French/Texts/National anthems/Le cantique suisse

National anthems

• L'Aube Nouvelle
• La Brabançonne
• Le Cantique suisse
• La Marseillaise
• O Canada

French

Lessons · Vocabulary · Grammar · Appendices · Texts

History of the Anthem

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.

The Swiss Psalm

French lyrics	English Translation
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.	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
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.	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
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.	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.
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.	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.

Questions

[1]

National anthems

L'Aube Nouvelle (Benin) · La Brabançonne (Belgium) · Le Cantique suisse (Switzerland) · La Marseillaise (France) · O Canada (Canada)

French : Lessons · Vocabulary · Grammar · Appendices · Texts