Hephaistos of the clever hands, the artist’s eye,
the craftsman’s care, ingenious Hephaistos who sees
what cannot be and brings it into the world,
inventive one whose works stir awe and wonder
in all who see, whose peerless jewels adorn the throats
of goddesses fair and mighty. Hephaistos,
friend of the blacksmith, the sculptor, the wright,
friend of all who seek to join the mind’s devises
to the work of the hands, granter of skill
and vision to those who honor your art, to those
who are called to your craft, to those who seek your favor.

Resourceful Hephaistos, wise in the ways of metal
and stone, deviser of gadgets and useful machines,
inventor of contraptions and contrivances,
your talent is unequaled among the great gods,
your dextrous hands capable of any work.
With ease you take each creation from thought into
substance; effortlessly your ideas become real.
Clever you are, Hephaistos, greatest of engineers,
and yet an artist’s eye is yours as well. Beauty
comes from your sturdy hands; the deathless gods themselves
exclaim at your mastery, the shining jewels
and delicate metalcraft, gold and silver
worked as fine as spiderwebs, gems cut to glitter
like the eyes of a cat. Hephaistos, craftsman
who excels at all manner of good work, patron
of smiths and wrights and artisans, I honor you.

Skillful Hephaistos, master of smith-craft,
son of majestic Hera, Olympos’ queen,
builder of clever machinery,
devices that please the eye and ease the body,
maker of exquisite ornaments,
designed of precious jewels and metals,
each treasure lovelier than the last.
Hephaistos, shaper of the ideal,
peerless inventor, flawless engineer,
exacting devisor of all works of skill,
with an artist’s eye and an artisan’s hand
you craft and create, forge and form.
Hephaistos, patron of those who seek
to follow your lead, joining beauty
with precision, form with perfect function,
god of those who refashion the world,
Hephaistos, brilliant one, I praise you.