This past Sunday we sang the Te Deum during worship.  I have always liked this hymn, but this past Sunday, as I was meditating on it while we sang, I came to a whole new appreciation for it.

In this one hymn you have everything necessary to comprehend the Christian faith.  If you were stranded on an island or stuck in a prison, and had this one hymn, you could pray, catechize, sing, and preach.  Now, ideally, most of us will never suffer such a limitation, but it is a testimony to the genius of the Te Deum that it encapsulates so succinctly the substance of our faith.

The trinity, the incarnation, redemption, the resurrection, the ascension, the return of Christ, judgment,  the Church, and faith in Christ, are all in this one hymn.

It also blows my mind that our forefathers in the faith have been singing this hymn for 1500 years.   Everyday, somewhere, someone has sung these words in praise to our God since about 500AD.

Now there is a track record that is hard to beat.

Here is the English translation from the Book of Common Prayer. This musical setting is a new favorite of mine from the Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft Wayne In.

Te Deum Laudamus (MP3)

We praise thee, O God :
we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee :
the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud :
the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim :
continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy :
Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :
of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world :
doth acknowledge thee;
The Father : of an infinite Majesty;
Thine honourable, true : and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost : the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory : O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man :
thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death :
thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants :
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints : in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people :
and bless thine heritage.
Govern them : and lift them up for ever.
Day by day : we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name : ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord : to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us : have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us :
as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted :
let me never be confounded.

By Pat K

Posted in General