Die Stem van Suid-Afrika

The Call of South Africa

Literal translation from Afrikaans

First verse

Uit die blou van onse hemel,

Ringing out from our blue heavens,

From the blue of our heaven

Uit die diepte van ons see,

From our deep seas breaking round,

From the depths of our sea,

Oor ons ewige gebergtes

Over everlasting mountains,

Over our eternal mountain ranges

Waar die kranse antwoord gee.

Where the echoing crags resound,

Where the cliffs give answer

Deur ons vêr verlate vlaktes

From our plains where creaking wagons,

Through our far-deserted valleys

Met die kreun van ossewa.

Cut their trails into the earth,

With the groan of ox-wagon

Ruis die stem van ons geliefde,

Calls the spirit of our country,

Rises the voice of our beloved,

Van ons land Suid-Afrika.

Of the land that gave us birth.

Of our country South Africa

Ons sal antwoord op jou roepstem,

At thy call we shall not falter,

We will answer to your calling,

Ons sal offer wat jy vra:

Firm and steadfast we shall stand,

We will offer what you ask

Ons sal lewe, ons sal sterwe,

At thy will to live or perish,

We will live, we will die

Ons vir jou, Suid-Afrika.

O South Africa, dear land.

We for Thee, South Africa

Second verse

In die merg van ons gebeente,

In our body and our spirit,

In the marrow of our bones

in ons hart en siel en gees,

In our inmost heart held fast;

In our heart and soul and spirit

In ons roem op ons verlede,

In the promise of our future,

In the glory of our past

In ons hoop op wat sal wees.

And the glory of our past;

In our hope of what will be

In ons wil en werk en wandel,

In our will, our work, our striving,

In our will and work and wander,

Van ons wieg tot aan ons graf.

From the cradle to the grave-

From our crib to our grave

Deel geen ander land ons liefde,

There's no land that shares our loving,

Share no other land our love,

Trek geen ander trou ons af.

And no bond that can enslave.

Will no other win our trist.

Vaderland, ons sal die adel,

Thou hast borne us and we know thee,

Fatherland! We will bear

Van jou naam met ere dra:

May our deeds to all proclaim

Your name with honour:

Waar en trou as Afrikaners,

Our enduring love and service

Dedicated and true as Afrikaners,

Kinders van Suid-Afrika.

To thy honour and thy name.

Children of South Africa

Third verse

In die songloed van ons somer,

In the golden warmth of summer,

In the sunglow of our summer,

in ons winternag se kou,

In the chill of winter's air,

In the winternights so cold

In die lente van ons liefde,

In the surging life of springtime,

In the spring of our love,

in die lanfer van ons rou.

In the autumn of despair;

In the mourning of our loss

By die klink van huw'liksklokkies,

When the wedding bells are chiming,

At the sound of wedding bells,

by die kluit-klap op die kis.

Or when those we love do depart,

At the stonefall on the coffin.

Streel jou stem ons nooit verniet nie,

Thou dost know us for thy children

Soothes your voice us never in vain,

Weet jy waar jou kinders is.

And dost take us to thy heart

You know where your children are.

Op jou roepstem sê ons nooit nee nie,

Loudly peals the answering chorus;

At your call say us never no,

Sê ons altyd, altyd ja:

We are thine, and we shall stand,

Say us always, always yes:

Om te lewe, om te sterwe -

Be it life or death, to answer

To live, to die -

Ja, ons kom, Suid-Afrika.

To thy call, beloved land.

Yes, we come South Africa

Fourth verse

Op U Almag vas vertrouend

In thy power, Almighty, trusting,

On your almight steadfast entrusted

het ons vadere gebou:

Did our fathers build of old;

Had our fathers built:

Skenk ook ons die krag, o Here!

Strengthen then, O Lord, their children

Give to us also the strength, o Lord!

Om te handhaaf en te hou.

To defend, to love, to hold-

To sustain and to preserve.

Dat die erwe van ons vadere

That the heritage they gave us

The the land of our fathers

Vir ons kinders erwe bly:

For our children yet may be;

For our children land remain

Knegte van die Allerhoogste,

Bondsmen only to the Highest

Servants of the almighty,

Teen die hele wêreld vry.

And before the whole world free.

Against the whole world free.

Soos ons vadere vertrou het,

As our fathers trusted humbly,

As our fathers had faith,

Leer ook ons vertrou, o Heer:

Teach us, Lord to trust Thee still;

Teach us as well to believe, o Lord:

Met ons land en met ons nasie

Guard our land and guide our people

With our land and with our nation

Sal dit wel wees, God regeer.

In Thy way to do Thy will.

Will it be well, God reigns.