Deus, qui caeli lumen es

Another hymn translation made at the request of Father Samuel Weber, OSB, who asked that the translation be in rhyming couplets in the same meter as the original. He got the latter but not the former. I opted for an ABAB rhyme scheme, partly out of sprezzatura.

Deus, qui caeli lumen es satorque lucis, qui polum paterno fultum bracchio praeclara pandis dextera. Aurora stellas iam tegit rubrum sustollens gurgitem, umectis atque flatibus terram baptizans roribus. Iam noctis umbra linquitur, polum caligo deserit, typusque Christi, lucifer diem sopitum suscitat. Dies dierum tu, Deus, lucisque lumen ipse es, Unum potens per omnia, potens in unum Trinitas. Te nunc, Salvator, quaesumus tibique genu flectimus Patrem cum Sancto Spiritu totis laudantes vocibus. Amen.

O God, the lamp of heaven high And source of light: your shining hand Unrolls the banner of the sky, Upholding it above the land. Dawn, casting up a crimson tide, Has veiled the stars that saw its rise; The morning breezes, far and wide, With dewy breath the earth baptize. The darkness from the sky has gone As nightly shadows pass away; The morning star, sign of the Son, Arising, wakes the sleepy day. O God, O radiance wonderful, Most glorious day and fairest light: One God, in all things powerful, Three Persons, matchless in one might! To you, Our Savior, brightest, best, On bended knee our prayer we raise; To Father and to Spirit blest, With all our power, we offer praise. Amen.

Translation copyright 2005 Fr. Thomas Buffer