Come and Stand Amazed, You People

Come and stand amazed, you people

Translator: Klaas Hart
Tune: KOMT, VERWONDERT
Published in 1 hymnal

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Translator: Klaas Hart

Klaas Hart, 1906-1977, was a Reverend in the Gereformeerde Kerk in the Netherlands. He was first the Reverend in Oostwold, then in Velp (1941-44), then in Utrecht after WWII (1946-1953). He then moved with his wife, Wilhelmina Fonds (1908-1995) and their seven children to Canada, where he had churches in Peterborough, Wallaceburg and Ingersoll. Before studying theology, he studied literature and had a life-long interest in poetry, and therefore an interest in hymns and their translation into English from Dutch. During World War II, he was part of the Dutch Resistance movement. Elinor Hart, granddaughter  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Come and stand amazed, you people
Title: Come and Stand Amazed, You People
Translator: Klaas Hart
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7.8.7
Source: Dutch, medieval; Rev. Psalter Hymnal, 1987
Language: English
Copyright: © 1987, CRC Publications

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Phil. 2:6-8
st. 2 = Luke 2:7
st. 3 = John 1:5, 14

Although many Christmas hymns are narratives of the Christmas story and theologically light, this translation of an old Dutch text is theologically profound. Because it makes excellent use of paradox, the text should be read before it is sung. Stanzas 1 and 2 are an amplification of Philippians 2:6-8; stanza 3 is a prayer.

The original Dutch text, "Komt, verwondert U hier, mensen," may have medieval roots. The text was first published in Blijden-wegh tot Bethlehem (Antwerp, 1645) in four stanzas. The original third stanza is omitted in the Psalter Hymnal.

The English translation, dating from the late 1960s, is mainly the work of Klaas Hart (b. Zedaandam, the Netherlands, 1906; d. Toronto, Canada, 1977). Hart began his ministry in 1935 by serving churches successively in Oostwold, Velp, and Utrecht, the Netherlands. He was actively involved in the resistance movement during World War 11 and his name was high on the "honor roll" of those wanted by the German police. In 1953 he immigrated to Canada and served Christian Reformed congregations in Wallaceburg, Petersborough, and Ingersoll, all in Ontario. His manuscript collection includes both original hymns and English translations of Dutch hymns.

Liturgical Use:
Christmas season, either for congregational singing or as a choral anthem (worship leader could point out some paradoxes in the text).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

KOMT, VERWONDERT

Although the tune has Baroque characteristics of the early eighteenth century, KOMT, VERWONDERT could possibly be as old as the text. The tune was first published in 1856 in the Edmond de Coussemaker collection Chants Papulaires des Flamands de France. KOMT, VERWONDERT is a florid tune with a number…

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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #338
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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #338

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