ESAN
THA SHIOS CHA'N ION DA FIAMH
Gaelic
translation of John Bunyan's poem
in the Pilgrim's Progress
John
Bunyan was an English Puritan
minister born at Elstow, near
Bedford,
in 1628, his father's house "being of that rank that is meanest and most
despised of all the families in the land". As a boy he was given
instruction in reading and writing, but he was almost unparalleled for lying,
swearing and cursing. Although he at first felt much terror because of the
"wrath to come", in time he began to harden, so that even several
remarkable works of providence - which saved his life - left him spiritually
asleep. Mr Bunyan's father-in-law, however, was a devout and godly man
who had given to Mrs Bunyan two Christian books - "The Plain Man's Pathway
to Heaven", and "The Practice of Piety". John Bunyan
therefore began to seek after an outward holiness, but soon found he could not
give up his swearing and Sabbath-breaking, and he despaired of pardon from
God. Through the influence of a poor Christian man who befriended him he
began to read the Bible, and upon hearing the conversation of some godly women
at the door of a house in Bedford he was convinced of the reality of the work
of God in the heart, and that he did not yet know it. This was the turning
point of John Bunyan's life, and from then on he sought the Lord until with
great joy, he found the Christ who was crucified for sinners.
Esan
tha shios cha'n ion da fiamh,
Gun
tuit e chum an làir
Esan
tha iriosal ni Dia
A
dhion 'sna h-uile càs.
Le
m' chuibhrionn tha mi toilichte,
Ma's
beag no mòr a th'ann;
A's
deònaich dhomh do ghnà a bhi
A
chaoidh mar sin gach àm.
Ni's
leòir gu freasdal air am
feum-s'
A
théid air eilthireachd,
Ni
gann a bhos, ach pailteas shuas
'S
dualach dhaibh am feasd.
"Is
aithne dhomh bhi
ìosal, agus is aithne dhomh mar an ceudna pailteas a
mhealtuinn: anns gach àit, agus anns na h-uile nithean theagaisgeadh mi,
araon a bhi sàthach agus acrach, araon pailteas a shealbhachadh agus
uireasbhuidh fhulang. Is urrainn mi na h-uile nithean a dheanamh tre Chriosd a
neartaicheas mi." Philipianach
4:12, 13
"Biodh
'ur caithe-beatha gun sannt;
agus bithibh toilichte leis na nithean a tha làthair
agaibh: oir thubhairt e, Cha'n fhàg, agus cha tréig mi am feasd thu."
Eabhruidhich 13:5
English
original:
He
that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much;
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because thou savest such.
Fulness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.
"I
know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to
suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:12, 13
"Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5
