The words of Ten Theno can be counted on one hand. They’re in Coptic, and their meanings are:
•“Ten” means “Arise”, which fittingly resembles the ringing of a bell — “ten ten” — as though it’s calling us to wake from our slumber.
• “Theno” means “you all”, so Ten Theno means “Arise, you all.”
Then comes the word “Epchoi”, which means “upward” or “to the heights.”
So the full meaning of the hymn’s opening is a call to wake up from sleep and rise. Some people wake up but don’t actually get out of bed, remaining lazy and idle. Others get up physically but don’t awaken spiritually. But the Church wants us to do both — wake from physical sleep and rise from spiritual slumber.
+ Arise O children of the light, let us praise the Lord of hosts.
+ That He may grant us the salvation of our souls.
+ Whenever we stand before You in the flesh.
+ Cast away from our minds the slumber of sleep.
+ Grant us sobriety O Lord, that we may know how to stand before You at times of prayer.
+ And ascribe unto You the befitting glorification, and win the forgiveness of our many sins. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Behold bless the Lord all you servants of the Lord. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ By night lift up your hands O you saints and bless the Lord. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ The Lord bless you from Zion, who created heaven and earth. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Let my cry come before You O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Let my supplication come before You, deliver me according to Your word. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ My lips shall overflow with praise, when You have taught me Your statutes. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ My tongue shall speak of Your words for all Your commandments are righteous. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Let Your hand help me for I have chosen Your precepts. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ I have longed for Your salvation O Lord, and Your Law is my delight. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Let my soul live and it shall praise You, and let Your judgments help me. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek Your servant for I do not forget Your commandments. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Now and forever and unto the age of all ages Amen. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto all the ages Amen. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Glory be to You O good One the Lover of Mankind, glory be to Your Mother the Virgin and all Your saints. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Glory be to You O only-begotten One, O holy Trinity have mercy upon us. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ Let God arise and let all His enemies be scattered and let all that hate His holy name flee from before His face. Glory be to You O Lover of Mankind.
+ As for Your people let them be blessed, a thousand thousand fold and ten thousand ten thousand fold, doing Your will.
+ O Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.
+ Ⲧ ⲉⲛⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϣⲱⲓ ⲛⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ: ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛϩⲱⲥ ⲉ̀Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓϫⲟⲙ.
+ Ϩⲟⲡⲱⲥ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉϥⲉⲣϩ̀ⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡ̀ⲥⲱϯ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ.
+ Ϧⲉⲛ ⲡ̀ϫⲓⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲉⲛⲟ̀ϩⲓ ⲉ̀ⲣⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲥⲱⲙⲁⲧⲓⲕⲱⲥ.
+ Ⲁ̀ⲗⲓⲟⲩⲓ̀ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓϩⲩⲛⲓⲙ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ϯⲉⲃϣⲓ.
+ Ⲙⲟⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲉⲣⲛⲩⲙⲫⲓⲛ: ϩⲟⲡⲱⲥ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛⲕⲁϯ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛⲟ̀ϩⲓ ⲉ̀ⲣⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲛⲁⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ϯⲡ̀ⲣⲟⲥⲉⲩⲭⲏ.
+ Ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱⲣⲡ ⲛⲁⲕ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϣⲱⲓ ⲛ̀ϯⲇⲟⲝⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ ⲉ̀ⲧⲉⲣⲡ̀ⲣⲉⲡⲓ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉⲛϣⲁϣⲛⲓ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ⲭⲱ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲉⲧⲟϣ. Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ Ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ϩⲏⲡⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲃⲓⲁⲓⲕ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲛⲏⲉⲧⲟ̀ϩⲓ ⲉ̀ⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡ̀ⲏⲓ ⲙ̀Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ: ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲁⲩⲗⲏⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲡ̀ⲏⲓ ⲙ̀Ⲡⲉⲛⲛⲟⲩϯ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲛ̀ϩ̀ⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ϫⲱⲣϩ ϥⲁⲓ ⲛ̀ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲓϫ ⲉ̀ⲡ̀ϣⲱⲓ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲉϥⲉ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ Ⲥⲓⲱⲛ: ⲫⲏⲉ̀ⲧⲁϥⲑⲁⲙⲓⲟ ⲛ̀ⲧ̀ⲫⲉ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲡ̀ⲕⲁϩⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲙⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲁϯϩⲟ ϧⲱⲛⲧ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲙ̀ⲑⲟ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ: ⲙⲁⲕⲁϯ ⲛⲏⲓ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲁϫⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲉϥⲉ̀ⲓ̀ ⲉ̀ϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲙ̀ⲑⲟ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲁⲝⲓⲱⲙⲁ: ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲥⲁϫⲓ ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲛϧⲟⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲉ̀ⲣⲉ ⲛⲁⲥ̀ⲫⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲃⲉⲃⲓ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ: ⲉ̀ϣⲱⲡ ⲁⲕϣⲁⲛⲧ̀ⲥⲁⲃⲟⲓ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉⲕⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲡⲁⲗⲁⲥ ⲉϥⲉ̀ⲉⲣⲟⲩⲱ̀ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲉⲕⲥⲁϫⲓ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲁⲛⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲛⲉ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲕϫⲓϫ ⲉ̀ⲫ̀ⲛⲁϩⲙⲉⲧ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲁⲓⲉⲣⲉ̀ⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲛ ⲉ̀ⲣⲱⲟⲩ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲁⲓϭⲓϣϣⲱⲟⲩ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ Ⲡⲉⲕⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲧⲁⲙⲉⲗⲉⲧⲏ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲉⲥⲉ̀ⲱⲛϧ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲧⲁⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲥⲉ̀ⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲕ: ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛⲉⲕϩⲁⲡ ⲉⲩⲉ̀ⲉⲣⲃⲟⲏ̀ⲑⲓⲛ ⲉ̀ⲣⲟⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲣⲉⲙ ⲙ̀ⲫ̀ⲣⲏϯ ⲛ̀ⲟⲩⲉ̀ⲥⲱⲟⲩ ⲉ̀ⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ: ⲕⲱϯ ⲛ̀ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲕⲃⲱⲕ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲕⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲙ̀ⲡⲓⲉⲣⲡⲟⲩⲱⲃϣ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ Ⲡⲁⲧⲣⲓ ⲕⲉ Ⲩ̀ⲓⲱ ⲕⲉ Ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲱ Ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲕⲉ ⲛⲩⲛ ⲕⲉ ⲁ̀ⲓ̀ ⲕⲉ ⲓⲥ ⲧⲟⲩⲥ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲁⲥ ⲧⲱⲛ ⲉ̀ⲱ̀ⲛⲱⲛ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲛⲉⲙ Ⲡⲓⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ: ⲓⲥϫⲉⲛ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲛⲉⲙ ϣⲁ ⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲉ ⲛⲓⲉ̀ⲛⲉϩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲁ̀ⲙⲏⲛ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲕ Ⲡⲓⲙⲁⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲛ̀ⲁ̀ⲅⲁⲑⲟⲥ: ⲡⲓⲱ̀ⲟⲩ ⲛ̀Ⲧⲉⲕⲙⲁⲩ ⲙ̀Ⲡⲁⲣⲑⲉⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲏⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̀ⲧⲁⲕ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲟ̀ⲙⲟⲛⲟⲅⲉⲛⲏⲥ: ⲁ̀ⲅⲓⲁ Ⲧ̀ⲣⲓⲁⲥ ⲉ̀ⲗⲉⲏ̀ⲥⲟⲛ ⲏ̀ⲙⲁⲥ: ⲇⲟⲝⲁ ⲥⲓ ⲫⲓⲗⲁⲛⲑⲣⲱⲡⲉ.
+ Ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲧⲱⲛϥ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩϫⲱⲣ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲛⲉϥϫⲁϫⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲙⲁⲣⲟⲩⲫⲱⲧ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲁⲧ̀ϩⲏ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲛ̀ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲃⲉⲛ ⲉⲑⲙⲟⲥϯ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉϥⲣⲁⲛ ⲉⲑⲟⲩⲁⲃ.
+ Ⲡⲉⲕⲗⲁⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ: ⲉ̀ϩⲁⲛⲁⲛϣⲟ ⲛ̀ϣⲟ ⲛⲉⲙ ϩⲁⲛⲑ̀ⲃⲁ ⲛ̀ⲑ̀ⲃⲁ ⲉⲩⲓ̀ⲣⲓ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲟⲩⲱϣ.
+ Ⲡ̀ϭⲟⲓⲥ ⲉⲕⲉ̀ⲁⲟⲩⲱⲛ ⲛ̀ⲛⲁⲥ̀ⲫⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲣⲱⲓ ϫⲱ ⲙ̀ⲡⲉⲕⲥ̀ⲙⲟⲩ.
+ Ten theno e-epshoi, ni-shiri ente pi-ou-oyni, enten-hos e-Epshois ente ni-gom.
+ Hopos entef er-ehmot nan emep-soti ente nen-epsishi.
+ Khen epjin ethrin ohi era-ten, empek emtho soma ti-kos.
+ Ali-owi evol hiten pen-nous empi-hinim, ente ti-evshi.
+ Moi nan Epshois en-ou-metref ernem-feen, hopos enten-kati enten-ouhi e-raten, empek-emtho, emifnav ente ti-epros-evshi.
+ Owoh enten ou-orp nak, e-epshoi enti-zoksologeia eterep-repi, owoh enten-shashni e-epko-evol ente nen-novi etosh. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Hippe ze esmo Epshois, ni-evi-aik ente Epshois. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Ni-etohi era-tou, khen ep-e em-Epshois, khen ni-avleio ente ep-e em-pennouti. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ En-eheri khen ni-egorh, fai enne-ten-jig, e-epshoi ni-ethowab esmo Epshois. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Epshois ef-e-esmo erok, evol khen Seion, fi-etaf-thamio en-etfe nem epkahi. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Mare pati-ho, khont empek-emtho Epshois, makati ni-kata pek-saji. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Ef-e-ee ekhoun em-pek emtho enje pa-axyoma kata pek-saji matan-khoi. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Ere-na esfo-tou, vivi en-ou-esmo eshop akshan etsavoy ennekmethmi. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Palas ef-e-erro-o, khen nek saji je nekentoli tiro han-methme ne. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Mares showpi enje tek-jij, e-efnahmet je neken-toli ai-ere pithi-men ero-ou. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Aichish-sho-ou empek ougai Epshois, owoh pek-nomos pe-tameleti. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Es-e-ownkh enje ta-epsishi, owoh es-e-esmo erok, owoh nek-hap ev-ervoythin eroy. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Ai-sorem emif-riti en-o-e-sow-ou, e-aftako koti ensa pek-vok je neken-toli empi-erpou-ovsh. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Zoxa Patree ke Eio ke Agio epnevmati. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Ke neen ke a-ee ke estos e-onas ton e-onon amen. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Pi-o-ou em-Efiout, nem ep-Shiri, nem pi-Epnevma ethowab, yes-jen tinou nem sha eneh ente ni-eneh tiro. Amen. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Pi-o-ou nak pi-mairomi en-aghathos, pi-o-ou entek-mav em-Parthenos, nem ni-ethowab tiro entak. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Zoxa si o mono-genis, agia Etrias, eleison emas. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Maref-tonf enje Efnouti, marou-gor evol enje nef-gaje tiro, maro-vot evol kha-et-he empefho enje ou-on niven eth-mosti em-pefran ethowab. Zoxa si filan-ethrobe.
+ Pek-laos ze maref shopi khen pi-esmo e-han ansho ensho, nem han-ethva enethva ev-eri empek-ou-osh.
+ Epshois ek-e a-ou-own, enna esvoto, owoh ere roy go empek esmo.