Midday: More than Enough
Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712
Image Title: Midday: More than Enough
Scripture Reference:
- Psalms 145 (further images / scripture text)
Description: A family is gathered around a table that is laden with food, while a maid brings in even more food. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649–1712) was responsible for drawing this emblem and composed the poem that accompanies it. The etching was executed by Jan Luiken or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708), who had used this image in an earlier work, which may be found in the Digital Image Archive under the call number 1699Weig. The attendant scripture text is Psalm 145:15-16.
Motto:
Learn from the body’s famine,
The value of the Soul’s bread.
Poem:
It is midday, and again time to eat,
The Table is again prepared;
The Source does not cease giving:
Its rain and its sunshine,
Ensure fruits at all times,
So that Man exists and lives.
But alas! the creature in general,
Looks, with the cow, no further,
Than down in front of him to eat,
And feeds the animal life,
But the source of the steady flood,
Is carelessly forgotten.
The good and bad,
Must live from the hand of the Lord,
But the difference lies in recognizing:
That the one Receiver is thankful,
And the other (being on the wrong track,)
Knows not to accustom himself to God.
But whoever lives according to the law of man
Seeks from that Lord who gives everything,
In addition to this, a higher blessing;
As food for immortality,
That makes the mortal body,
Desirous of a higher degree and status.
O Jesus! who with little bread,
Closed the stomach of so many thousands,
Thou dost not become less from constant giving;
May the hungry heart,
Be satisfied by thee O God,
So that we live eternally through thee.
(Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker)
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Rights Status: No Copyright - United States
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