The Great Hymn to Aten (God)


iconChapter - 2

1(morning beauty)
2Splendid You rise in the lightland of the sky,
3O living God, creator of life !
4You have dawned in the eastern heavens.
5You fill every land with your beauty.
6(noon dominion)
7You are beauteous, mighty & radiant.
8Risen high over every land,
9your rays embrace the lands,
10to the limit of all that You made.
11Being Divine Light (Holy Spirit), You reach their end.
12You bend them for your beloved son.
13Though You are far, your rays are on Earth.
14Though seen by them, your course is unknown.
15(night chaos)
16When You set in the western lightland,
17Earth is in darkness, as if death.
18The sleepers are in their chambers, heads covered,
19no eye seeing the other.
20One could steal their goods from under their heads, they would not notice it.
21Every lion comes from its den.
22The serpents bite.
23Darkness hovers, Earth is silent.
24For its creator rests in heaven.
25(dawn rebirth)
26At dawn You have risen in the heavens.
27To shine as the God of daytime !
28You dispel the dark and cast your rays.
29The Two Lands celebrate daily.
30Awake they stand on their feet.
31You have made them get up.
32They wash and dress, their arms raised in adoration to your appearance.
33The entire land sets out to work.
34All cattle are satisfied with their fodder.
35The trees and the grass become green.
36Birds fly from their nests, their wings praising your soul.
37All game animals frisk on their hooves, all that fly and flutter, live when You dawn for them.
38Ships fare downstream and back upstream, roads lie open when You rise.
39Your rays penetrate the Great Green deep.