O Mensch! Gib Acht!

Was spricht die tiefe Mitternacht?

Ich schlief, ich schlief ,
Aus tiefem Traum bin ich erwacht:
Die Welt ist tief,
Und tiefer als der Tag gedacht.
Tief ist ihr Weh ,
Lust tiefer noch als Herzeleid:
Weh spricht: Vergeh!
Doch alle Lust will Ewigkeit ,
will tiefe, tiefe Ewigkeit!

Thomas Common

O man! Take heed!

What saith deep midnight's voice indeed?
"I slept my sleep
"From deepest dream I've woke and plead:
"The world is deep,
"And deeper than the day could read.
"Deep is its woe
"Joydeeper still than grief can be:
"Woe saith: Hence! Go!
"But joys all want eternity
"Want deep profound eternity!"
Alexander Tille, revised

O man! Take heed!

What saith deep midnight, indeed?
"I lay asleep, asleep
I waked from my deep dream.
The world is deep,
And deeper than even day may dream.
Deep is its woe
Joy deeper yet than woe is she:
Saith woe: 'Hence! Go!'
Yet joy would have eternity,
Profound, profound eternity!"

Walter Kaufmann

O man, take care!

What does the deep midnight declare?
"I was asleep
From a deep dream I woke and swear:
The world is deep,
Deeper than day had been aware.
Deep is its woe;
Joydeeper yet than agony:
Woe implores: Go!
But all joy wants eternity
Wants deep, wants deep eternity."
R. J. Hollingdale

O man! Attend!
What does deep midnight's voice contend?
'I slept my sleep,
'And now awake at dreaming's end:
'The world is deep,
'And deeper than day can comprehend.
'Deep is its woe,
'Joydeeper than heart's agony:
'Woe says: Fade! Go!
'But all joy wants eternity,
'Wants deep, deep, deep eternity!'

Adrian Del Caro

Oh mankind, pray!
What does deep midnight have to say?
"From sleep, from sleep
From deepest dream I made my way:
The world is deep,
And deeper than the grasp of day.
Deep is its pain,
Joydeeper still than misery:
Pain says: Refrain!
Yet all joy wants eternity
Wants deep, wants deep eternity."