Røversangen Midi

1. Han havde slået massevis af mennesker ihjel,
og stjålet, hærget, snydt og meget mer’.
Nu ramtes han af lov og dom, sku’ lide døden selv.
Nu hang han uden håb på korset dér.
Så sa’ han: "Jesus, tænk på mig,
når du kommer i dit rige!"
Og Jesus svarede: "Sandelig,
i dag skal du være med mig i Paradis!"

2. Han sagde ikke: "Se, hvor er min tro dog ren og stor!"
Han sagde ikke: "Se min kærlighed!"
Han talte ikke tungetale eller fromme ord;
han havde ingenting at komme med.
Han sa’ blot: "Jesus, tænk på mig...

3. Og nadver, dåb og gudsbegreb var ukendt for vor mand,
han havde aldrig hørt om dogmatik.
De gamle lærde skrifter var for røver’n ukendt land,
hans meninger holdt ikke rigtig stik.
Men han sa’: "Jesus, tænk på mig...

4. Han vidste, at han skulle ned til Helveds bål og brand
og evigt dér betale syndens pris.
Men Jesus gjorde noget, som går over hver forstand:
Han gav ham sin billet til Paradis!
For han sa’: "Jesus, tænk på mig...

5. Hans smerter hørte ikke op på grund af disse ord,
hans kvaler blev tilsynelad’ne ved;
men hvad betød hans lidelser på denne hårde jord,
når Jesus havde givet ham sin fred?
Da han sa’: "Jesus, tænk på mig...

6. Han mødte Jesus i den elvte time af sit liv,
det havde vær’t for sent ved solnedgang.
Jeg ønsker ikk’ at vente, til jeg ligger kold og stiv,
jeg griber Jesu frelse, mens jeg kan!
Jeg siger: "Jesus, tænk på mig,
når du kommer med dit rige!"
Og Jesus svarer: "Sandelig,
den dag skal du være med mig i Paradis!"

JE (Luk 23,39-43)

The Robber song

He had killed lots of people,
and been stealing, destroying, cheating and much more.
Now was he hit by law and justice and was going to die himself.
Now he was hanging on the cross.
Then he said: "Jesus, think of me,
when you come into your Kingdom!"
And Jesus answered: "Verily,
Today you will be with me in paradise!"

He didn't say: "Behold my big and pure faith!"
He didn't say: "Behold my love!"
He didn't speak in toungs or say pious words;
He had nothing to come with.
He just said: "Jesus, think of me"...

And sacraments, baptizing and concept of God were unknown for him.
He had never heard about dogmatics.
The old, learned scriptures did he not know;
his opinions were not quite correct.
But he said: "Jesus, ..."

He knew he was going to Hell's fire
and forever pay the price of sin there.
But Jesus did something that is deeper than all knowledge:
He gave him His ticket to Paradise.
Because he said: "Jesus, ..."

His pains did not stop due to these words,
his trouble went apparently on;
But why care about his grief on this tough Earth,
when Jesus had given him His peace?
When he said: "Jesus, ..."

He met Jesus in the eleventh hour of his life;
it would have been too late at sunset.
I don't want to wait till I lie cold and stiff,
I catch the salvation of Jesus while I can!
I say: "Jesus, think of me,
when you come with your Kingdom!"
And Jesus answers: "Verily,
That day shall you be with me in Paradise!"

JE