Tomorrow (17 March) is St. Patrick’s Day –
which for me will basically mean a whole day of listening to Irish music while
studying[1] and
taking a break to watch Riverdance. Anyhow, I’ve decided on posting this
beautiful prayer attributed to St. Patrick - St. Patrick's Breastplate. This is the English translation and
arrangement by Cecil Frances Alexander, with the Afrikaans translation by me[2].
I bind
unto myself today
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort
and restore me.
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of
all that love me,
Christ in mouth of
friend and stranger.
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort
and restore me.
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of
all that love me,
Christ in mouth of
friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Ek bind tot myself vandag
Ek bind tot myself vandag
die sterk naam van die Drie-enigheid,
die sterk naam van die Drie-enigheid,
deur die afsmeking van dieselfde
drie in een, en een in drie.
Ek bind hierdie dag tot my vir ewig,
deur die krag van geloof, Christus se
menswording,
Sy doop in die Jordaanrivier,
Sy dood aan die kruis vir my verlossing,
Sy opstanding uit die gekruide graf,
Sy opvaring na die hemel,
Sy koms op die dag van oordeel,
bind ek tot myself vandag.
Ek bind tot myself die krag
van die groot liefde van gerubyn;
die soete “wel gedaan” in oordeelsuur;
die diens van die serafyn;
belydenaar se geloof, apostels se woord,
belydenaar se geloof, apostels se woord,
die stamvaders se gebede, die profete se boekrolle;
alle goeie dade vir die Heer gedoen,
en reinheid van maagdelike siele.
Ek bind tot myself vandag
die deugde van die sterverligte hemel,
die glansryke son se lewegewende strale,
die witheid van die volmaan,
die flitse van die weerlig wat vrylik
slaan,
die dwarrelende wind se stormagtige rukke,
die stabiele aarde, die diep sout see
om die ou, ewige rotse.
Ek bind tot myself vandag
die mag van God om te behou en te lei,
die mag van God om te behou en te lei,
Sy oog om te waak, Sy mag om te keer,
Sy oor om na my behoefte te luister,
die wysheid van God om te leer,
Sy hand om te lei, Sy skild om af te weer,
die woord van God om my spraak te gee,
Sy hemelse leërskare om my wag te wees.
Christus wees met my,
Christus wees binne my,
Christus agter my,
Christus voor my,
Christus langs my,
Christus om my te wen,
Christus om my te troos
en my te vernuwe.
Christus onder my,
Christus bo my,
Christus in stilte,
Christus in gevaar,
Christus in die harte
van almal wat my liefhet,
Christus in die mond van
vriend en vreemdeling.
Ek bind tot myself vandag
die sterk naam van die Drie-enigheid,
deur die afsmeking van dieselfde,
die drie in een, en een in drie
deur wie die hele natuur geskep is,
ewige Vader, Gees, Woord.
Lof aan die Heer van my redding;
redding is van Christus die Heer.
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| Vintage St. Patrick image by The Graphics Fairy |
