Assisi's “The Canticle of the Sun”
GA 41b
English translation from The Franciscan Friars website.
The Canticle of the Sun
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.
Der Sonnengesang des Franziskus Von Assisi
Höchster, allmächtiger, und gütiger Herr!
Dein sei Preis, Herrlichkeit, Ehre und jeglicher Segen.
Dir allein gebühren sie;
Kein Mensch ist wert, dich zu nennen.
Gepriesen sei Gott, der Herr, und alle Geschöpfe
Vor allem unser edler Bruder, die Sonne,
Die den Tag bewirkt, und uns leuchtet mit ihrem Lichte.
Sie ist schön und strahlend in ihrem großen Glanze;
Von Dir, O Herr, ist sie das Sinnbild.
Gepriesen sei Gott, der Herr,
Um unserer Schwester willen, des Mondes
Und auch um aller Sterne willen;
Die er am Himmel gestaltet hat
Und erscheinen lässt in Schönheit und Helle.
Gepriesen sei Gott, der Herr,
Um unsrer Brüder willen
Um des Windes, der Luft und der Wolken willen
Um der heitern und aller Zeiten willen
Durch die er alle Geschöpfe erhalten will.
Gepriesen sei, Gott, der Herr
Um unsrer Schwester willen, des Wassers
Das so nützlich ist und demütig
Und auch köstlich und keusch.
Gepriesen sei Gott, der Herr
Um unsres Bruders willen, des Feuers
Durch das er uns die Nacht erhellt
Und das so schön und fröhlich
Und so stark und mächtig ist.
Gepriesen sei, Gott, der Herr,
Um unsrer Mutter willen, der Erde;
Durch die wir Nahrung und Kraft erhalten
Und vielerlei Frucht auch
Und aller Blumen und Kräuter Farbenfülle.
Automated Retranslation
The Canticle of the Sun by Francis of Assisi
Most high, almighty, and bountiful Lord!
To you be praise, glory, honor, and all blessing.
They are due to you alone;
No human being is worthy to name you.
Blessed be God, the Lord, and all creatures
Above all, our noble brother, the sun,
Which brings about the day and shines with its light upon us.
It is beautiful and radiant in its great splendor;
It is an emblem of You, O Lord.
Blessed be the Lord God,
For the sake of our sister the moon
And also for the sake of all the stars;
Which he has formed in the sky
And makes to appear in beauty and brightness.
Blessed be the Lord our God
For the sake of our brothers
For the sake of the wind, the air and the clouds
For the sake of serenity and all times
By whom all creatures are sustained.
Blessed be the Lord our God
For the sake of our sister water
Which is so useful and humble
And also delicious and chaste.
Blessed be God, the Lord
For our brother, the fire
By which he lights our night
And which is so beautiful and joyful
And so strong and powerful.
Blessed be God, the Lord,
For our mother, the Earth;
From whom we receive nourishment and strength
And many fruits
And the colors of many flowers and herbs.