頌詩譯選

天使服役

凌風 譯

上天是否眷顧？是否有愛
在屬天的靈界對這低卑的受造者，
會對他們的邪惡憐憫？
曾有過，不堪的劣行
人更不如畜牲：噢，格外豐盛的宏恩
來自至高的神！如此的愛祂所造的，
對祂所有的工作普遍施慈仁，
差遣祂蒙福的天使上去下來，
服事祂邪惡的仇敵，服事邪惡的人！

多少次他們離開銀色的居所，
當我們需要拯援時赴援施拯！
多少次他們金色的翅膀掠過
諸天，如同飛翔的侍從，
幫助我們對抗惡魔的戰爭！
他們為我們奮戰，他們看守並保護，
他們光明的軍隊圍繞着我們安營；
全然是為了愛，並不在乎報賞，
噢，為甚麼天上的神對我們這樣看重！

The Ministry of Angels

And is there care in heaven? And is there love
In heavenly spirits to these creatures base,
That may compassion of their evils move?
There is:-- else much more wretched were the case
Of men than beasts: but O the exceeding grace
Of highest God! that loves his creatures so,
And all his works with mercy doth embrace,
That blessed angels he sends to and fro,
To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe!

How oft do they their silver bowers leave,
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant!
They for us fight, they watch, and duly ward,
And their bright squadrons round about us plant;
And all for love, and nothing for reward;
O, why should heavenly God to men have such regard!

Edmund Spenser（1552-1599）