The Te Deum
We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubin and Seraphin continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee; The Father of an infinite Majesty; Thine honourable, true, and only Son; Also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ. Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father. When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine heritage. Govern them, and lift them up for ever.
Day by day we magnify thee; And we worship thy Name, ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee. O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.
About This Prayer
The Te Deum Laudamus ("We praise thee, O God") is a Latin hymn of praise from the fourth or fifth century, sung by the church for some sixteen hundred years — at morning prayer, at coronations, after great deliverances, and on ordinary days that simply called for thanksgiving. Legend says Ambrose and Augustine sang it spontaneously at Augustine's baptism; scholars now credit it to an early bishop, likely Nicetas of Remesiana. The English above is the beloved translation from the Book of Common Prayer, given complete. Two old words worth knowing: "Sabaoth" means the armies of heaven (not Sabbath), and "vouchsafe" simply means "graciously grant."
In Plain Words
If you'd rather pray the same heart in your own words: We praise you, God — all the earth does, and all of heaven. You are holy. Christ, you became one of us, defeated death, and opened heaven; one day you will return. So help your people, keep us from sin today, and have mercy on us. We trust you — don't let that trust be put to shame.
A Verse to Hold On To
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." — Psalm 145:3 (KJV)