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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
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.
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