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Drei [Könige]1 wandern aus Morgenland, Ein Sternlein führt sie zum Jordanstrand, In Juda fragen und forschen die Drei, Wo der [neugeborne]2 König sei? Sie wollen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold [Zum Opfer weihen dem Knäblein hold]3. Und hell erglänzet des Sternes Schein, Zum Stalle gehen die [Könige]1 ein, Das Knäblein schaun sie wonniglich, Anbetend neigen die [Könige]1 sich; Sie bringen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold Zum Opfer dar dem Knäblein hold. O Menschenkind, halte treulich Schritt! Die Kön'ge wandern, o wandre mit! Der Stern [des Friedens]4, der Gnade Stern Erhelle Dein Ziel, [wenn]5 Du suchst den Herrn, Und fehlen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold, Schenke Dein Herz dem Knäblein hold!
Confirmed with Peter Cornelius, Gedichte, eingeleitet von Adolf Stern, Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger, 1890, page 141. Note: the footnotes below show the changes Cornelius made for his song setting.
1 Cornelius: "Kön'ge"2 Cornelius: "neugeborene"
3 Cornelius: "Dem Kinde spenden zum Opfersold"
4 Cornelius: "der Liebe"
5 Cornelius: "so"
Authorship:
- by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Zu eignen Weisen, in Weihnachtslieder [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", op. 8 no. 3 (1856), published 1871 [ voice and piano ], from Weihnachtslieder, no. 3, Leipzig, Fritzsch [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The Kings", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (H. N. Bate) , "The three kings"
- ENG English [singable] (Elsa Ebertz) , "The Kings"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "I Re", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 107
Three kings are traveling from the East; a small star leads them to Jordan. In Judea they ask and search, these three, where the new-born king is. They wish to bring incense, myrrh and gold as an [offering dedicated to the lovely child]1. And the light of the star shines brightly: the kings go into the stall; gazing with wonder at the child, the kings bow low in worship. They bring incense, myrrh and gold as an offering to the sweet baby boy. O Sons of Man! keep faith! The kings are journeying - travel with them! The star of [peace]2, the star of grace shine on your goal as you seek the Lord, and if you lack incense, myrrh and gold, give instead your heart to that sweet baby boy!
Note: the footnotes below describe changes for the sung text.
1 Cornelius: "offering to the child"2 Cornelius: "love"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Zu eignen Weisen, in Weihnachtslieder
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 131