The Oath

Brothers and sisters of work and need,
All who are scattered like far-flung seed -
Together! Together! The flag is high,
Straining with anger, red with blood
So swear together to live or die!

Earth with its heaven hears.
Bear witness, bright stars,
To our vow of blood and tears.
We swear. We swear.

We swear our stalwart hate persists,
Of those who rob and kill the poor:
The Tsar, the masters, capitalists.
Our vengeance will be swift and sure.

To wage the holy war we vow,
Until right triumphs over wrong.
No Midas, master, noble now
The humble equal to the strong.

To the Bund, our hope and faith,
we swear Devotedly to set men free.
Its flag, bright scarlet, waves up there,
Sustaining us in loyalty.