from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Michael P Rosewall

Dem Schutzengel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  DUT ENG FRE
O Engel, mein Schutzengel mein,
du Gottes Edelknabe,
laß mich dir anbefohlen sein,
so lang ich Odem habe.

Der Tag schleicht hin, die Nacht geht an,
dein Licht in mir laß scheinen,
zum Guten mich allzeit ermahn,
mein Herz zieh nach dem deinen.

Weck mich aus meiner Trägheit auf,
zur Tugend an mich treibe;
gelt, vor dem kurzen Lebenslauf,
den Tod ins Herz mir schreibe.

Beschütz mich in dem letzten Streit,
wenn Leib und Seel sich scheiden,
begleit mich in die Ewigkeit,
wo Freud ist sonder Leiden.

Das bitt ich durch die Lieb zu mir,
laß dieser mich genießen,
zur Lieb bin ich verpflichtet dir,
in Lieb will ich beschließen.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Michael P. Rosewall) , title 1: "The guardian angel", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , title 1: "Tot de engelbewaarder", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 110

The guardian angel
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oh angel, my guardian angel,
You noble child of God,
Allow me to be entrusted to you,
As long as I have breath.

Day slinks away, night approaches,
Let your light shine within me,
Always guiding me toward the Good,
My heart following yours.

Wake me from my indolence,
Lead me to virtuousness;
Barren, before this short span of life,
Death writes upon my heart.

Protect me in the final struggle,
Where body and soul are parted,
Accompany me to Eternity,
Where suffering becomes joy.

This I ask out of your love for me,
Allow me to receive this boon,
Through love I have been bound to you,
In love I wish to end.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2015-03-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 114