Daughter and wife of pastors in Bergen, she lost seven of her nine children, then her husband, and was left alone with the debts. Her book of hymns, published in 1678, is the first book printed in Norway by a Norwegian author, and was reissued for two centuries. In it she counts her dead and her destitution without dressing them up.
In their own words
Now I have grown one day older. It is like a letter from my thought: that with my wandering staff I lean a little nearer to my grave.
Siælens Sang-Offer, Bergen, 1678, XXV, Afften Psalme, stanza 3; Dano-Norwegian « Nu een Dag jeg eldre bleff, Det er som mit Tancke-Breff, At jeg med min vandrings Staff, Nærmer helder til min Graff », translated by the Manna team
Still the heart-ache of the one who is ill, think on those who are grieving, be the comfort of the fatherless, and give heed to the voice of widows.
Siælens Sang-Offer, Bergen, 1678, XXV, Afften Psalme, stanza 16; Dano-Norwegian « Stil den Siugis Hierte-vee, Tenck paa de Bedrøffvede, Vær de Faderløsis Trøst, Og giff act paa Enckers Røst », translated by the Manna team
Four boards are all my splendour, and I shall be laid in them, with a sheet and a little more. I do not own so much as a feather.
Siælens Sang-Offer, Bergen, 1678, XXV, Afften Psalme, stanza 19; Dano-Norwegian « Fire Fiele er min pragt, Hvor udi jeg bliffver lagt, Med it Lagen og lit meer, Eyer icke saa en Feer », translated by the Manna team
The day gives way and goes off, the air turns thick and black, the sun has already sunk right down, it goes on towards the dark night.
Siælens Sang-Offer, Bergen, 1678, XXV, Afften Psalme, stanza 1; Dano-Norwegian « DAgen viger og gaar bort, Lufften bliffver tyck og sort, Solen har alt Dalet plat, Det gaar ad den mørcke Nat », translated by the Manna team