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The reins of untamed foals,
the wing of unerring birds,
the helm of vessels unerring,
shepherds of royal sheep,

gather your simple children,
that they may sing holy,
purely praising with innocent mouths Christ,
the leader of children.

King of saints,
Word of the highest Father subduing all,
ruler of wisdom,
support in labors ever joyful,
Jesus, savior of the race of mortals,
shepherds, plowmen, helm, reins,
wing that raises the most holy flock to heaven,
fishers of people saved from the ocean of evil,
luring innocent fish with the sweet bait of life
out from the hostile waves.

Holy shepherd of spiritual sheep,
rule, king, over untouched children:
the footprints of Christ are the way to heaven.
The Word everlasting, boundless in age,
eternal light, fountain of mercy,
creator of virtue in those who praise God
with a worthy life.

Christ Jesus, heavenly milk
from the sweet breasts of the delightful Bride,
your wisdom, flowing.
The little ones, who guard the gentleness of their mouths,
satisfied with the dew of the Spirit from the bosom of the Word,
let us together sing
simple praises, infallible songs
to King Christ
as a sacred tribute for the life-giving teaching.

Let us be a humble company of the mighty Child.
A procession of peace,
balanced people, descendants of Christ,
let us sing together to the God of peace.

(Clement of Alexandria, Hymn to Christ the Savior
considered the oldest surviving Christian poem, composed around the year 190 in Egyptian Alexandria,
translation by Veronika Černušková)