PSALM SUNDAY

For Psalm Sunday this week, I give you Gabriel Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine”, so titled as the text for this piece was written by the French tragedian Jean Racine (1639-1699). Here it is performed by the Choir of New College, Oxford and conducted by Edward Higginbottom.

This post is part of the Psalm Sunday meme hosted by Robert and Louis,
And also for the Spiritual Sunday meme.

Cantique
Verbe, égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance,
Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux;
De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence,
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux!


Répands sur nous le feu de ta grâce puissante,
Que tout l'enfer fuie au son de ta voix;
Dissipe le sommeil d'une âme languissante,
Qui la conduit à l'oubli de tes lois!


O Christ, sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle
Pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé.
Reçois les chants qu'il offre à ta gloire immortelle,
Et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé!


Canticle
Word, equal to the Almighty, our only hope,
Eternal light of the earth and the Heavens;
We break the peaceful night's silence,
Divine Saviour, cast thine eyes upon us!


Spread the fire of thy mighty grace upon us.
May the entire hell flee at the sound of your voice;
Disperse from any slothful soul the drowsiness
Inducing it to forget your laws!


O Christ, look with favour upon this faithful people
Which has now gathered to bless you.
Receive its singing, offered to your immortal glory,
And may it leave with the gifts you have bestowed upon it.