The Paratrooper's Prayer

La Prière du Para (The Paratrooper's Prayer) is a French poem found in the possession of the presumed author, Aspirant (Brevet-Lieutenant) André Zirnheld, upon his death in Libya on July 27, 1942. The Paratrooper's Prayer has been adopted by all French Metropolitan and Marine Infantry Paratrooper Units and Regiments . The Prayer appears before A. J. Quinnell's novel Man on Fire, the main protagonist of which is an ex-paratrooper in the Legion. This prayer also appears in Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's book, On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace, Rogue Heroes by Ben Macintyre, and Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead by Jim Mattis. The prayer, or some of it, is read in the French film Léon Morin, Priest (1961).

The Prayer of the Paratrooper

(Translation by Robert Petersen)

I'm asking You God, to give me what You have left.
Give me those things which others never ask of You.
I don't ask You for rest, or tranquility.
Not that of the spirit, the body, or the mind.
I don't ask You for wealth, or success, or even health.
All those things are asked of You so much Lord,
that you can't have any left to give.
Give me instead Lord what You have left.
Give me what others don't want.
I want uncertainty and doubt.
I want torment and battle.
And I ask that You give them to me now and forever Lord,
so I can be sure to always have them,
because I won't always have the strength to ask again.
But give me also the courage, the energy,
and the spirit to face them.
I ask You these things Lord,
because I can't ask them of myself(*).

(*) The French text says rather:
For only You can grant
What can come only from myself.

Original French Text	Literal English Translation	Portuguese Version	English Translation
La Prière du Para Je m'adresse à vous, mon Dieu, car vous donnez Ce qu'on ne peut obtenir que de soi Donnez-moi, mon Dieu, ce qui vous reste Donnez-moi ce qu'on ne vous demande jamais. Je ne vous demande pas le repos Ni la tranquillité Ni celle de l'âme, ni celle du corps. Je ne vous demande pas la richesse Ni le succès, ni même la santé. Tout ça, mon Dieu, on vous le demande tellement Que vous ne devez plus en avoir. Donnez-moi, mon Dieu, ce qui vous reste Donnez-moi ce que l'on vous refuse. Je veux l'insécurité et l'inquiétude. Je veux la tourmente et la bagarre Et que vous me les donniez, mon Dieu, définitivement. Que je sois sûr de les avoir toujours Car je n'aurai pas toujours le courage De vous les demander. Donnez-moi, mon Dieu, ce qui vous reste. Donnez-moi ce dont les autres ne veulent pas. Mais donnez-moi aussi le courage Et la force et la foi. Car vous seul donnez, mon Dieu, Ce que l'on ne peut attendre que de soi.	The Prayer of the Paratrooper I call out to you, my God, because you give What we cannot get by ourselves Give me, my God, what remains Give me what no one ever asks of you. I do not ask for rest Nor tranquility Whether that of the soul or the body. I ask not for wealth, Or success, or even health. All that, my God, you are asked so much for That you no longer have them. Give me, my God, what remains Give me what others refuse. I want insecurity and anxiety. I want turmoil and brawl. And that you give them to me, my God, forever So that I am always sure to have them. For I will not always have the courage to ask. Give me, my God, what you have. Give me what others do not want. But also give me courage And strength and faith. Because only you alone can give, my God, What I cannot expect only from myself.	Oraçāo do Paraquedista Dai-me Senhor, o que Vos resta Dai-me aquilo que nunca ninguém Vos pede Eu não Vos peço o repouso Nem a tranquilidade Nem a da alma, nem a do corpo Eu não Vos peço a riqueza, Nem o êxito, Nem mesmo a saúde. Eu quero a incerteza e a inquietude Eu quero a tormenta e a luta E concedei-me-las, Senhor, definitivamente. Que eu tenha a certeza de as ter para sempre Porque não terei sempre a coragem De Vos Lhas pedir. Dai-me Senhor, o que Vos resta. Dai-me o que os outros não querem. Mas dai-me também a Coragem E a Força E a Fé.	Prayer of the Paratrooper Give me, O Lord, what remains Thine; What no one ever asks of Thee. I do not ask Thee for rest Nor tranquility, Neither of the soul nor of the body. I do not ask Thee for riches, Nor success, Nor even health. So many ask you for these, O Lord, Thou shouldst no longer have anything left to give. Give me Lord, what remains Thine. Give me that which all of us refuse. I want insecurity and restlessness, I want struggle and trouble. And grant them to me, My Lord, forever. Make sure that I will always take them Because I will not always have the courage To ask of Thee for them. Give me, O Lord, what remains Thine, Give me what others do not want; But give me also the Courage, And the Strength, And the Faith. Amen.

References

• Anthony W. Pahl, International War Veterans' Poetry Archive