Text of “Bibe aquam” (2005)

for three sopranos

dedicated to Andreas Friman and Maria Mellstrom

Text:

Bibe aquam de cisterna tua et fluenta putei tui

Deriventur fonts tui foras et in plateis aquas tuas divide

Habeto eas solus nec sint alieni participles tui

Sit vena tua benedicta et laetare cum muliere adulescentiae tuae

Cerva carissima et gratissimus hinulus

Ubera eius inebrient te omni tempore in amore illius delectare iugiter

Translation:

Drink waters out of thine own cistern and running waters out of thine own well.

Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets

Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

Let thy fountains be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

(from Proverbs ch.5 v.15-19)