He is sleeping so sweetly, his mother cannot take her eyes off
Her darling's gentle breathing,
The boy who she felt such silent, yearning anxiety about
For so long as she carried him beneath her heart.

She takes such pleasure in looking at his full cheeks glowing,
Half hidden behind his yellow ringlets,
And she wants to tuck in his little arm gently
When he stretches it out in his sleep.

She rocks the cradle ever more gently
And sings the little sleeper softly to his rest;
A smile plays around his beautiful features
Though his eyes remain peacefully closed.

When you wake up, little one, smile again like that
And beam into your mother's face:
She is looking at you with so much love
Even though you are not aware of this love.

But you will soon learn about it from the way she looks at you,
From her heart, when it is gently moved
By the most intense motherly delight
As it beats in response to your own little heart.

And you will learn to speak from the drives of the heart,
At first you will just mutter the sound 'mummy'
But you will soon learn plenty of sweet loving words
And you will be so confident in your own.

And you will also learn to recognise your dear father,
And you will rush to him from your mother's breast,
And you will learn to distinguish and name different things
And you will feel new pleasure in thinking.

And you will learn to pray from your mother's mouth,
Reflecting the childlike pious attitude of her heart,
In the quiet hours of evening you will be shown
The stars and your father will point to them;

Up there, where the father of all humans lives,
Who loves you and all his children,
Who rewards all that is good in a fatherly way
And who gives his joy to everyone.

Here you are roaming about on earth so pure and contented,
With your heart so trusting, so good and tender!
So remain, you beauty, if you want to become happy,
For such is the kingdom of heaven.