| |
| THOU beautiful Sabbath, thou sanctified day, | |
| That chasest our cares and our sorrows away, | |
| O come with good fortune, with joy and with peace, | |
| To the homes of thy pious, their bliss to increase! | |
| |
| In honour of thee are the tables decked white; | 5 |
| From the clear candelabra shines many a light; | |
| All men in the finest of garments are dress’d, | |
| As far as his purse, each hath got him the best. | |
| |
| For as soon as the Sabbath-hat ’s put on the head, | |
| New feelings are born and old feelings are dead; | 10 |
| Yes, suddenly vanish black care and grim sorrow, | |
| None troubles concerning the things of tomorrow. | |
| |
| New heavenly powers are given to each; | |
| Of everyday matters now hush’d is all speech; | |
| At rest are all hands that have toil’d with much pain; | 15 |
| Now peace and tranquillity everywhere reign. | |
| |
| Not the choicest of wines at a banqueting board | |
| Can ever such exquisite pleasure afford | |
| As the Friday-night meal when prepared with due zeal | |
| To honour thee, Sabbath, thou day of sweet rest! | 20 |
| |
| With thy angels attending thee, one at each side, | |
| Come on Friday betimes in pure homes to abide, | |
| In the homes of the faithful that shine in their bliss, | |
| Like souls from a world which is better than this! | |
| |
| One Angel, the good one, is at thy right hand, | 25 |
| At thy left doth the other, the bad Angel, stand; | |
| Compell’d ’gainst his will to say “Amen,” and bless | |
| With the blessing he hears the good Angel express: | |
| |
| That when Sabbath, dear Sabbath, thou comest again, | |
| We may lustily welcome thee, free from all pain, | 30 |
| In the fear of the Lord, and with joy in our heart, | |
| And again keep thee holy till thou shalt depart! | |
| |
| Then come with good fortune, with joy and with peace, | |
| To the homes of thy pious, their bliss to increase! | |
| Already we’ve now been awaiting thee long, | 35 |
| All eager to greet thee with praise and with song. | |
| |
