Nothing distress you

Nothing distress you. Colin Thompson* (1945- ), based on a prayer of St Teresa of Avila* (1515-1582). This is a version of ‘Nada te turbe’*, lines found in a breviary of St Teresa. The original nine lines are the basis of subsequent stanzas that develop the theme of trust in God. Thompson’s translation turns the 9-line stanza into a more acceptable (to English-speaking hymn singers) 8-line stanzas. Thompson follows the text as found in Santa Teresa de Jesus, Obras Completas, edited by Efren de la Madre de Dios O.C.D. and Otger Steggink O. Carm. (Madrid, 1967). This weaves variations on the original five lines, preceding each of them with a three-line verse commentary (for an example, see...