頌詩譯選
當哲士們來自遠方
主啊，當哲士們來自遠方，
被明星引到你臥的槽旁，
牧人們同樣的喜樂歡欣，
聽從天使所指示的聲音；
哲士蒙福因他們的妙技，
牧人有他們無邪的意志。
哲士們是遵循着自然律
達至到理想的最高之因；
牧人們是用謙卑的敬畏
一路平安，雖然亮光低沉；
哲士們更明白行的道路，
誠實的心靈不至於迷途。
智慧並無可誇的，惟有愛，
（那也是牧人所作的奉獻）。
哲士們有知識一路經行，
牧人希奇終於走完歷程。
知道，只是能夠產生好奇，
不求知道是奇妙的種子。
哲士來俯伏在祭壇之前，
主悅納奉獻學術的誓願；
是湧自他內心生的敬畏，
不同於牧人所流的眼淚，
所發出疲勞微弱的讚嘆，
雖然是平凡豈遜於雄辯？
真的，在於目的分別成聖
所有從內心升發的熱誠；
但那眾因之因，萬果之果，
受造者總不得會晤曉明，
蒙主自己恩賜能夠知道，
也最能使造他的主喜悅。
當想到自我的缺乏貧窮，
會使我們憂傷無地自容，
當悲痛中我們抬頭仰望
肯承認自己淒慘的景況，
讓感恩和祈禱升達天上，
如此我們愛，雖不能知詳。
葛道奮（Sidney Godolphin, baptised 1610-1643）英國詩人，國會保王派議員。內戰時陣亡。
When the Wise Men Came from Far
Lord, when the wise men came from far,
Led to thy cradle by a star,
Then did the shepherds too rejoice,
Instructed by the angels' voice;
Blest were the wise men in their skill,
And shepherds in their harmless will.
Wise men in tracing nature's laws
Ascend unto the highest cause;
Shepherds with humble fearfulness
Walk safely, though their light be less;
Though wise men better know the way,
It seems no honest heart can stray.
There is no merit in the wise
But love (the shepherds' sacrifice).
Wise men, all ways of knowledge past,
To th' shepherds' wonder come at last;
To know, can only wonder breed,
And not to know, is wonder's seed.
A wise man at the altar bows
And offers up his studied vows
And is received; may not the tears
Which spring too from a shepherd's fears,
And sigh upon his frailty spent,
Though not distinct, be eloquent?
'Tis true, the object sancitifies
All passions which within us rise;
But since no creature comprehends
The cause of causes, end of ends,
He who himself vouchsafes to know
Best pleases his creator so.
When then our sorrows we apply
To our own wants and poverty,
When we look up in all distress
And our own misery confess,
Sending both thanks and prayers above,
Then though we do not know, we love.
Sidney Godolphin, baptised 1610-1643
English poet
