Nature

Blest is the man whom the Lord’s hand

by Vítězslav Hálek 1835–1874

Translated by Joseph Štýbr (1920) · From Evening Songs (Večerní písně), trans. Štýbr (1920)

Nature

Blest is the man whom the Lord’s hand
As bard had consecrated;
He has looked into God’s decrees
And has men’s breasts well rated.

He knows what says the world’s great psalm
And what the birds are singing;
He understands the throbbing heart,
In tears, and with joy ringing.

What secret is to other men
Is open to his vision;
He is the leader of God’s race
To its long promised region.

He is the king of kingdoms vast,
The priest of men’s salvation,
And beauties’ treasures lie in him
Beyond all estimation.

MLA

Hálek, Vítězslav. “Blest is the man whom the Lord’s hand.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/56/.

Chicago

Hálek, Vítězslav. “Blest is the man whom the Lord’s hand.” Translated by Joseph Štýbr. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/halek/56/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Vítězslav Hálek