Here is Harriet Reynolds Krauth’s translation of stanza 4:
This flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
The sweetness of the flower may refer
to Christ’s death. Before embalming became a common practice, fragrant flowers
were used at funerals to cover up the odor of decaying flesh.
As both true man and very God, Christ
was the only person who could save us from sin and death. Through His death, He
brought us salvation and more. We no longer have to fear the darkness, and we
carry a much lighter load because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
As we approach the new year, next
week’s post will cover the fifth stanza, which addresses the future.
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