Praying in Gaelic

Benedictus

The Song of Zachariah, also known as the Benedictus, is a canticle commonly sung within Western Christianity. An abbreviation of the Latin title Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel – “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel” – is derived from Luke 1:68–79 and was sung by Zachariah during the circumcision of his son St. John the Baptist. This canticle was first introduced into public worship by St. Caesarius of Arles during the middle of the 6^th century. It has also been compared to 4Q521 of the Dead Sea Scrolls due to a common messianic theme.

The canticle is presented here in the modern iterations of Irish, Manx, and Scots Gaelic. It is recommended to sing in one’s ancestral language, connecting the individual to one’s kin past, present, and future in prayer.

Irish (1965 Edition)

Go madh beannaighe au Tighearna Día Israel; ar son gur fhiosruigh sé agus gur fhúasgail sé a phobal féin,

Agus do thóg sé súas adharc na sláinte dhúinne a dtigh Dháibhi a shearbhfhoghantuidhe féin;

Do réir mar do labhair sé tré bhéul a fháidheadh náomhtha féin, do bhí ann ó thús an domáin:

Ga gcuimhdéochadh sé sinn ó ar naimhdibh, agus ó láimh gach uile dhuine agá bhfuil fúath dhuinn;

Go ndéanadh sé trócaire air ar naithreachuibh, agus go gcuimhnéochadh sé a thiomna náomhtha féin;

Agus ar an mionna lé a dtug sé móid Dábrahám ar nathairne, go dtiubhradh sé dhúinn,

Go mbémís gan eagla air ar sáoradh ó láimh ar námhad do chum seirbhisi do déanamh dhó féin,

A náomhthachd agus a bhfíréantachd na fhíadhnuisiséan, a laéthibh ar mbeatha uile.

Agus tusa, a leinibh, goirfithear diot faídh an té as Airde: óir rachuidh tú roimh aghaidh an Thighearna dullmhughadh a shligheadh;

Do thabhairt éolus na sláinte dá phobal tré mhaitheamhnus na bpeacadh,

Tré thrócaire ro mhóir ar Ndia féin; lér fhiosruigh sé sinn ag éirghe ón ionad árd,

Do thabhairt soillsi don droing do bhí na suidhe a ndorchadas agus a sgáile an bháis, agus do dhíorghadh ar gcos a slighe na síothchána.

Manx (1893 Edition)

Bannit dy row yn Chiarn jee dy Israel; son t'eh er yeeaghyn er, as er chionnaghey reesht e phobble;

As t'eh er hroggal seose saualtys niartal er nyn son: ayns thie e harvaant Ghavid.

Myr loayr eh liorish beeal ny Phadeyryn casherick echey: t'er ny ve er dy hoshiaght y theihll.

Dy beagh shin er nyn sauail veih nyn noidyn: as veih ny laueyn ocsyn ooilley ta dwoaie oc orrin:

Dy chooilleeney yn vyghin va giallit da ny shenn-ayraghyn ain: as dy chooinaghtyn er e Chonaant casherick;

Dy chooilleeney yn breearrey ren eh da'n shenn-ayr ain Abraham, dy giallagh eh dooinyn;

Dy beagh shin er nyn livrey veih laueyn nyn noidyn: as dy shirveishagh shin eh fegooish aggle:

Ayns craueeaght as cairys kiongoyrt rish: ooilley laghyn nyn mea..

As bee uss, Lhiannoo, enmyssit Phadeyr y Fer-syrjey: son hed oo roish eddin y Chiarn dy yannoo aarloo e raaidyn; [7]

Dy choyrt tushtey dy haualtys da e phobble: liorish leih nyn beccaghyn,

Trooid myghin meigh yn Jee ain: liorish ta brishey yn laa veih'n yrjid er jeet dy hoilshean orrin:

Dy chur soilshey dauesyn ta nyn soie ayns dorraghys, as ayns scadoo yn vaaish: as dy leeideil ny cassyn ain gys raad y chee.

Scots Gaelic (1895 Edition)

U ma beannaichte an Tighearn Dia Israeil: air son gu’n d’ fhiosraich e, agus gu’n d’ thug e saorsa d’ a phobull;

Agus gu’n do thog e suas dhuinne adharc. slàinte: ann an tigh Dhaibhidh ‘òglaich féin;

A réir mar a labhair e le beul ‘Fhàidhean naomha féin: a bha ann o thoiseach an t-saoghail;

A thoirt saorsa dhuinn o ar naimhdibh: agus o làimh na muinntir sin uile le ‘m fuathach sinn;

A choimhlionadh na tròcair a gheall e d’ ar n-aithrichibh : agus a chuimhneachadh a

Choimhcheangail naoimh féin;

Na mionnan a mhionnaich e d’ ar n-athair Abraham: gu’n tugadh e dhuinn;

Air dhuinn a bhi air ar saoradh o làimh ar naimhdean: gu’n deanamaid seirbhis dha as eugmhais eagail;

Ann an naomhachd, agus ann am fìreantachd ’n a làthair féin: uile làithean ar beatha.

Agus thusa, a Leinibh, goirear dhiot fàidh an Ti a ‘s àirde: oir théid thu roimh aghaidh an

Tighearn’ a dh’ ulluchadh a shlighe;

A thoirt còlais na slàinte d’ a phobull: ann am maitheanas am peacaidhean,

Troimh thròcair ro mhòir ar Dé-ne: leis an dh’ fhiosraich an Ur-mhaduinn o ‘n ionad a àirde sinn;

A thoirt soluis dhoibhsan a tha ‘n an suidhe ann an dorchadas, agus ann an sgàil a’ bhàis: a threòrachadh ar cos air slighe na sìthe.