Plain text of Book The Eighth · Book 8, Hymn 21. God the Mighty
1 We call on Thee, O Matchless One! We seeking help, possessing nothing firm ourselves,
Call on Thee wonderful in fight
2 On Thee for aid in devotion. This youth of ours, the bold, the mighty, hath gone forth.
We therefore, we Thy friends, O God, have chosen Thee, free-giver, as our Guardian God.
3 Come hither, for the gifts are here, O Lord of corn-lands, Lord of horses, Lord of kine:
Accept the offering, Lord of all gifts!
4 For we the kinless singers have drawn hither Thee, O God, who hast numerous kin.
With all the forms Thou hast, come Thou of bull-like strength, come near to accept the offering.
5 Sitting like birds beside Thy sweet drink, mingled with milk, that gladdeneth and exalteth Thee,
O God, to Thee we sing aloud.
6 We speak to Thee with this our reverential prayer. Why art Thou pondering yet awhile?
Here are our wishes; Thou art liberal, Lord of Bays: we and our hymns are present here.
7 For not in recent times alone, O God, Thunder-armed, have we obtained Thine aid.
Of old we knew Thy plenteous wealth.
8 Hero, we knew Thy friendship and Thy rich rewards: these, Thunderer, now we crave of Thee.
O Bountiful, for all wealth that cometh of the kine, sharpen our powers, fair-visored God.
9 Him who of old hath brought to us this and that blessing, Him I magnify for you,
Even God, O my friends, for help.
10 Borne by bay steeds, the Lord of heroes, ruling men, for it is He who takes delight.
May the Bountiful bestow on us His worshippers hundreds of cattle and of steeds.
11 Hero, may we, with Thee for Friend, withstand the man who pants against us in his wrath,
In fight with people rich in kine.
12 May we be victors in the singer's battle-song, and meet the wicked, Much-invoked!
With heroes smite the foeman and show forth our strength. O God, further Thou our thoughts.
13 O God, from all ancient time rivalless ever and companionless art Thou:
Thou seekest comradeship in war.
14 Thou findest not the wealthy man to be Thy friend: those scorn Thee who are flown with wine.
What time Thou thunderest and gatherest, then Thou, even as a Lord, art invoked.
15 O God, let us not, like fools who waste their lives at home, with friendship such as Thine
Sit idly by the poured-out gift.
16 Giver of kine, may we not miss Thy gracious gifts: let us not rob Thee of Thine own.
Strip even the strong places of the foe, and bring: Thy gifts can never be made vain.
17 God alone, or the blessed stream, bestows such wealth, treasure so great, or Thou,
O Citra, on the worshipper.
18 Citra is King, and only kinglings are the rest who dwell beside the stream.
He, like the rain-cloud with its rain, hath spread himself with thousand, yea, with myriad gifts.