Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blå
Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blå – by N.F.S. Grundtvig
When it comes to Danish hymns, Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig is by far the most renowned contributor. No doubt this also has to do with his major contribution to enlighten the general population through the establishment of the Folk High-schools. In any case ecclesiastical aficionados might point to Bernhard Severin Ingemann (a close friend of Grundtvig) or Thomas Hansen Kingo as being more important or interesting within the danish hymn tradition, but to the common Dane, Grundtvig is the main man.
One of my personal favorites are “Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blå” (Directly translated: Lovely Is The Sky Blue) originally written in December 1810. Grundtivg revisited the song again in 1853, and made considerable alterations, such as cutting it down from 19 to 7 verses.
I have uploaded a video of the Danish Broadcasting Company’s Girl Choir performing the song (1853 version), accompanied by a metrical translation as well as a more direct translation of my own (the latter contains no artistic value what so ever).
lyst det er at se derpå,
hvor de gyldne stjerner blinke,
hvor de smile, hvor de vinke
os fra jorden op til sig.
2
hver en stjerne glimted mat,
men med ét der blev at skue
én så klar på himlens bue
som en lille stjernesol.
3
sig lod se ved midnatstid,
var det sagn fra gamle dage,
at en konge uden mage
skulle fødes på vor jord.
4
drog i verden ud på stand
for den konge at oplede,
for den konge at tilbede,
som var født i samme stund.
5
de ham fandt i Betlehem
uden spir og kongetrone,
der kun sad en fattig kone,
vugged barnet i sit skød.
6
til vor Herre Kristus hen;
vi har og en ledestjerne,
og når vi den følger gerne,
kommer vi til Jesus Krist.
7
som kan aldrig lede vild,
er hans Guddoms-ord det klare,
som han os lod åbenbare
til at lyse for vor fod.
.
Bright and glorious is the sky,
Radiant are the heavens high
Where the golden stars were shining
And their rays to earth inclining,
Beckoning us to Heaven above,
Beckoning us to Heaven above.
On that holy Christmas night
Through the darkness beamed a light
All the stars above were paling,
All their luster slowly failing,
As the Christmas star drew nigh,
As the Christmas star drew nigh.
(The third verse is omitted from this version)
Sages from the East afar,
When they saw this wondrous star,
Went to the find the King of nations,
And to offer their oblations
Unto Him as Lord and King,
Unto Him as Lord and King.
Him they found in Bethlehem,
Yet He wore no diadem;
They but saw a maiden lowly
With an Infant pure and holy,
Resting in her loving arms,
Resting in her loving arms.
Guided by the star they found
Him Whose praise the ages sound,
We too have a star to guide us
Which forever will provide us
With the light to find our Lord,
With the light to find our Lord.
As a star God’s holy Word
Leads us to our King and Lord;
Brightly from its sacred pages
Shall this light throughout the ages
Shine upon our path of life,
Shine upon our path of life
.
Lovely is the sky blue
Bright it is to look upon
Where the golden stars are shining
How they smile, how they wave
Beckoning us to the heavens high
It was in the middle of Christmas night
Every star was dully gleaming
But in an instant a sight appeared
One so clear on heavens arch
As little star-sun
When this star so light and tender
Came forth by the midnight hour
It was foretold in days of old
That a king with no equal
Should be born onto our earth
Wise men from eastern lands
Promptly journeyed into foreign lands
For that king to seek
For that king to adore
That had been born in that very hour
They him found in David’s-home
They him found in Bethlehem
Without spire or royal throne
They only saw a lowly woman
Cradling the child in her lap
The star lead wise men
To our lord Christ
We also have a leading star
And when we follow it willingly
We will arrive at Jesus Christ
This star light and mild
That can never guide astray
Is his godly words so clear
That he unto us let appear
To light at our feet
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