Singable translation by William Bartholomew (1793 - 1867)
Translation © by William Ouwehand

Hear my prayer
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT FRE
Hear my prayer, O God, incline Thine ear!
Thyself from my petition do not hide.
Take heed to me! Hear how in prayer I mourn to Thee,
Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide.

The enemy shouteth, the godless come fast!
Iniquity, hatred, upon me they cast!
The wicked oppress me, Ah where shall I fly?
Perplexed and bewildered, O God, hear my cry!

My heart is sorely pained within my breast,
my soul with deathly terror is oppressed,
trembling and fearfulness upon me fall,
with horror overwhelmed, Lord, hear me call!

O for the wings, for the wings of a dove!
Far away, far away would I rove!
In the wilderness build me a nest,
and remain there for ever at rest.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Escolta la meva pregària", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (William Ouwehand) , "Hoor mijn gebed", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Entends ma prière", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2017-09-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 125

Hoor mijn gebed
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the English 
Hoor mijn gebed, O God, neig uw oor tot mij
Verberg u niet voor mijn smeking. 
Sla acht op mij! Hoor hoe ik in mijn beden smeek tot U.
Zonder U dwaal ik in het donker zonder gids.

De vijand schreeuwt, de goddelozen naderen snel.
Onheil en haat storten zij over mij uit 
De verdorvenen onderdrukken mij, ach waarheen zal ik vlieden?
Verward en verbijsterd, O God, hoor mijn aanroep.

Mijn hart krimpt ineen in mijn binnenste 
Mijn ziel onderdrukt door doodsangsten
Beving en vrees komen over mij 
Door schrik overweldigd, Heer, hoor mij roepen!

[O, had ik vleugelen] als een duif 
[Ver weg], zou ik heenvlieden
In de woestenij bouw ik een wijkplaats
En daar verblijf ik voor eeuwig in rust.

Translator's notes
Line 1-2: cf. Ps. 55, 2
Line 2-2: cf. Ps. 55, 4
Line 3-1: cf. Ps. 55, 5
Line 3-3: cf. Ps. 55, 6
Line 4-1: cf. Ps. 55, 7


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2020 by William Ouwehand, (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:

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This text was added to the website: 2020-01-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 122