Tænk, at livet koster livet

In memory of our dear Danish correspondent, Hanna Broadbridge, who recently died while vacationing with family in Greece to celebrate fifty-five years of marriage, the opening song for the September issue is one of her favorites and was sung at her memorial service: "Tænk, at livet koster livet," a poem by Jørgen Gustava Brandt (1985), translated into English as "Life is what we pay for living."  The music in the YouTube video on the left is by Bent Frabricius-Bjerre (2009). The YouTube video on the right is the version composed by Ove Schmidt (1986), which is in The Danish Songbook (Song 14) and was sung for Hanna's service. 

1. Tænk, at livet koster livet! 
Det er altid samme pris.
Kom med glæde! Vær til stede! 
Tanken spreder øjets dis; 
rigt og bredt går livet ned
i evighed. 

2. Stjernestunder, livets under, 
luft og smag og syn er nyt! 
Blodet bruser, løvet suser, 
havets rum er højt og lydt! 
Mærk: alt liv går udad! - Giv!
For tro er liv. 

3. Høje himle fyldt med svimle 
fuglefløjt i morgenvind -
og i suset gennem huset 
jordisk balsam til mit sind. 
Fuglen i mit eget bryst 
må slå med lyst. 

4. Høje drømme! Dybe strømme 
gynger i hvert åndedrag, 
sangen svinger vide vinger
over jorden med Guds dag. 
Øjets glans er kroppens lys – 
føl livets gys! 

5. Leve livet! Ført af livet, 
som er ét i sjæl og krop, 
må vi sanse, må vi danse
glædens ord i spring og hop. 
Takke Gud med lovsangs lyd 
i salig fryd. 

6. Hver fornemmer, jeg'ets tremmer
rykkes ud i pause-ro.
Hvert et skridt, du tar så frit nu,
er identisk med din tro. 
Tyst i midten væksten står 
med livets vår.

7. Godt, at livet koster livet! 
Godt at synge dagens pris. 
Det er glæde, alt til stede,
i ét nu er paradis! 
Tørstende når roden ned 
i evighed.

1. Life is what we pay for living,
always is the price the same:
being present in the moment,
thinking as the eye takes aim:
richly, broadly life moves to
eternity.

2. Starlight wonder, standing under
sky and earth and all things new;
bloodstream rushing, sunrise blushing,
vast the oceans loud and blue.
Life flows outward, facing strife,
for faith is life.

3. Heaven winging, new day bringing,
birdsong in the morning air,
to the whisper of the vesper,
earthly balsam to my prayer.
while the bird within my heart
sings counterpart.

4. High the dreaming, deep the streaming,
filling ev’ry breath we take,
song outgoing, cheer bestowing,
God’s new day to earth awake.
Through the eye the body’s light
takes thrilling flight.

5. In the living we are giving,
soul and body one at heart,
may we sense life’s consequences,
dance the Word of His great art.
Thank our God in his employ
with grateful joy.

6. New arisen, freed from prison,
eager to attain the light!
Unforsaken, each step taken
is a step in faith outright:
silent flows the watercourse
from life’s true source.

7. Life is paid for best by living! 
Good to praise the daily price.
Joy when all things are thanksgiving, 
in this now comes paradise! 
Thirsting down, our roots can see 
eternity.