們都已進來了嗎？”

　　　　　佚名

Are All the Children In?

I think of times as the night draws nigh
Of an old house on the hill,
Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred
Where the children played at will.

And when deep night at last came down,
Hushing the merry din,
Mother would look all around and ask,
"Are all the children in?"

'Tis many and many a year since then,
And the old house on the hill
No longer echoes childish feet
And the yard is still, so still.

And I see it all as the shadows creep,
And tho’ many the years have been
Since then, I can hear my mother ask,
"Are all the children in?"

I wonder if, when those shadows fall
On the last short earthly day,
When we say good-bye to the world outside,
All tired of our childish play,

When we meet the Lover of boys and girls
Who died to save them from sin,
Will we hear Him ask as Mother did,
"Are all the children in?"

　　　　　　Anonymous