jeruzalem 1

Jeruzalem, mijn vaderstad... 

is een lied over de eindtijd. 

Het is gebaseerd op een oud lied... 

dat in sommige bronnen wordt toegeschreven aan Francis Baker. 

De vertaling en bewerking is van Willem Barnard (1920-2010). 

Jerusalem, my happy home,

when shall I come to thee?

When shall my sorrows have an end?

Thy joys, when shall I see?

O happy harbour of the saints!

O sweet and pleasant soil!

In thee, no sorrow may be found,

No grief, no care, no toil.

Thy walls are all of precious stone,

Thy bulwarks [bolwerken] diamonds square,

Thy gates are of right orient pearl,

Exceeding rich and rare.

Thy turrets [torentjes] and thy pinnacles

With carbuncles do shine

Thy very streets are paved with gold

Surpassing clear and fine.

Thy vineyards and thy orchards are

Most beautiful and fair,

Full furnished with trees and fruits

Most wonderful and rare.

Thy gardens and thy gallant walks

Continually are green,

There grow such sweet and pleasant flowers

As nowhere else are seen.

Quite through the streets with silver sound,

The flood of life doth flow,

Upon whose banks on every side

The wood of life doth grow.

Thy saints are crowned with glory great,

they see God face to face,

they triumph still, they still rejoice

most happy is their case.

There, David stands, with harp in hand,

as master of the choir:

ten thousand times that man were blessed

that might this music hear.

Our Lady sings Magnificat

with tune surpassing sweet,

and all the virgins bear [dragen] their part,

sitting at her feet.

There Magdalen hath left her moan,

and cheerfully doth sing

with blessèd saints, whose harmony

in every street doth ring.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

God grant that I may see

thine endless joy, and of the same

partaker ever be!