History of the Anthem
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Originally written in German, the Swiss Psalm has been translated into all the official Swiss languages. The Swiss government has written a history of the Swiss anthem, known as the Swiss Psalm.
The often mentioned three-stanza English translation, exemplified below, is closer to the German lyrics arrangement than the French lyrics arrangement. However the versions by all languages are generally similar in spirit throughout with sentences rearranged or restructured within or beyond a stanza for example.
- German 1st Stanza
- Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
- Seh' ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
- Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
- Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
- Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
- Eure fromme Seele ahnt
- Gott im hehren Vaterland,
- Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
- Common English translation of German 1st Stanza
- 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.
| French lyrics |
English Translation
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1re strophe
- Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
- Annonce un brillant réveil,
- Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
- Les beautés de la patrie
- Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
- Au ciel montent plus joyeux
- Au ciel montent plus joyeux
- Les accents d'un coeur pieux,
- Les accents émus d'un coeur pieux.
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1st stanza
- Upon our mounts, when the sun
- announces a brilliant awakening
- and predicts the return of a beautiful day
- The beauties of the fatherland,
- speaks to the tender soul
- to heaven it joyfully rises
- to heaven it joyfully rises
- the sentiments of a pious heart
- the touching sentiments of a pious heart
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2e strophe
- Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
- Joue encore dans le bois noir,
- Le coeur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
- Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
- L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
- Au ciel montent plus joyeux
- Les accents d'un coeur pieux,
- Les accents émus d'un coeur pieux.
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2nd stanza
- When a gentle evening ray
- plays once more in the darkened woods
- the heart feels happier near God,
- Far from the vain noises of the plain
- the heart at peace is more serene
- To heaven it joyfully rises
- to heaven it joyfully rises
- the sentiments of a pious heart
- the touching sentiments of a pious heart
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3e strophe
- Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
- La foudre éclate avec bruit,
- Notre coeur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
- Dans l'orage et la détresse
- Il est notre forteresse;
- Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux
- Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux
- Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
- Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.
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3rd stanza
- When in the sombre night
- the thunder bursts with loudness
- our heart approaches once more the great Lord;
- In the storm and in the distress
- it is our fortress
- offer Him our pious hearts
- offer Him our pious hearts
- God, bless us from the heavens
- God, bless us from the highest heavens.
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4e strophe
- Des grands monts vient le secours;
- Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours !
- Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux !
- Sur l'autel de la patrie
- Mets tes biens, ton coeur, ta vie !
- C'est le trésor précieux
- C'est le trésor précieux
- Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
- Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.
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4th stanza
- From the great mountains comes assistance
- Swiss, have hope in God always!
- Guard the faith of the forefathers, as they did!
- On the altar of the fatherland
- Place your wealth, your heart, your life!
- It is a precious treasure
- It is a precious treasure
- That God will bless from the heavens
- That God will bless from the highest heavens.
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