Te Deum Laudamus
Praying in Gaelic
The Te Deum Laudamus, often shortened to “Te Deum,” is an ancient hymn dated to around the 4th century. Often attributed to either St. Ambrose of Milan or St. Augustine of Hippo, though the exact author is currently unknown, Te Deum is present in the Ambrosian Rite and part of the Ambrosian Hymnal. It serves as part of the Divine Office within Western Christianity, where it is often chanted during Morning Prayer or Matins depending on church tradition. While traditionally sung according to Gregorian chant melody, various musicians have set Te Deum to music contributing to the ongoing use of this ancient hymn.
The canticle is presented here in modern iterations of Irish and Scots Gaelic. It is encouraged to sing in one’s ancestral language, connecting oneself to not only those native and in diaspora, but to all Gaelic Christians in the past, present, and future.
English Translation (1892)
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 forever.
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.
Scots Gaelic Translation (1895)
Tha sinn a’ toirt molaidh dhuit, O ‘Dhé: tha sinn ag aideachadh gun tu an TIGHEARN.
Tha ‘n talamh uile a’ toirt aoraidh dhuit: an t-Athair bith-bhuan.
Riutsa tha na h-Aingil uile ag éigheach gu h-àrd: na Nèamhan, agus na tha de Chumhachdaibh annta.
Riutsa tha Cerubin agus Seraphin: do ghnàth ag éigheach,
Naomh, Naomh, Naomh: TIGHEARN Dia nan Sluagh.
Tha Neamh agus Talamh làn do Mhòrachd: do Ghlòire.
Tha coimhthional glòrmhor nan Abstol: a’ toirt molaidh dhuit.
Tha comnunn maiseach nam Fàidhean: a’ toirt molaidh dhuit.
Tha sluagh àluinn an Luchd-fianuis: a’ toirt molaidh dhuit.
Tha ’n Eaglais Naomh feadh an t-saoghail uile: ‘g a d’ aideachadh;
An t-Athair: na Mòrachd neo-chrìochnaich;
D’ aon Mhac, fìor: agus urramach;
Mar an ceudna an Spiorad Naomh: an Comhfhurtair.
Is tu Rìgh na Glòire: O Chriosd.
Is tu Mac sìorruidh: an Athar.
An uair a ghabh thu ort féin an duine shaoradh: cha d’ rinn thu tàin air broinn na h-Oighe.
An uair a thug thu buaidh air guin a’ bhàis: dh’ fhosgail thu rìoghachd nèimh do na h-uile chreidmhich.
Tha thu a’ d’ shuidhe air deas làimh Dhé: ann an Glòir an Athar.
Tha sinn a’ creidsinn, gu’n tig thu: gu ‘bhi d’ bhreitheamh oirnn.
Air an aobhar sin tha sinn a’ guidhe ort, cuidich do sheirbhisich: a shaor thu le d’ fhuil ro phrìseil féin.
Dean an àireamh maille ri d’ Naoimh: ann an glòir shìorruidh.
O THIGHEARNA, sàbhail do shluagh: agus beannaich d’ oighreachd.
Stiuir iad: agus tog suas iad gu sìorruidh.
O là gu là: tha sinn ‘g a d’ àrd-mholadh;
Agus a’ toirt aoraidh do d’ Ainm: gu bràth saoghal gun chrìoch.
Deònaich, O ‘THIGHEARNA: an cumail an diugh gun pheacadh.
O THIGHEARNA, dean tròcair oirnn: dean tròcair oirnn.
O THIGHEARNA, leig le d’ thròcair luidhe oirnn: mar a tha an n-earbsa annad.
O THIGHEARNA, annadsa chuir mi m’ earbsa: na leig amhluadh orm a chaoidh.
Irish Translation (1965)
Molaimid tú, a Dhia: admhaímid gur tusa an TIARNA.
Adhrann an talamh uile thú: an tAthair síoraí.
Is chugatsa éas na hAingil uile, na Flaithis agus a bhfuil de Chumachta iontu:
Is chugatsa éas de shíor na Cearúibím agus na Searaifím,
Naofa, Naofa, Naofa, an TIARNA, Dia na Slua:
Tá neamh agus talamh Lán de Mhórgacht do ghlóirese.
Comhluadar glórmhar na nAspal molaid thú:
Dea-chomhaltas na bhFáithe molaid thú.
Arm glanuasal: na Mairtíreach molaid thú.
An Eaglais naofa ar fuaid an domain: Admhaíonn sí thú;
An tAthair i do Mhórgacht gan teorainn:
D’Aonmhac fírinneach fíor-onórach;
Agus an Spiorad Naomh an Fortaitheoir.
Is tú Ri na Glóire, a Chríost.
Is tú an Mac síoraí on Athair.
Nuair a ghabhais ort an Ádhamhchlann a fhuascailt níor thugais gráin do bhoinn na hÓighe.
Nuair a bhuaid ar gha an bháis: chuiris ríocht neimhe ar leathadh roimh lucht an chreidim go léir.
Táir i do shuí ar dheas Dé i nglóir an Athar:
Creidimid go dtiocfair chun breithiúnas a dhéanamh orainn.
Uime sin, guímro thú, fóir ar do shearbhóntaí, a fhuascail tú led fhuil mhórluachmhar:
Deonaigh a gcomhaireamh i measc do Naomh i nGlóir shíoraí.
A THIARNA, saor do mhuintir, agus beannaigh d’ordheacht:
bí á rialú, agus tóg suas chugat go brách iad.