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The "Swiss Psalm" is the national anthem of Switzerland.

Its history dates back to 1841, when the anthem was composed by Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854). Since then it has been frequently sung on patriotic events. The Federal Council declined however on numerous occasions to accept the psalm as the official anthem. This was because they wanted the people to decide what they liked as the national song.

From 1961, it provisionally replaced "Rufst Du mein Vaterland" ("When you call, my fatherland"; in French: "O Monts indépendants"; in Italian: "Ci chiami o patria"; in Romansh: "E clomas, tger paeis"; in German commonly called "Heil dir, Helvetia") the anthem by Johann Rudolf Wyss (1743-1818) to the melody of "God Save the Queen".

Finally on April 1, 1981 it was declared the official Swiss national anthem.

Contents 1 Lyrics 1.1 German: Schweizerpsalm 1.1.1 1st verse 1.1.2 2nd verse 1.1.3 3rd verse 1.1.4 4th verse 1.2 French: Cantique suisse 1.2.1 1st verse 1.2.2 2nd verse 1.2.3 3rd verse 1.2.4 4th verse 1.3 Italian: Salmo svizzero 1.3.1 1st verse 1.3.2 2nd verse 1.3.3 3rd verse 1.3.4 4th verse 1.4 Rumantsch: Psalm svizzer 1.4.1 1st verse 1.4.2 2nd verse 1.4.3 3rd verse 1.4.4 4th verse 1.5 English: Swiss Psalm 1.5.1 1st verse 1.5.2 2nd verse 1.5.3 3rd verse 2 External links

The German text by Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867) has been translated into all Swiss official languages. The Romansh version in Ladin is by Gion Antoni Bühler (1825-1897) and in Sursilvan by Alfons Tuor (1871-1904).

By Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867).

Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh' ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find' ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such' ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.

Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist Du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland !

P. Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854)

By Charles Chatelanat (1833-1907).

Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.

Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux:
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.

Des grands monts vient le secours;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.

By Camillo Valsangiacomo (1898-1978).

Quando bionda aurora il mattin c'indora
l'alma mia t'adora re del ciel!
Quando l'alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t'atteggia;
in favor del patrio suol,
cittadino Dio lo vuol.

Se di stelle è un giubilo la celeste sfera
Te ritrovo a sera o Signor!
Nella notte silenziosa
l'alma mia in Te riposa:
libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

Se di nubi un velo m'asconde il tuo cielo
pel tuo raggio anelo Dio d'amore!
Fuga o sole quei vapori
e mi rendi i tuoi favori:
di mia patria deh! Pietà
brilla, sol di verità

Quando rugge e strepita impetuoso il nembo
m'è ostel tuo grembo o Signor!
In te fido Onnipossente
deh, proteggi nostra gente;
Libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.

En l'aurora la damaun ta salida il carstgaun,
spiert etern dominatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'ils munts straglischan sura,
ura liber Svizzer, ura.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

Er la saira en splendur da las stailas en l'azur
tai chattain nus, creatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'il firmament sclerescha
en noss cors fidanza crescha.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

Ti a nus es er preschent en il stgir dal firmament,
ti inperscrutabel spiert, Tutpussent!
Tschiel e terra t'obedeschan
vents e nivels secundeschan.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

Cur la furia da l'orcan fa tremblar il cor uman
alur das ti a nus vigur, Tutpussent!
Ed en temporal sgarschaivel
stas ti franc a nus fidaivel.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
Il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.

The English translations don't include the fourth verse for some unknown reason.

When the morning skies grow red
And o'er us their radiance shed,
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light.
When the Alps glow bright with splendour,
Pray to God, to Him surrender,
For you feel and understand,
That He dwelleth in this land.

In the sunset Thou art night
And beyond the starry sky,
Thou, O loving Father, ever near.
When to Heaven we are departing,
Joy and bliss Thou'lt be imparting,
For we feel and understand
That Thou dwellest in this land.

When dark clouds enshroud the hills
And gray mist the valley fills,
Yet Thou art not hidden from Thy sons.
Pierce the gloom in which we cower
With Thy sunshine's cleansing power
Then we'll feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land.

• History of Swiss Psalm: How a church hymn became a national anthem
• Text and sound in the four national languages