by Darius Milhaud (1892 - 1974)
Translation © by John Glenn Paton

Lamentation
Language: French (Français)  after the Hebrew (עברית) 
Our translations:  ENG
Au ciel sept chérubins 
silencieux comme les rêves font la besogne. 
Devant le trône de sa gloire 
ils se tiennent en rond. 
C'est là qu'ils préparent 
des étoffes lumineuses pour le Messie. 
Tout ce qui est sublime, 
Tout ce qui est majestueux, 
Tout ce qui est beau, 
Tout ce qui est noble, 
Tout ce qui est bon et pur. 
Et ceci, ils le prennent avec tout
ce qui est clarté et Lumière. 
Et les anges, les sept chérubins, 
élèvent leurs voix d'abandonnés, 
voix de sanglots et de plaintes. 
Et jusqu'à ce jour 
elle n'est pas encore achevée l'âme du Messie.

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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):

  • ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "Lamentation", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 100

Lamentation
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
 In heaven seven cherubim,
  as silent as dreams,  are working.
 Before the throne of His glory
  they stand in a circle. 
 It is there that they prepare  
 the luminous materials for the Messiah: 
 all that is sublime, 
 all that is majestic,
 all that is beautiful, 
 all that is noble, 
 all that is good and pure.
 And they take it with all 
 that is brightness and light,
  and the angels, the seven cherubim, 
 raise their voices of resignation, 
 voices of sobs and laments.
 And until the present day, 
 it still is not accomplished: the soul of the Messiah!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © by John Glenn Paton, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 97