From the abyss of death
Christ ascends victorious
together with the ancient fathers.
The sun of Easter shines,
the sky with songs resounds,
all the earth rejoices.
From the abyss of death…
Beside the empty tomb
in vain the guardian watches:
the Lord from death has risen!
From the abyss of death…
O Jesus, immortal King,
unite in your victory
those in baptism reborn.
From the abyss of death…
May the light of your Passover,
the pledge of love and peace,
shine upon your Church.
From the abyss of death…
Glory and honour to Christ,
to the Father and the Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen! Amen! Amen!

If the Lord does not build the house,
in vain do the builders toil.
If the Lord does not watch over the city,
in vain the watchman keeps vigil;
if the Lord does not watch over the city.
If the Lord does not build the house…
In vain is your early rising,
your going late to rest
to earn your daily bread.
God gives to his friends while they sleep!
God gives to his friends while they sleep.
If the Lord does not build the house…
Sons are a gift from the Lord,
like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who has his quiver full of them,
he will not fear when enemies arrive.
If the Lord does not build the house…

Why do the nations conspire,
why do the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise in revolt,
and princes plot together
against the Lord and against his Messiah:
"Let us break their fetters of iron,
let us throw off the ropes that bind us,"
but the One who’s in heaven is laughing,
from on high the Lord derides them.
He speaks to them in his anger,
he frightens them with his fury:
"I have anointed him my sovereign
on Zion my holy mountain,
on Zion my holy mountain,
I have anointed him my sovereign
on Zion my holy mountain,
on Zion my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,
he has told me: "You are my son,
today I have begotten you.
Ask me, and to you I will give all the nations,
and the ends of the earth for your heritage.
You will break them with a sceptre of iron,
like vessels of clay you will shatter them."
"I have anointed him my sovereign…
And now, you kings, be wise,
learn wisdom, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord, our God, with fear,
and rejoice with trembling;
lest he grow angry
and you lose your way,
for his anger is quick to blaze.
Happy the man who takes refuge in him.
"I have anointed him my sovereign…