The Great Hymn to Aten (God)

iconChapter - 3

1(the child)
2O You, who make semen grow in women,
3who creates people from sperm,
4who feeds the son in his mother's womb,
5who soothes him to still his tears.
6You nurse in the womb !
7Giver of breath to nourish all creatures.
8When the child emerges from the womb to breathe on the day of his birth,
9You open wide his mouth to supply his needs.
10(the chicken)
11The chick in the egg, chirping in the shell,
12You give it breath within to sustain its life.
13When it is complete, it breaks out from the egg.
14It emerges from the egg, to say it is complete.
15Walking on its legs when emerging.
16God as doer : un-saying, solitary, omnipotent
17How many are your deeds, though hidden from sight.
18O sole God without equal !
19You made the Earth as You desired, You alone.
20With people, cattle, and all creatures.
21With everything upon Earth that walks on legs,
22and all that is on high and flies with its wings.
23the Two Niles : God as national, international and transnational governor
24The foreign lands of Syria and Nubia, and the land of Egypt,
25You set everybody in his place and supply their needs.
26They all have their food and their lifetimes are counted.
27Tongues differ in speech, their characters as well.
28Their skins are distinct, for You distinguished the peoples.
29You made the Nile in the Netherworld.
30You bring it up when You will, to keep those of Egypt alive,
31for You have created them for yourself.
32Lord of ALL who toils for them.
33Lord of ALL Lands who shines for them.
34O God of daytime, great in glory !
35All distant lands, You make them live.
36You made a heavenly Nile descend for them.
37With waves beating on the mountains like the sea,
38to drench their fields and their towns.
39How excellent are your ways, O Lord of Eternity !
40The Nile from heaven for foreign peoples
41and all land-creatures that walk on legs.
42For Egypt the Nile from the Netherworld.