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Anonymous translation
HARK, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Eight, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Eight souls alone from death were kept, | |
| When God the earth with deluge swept: | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | 5 |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Nine, good sirs, has struck. | 10 |
| Nine lepers cleansed returned not;— | |
| Be not thy blessings, man, forgot! | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | 15 |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Ten, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Ten precepts show God’s holy will;— | |
| O, may we prove obedient still! | 20 |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | 25 |
| The hour Eleven, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Eleven apostles remained true;— | |
| May we be like that faithful few! | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | 30 |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Twelve, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Twelve is of Time the boundary;— | 35 |
| Man, think upon Eternity! | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | 40 |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of One, good sirs, has struck. | |
| One God alone reigns over all; | |
| Naught can without his will befall: | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | 45 |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Two, good sirs, has struck. | 50 |
| Two ways to walk has man been given: | |
| Teach me the right,—the path to heaven! | |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | 55 |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | |
| The hour of Three, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Three Gods in one, exalted most, | |
| The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. | 60 |
| Unless the Lord to guard us deign, | |
| Man wakes and watches all in vain. | |
| Lord! through thine all-prevailing might, | |
| Do thou vouchsafe us a good night! | |
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| Hark, while I sing! our village clock | 65 |
| The hour of Four, good sirs, has struck. | |
| Four seasons crown the farmer’s care;— | |
| Thy heart with equal toil prepare! | |
| Up, up! awake, nor slumber on! | |
| The morn approaches, night is gone! | 70 |
| Thank God, who by his power and might | |
| Has watched and kept us through this night! | |
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