Psalm of the Old Believers - xvii century

Psalm of the Old Believers, XVII century
- freely translated from the Russian -

At day's end, with setting sun
We retired to bed;

Early we retired to bed,
Prayers left unsaid;

And angels flying from on high
Took our hands, and cried:

"Slave, awaken and arise,
Arise and pray."

Neither gold nor silver do I need,
Nor fine array,

But six feet of earth, four planks -
That's all I need.

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(a better translation 13/03/2013)

Psalm of the Old Believers, XVII century
 translated from the Russian by Jena Woodhouse 

At sunset, when the sun went down,
We went to bed;

Early, early did we go to sleep,
Our prayers unsaid;

And angels circling our house 
Grasped our hands, and cried:

"Slave, awaken and arise, arise,
Arise and pray."

Neither gold nor silver do I need,
Nor fine array,

But six feet of earth, four planks 
Suffice for me.

*

Псалом староверов, XVII век


На закате солнышко садилось,
А мы спать ложились.

А мы рано, рано спать ложились,
Богу не молились.

А во дворе ангелы летали
Под ручки хватали:

Устань, устань, устань, раб проснися
Богу помолися

Мне не надо ни злата, ни серебра
Ни доброи одёжи

А мне надо, мне два сажени земли
Да четыре доски.

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My heartfelt thanks to Nika Kosenkova,
who provided the original text.