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THIS blessèd hour we are united, | |
Of German men a mighty choir, | |
And from the lips of each, delighted, | |
Our praying souls to heaven aspire; | |
With high and sacred awe abounding, | 5 |
We join in solemn thoughts to-day, | |
And so our hearts should be resounding | |
In clear harmonic song and play. | |
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To whom shall foremost thanks be given? | |
To God, our Lord, so long concealed, | 10 |
Who, when the cloud of shame was riven, | |
Himself in flames to us revealed, | |
Who, stubborn foes with lightning felling, | |
Restored to us our strength of yore, | |
Who, on the stars in power dwelling, | 15 |
Reigns ever and forevermore. | |
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What second wish should we be hearing? | |
The majesty of fatherland! | |
Destroyed be those who still are sneering! | |
Hail them who with it fall and stand! | 20 |
By virtue winning admiration, | |
Beloved for honesty and might, | |
Long live through centuries our nation, | |
As strong in honour and in might! | |
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The third is German manhoods treasure | 25 |
Ring out it shall, with clearness mete! | |
For Freedom is the German pleasure, | |
And Germans step to Freedoms beat. | |
Be life and death by her inspired | |
Of German hearts, oh, longing bright! | 30 |
And death for Freedoms sake desired | |
Is German honour and delight. | |
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The fourthfor noble consecration | |
Now lift on high both heart and hand! | |
Old loyalty within our nation | 35 |
And German faith forever stand! | |
These virtues shall, our weal assuring, | |
Remain our unions shield and stay; | |
Our manly word will be enduring | |
Until the world shall pass away. | 40 |
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Now let the final chord be ringing | |
In jubileestand not apart! | |
Let sound our mighty, joyful singing | |
From lip to lip, from heart to heart! | |
The weal from which no devils bar us, | 45 |
The word that doth our league infold | |
The bliss which tyrants cannot mar us | |
We must believe in, we must hold! | |
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