There is a powerful poem by St. Theresa of Avila that I have used in many occasions when times in my life are difficult, and that I have shared with my loved ones when they are going through trials themselves. The poem, written by Theresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun born in 1515 and canonized by the Catholic Church in 1622, consists of 9 verses, written originally in Spanish.
IMG_3444I wanted to share the poem with a dear friend who is currently going through a time of trials, and he doesn’t speak Spanish. When I searched on Google for the translation I was disappointed to find that most translations only present the first verse. Even though the first verse is already very powerful, I think a big part of the delight and healing from this beautiful poem is lost when not translated in full.
In leu of not finding any other translation for the whole poem, I have decided to do the translation of the full text myself and share it with you. I hope it benefits you. Keep it close by.
Let Nothing Trouble you (Nada te Turbe)
By Theresa of Avila
English Translation by Raquel Cepeda
“Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience reaches everything
God alone is enough.
Let your thoughts elevate
Raise them up to heaven
Let nothing sadden you
Let nothing trouble you.
Follow Jesus
with an open heart
And whatever comes
Let nothing frighten you.
Do you see the glory of the world?
It’s vain glory
Nothing has of stable
All things pass away.
Aspire to the celestial
Which lasts forever.
Faithful and rich in promises,
God never changes.
In trust and ardent faith
maintain the soul,
that he, who believes and waits
reaches everything.
Although by fires of hell besieged
He saw himself
He, who has God
Will flout it’s flames.
Come to him tribulations
Crosses, abandonment.
Being God his treasure
He lacks nothing.
Go then, wordily possessions
Go away, vain joys.
Although I lose it all,
God alone is enough.”
Raquel Cepeda. Houston Jazz Singer
© Raquel Cepeda and www.raquelcepeda.com, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Raquel Cepeda, Houston Jazz Singer and www.raquelcepeda.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
© Raquel Cepeda Jazz Singer y www.raquelcepeda.com, 2016. El uso y duplicación no-autorizados de este material sin el permiso expreso y escrito de la autora o dueña de este sitio web están estrictamente prohibidos. Está autorizada la citación de frases y el compartir de los enlaces, entendiendo que se de crédito claro a Raquel Cepeda Houston Jazz Singer y www.raquelcepeda.com añadiendo de forma apropiada y específica la dirección al contenido original.
