The Swiss Psalm is the national anthem of Switzerland. It replaced Rufst Du, Mein Vaterland in 1961. The Psalm, as you might expect, is quite religious. One of the church members that I visited a lot while I was in Switzerland gave me a copy of the lyrics. Here is the unofficial English translation. I think it's quite appropriate for a Sunday.
- 1
- When the morning skies grow red
- And o'er us their radiance shed,
- Thou, O Lord, appearest in their light.
- When the Alps glow bright with splendour,
- Pray to God, to Him surrender,
- For you feel and understand,
- That He dwelleth in this land.
- 2
- In the sunset Thou art night
- And beyond the starry sky,
- Thou, O loving Father, ever near.
- When to Heaven we are departing,
- Joy and bliss Thou'lt be imparting,
- For we feel and understand
- That Thou dwellest in this land.
- 3
- When dark clouds enshroud the hills
- And gray mist the valley fills,
- Yet Thou art not hidden from Thy sons.
- Pierce the gloom in which we cover
- With Thy sunshine's cleansing power
- Then we'll feel and understand
- That God dwelleth in this land.
- 4
- Towards us in the wild storm coming,
- You yourself give us resistance and stronghold,
- You, almighty ruling, rescuing!
- During horror and nights of thunderstorms
- Let us childlike trust Him!
- Yes, we feel and understand;
- Yes, we feel and understand
- That God dwelleth in this land.
2 comments:
I do like the rhyme scheme. That takes some real translating skill. I think the 4th verse is my favorite.
And is Romansh the language the gypsies speak? Or is it spoken in a certain region?
Romansh is spoken by the people who live in the mountains in south-east Switzerland. I think there are only a thousand or two native speakers. I only met maybe three native speakers because I never served in that area.
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