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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 manhood’s treasure— | 25 |
| Ring out it shall, with clearness mete! | |
| For Freedom is the German pleasure, | |
| And Germans step to Freedom’s beat. | |
| Be life and death by her inspired— | |
| Of German hearts, oh, longing bright! | 30 |
| And death for Freedom’s sake desired | |
| Is German honour and delight. | |
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| The fourth—for 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 union’s 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 jubilee—stand 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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