Vrijspraak, vertroosting en gebod

One of the poets-translators involved in the 1973 Dutch psalter-hymnal, Jan Wit, wrote the hymn “The Word That Called You Into Life.” It is no. 7 in the Liedboek voor de kerken and set to the melody of Psalm 113 in the Genevan psalter. Here is the final verse: “Rondom u klinkt de stem van God / Vrijspraak, vertroosting en gebod / Vlak voor u ligt de weg ten leven.”

In the spirit of the remarkable men who created this ecumenical hymnal, I tried to provide a translation that follows the rhyme and metre of the original poetry: “God’s voice resounding all around / Grace, pardon, comfort and command / Reveals a road truly life-giving.”

One of the translation challenges is the word ‘vrijspraak.’ Vrijspraak, to ‘speak free,’ means acquittal but that word is too narrowly legal for this context. I landed on “grace and pardon.” It would be better to find a single word, to reflect the Dutch line which so beautifully captures the three stages of the journey of the soul in faith: first, the announcement of forgiveness; then consolation through awareness of sin; and lastly, obedience to a higher law that comes from God. It is a familiar biblical pattern. By the way, Wit’s hymn follows Moses’ prophetic words in Deuteronomy 30, as some readers no doubt already suspected.

The life of a hymn

Hymns have their own lives even in translation. The early church hymn “Veni redemptor gentium” became “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland” with Luther; in Lift Up Your Hearts, it is “Saviour of the nations, come.” And in the Dutch hymnal? “Kom tot ons, de wereld wacht / Heiland, kom in onze nacht” – “Come to us, the world is waiting. . . ” To me, that translation (by J.W. Schulte Nordholt) is a jewel of imagination and simplicity. Isn’t our world waiting for the Word to come alive?

Hymns and poetic language are a refuge for the soul in troubled times. Dorothee Sölle wrote about revolutionary patience: “We have the stronger spirit.” Ingeborg Bachmann imagined, following Shakespeare, that “Bohemia lies by the sea.” Miron Białoszewski turned the theft of his stove by the Communist regime into a lighthearted wordplay. Thus, poetry offers a measure of freedom that at this unique moment in history is most welcome to me.

On a related note

There are still things I can only say in Dutch. There is open space in languages, and between languages: lost potential but also creative opportunity. Dutch does not lend itself well to solemnity or niceness but it is great for playfulness and satire, which are needed. Humour unfortunately does not always translate well and may unintentionally offend people, which has happened to me on occasion.

Brenda, Lydia and myself will soon relocate to the Netherlands for Brenda’s sabbatical. Lydia is happy to learn Dutch so that her parents cannot talk secrets anymore. Perhaps her parents will also learn to say new things. As we leave in the hope of coming back refreshed, we wish and pray that all who currently feel stuck hear the pardon, consolation and new direction that only the one Word can provide.