Hierte-Suk
The Storm Within
The speaker reflects on the turbulent, bitter emotions raging within their own heart.
When I am on the sea, O God, and the waves are breaking, I remember that there is a sea within me, right by the grave of my deep heart, where storms flash and thunder day and night. A pole is set for it, so no one knows how it boils within my breast, how it bubbles when I am warm with burning anger and wrath, how storms of worry move through the secret twists of my veins, where fear overwhelms me, where blood rushes through my soul, and where my pulse beats in my hand until my heart nearly melts. Then I see salty tears trickle from my eyes, showing me that spring which has its source in my breast—where it is salty, bitter, and sour, and how bad it tastes.
A Plea for Mercy
The speaker cries out to Jesus to be saved from their inner turmoil and to find rest in His gaze.
Then I sigh: O Jesus! Grant that the sea will not take my life with violence and bitterness; but if I must drown in a sea, then, sweet Jesus, let me die in the boat of your eyes. Amen.
The Breath of Praise
A final declaration that all living things are called to love the Lord.
Everything that has breath loves the Lord.
Read the original Latin
Naar jeg, O GUd paa Havet er Og Bølge-ryggen giennemskiær, Da kand jeg mig erindre, At i mig selv der er et Hav Ræt ved min dybe Hierte-grav Hvor sterke Storme tindre Og tunder om ved Dag og Nat, Endog en Stang der for er sat, Saa hver dog ikke kiender, Hvordan det ulmer i min Barm, Hvordan det pebler, naar jeg varm Af Harm og Vrede brender, Hvordan Bekymrings Storme gaae I mine Aarers lønlig Vraa, Hvor Frygt udi mig velter, Hvor Blodet rutter om min Aand, Hvor Pulsen pikker ved min Haand, Til Hiertet nesten smelter! Da seer jeg salte Taare-vand Igiennem Øyet trilde kand, At viise mig dend Kilde, Som i mit Bryst sin Udspring hâr, Hvor salt dend er, hvor suur og baêr, Og hvor dend smager ilde! Da sukker jeg: O JEsu! giv At Havet ikke skal mit Liv Med Vold og Grumhed stekke: Men skal jeg qvælis i en Søe, Da, søde JEsu, lad mig døe I Øynis Boode-bekke. AMEN
Alt det som haver Aande love HERREN.
Spiritual Songs (Selection) companion
Never lose the rhythm again
Chosen Portion delivers your morning, midday and night office to your phone — the Hours, without the bells.
Chosen Portion is a modern Book of Hours: it turns the fixed-hour structure this collection preserves into scheduled, tappable daily prayer on your phone.
- Three daily prayer moments scheduled around your real calendar, not a monastery's
- Psalms and historic prayers sequenced for you — no page-flipping or decision fatigue
- A visible streak of completed offices, so the rhythm compounds instead of collapsing