Nisi Dominus (Handel)

!bgcolor=ececec|Movement

!bgcolor=ececec|Type and voice

!bgcolor=ececec|Text

!bgcolor=ececec|Translation

| Soloists and Chorus

| Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum,
in vanum laboraverunt, qui aedificant eam.
Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem,
frustra vigilat, qui custodit eam.

| Except the Lord build the house:
their labour is but lost that build it
Except the Lord keep the city:
the watchman waketh but in vain.

| Aria (Tenor solo)

| Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite, post quam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris.

| It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest,
and eat the bread of carefulness.

| Aria (Countertenor solo)

| Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum. Ecce haereditas Domini filii, merces fructus ventris.

| For so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children and the fruit of the womb:
are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.

| Aria (Bass solo)

| Sicut sagittae in manu potentis ita filii excussorum.

| Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant:
even so are the young children.

| Aria (Tenor solo)

| Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

| Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

| Double Chorus

| Gloria Patri et Filio, Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen

| Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.