Beethoven's World | Biography | Ode to Joy |Schiller|Cartas
Ode To Joy |
1 Joy, beautiful spark of Gods, |
2 Daughter of Elysium, |
3 We enter, fire-imbibed, |
4 Heavenly, thy sanctuary. |
5 Thy magic powers re-unite |
6 What custom's sword has divided |
7 Beggars become Princes' brothers |
8 Where thy gentle wing abides. |
Chorus |
9 Be embraced, millions! |
10 This kiss to the entire world! |
11 Brothers - above the starry canopy |
12 A loving father must dwell. |
13 Whoever has had the great fortune, |
14 To be a friend's friend, |
15 Whoever has won the love of a devoted wife, |
16 Add his to our jubilation! |
17 Indeed, whoever can call even one soul |
18 His own on this earth! |
19 And whoever was never able to must creep |
20 Tearfully away from this circle. |
Chorus |
21 Those who dwell in the great circle, |
22 Pay homage to sympathy! |
23 It leads to the stars, |
24 Where the Unknown reigns. |
25 Joy all creatures drink |
26 At nature's bosoms; |
27 All, Just and Unjust, |
28 Follow her rose-petalled path. |
29 Kisses she gave us, and Wine, |
30 A friend, proven in death, |
31 Pleasure was given (even) to the worm, |
32 And the Cherub stands before God. |
Chorus |
33 You bough down, millions? |
34 Can you sense the Creator, world? |
35 Seek him above the starry canopy. |
36 Above the stars He must dwell. |
37 Joy is called the strong motivation |
38 In eternal nature. |
39 Joy, joy moves the wheels |
40 In the universal time machine. |
41 Flowers it calls forth from their buds, |
42 Suns from the Firmament, |
43 Spheres it moves far out in Space, |
44 Where our telescopes cannot reach. |
Chorus |
45 Joyful, as His suns are flying, |
46 Across the Firmament's splendid design, |
47 Run, brothers, run your race, |
48 Joyful, as a hero going to conquest. |
49 As truth's fiery reflection |
50 It smiles at the scientist. |
51 To virtue's steep hill |
52 It leads the sufferer on. |
53 Atop faith's lofty summit |
54 One sees its flags in the wind, |
55 Through the cracks of burst-open coffins, |
56 One sees it stand in the angels' chorus. |
Chorus |
57 Endure courageously, millions! |
58 Endure for the better world! |
59 Above the starry canopy |
60 A great God will reward you. |
61 Gods one cannot ever repay, |
62 It is beautiful, though, to be like them. |
63 Sorrow and Poverty, come forth |
64 And rejoice with the Joyful ones. |
65 Anger and revenge be forgotten, |
66 Our deadly enemy be forgiven, |
67 Not one tear shall he shed anymore, |
68 No feeling of remorse shall pain him. |
Chorus |
69 The account of our misdeeds be destroyed! |
70 Reconciled the entire world! |
71 Brothers, above the starry canopy |
72 God judges as we judged. |
73 Joy is bubbling in the glasses, |
74 Through the grapes' golden blood |
75 Cannibals drink gentleness, |
76 And despair drinks courage-- |
77 Brothers, fly from your seats, |
78 When the full rummer is going around, |
79 Let the foam gush up to heaven*: |
80 This glass to the good spirit. |
Chorus |
81 He whom star clusters adore, |
82 He whom the Seraphs' hymn praises, |
83 This glass to him, the good spirit, |
84 Above the starry canopy! |
85 Resolve and courage for great suffering, |
86 Help there, where innocence weeps, |
87 Eternally may last all sworn Oaths, |
88 Truth towards friend and enemy, |
89 Men's pride before Kings' thrones-- |
90 Brothers, even it if meant our Life and blood, |
91 Give the crowns to those who earn them, |
92 Defeat to the pack of liars! |
Chorus |
93 Close the holy circle tighter, |
94 Swear by this golden wine: |
95 To remain true to the Oath, |
96 Swear it by the Judge above the stars! |
97 Delivery from tyrants' chains, |
98 Generosity also towards the villain, |
99 Hope on the deathbeds, |
100 Mercy from the final judge! |
101 Also the dead shall live! |
102 Brothers, drink and chime in, |
103 All sinners shall be forgiven, |
104 And hell shall be no more. |
Chorus |
105 A serene hour of farewell! |
106 Sweet rest in the shroud! |
107 Brothers--a mild sentence |
108 From the mouth of the final judge! |