Saturday, December 29, 2018

Desert sinful, worldly — Пустыней Греховной Земной


I initially wrote this one off because Simon did not have English lyrics and it was not something that I immediately understood.  However, Simon has since added English lyrics and I have seen that this video has garnered many, many views in the last 6 or 7 months.  Thus I thought it was time to give it another, closer look.


1.
Пустыней греховной, земной,
Pustyney grekhovnoy, zemnoy,
[Through the] desert sinful, worldly,
Где неправды гнетущий обман,
Gde nepravdy gnetushchiy obman,
Where [is] not-truth oppressive deceit  (Where is the oppressive deceit of falsehood)
Я к Отчизне иду неземной
YA k Otchizne idu nezemnoy
I to Fatherland go ethereal (or unearthly)
По кровавым следам христиан.
Po krovavym sledam khristian.
Along [the] bloody tracks [of] Christians.

Припев — chorus
В край родной, неземной
V kray rodnoy, nezemnoy
To [the] land native, ethereal
От обмана мирской суеты
Ot obmana mirskoy suyety
From deceitful [of] worldly vanity
Я иду и приду
YA idu i pridu
I go and shall come
К незакатному солнцу любви.
K nezakatnomu solntsu lyubvi.
To [the] unsetting sun [of] love.

2.
Темнеет вечерняя мгла,
Temneyet vechernyaya mgla,
Darkens evening mist (The evening mist darkens)
Длится тяжкий и скорбный мой путь,
Dlitsya tyazhkiy i skorbnyy moy put',
Continues sore and mournful my way,  (Continues my sore & mournful way)
Но не гаснет надежда моя:
No ne gasnet nadezhda moya:
But not go out hope mine:
Я в Отчизне моей отдохну.
YA v Otchizne moyey otdokhnu.
I in Fatherland mine will rest.

        Припев — chorus

3.
Иди же смелее вперед
Idi zhe smeleye vpered
Go then bold ahead
За Христом, не пугаясь врага,
Za Khristom, ne pugayas' vraga,
After Christ, not fearing [the] foe,
Скоро кончится путь наш земной,
Skoro konchitsya put' nash zemnoy,
Soon ends path ours earthly,
Засияют Сиона врата.
Zasiyayut Siona vrata.
Will shine Zion's gates.

       Припев — chorus

4.  Not sung----
Ведь там ожидают меня
Ved' tam ozhidayut menya
After all there [they] epect me
Все омытые кровью Христа,
Vsye omytyye krov'yu Khrista,
All [who are] washed [by] blood [of] Christ,
Они встретят, любовью горя,
Oni vstretyat, lyubov'yu gorya,
They will meet, [with] love burning
Пилигрима усталой земли.
Piligrima ustaloy zemli.
Pilgrims of [the] weary earth.







Friday, December 28, 2018

Happy Childhood — Счастливое Детство





1.
За счастливое детство на свете
Za schastlivoye detstvo na svete
For [a] happy childhood on earth
(or childhood in [the] light, light being figuretive for the world)
Я Христу благодарность несу
YA Khristu blagodarnost' nesu
I [to] Christ thanks bring
Что хранил он меня с папой вместе
Chto khranil on menya s papoy vmeste
That kept He me with Papa together
Поклонюся я низко ему
Poklonyusya ya nizko yemu
Bow myself I low [to] Him.

2.
Но есть много детей безпризорных
No yest' mnogo detey bezprizornykh
But there are many children without overseers/oversight,
Лишены всех родительских благ
Lisheny vsekh roditel'skikh blag
Deprived of all parental good
И ютятся в ущельях убогих
I yutyatsya v ushchel'yakh ubogikh
And huddle in ravines miserable/poor
слёзы часто текут из их глаз
slozy chasto tekut iz ikh glaz
tears often flow from their eyes.

3.
Но меня мой Спаситель избавил
No menya moy Spasitel' izbavil
But me my Savior delivered / saved
От сиротской и горькой судьбы
Ot sirotskoy i gor'koy sud'by
From orphan and bitter destiny
Счастъе в жизни моей Он прибавил
Schast"ye v zhizni moyey On pribavil
Happiness in life [of] mine He increased
Жить у папиной славной груди
Zhit' u papinoy slavnoy grudi
To live at father's glorious side.


Another version of the same song, this time sung by
children of the Slavic Trinity Church, Sacramento, CA






Take Me — Возьми Меня



Simon does include English lyrics below the Russian lyrics, but they are not close to what the Russian says at all.  (At least as of 10:45am 28-Dec-18—he did just release the video this morning.)  Thus this attempt at word-for-word translation is very important to Simon's English speaking followers.


1.
Возьми меня отныне и впереди
Voz'mi menya otnyne i vperedi
Take me henceforth and onwards/ahead
По жизненной долине, Господь, веди!
Po zhiznennoy doline, Gospod', vedi!
Along life's valley, Lord, lead!
Не мог бы я тропою Твоей идти,
Ne mog by ya tropoyu Tvoyey idti,
Not able would I [the] trail [of] Yours to walk,
Но если Ты со мною, я тверд в пути.
No yesli Ty so mnoyu, ya tverd v puti.
But if You [are] with me, I [am] steadfast on [the] path.

2.
Даруй Ты сердцу радость во всёх скорбях;
Daruy Ty serdtsu radost' vo vsyokh skorbyakh;
Give [the] heart joy in all troubles;
Дай чувствовать мне сладость в Твоих словах;
Day chuvstvovat' mne sladost' v Tvoikh slovakh;
Let feel me sweetness in Your words;  (let me feel sweetness)
Святую веры твердость в меня вдохни
Svyatuyu very tverdost' v menya vdokhni
Holy faith steadfastness in me infill/inbreathe (breathe into me holy steadfastness of faith)
И духа злую гордость Ты изгони.
I dukha zluyu gordost' Ty izgoni.
And spirit wicked pride cast out. (and cast out wicked pride of spirit)

3.
Когда же в смертном теле надежды нет,
Kogda zhe v smertnom tele nadezhdy net,
When in mortal body forward hope not
(Ie, “when in the mortal body [there is] no hope”)
Направь меня Ты к цели чрез тьму и свет.
Naprav' menya Ty k tseli chrez t'mu i svet.
Direct me You to [the] goal through darkness and light.
(Ie, Direct me to the goal through....)
Возьми меня отныне и впереди
Voz'mi menya otnyne i vperedi
Take me henceforth and onwards/ahead
По жизненной долине, Господь, веди!
Po zhiznennoy doline, Gospod', vedi!
Along life's valley, Lord, lead!


Additional Note:
The last scene along the beach with the shipwreck in the surf and the sand is The Wreck of the Peter Iredale in Oregon.  See this link for more information.

The Peter Iredale Wreck on the beach at Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon.



Wednesday, December 19, 2018

God Called Fire Upon

"To Sit and Dream"Copyright Louisiana Dreams & Beyond Photography by Sherry Lynn 2018




God called fire upon the water at the end of day:
  A fire of joy to celebrate, commemorate;
     A fire of thousand blessings bundled into twilight spray—
        To show His love and then His promise demonstrate
That though day ends and night descends and wends its way,
His watchful eye on earth and those He loves will stay.
      Thus peaceful rest now till that Promised Coming Day.

- D. Benning

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Mother's Prayer — Молитва Матери




Simon prefaced this video with these words:
   Хотя порой нам так не кажется, но однажды рядом с нами уже не будет тех, кого мы любим и ценим. Пусть эта песня вдохновит каждого из нас уважать, почитать и дорожить теми людьми, которыми Бог окружил нас.
  
   Although sometimes we do not think so, but one day those whom we love and appreciate will not be there around us. Let this song inspire each of us to respect, honor and cherish the people with whom God has surrounded us.
 Note: the lyrics as Simon listed them on the youtube channel are a little different than he actually sings them—especially in the choruses.


1.
Во дни прекрасной юности не знал я суеты.
Vo dni prekrasnoy yunosti ne znal ya suyety.
In [the] days [of] beautiful youth not know I fuss / bustle

Не знал забот, Не знал хлопот с утра и до зари,
Ne znal zabot, Ne znal khlopot s utra i do zari,
Not know worries, Not know trouble from morning unto dawn,

Ни о чём я не заботился, по воле своей жил,
Ni o chyom ya ne zabotilsya, po vole svoyey zhil,
Not about anything I not cared, by will [of] my own [I] lived

А скорбь о мне сжимала грудь у матери моей. 
A skorb' o mne szhimala grud' u materi moyey.
And griefs over me squeezed [the] chest [of] mother mine.

2.
Ходил путями помыслов, о Боге не мечтал -
Khodil putyami pomyslov, o Boge ne mechtal -
[I] walked [the] paths [of] intentions, about God not desired —

Своей любимой матери тем скорби причинял.
Svoyey lyubimoy materi tem skorbi prichinyal.
My beloved mother those griefs [I] caused.

Но сердце в ней любимое молилось в эти дни,
No serdtse v ney lyubimoye molilos' v eti dni,
But heart in her beloved prayed in those days
   (Ie, but her beloved heart prayed in those days)

И слышал имя я свое в молитве матери.
I slyshal imya ya svoye v molitve materi.
And heard name I mine in prayer [of] mother.


    
Припев
::,: В молитве матери:,:
     V molitve materi
     In [the] prayer [of] mother

Я имя услыхал свое,
YA imya uslykhal svoye
I name heard my own
   (Ie, I heard my name)

В молитве матери.
V molitve materi.
In [the] prayer [of] mother



3.
В часы моих весёлых дней звучал мне глас любви:
V chasy moikh vesyolykh dney zvuchal mne glas lyubvi:
In [the] hours [of] lighthearted days sounded [out to] me [the] voice [of] love:

"Смотри, сын мой, не забывай молитву матери,
"Smotri, syn moy, ne zabyvay molitvu materi,
"Look, son [of] mine, not forget prayer [of] mother,

Беги греха, не делай зла, храни себя, храни!"
Begi grekha, ne delay zla, khrani sebya, khrani!"
Flee sin, not do evil, keep yourself, keep!

Вновь слышал имя я свое в молитве матери.
Vnov' slyshal imya ya svoye v molitve materi.
Once more heard name I mine in [the] prayer [of] mother.


4.
То сердце, полное любви, почило уж давно,
To serdtse, polnoye lyubvi, pochilo uzh davno,
That heart, full [of] love, asleep already long ago,

А глас ее в душе моей твердит мне об одном:
A glas yeye v dushe moyey tverdit mne ob odnom:
But voice [of] hers in soul [of] mine repeats/insists [to] me about one [thing]:

"Беги греха, не делай зла и с Господом живи!"
"Begi grekha, ne delay zla i s Gospodom zhivi!"
"Flee sin, not do evil, and with [the] Lord live!"

И слышу имя я свое в молитве матери.
I slyshu imya ya svoye v molitve materi.
And heard name I mine in prayer [of] mother.


      Припев:     3x
     



5.
Теперь нашел я у креста спасенье для души.
Teper' nashel ya u kresta spasen'ye dlya dushi.
Now found I at [the] cross salvation for [my] soul.

Сложил грехи у ног Христа, молясь Ему в тиши.
Slozhil grekhi u nog Khrista, molyas' Yemu v tishi.
Lay down sin at feet [of] Christ, praying [to] Him in silence (ie, quietly).

И счастие спасения, и луч святой зари
I schastiye spaseniya, i luch svyatoy zari
And happiness of salvation, and beam [of] holy dawn

Пролил Христос на разум мой молитвой матери.
Prolil Khristos na razum moy molitvoy materi.
Shed Christ on mind [of] mine [by the] prayer [of] mother.



      Припев:   
     



BACK TO INDEX

Updated: 26-Apr-2020   
       

Monday, December 17, 2018

Confession — Исповедь


Written by Larisa Reshetova
     (See also: "Placing The Golden Crown — Сложив Златой Венец")

Я Тебя так часто огорчал
YA Tebya tak chasto ogorchal
I You so often grieved
В неудачах небо обвинял
V neudachakh nebo obvinyal
In failures heaven blamed
Ты ж в любви склонялся надо мной
Ty zh v lyubvi sklonyalsya nado mnoy
You in love leaned over me
Отче добрый мой
Otche dobryy moy
Father good [of] mine.

       Chorus—
     Услыши, Боже, исповедь мою
     Uslyshi, Bozhe, ispoved' moyu
     Hear, O God, confession [of] mine
     Тебе я тяжкий грех свой изолью
     Tebe ya tyazhkiy grekh svoy izol'yu
     [To] You I grave sins [of] mine will pour out
     Сойди ко мне с высот
     Soydi ko mne s vysot
     Descend to me from heights
     Богатых солнечных красот
     Bogatykh solnechnykh krasot
     Rich/plentiful sunny beauties
     Тебе я исповедаю грехи
     Tebe ya ispovedayu grekhi
     To You I confess sins
     Ты выслушай меня и всё прости,
     Ty vyslushay menya i vsyo prosti,
     You listen [to] me and all let pass / ie, forgive,
     Ты выслушай меня и всё прости.
     Ty vyslushay menya i vsyo prosti.
     You listen [to] me and all let pass / ie, forgive.


Не достоин пред Тобой стоять
Ne dostoin pred Toboy stoyat'
Not worthy before Your to stand
И в молитве голову склонять
I v molitve golovu sklonyat'
And in prayer head bow
Но я слышу голос в тишине:
No ya slyshu golos v tishine:
But I hear [a] voice in silence
Друг, прийди ко мне!
Drug, priydi ko mne!
Friend, incline/come to me!

       Chorus—

Simon includes this verse in the youtube notes, but he does not sing it:
В тишине склоняю пред Тобой,
V tishine sklonyayu pred Toboy,
In silence [I] bow before You
Голову и дух усталый мой
Golovu i dukh ustalyy moy
Head and spirit tired mine
Сердце чистое создай во мне
Serdtse chistoye sozday vo mne
Heart pure create in me
Вознеси к Себе.
Voznesi k Sebe.
Take [it] to Yourself.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Words at the video's ending:
"Придите ко Мне все труждающиеся и обремененные, и Я успокою вас"
Матфея 11:28

"И найдете покой душам вашим; Ибо иго Мое благо, и время Мое легко."

"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"
Matthew 11:28

"And you will find rest for your souls; For My yoke is good, and my time is easy."


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

After Simon posted this on youtube (May 31, 2018), Larisa Reshetova, the composer, wrote:
Приветствую, Симон! Благодарю тебя за исполнение этой песни. Я не увидела и не услышала никакого артистического лицемерия... Напротив, ты и девочки, исполняющие вокал,  прониклись духом глубокого смирения перед Господом, и смогли это выразить своими голосами. Видео, аудио и содержание песни гармонируют, - это редкость, и у тебя получилось. Думаю, эта песня коснется очень многих сердец... Лично у меня - мурашки по коже и слезы на глазах, а в сердце - молитва... молитва... молитва...
Greetings, Simon! Thank you for performing this song. I didn’t see and didn’t hear any artistic hypocrisy ... On the contrary, you and the girls performing the vocals were filled with the spirit of deep humility before the Lord, and were able to express it with your voices. Video, audio and content of the song are in harmony, - this is rare, and you did it. I think this song will touch so many hearts ... Personally, I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes, and a prayer in my heart ... a prayer ... a prayer ...

Shortly afterwards, Simon replied:
Larisa Reshetova, Приветствую! Очень ждал, чтобы вы прокомментировали😀. Спасибо за добрые слова!  Ваши мелодии особенные, они не стоят на месте, а взлетают. Уже полгода  прошло как было первое желание исполнить эту песню, но вот, судьба закрутила😁 .
Larisa Reshetova, Greetings! I was waiting for you to comment 😀. Thank you for the kind words! Your melodies are special, they do not stand still, but take off. Already half a year has passed since the first desire to perform this song was, but here, fate twirled 😁.

Larisa responded:
Может быть, дело не в судьбе, а во времени. Всему свое время, как ты выразился в своем комментарии: время петь мажоры, и время петь миноры. Для исполнения любой песни должен быть соответствующий внутренний мир. Вот теперь пришло время и для "Исповеди".
Maybe it's not fate, but in time. Everything has its time, as you put it in your comment: time to sing the majors, and time to sing the minor. For the performance of any song must be an appropriate inner world. Now the time has come for "Confession."

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Wonderful and Marvelous — Велики и чудны

Велики и чудны дела Твои,
Veliki i chudny dela Tvoi,
Great  and marvelous [are] works [of] Yours,
Господи, Боже Вседержитель.
Gospodi, Bozhe Vsederzhitel'.
Lord, God All-mighty.  
Праведны и истинны пути Твои,
Pravedny i istinny puti Tvoi,
Righteous and true [are] ways [of Yours, 
Царь Святых.
Tsar' Svyatykh.
King [of] saints.
 
Кто не убоится не прославит Тебя,
Kto ne uboitsya he proslavit Tebya,
Who not fear [and] not glorify You, 
Ибо Ты Един Свят.
Ibo Ty Yedin Svyat.
For You Alone [are] Holy. 
Все народы преклонятся пред Тобой,
Vsye narody preklonyatsya pred Toboi,
All nations will bow themselves before You, 
Ибо Ты Един Свят.
For You Alone [are] Holy.
Все народы преклонятся пред Тобой,


     Свят, Свят,
     Svyat, svyat,
     Holy, holy, 
     Ты Един Свят,
     Ty Yedin svyat,
     You Alone [are] holy, 
     Свят, Свят,
     Svyat, svyat,
     Holy, holy, 
     Ты Един Свят,
     Ty Yedin svyat,
     You Alone [are] holy.
 
 
 
NOTE: Simon and the brothers filmed this at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Oregon. 





Interesting fact about the Russian language:
      Свят (Svyat) is Russian for holy
      Свет (Svyet) is Russian for light
Yes, they are related! And that makes complete sense since He who dwells in unapproachable Light should be most Holy—in fact, the thrice Holy God!

Saturday, November 24, 2018

My Home In Heaven

Simon wrote:
Я всегда знал, что раньше или позже я должен буду сделать видео на эту тему. Уровень жизни в наше время так высок, что иногда кажется, что тот период времени просто выдумка. Но это не так. Я благодарен Богу, что сегодня никто не отнимает мою жизнь за веру в Иисуса Христа. Но будем ли мы готовы сделать это, если потребуется?

I always knew that sooner or later I would have to make a video on this topic. The standard of living in our time is so high that sometimes it seems that that [this] period of time is just an invention. But it is not. I am grateful to God that today no one takes my life for believing in Jesus Christ. But will we be ready to do this if necessary?





My home in Heaven beyond the clouds here,
Is where new life starts—eternal days;
There friends and fam'ly will gather with us
To sing the Father our songs of praise.

As in a storm then a sailor seeks rest
A quiet place then his boat to dock;
So my heart longs for the dwelling of light
Where rest awaits us 'neath this strong Rock.


       O home of Heaven, O how I long for,
       So that etern'lly I'll live within;
       And there will be God whom I will praise then
       And in His light serve Christ without sin.
  

Eternal homeland, O pleasant country!
There will my spirit see my Dear Friend,
Who on Golgotha for our sins suffered
And reconciled us—world without end!

The sor'ws of bitter tears we pour not now,
For evermore then the glory sing!
Illness and parting and tears forgotten—
All swept away on that Heav'nly wing!




A Listener's Comment:
Мой отец был приговорен к 25 годам в Гулаг за то что проповедывал Христа. Его взяли прямо со школы, где он был директором, в Барнауле,где и моя мама учительствовала, и только один ученик со школы случайно увидел как Андрея Петровича Горетого, по НКВД кличке «Небесный Огородник», увезли в черном воронке. Строили в ряды по 25 человек и каждого 5-го по рачсчету расстреливали. Отец несколько раз был 4-м... проведение Божие ( после лагерей он стал пресвитером одной из многочисленной Церкви Пятидесятников г. Барнаула и позже г. Находка, совместно со своим братом Николаем Петровичем). В ГУЛАГе он провел 3.5 года, Сталин помер, отца освободили по недоказанности преступления (враг народа), ст. 58, но поразили во всех гражданских правах, так что до конца жизни он мог работать только как штукатур- маляр. Учительствовать ветерану 2-й мировой не дали, еще и гнали с работы через 2-3 месяца- «баптист» не имел права даже на работу, чтобы кормить свою семью из 9-ти детей!.. Спасибо и благодарность, брат Симон, за клип! Это сильно встревожило всю историю моей семьи. Мы плакали, по просмотру. Господи! Упокой души погибших за Имя Твое, за Свидетельство Иисуса Христа, за Дух Христов!..Аминь! Аминь! Аминь!    
~~David Goretoy

My father was sentenced to 25 years in the Gulag for preaching Christ. He was taken directly from the school where he was the director, in Barnaul, where my mother taught, and only one student from the school accidentally saw Andrei Petrovich Goretogo, according to the NKVD [Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del—The People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs], nicknamed “Heavenly Gardener,” was taken away in a black paddy wagon. They placed in rows of 25 people, and every 5th on a counter was shot. Father was the 4th several times ... held of God (After the camps he became the presbyter of one of the numerous Pentecostal Church of Barnaul and later the city of Nakhodka, together with his brother Nikolai Petrovich). In the gulag he spent 3.5 years, Stalin died, and my father was released due to the lack of evidence of the crime (the enemy of the people), article 58, but was struck in all civil rights, so that for the rest of his life he could only work as a plaster - painter. The veteran of the 2nd World War was not allowed to teach, they also driven from work in 2-3 months - the “Baptist” didn’t even have the right to work to feed his family of 9 children! ..
Thanks and much gratefulness, brother Simon, for the clip! This greatly disturbed the whole history of my family. We cried, upon viewing.
Good Lord God, give rest to the souls of those who perished for your name, for the testimony of Jesus Christ, for the Spirit of Christ! .. Amen! Amen! Amen!..
  
~~David Goretoy

O Prayer Time



O prayer time, O gracious prayer time,
God gave You to us in life.
In the sadness midst the battles
You have raise me up from strife!
   On a dark night I slept not
   And on knees I prayed and sought;
   There my soul cried out to God in grief:
   "You have heard me, O my God,
   Amidst all Life's pains and flaws—
   Help me for my life dries as a leaf."


There without Oh how the storm howls,
Lashing ice and snow with gale;
And this same storm buffets my heart—
In this night, I fear I fail!
   I resign myself to dust
   And with tears in eyes I thrust
   Myself onto Jesus in a prayer!
   "O Dear Lord You can see all
   And my soul so frail will fall—
   I am lost without Your tender care!"

O my Lord God, a carefree life
I want not nor ask of You!
Let me pains and sorrows find there
On the Way You mark so true.
   I will only ask of You
   That I always see as true
   That Your Hand most Sovereign be on me
   Let it on my shoulders rest
   And from battles vict'ries wrest
   And encourage and then strengthen me!


O prayer time, O gracious prayer time,
With great thankfulness I burn!
Glorifying God's great power;
O, to depths of Grace I turn!
   O my Lord, in holy love
   You have gifted from Above
   Strength for me when weak I would have failed!
   To high Heav'n I offer prayers
   Let it rise through all my cares
   I in prayer to Heav'n's high Throne have scaled!






updated: 25-Apr-2020

Friday, November 23, 2018

My Home in Heaven — Мой Дом На Небе

This music video by Simon Khorolskiy jars the sensibilities with the clash of hopeful and joyous lyrics contrasting with the images of violent persecution and sad believers left behind.  Given what Simon has divulged, that many of these songs were sung in the Soviet Union 50 to 100 years ago, one wonders just how personal in Simon's past this story goes.  The fact that he released this video less than two hours before Thanksgiving, adds another huge contrast for the Western mind to absorb.  It's not Stuff™.  For things of this earth will all pass away and disappoint.  However, Christ and His eternal Heaven in bright and glorious light, will endure.  That is our hope and our calling!

Simon wrote:
Я всегда знал, что раньше или позже я должен буду сделать видео на эту тему. Уровень жизни в наше время так высок, что иногда кажется, что тот период времени просто выдумка. Но это не так. Я благодарен Богу, что сегодня никто не отнимает мою жизнь за веру в Иисуса Христа. Но будем ли мы готовы сделать это, если потребуется?

I always knew that sooner or later I would have to make a video on this topic. The standard of living in our time is so high that sometimes it seems that that [this] period of time is just an invention. But it is not. I am grateful to God that today no one takes my life for believing in Jesus Christ. But will we be ready to do this if necessary?



Unlike the video, the lyrics are suitable for any one of any age.  They are hopeful, encouraging, and heaven-pointing.

1. Мой дом на небе, за облаками,
Moi dom na nebe, za oblakami,
My home [is] in heaven, beyond [the] clouds,
Где жизни новой уж нет конца,
Gde zhizni novoi uzh net kontsa,
Where life new already not end,
Друзья, родные где будут с нами
Druz'ya, rodnyye gde budut s nami
Friends, relative where [they] will be with us
Петь песни славы там у Отца.
Pet' pesni slavy tam u Ottsa.
Singing songs [of] glory there by/near/with [the] Father.

       Припев — Refrain:
      О дом небесный, где быть желаю,
      O dom nebesnyi, gde byt' zhelayu,
      O home heavenly, where to be [I] desire
      Туда стремлюсь я, чтоб вечно жить;
      Tuda stremlyus' ya, chtob vechno zhit';
      There aspire/seek/aim I, so that eternally to live;
       Там буду Бога я вечно славить
      Tam budu Boga ya vechno slavit'
      There will be God I eternally will praise
       И в свете чудном Христу служить.
      I v svete chudnom Khristu sluzhit'.
      And in light marvelous, Christ to serve.

2. Как в бурю с моря моряк стремится
Kak v buryu s morya moryak stremintsya
Like in storm at/from sea [a] sailor seeks
Причалить в гавань, чтоб отдохнуть,
Prichalit' v gavan', chtob otdokhhyt'
To dock in harbor, so that to relax/refresh/seek safety
Так рвусь я сердцем в жилище света,
Tak rvus' ya serdtsem v zhilishch sveta,
So desire (break/tear) I heart into dwelling [of] light
Где отдых ждет всех свершивших путь.
Gde otdykh zhdet vcekh svershivshikh put'.
Where rest awaits all [who] accomplish [this] path.

3. Отрадно будет в том вечном доме,
Otradno budet v tom vechnom dome,
Pleasant [it] will be in that eternal home,
Увижу Друга души моей,
Uvizhu Druga dushi moei,
[I] Will see Friend spirit [of] mine,
(ie, My spirit will see my Friend,)
Кто на Голгофе за грех наш умер
Kto na Golgophe za grekh nash umer
Who on Golgotha for sins ours died
И примирил нас с Отцом людей.
I primiril nas s Ottsom lyudei.
And reconciled us with [the] Father [of] mankind

4. В печалях горьких слез лить не будем,
V pechalyakh gor'kikh slez lit' he budem,
In [the] sorrows [of] bitterness tears [we] pour not will
Навеки славу мы будем петь;
Naveki slavu my budem pet';
Evermore [the] glory we will sing;
Разлуки, скорби, болезнь забудем,
Razluki, skorbi, bolozn' zabudem,
Parting, mourning, sickness [we] forget (lay aside and misplace never to find)
Не будем больше нужды терпеть.
Ne budem bol'she nuzhdy terpet'.
Not will [we] more need tolerate / endure.



A new version by Группа Мелодия, Group Molodiya (based in Sacramento, CA)


At the end of the version are the words:
Песня написанная в 1937 году на ссылке в узах неизвестным автопом.
A song written in 1937 in prison in bonds by unknown author.


Another version by Белый Ангел, White Angel (also based in Sacramento, CA)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9i4Z2oRdvk
         (This video cannot be hot linked and must be played directly on youtube.)


Someone asked where the music for this hymn could be found.
Music may be found here:  Мой Дом На Небе




Wednesday, November 21, 2018

O Prayer — О Молитва




1. О молитва, о молитва!
O molitva, o molitva!
O prayer, O prayer!
В жизни Богом ты дана.
V zhizni Bogom ty dana.
In life [from] God you were given
(ie, You were given by God in life)
В скорбной жизни среди битвы
V skorbnoy zhizni sredi bitvy
In mournful life amidst battle
Поднимала ты меня.
Podnimala ty menya.
Raised you me [up]
(ie, You raised me up)
Темной ночью я не спал,
Temnoy noch'yu ya ne spal,
Dark at night I not slept
(ie, On a dark night I did not sleep)
На коленях все стоял
Na kolenyakh vse stoyal
On knees all stood
И душою с Богом говорил:
I dushoyu s Bogom govoril:
And soul with God spoke:
"Ты услышь меня, мой Бог,
"Ty uslysh' menya, moy Bog,
"You hear/understand me, my God,
Среди жизненных Тревог
Sredi zhiznennykh Trevog
Amidst vital/life worries
Помоги, я выбился из сил!"
Pomogi, ya vybilsya iz sil!"
Help, I wear out of strength."



   2. За окном бушует ветер
   Za oknom bushuyet veter
   Behind [the] window rages [the] wind
   Хлещет снегом ледяным
   Khleshchet snegom ledyanym
   Lashes [with] snow icy
   И такой же бурей в сердце
   I takoy zhe burey v serdtse
   And same again storm in heart
   В этот вечер я томим
   V etot vecher ya tomim
   In this evening I pined
   Но, смирившийся во прах
   No, smirivshiysya voprakh
   But resigned self [to] dust
   Со слезами на очах
   So slezami na ochakh
   With tears on eyes
   Я в скорбях Иисуса умолял:
   YA v skorbyakh Iisusa umolyal:
   I in sorrow Jesus implored
   «О, мой Бог, Ты знаешь всё,
   «O, moy Bog, Ty znayesh' vsyo,
   "O my God, You know everything,
   На душе так тяжело,
   Na dushe tak tyazhelo,
   On soul so heavy,
   Я измучен и почти упал».
   YA izmuchen i pochti upal».
   I [am] frazzled and almost fell."


3. Боже мой, я жизни легкой
Bozhe moy, ya zhizni legkoy
O God [of] mine, I a life easy
И беспечной не хочу,
I bespechnoy ne khochu,
And carefree not want,
Пусть страдания и скорби
Pust' stradaniya i skorbi
Let [there be] pains and sorrows
На пути своём найду.
Na puti svoyom naydu.
In [the] way [of] it find.
Об одном прошу лишь я,
Ob odnom proshu lish' ya,
On another ask only I,
Чтоб я чувствовал всегда
Chtob ya chuvstvoval vsegda
So that I perceive always
Как Твоя всесильная рука
Kak Tvoya vsesil'naya ruka
How Your omnipotent hand
На плечах лежит моих
Na plechakh lezhit moikh
On shoulders rests mine,
(ie, On my shoulders rests)
И среди житейских битв
I sredi zhiteyskikh bitv
And among everyday battles
Ободряет ласково меня.
Obodryayet laskovo menya.
Encourages affectionately me.

   4. О, молитва, о, молитва,
   O molitva, o molitva!
   O prayer, O prayer!
   Благодарностью горю
   Blagodarnost'yu goryu
   [With] thanksfulness [I] burn
   Прославляю Божью силу,
   Proslavlyayu Bozh'yu silu,
   Glorifying God's power
   Благодати глубину.
   Blagodati glubinu.
   Grace's depth.
   Боже! Ты в любви святой
   Bozhe! Ty v lyubvi svyatoy
   O God, in love holy
   Укреплял дух слабый мой,
   Ukreplyal dukh slabyy moy,
   Strengthened spirit weak mine,
   Когда в бурю падал я без сил.
   Kogda v buryu padal ya bez sil.
   When in storm fell I without power.
   К небесам сердечный вздох
   K nebesam serdechnyy vzdokh
   To [the] heavens heart-felt sighs
   Возносился средь тревог
   Voznosilsya sred' trevog
   Ascend it amidst anxieties
   Я в молитве радость получал.
   YA v molitve radost' poluchal.
   I in prayer joy receive.

Friday, November 16, 2018

He Placed His Golden Crown


Composed by Larisa Reshetova
  (see also: "Confession — Исповедь")


He placed His golden crown at His Father's feet
Then taking off His garments
         of royalty and was born of poverty,
He left the throne of glorious Creator,
Then donned He earthly clothes of humility.


    Chorus —

      He came from Heav'n to earth
      With sinners walked to set us free;
      But oft He offered up His prayers
              to Heav'n above:
      Listen, Father, heed my prayer and plea


How can I e'er forget the eyes of Christ?
Forgivingly with love He looked
     on our sinful world with gracious eye.
Again those sinless lips cried out to Heav'n;
His Father gladly heard His humble cry.

   Chorus —






Larisa Reshetova writes about Simon's arrangement:
     Здравствуйте! Я автор этого псалма. Мне подарил его Господь, и я Ему сердечно благодарна. Симон, Благодарю Бога за твоё творчество. Прекрасное исполнение, захватывает и держит от первой до самой последней ноты. Хор девушек звучит чисто и безупречно. Очень понравилась пауза, в которой слышны звуки поля... во всем - чувство вкуса и такта. И самое главное, как здесь уже подметили - духовность. Аллилуйя, Слава Господу! Душа поёт вместе с вами!
     Hello! I am the author of this psalm. The Lord gave it to me, and I am sincerely grateful to him. Simon, thanks to God for your creativity. Excellent performance, it captures and holds from the first to the very last note. The chorus of girls sounds clean and flawless. I liked very much the pause in which the sounds of the field are heard ... in everything there is a sense of taste and tact. And most importantly, as they have already noticed here - spirituality. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! The soul sings along with you!





Thursday, November 15, 2018

In Response to the Fires

Oh, the weather outside is smoky,
And the air is slow and pokey,
But I wish all this smoke would go—
Let winds blow, let 'em blow, let 'em blow!

Well, it doesn't show signs of clearin',
But my eyes now sure be tearin';
And the sun sure be dimmin' low—
Let winds blow, let 'em blow, let 'em blow!

When we finally leave our work,
How I hate to go out in the smoke;
As I drive my car in the murk,
All the way home I will choke!

We pray the fires are dying,
Else I know that we'll be flying
A long ways from fire's glow—
Let winds blow, let 'em blow, let 'em blow!

- D. Benning

The orange dot right center, above the tree, is the sun. Because of the Camp Fire, on Nov 9, 2018

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Placing The Golden Crown — Сложив Златой Венец

Composed by Larisa Reshetova
  (see also: "Confession — Исповедь")



Сложив златой венец у ног Отца
Slozhiv zlatoy venets u nog Ottsa
Placing a golden crown at the feet of the Father
Сняв царские одежды
Snyav tsarskiye odezhdy
Taking off royal garments
Родился человеком в нищите
Rodilsya chelovekom v nishchite
Born [a] man in poverty
Оставив свой престол всю честь Творца
Ostaviv svoy prestol vsyu chest' Tvortsa
Leaving Your throne all honor [of] Creator
Облёкся в бедноту здесь на земле
Obloksya v bednotu zdes' na zemle
Put on (wore, donned) in poor here on earth.


      Припев: Chorus:
      Явился с неба к нам
      Yavilsya s neba k nam
      Came from Heaven to us
      Ходил средь грешников земли
      Khodil sred' greshnikov zemli
      Walked among sinners [of] earth
      Лишь часто возносил молитвы к небесам
      Lish' chasto voznosil molitvy k nebesam
      But often offered prayers to Heaven
      Услышь Отец, мольбе моей внемли
      Uslysh' Otets, mol'be moyey vnemli
      “Listen, Father, prayer [of] mine heed..”

Я не смогу забыть глаза Христа
YA ne smogu zabyt' glaza Khrista
I cannot forget [the] eyes [of] Christ
с Прощеньем и любовью
s Proshchen'yem i lyubov'yu
with Forgiveness and Love
Смотрел Господь на наш греховный мир
Smotrel Gospod' na nash grekhovnyy mir
Looked [the] Lord on our sinful world
Молились вновь безгрешные уста
Molilis' vnov' bezgreshnyye usta
Prayed again [the] sinless mouth
Отец сердечно с Сыном говорил
Otets serdechno s Synom govoril
[the] Father heartily with [the] Son spoke.


Larissa Reshetova writes about Simon's arrangement:
     Здравствуйте! Я автор этого псалма. Мне подарил его Господь, и я Ему сердечно благодарна. Симон, Благодарю Бога за твоё творчество. Прекрасное исполнение, захватывает и держит от первой до самой последней ноты. Хор девушек звучит чисто и безупречно. Очень понравилась пауза, в которой слышны звуки поля... во всем - чувство вкуса и такта. И самое главное, как здесь уже подметили - духовность. Аллилуйя, Слава Господу! Душа поёт вместе с вами!
     Hello! I am the author of this psalm. The Lord gave it to me, and I am sincerely grateful to him. Simon, thanks to God for your creativity. Excellent performance, it captures and holds from the first to the very last note. The chorus of girls sounds clean and flawless. I liked very much the pause in which the sounds of the field are heard ... in everything there is a sense of taste and tact. And most importantly, as they have already noticed here - spirituality. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! The soul sings along with you!

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Sunrise on the Isle of Skye

See the colors there upon the sky and the water!

Such delicate and transcendent touches of a divine hand, captured in a moment and inscribed upon a photograph. These colors, these delicate hues and stains, are like the soft and exquisite display of a mother decorating the nursery of her first born child. Subtle and tender, fragile and graceful—she colors the sky and paints the landscape with her tender hues.

- D. Benning

Sherry Lynn, Photographer
Mother Nature and I, her earth child, both smile at your extremely intuitive and very touching prose. On a very personal note, I must tell you that I did indeed decorate the nursery of my first born child with these exact colors. Each and every one of them you see in the sky and water. I even chose each color of yarn and crocheted blankets. I’ve told you before you are the psychic poet!! Truly “divinely inspired.” 

~ Sherry Lynn



 

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Looking out across




Looking out across the placid waters,
I stare into the eye of setting day;
My cares fall shaken from my mind forgotten,
As I view peaceful scenes of joy's display.

- D. Benning

Photos from Edward Hermanson.