Living
Ocean Blessing
Translated by Alexander Carmichael (1900) · From Carmina Gadelica, vol. I (1900): Labour
God the Father all-powerful, benign,
Jesu the Son of tears and of sorrow,
With thy co-assistance, O! Holy Spirit.
The Three-One, ever-living, ever-mighty, everlasting,
Who brought the Children of Israel through the Red Sea,
And Jonah to land from the belly of the great creature of the ocean,
Who brought Paul and his companions in the ship,
From the torment of the sea, from the dolour of the waves,
From the gale that was great, from the storm that was heavy.
When the storm poured on the Sea of Galilee,
* * * * *
* * * * *
Sain us and shield and sanctify us,
Be Thou, King of the elements, seated at our helm,
And lead us in peace to the end of our journey.
With winds mild, kindly, benign, pleasant.
Without swirl, without whirl, without eddy,
That would do no harmful deed to us.
We ask all things of Thee, O God,
According to Thine own will and word.
Codex Note
Gaelic: Beannachadh Cuain. Carmina Gadelica I, no. 119, Labour.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “Ocean Blessing.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/118/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Scottish Gaelic). “Ocean Blessing.” Translated by Alexander Carmichael. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-scottish-gaelic/118/.
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