所有美善力量～安慰之聲 - 潘霍華: "By gentle (gracious) Powers", As Powers of Good, " Von guten Mächten", Sibelius

這首充滿盼望的詩歌，卻是一位身陷囹圄、面臨死亡的囚犯潘霍華手中寫出，他無懼他所對抗的黑暗強權，因他知道上帝才是力量的源頭。他對盼望的信心，遠超越死亡的恐懼。

這首詩歌由林鴻信牧師翻譯成中文，受到許多人的喜愛，也鼓勵了在苦難中的人們，上帝的美善力量包圍著我們。不管生活中有多少苦難折磨，主的拯救必臨到受苦難驚嚇的心靈，祂的救恩成為樂歌。

所有美善力量～安慰之聲 - 潘霍華 – All the Powers of Good ~ Voices of Comfort - Bonhoeffer
中文翻譯: 林鴻信牧師 – Chinesische Übersetzung: Pastor Lin Hongxin

I'm sure this is the translation I was searching for a long time. It was described in an article I read weeks before. But I didn't get any answer, when I asked for it via mail ...

I found the text in the description of two special interpretations. There was somebody busy to get the best result in translating directly from the source.

You'll find these videos here:
   • 所有美善力量～安慰之聲  
   • 因神美善大能奇妙的遮蓋 基督之家第三家2020-2-9 第一堂詩班獻詩  

Did you know that there are more melodies to this hymn? On my channel I collected a bunch of serious ones, introducing them with musical sheets and presentations to sing along. Have a look to the playlist: "Dietrich Bonhoeffer - International" on my channel:    • Dietrich Bonhoeffer – International  

This melody by Jean Sibelius fits perfectly to this hymn, even it was not composed for it. There are other important hymns with this melody too. I introduce them on my channel es well.

There is also a new English translation with all seven stanzas:

WHY a new translation? In my opinion to fully “transport” the deep emotions of this poem a new translation was necessary. This impressive teaching close to death is an everlasting testimony of the strong faith even in the darkest night. Bonhoeffer’s legacy is a blessing to so many people round the world with its timeless message of hope and confidence.

The video presentations on YouTube make it clear: There is more than just one melody to this poem. The deep emotions and the situation just before Christmas 1944 want to resound in our soul together with a melody from the deepest bottom of our hearts. Listen to those melodies and read the video description with their important information to get a deeper understanding about the lyrics, the situation, the melodies and their background.

WHY is this translation named “By gentle Powers”? Dietrich Bonhoeffer wanted to describe the angels – they are mighty, powerful and gentle at the same – like Jesus is described as a lion and lamb. Grace is attributed only to God himself.

PLEASE THINK TWICE
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this poem just few months before he was executed by the Nazis after two years in prison. His powerful testimony about confidence in dark uncertain times is a journey with several important stops and different topics. If you only need special verses for an occasion, don't forget the other steps leading to the final goal. A refrain is missing in this presentation because it interrupts the journey too often. It is the final verse.
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This translation is free for the purpose of praising the Lord and spreading the gospel. Always include the ENTIRE English AND (if posswible) German text in the video description – and refer to this channel as its source! If you use this text, I would appreciate the link to the video...

IMPORTANT: Public use – performance or playback (e.g. on YouTube) – N O T combined with the melody by Siegfried Fietz!

Via e-mail you can also get free PDF sheet music I present on my channel (including Playlist "Songs for Life"). An information sheet is also being prepared in which I will present my thoughts on the choice of terms used in this translation. Feel free to order it.

© Eckhard & Sabine Becker, Hanauer Str. 9, 77855 Achern, Germany, e-mail: [email protected]


By gentle Powers faithfully surrounded,
protected wondrously, consoled by grace, -
that's how I long to live these days together,
close by your side, to start the coming year;

our hearts are tortured even now by evil days,
the burdens of the past are hard to bear,
Oh Lord, grant our scared souls the salvation,
therefore You have created us and saved.

And if you pass the heavy cup of suffering,
the bitter chalice, filled to the highest brim,
then we will take it, grateful without trembling
out of Your good and so beloved hand.

But if You will grant us once more the joy to see
this world, the splendor of its beaming sun,
then we will surely all the past remember
and our whole lives will be Yours alone.

Let warm and bright the candles flames light up today,
which You have brought in our gloomy times,
lead us together back again if that can be!
We know for sure, Your light shines through the night.

When now the silence spreads around, help us to hear
and listen to the full embracing sound
of this world, which unseen around is widening
to all Your children’s highest hymns of praise.

By gentle Powers wonderfully sheltered,
awaiting fearlessly what there will be.
God, he is near at dusk and in the morning
and with us certainly on each new day.


Feb 9, 2024



Feedback welcome also via e-mail to: [email protected]

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