Christian Hymn te’ tangthu: Topa, Nang Ka Vision Hi In

Be Thou My Vision (Paunak 29:18)
8th century kiima Irish hymn
Irish Melody
Translated by Mary E. Byrne (1880-1931)
Arrangement: Norman Johnson (1928-1983)
Versified by Eleanor H. Hull (1860-1935)

A phuak kua lian hiam cih a kithei lo hih Irish hymn “Topa, Nang Ka Vision Hi In” (Be Thou My Vision) in vantung pan lamlahna leh Pasian ompihna tatsat lo-a i kisap lam hong lak hi. A la paidan bel “Celtic style” a kicite ahi hi. “Celtic” i cih bel Europe gam nitumna lama tanglai minam khat hi a, Romante a tun ma-in Britain gamah pawlkhat teng uh hi. Ireland, Wales, Scotland leh Cornwell/Britanny a tua mite’ suan leh khakte kigenna ahi hi. Pasian a lawhna min tuamtuamte i et ciangin laphuakpa in Pasian a thupi ngaihsutna kilang hi: Vision, Lord, Best Thought, Wisdom, Word, Great Father, High King, Inheritance, Treasure, Sun, Ruler, le heart cihbangin kimu thei hi. Tuni-a i sak hih la “Topa, Nang Ka Vision Hi In” sunga kihel nawn lo taang khat bangah Pasian a muanna hibangin na pulaak hi.

• Be Thou my breast-plate, my sword for the fight,
• Be Thou my armour, and be Thou my might;
• Thou my soul’s shelter, and Thou my high tower,
• Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my Power.

Mary Byrne in tanglai Irish poem panin Mangkamin a thu teikhia-a, 1905 kuma kikhen Erin, Volume Two sungah kisuaksak hi. La-a kitei hi lo-a a thu bek a kitei ahi hi. Eleanor H. Hull in tua la-thu bulphuh-in la-in phuaka 1912 kuma kikhen Poem Book of the Gael kici labu sungah kihel hi. Hih la-aw “Slane” bel 1909 kuma kikhen Patrick W. Joyce’ kaihkhop Old Irish Folk Music and Song labu sung pana kila Irish traditional la-awte khat ahi hi. A tungin “With My Love on the Road” kici leitung la khat tawh kisa masa hi.

Mary Elizabeth Byrne bel Ireland gam Dublin ah 1880 kuma suak ahi hi. University of Dublin ah pilna sin hi. Ama’ tenna khua ah the Board for Intermediate Education ah research worker leh writer sem hi. Old and Middle Irish Dictionary leh Dictionary of the Irish Language te a kibawlna ah nakpi-in pang hi.

Eleanor H. Hull bel England gam Manchester ah January 15, 1860 ni-in suaka, Irish Text Society a phuankhianu ahi hi. London khuapi-a Irish Literary Society ah president sem ngei hi. Irish tangthu leh lai thu tawh kisai-in laibu bu 7 gelh ngei hi.

I nuntakna ah vision thupi mahmah takpi hi. Thugensiam khat bangin vision a thupina hibangin gen ngei hi:

• A vision without a task is a dream;
• A task without a vision is drudgery;
• A vision with a task is the hope of the world.
• Missionary nasepna ah vision a thupina thugensiam dang khat in hici gen hi:
• Only vison makes a visionary.
• Only Wisdom makes a wiseacre.
• A vision without a task makes a visionary.
• A task without a vision is drudgery.
• A vision with a task makes a missionary. [N. G. Dunning, Samuel Chadwick (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1934), 15].

Mi khat gual tungtuanga gualzawhna a ngah nadingin “vision” neih ding a thupipen ahi hi. Hih thu in tuikulh khat-a teng a khangto nai het lo minam khatte’ kiangah khedap zuak dinga kisawl mi nih hong phawksak hi. A masa pa in “Hong ciahkik pah ning. Hih lai-ah khedap bulh khat zong om lo hi” ci-in sikkhau sat hi. A lawmpa in, “A manlang theithei-in khedap a tam theithei hong puak un. Hih lai-ah khedap bulh khat zong om lo hi” ci-in sikkhau sat kik hi.

Thu-ummite zong “vision” tawh a nungta mite i hi hi: “… i upna a piangsakpa le a hoihkimsakpa Jesu mitsuan gige” (Hebrews 12:2 ZIV) a nungta mite i hi hi.

Rev. Zam Khat Kham
Christian Hymn te’ tangthu 2005