Holy God, we praise Your name;
Lord of all, we bow before You.
Saints on earth your scepter claim;
all in heav’n above adore You.
Infinite Your vast domain;
everlasting is Your reign.
Hark, the glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”
Lo, the apostolic train
joins Your sacred name to hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the white-robed martyrs follow;
and from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, three we name You,
though in essence only one;
undivided God, we claim You,
and, adoring, bend the knee
while we own the mystery.
—Te Deum, c. 4th cent.
attr. Ignace Franz (c. 1774)
tr. Clarence Walworth (1858)