French/Texts/National anthems/Le cantique suisse

History of the Anthem
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.