Dend XX. Sang. For Søefarende
A Prayer for the Voyage
The sailors invoke God's sovereignty as they depart, acknowledging the fragility of their vessel against the sea's power.
O great God and Lord, who can rule heaven, earth, and land, almighty over the dreadful waters of the sea, we now set out to sea at your word, to carry out our work and labor as we depart from land and earth. We raise our voices now for the breath of the wind, O God! Help us hold fast, so that the storm, the shock, and the fierce blasts of the sky don't send us to the grave in the wet belly of the sea. You know our ship's plank is barely three fingers wide, as the sea's waves batter it with force and fury. It's so slight, caught between the hollow of death and us, amid the storm's chill, with power piercing through.
God’s Mastery Over the Waters
Reflecting on biblical history, the poet recounts how God has historically protected His people and controlled the raging seas.
The first ark of the sea, which floated in the flood, You would cover Yourself, where sin and water surged with murkiness above the great abyss, while Noah lay and praised Your grace, O dear God. By Your grace, You have also led Your people safely through the waters of the sea and saved their souls. The Red Sea, with water upon water, You walled up, so that Pharaoh was lured into the slippery grave. Those who are about to venture out into deep waters will find that a thousand things on the shore bear witness to your mighty hands, which cover the entire sea and reign there alone. You can calm the raging sea with your finger, and tame the pride of the waves, which roar fiercely and threaten; you can, at a glance, stir up a storm, and with just a glance, raise a storm with swift force.
A Plea for Safe Passage and Final Harbor
The prayer concludes with a request for divine protection during the journey and a meditation on life as a voyage toward the harbor of heaven.
O God! We are like a small floating flock; let the waves carry us, and let your angels keep us always free from the dangers of the air, from the snare of the leviathan, in the perilous path of the sea. Let the weather and the wind guide us, Let fortune bend our sails And shape our actions, O God! May we not fail, But help us move forward, That we may step onto the land With gratitude and joy And come to our home. May we learn that our days are like a ship sailing on the waves of the sea, preparing us daily for our death until God leads us to the harbor and safety of heaven.
Read the original Latin
O store GUd og HErre, Som Himmel, Jord og Land Aldmægtig kand regiere, Ja Havets grumme Vand, Vi paa dit Ord Os nu til Søes begive, Vort Verk og Værv at drive Og gaar fra Land og Jord.
Vort Seyl vi nu ophidse For Vindens Puste-kast, GUd! hielp det selv at tridse Og holt derved saa fast, At Storm og Stød Og grumme Sky-kast ikke Skal os til Graven skikke I Havets vaade Skiød.
De veedst vor Skibe-planke Er næp tre Fingre breed, Som Havets Bølger banke Med Vold og Fyrighed: Saa lit og er Imellem Dødsens Hule Og os, om Stormens Kule Med Magt igiennemskiær.
Dend første Seyle-snekke, Som i Syndfloden flød, Du vilde selv tildekke, Der Synd og Vand sig skiød Med Grumhed ud Oppaa dend beged Kiiste, Da Noah laa og priiste Din Naade, Hierte Gud.
Du haver og af Naade Ført dine fordum vel Igiennem Havets Vaade, Og reddet deris Siæl! Det røde Hav Med Vand i Vand du mured, At Pharao blev lured Udi dend slibrig Grav.
De som endnu skal fare Ud paa de dybe Vand, Befinder obenbare, At tusind Ting i Strand De Vidne bær, At din’ aldmægtig Hænder Alt Havet overspender, Og hersker ene der.
De kanst med Fingren true Dend kaade bruse-søe, Og Bølgers Stolthed kue, Som skryde grumt og giøe; Du kand saa snart En Blik af Stormen giøre, Og af en Blik opføre En Storm med hastig Fart.
O GUd! de seer vi ere En liden Flyde-flok Lad Bølgens Huus os bære, Og lad din Engle-skok Os stedse fri Fra Luftens Fyrstis Fare, Fra Leviathans Snare, I Havets farlig Sti.
Lad Væir og Vind os føye, Lad Lykken i vort Seyl Og til vor Gierning bøye, O GUd! slae os ey feyl Men hielp os frem, At vi med Tak og Glæde Paa Lande-jorden træde Og kommer til vort Hiem.
Gid og vi kunde lære At vore Dage far, Som Skib der seylend’ ere I Havets Bølge-glar Vi mod vor Død Os daglig kand berede, Indtil GUd vil os lede I Himlens Havn og Skiød.
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