MALTESE LYRICS

Lil din l-art helwa, l-Omm li tatna isimha, 
hares, Mulej, kif dejjem Int harist: 
Ftakar li lilha bl-ohla dawl libbist. 

Aghti, kbir Alla, id-dehen lil min jahkimha, 
Rodd il-hniena lis-sid, sahha ’l-haddiem: 
Seddaq il-ghaqda fil-Maltin u s-sliem. 

---
ENGLISH LYRICS

Guard her, O Lord, as ever Thou hast guarded! 
This Motherland so dear whose name we bear! 
Keep her in mind, whom Thou hast made so fair! 

May he who rules, for wisdom be regarded! 
In master mercy, strength in man increase! 
Confirm us all, in unity and peace!

---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

To this sweet land, our mother, to which we owe our name,
Guard her, Lord God, like always you have guarded,
Remember her, which you have clothed with light.
 
Give, Great God, intellect to whom who governs,
Give mercy to the proprietor, and strength to the workman,
To let us serve upright, true and faithful, a united people, Maltese, and in peace. 

-------------------------

Malta
"Innu Malti" (Hymn of Malta)

Words by:Dun Karm Psaila (Maltese), May Butcher (English)
Music by:Robert Sammut
Adopted:1945

The Mediterranean island nation of Malta has a beautiful anthem, which has
always has been one of my favourites. First performed in 1923, it became the
national anthem in 1945. The author of the anthem's lyrics, Dun Karm Psaila,
(Malta's national poet), was originally comissioned to write a school hymn to
already-existing music. He thought of the idea of a national anthem in the form
of a prayer, to bind together the political parties and the country with the
commonality of prayer.

The anthem was given English lyrics later by May Butcher, but the spirit and
original meaning of Dum Karm's lyrics is missing somewhat, so I also provide a
translation of the Maltese lyrics.

Special thanks to:Jan Scotland for some of this information and the English
lyrics.

MUSIC
