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Mit der Freude zieht der Schmerz Traulich durch die Zeiten, Schwere Stürme, milde Weste, Bange Sorgen, frohe Feste Wandeln sich zur Seiten. Und wo manche Thräne fällt, Blüht auch [eine]1 Rose, Schon gemischt, noch eh' wir's bitten, Ist für Thronen und für Hütten Schmerz und Lust im Loose. War's nicht so im alten Jahr? Wird's im neuen enden? Sonnen wallen auf und nieder, Wolken geh'n und kommen wieder, Und kein [Wunsch]2 wird's wenden. Gebe denn, der über uns Wägt mit [rechter]3 Waage, Jedem Sinn für seine Freuden, Jedem Mut für seine Leiden, In die neuen Tage. Jedem auf des Lebens Pfad Einen Freund zur Seite, Ein zufriedenes Gemüthe, Und zu stiller Herzensgüte Hoffnung in's Geleite.
F. Mendelssohn sets stanzas 1-4
F. Kamm sets stanzas 1-4
Confirmed with Hebel's Werke, zweite Ausgabe in drei Bänden, Erster Band, Karlsruhe: Verlag der Chr. Fr. Müller'schen Hofbuchhandlung, 1853, page 239.
1 Kamm, Mendelssohn: "manche"2 Kamm: "Mensch"
3 Kamm: "ernster"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Peter Hebel (1760 - 1826), "Neujahrslied" [author's text checked 1 time 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 Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "Neujahrslied", op. 45 (Liedersaal für Frauenchor. 90 drei- und vierstimmige Lieder für Schule, Haus und Verein) no. 41, published 1896, stanzas 1-4 [ ssa chorus ], Zürich & Leipzig: Hug [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Neujahrslied", op. posth. 88 (Sechs Lieder für gemischten Chor) no. 1, published c1850, stanzas 1-4 [ mixed chorus ]
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text checked 1 time] - by Wilhelm Speidel (1826 - 1899), "Neujahrslied", op. 41 (Vier Gesänge für vier Männerstimmen) no. 1 [ vocal quartet for male voices a cappella ], Leipzig: Robert Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó d'any nou", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lau Kanen) , "Nieuwjaarslied", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "New Year's song", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-27
Line count: 25
Word count: 119
With joy travels pain Intimately [linked] through the times, Heavy storms, mild westwinds, Uneasy anxieties, joyful festivals Walk side by side. And where many a tear falls, [A]1 rose also blooms; Already blended, even before we ask, For thrones and for hovels Are the lots of pain and joy. Was it not thus in the old year? Shall it end in the new? Suns rise and sink, Clouds depart and return once more, And no [wishing]2 shall change things. May then He, who over us Measures with an [accurate]3 scale, Give everyone the sense for his joys, Everyone the courage for his suffering, In the new days. [Give to] everyone upon life's pathway A friend at his side, A contented spirit, And for quiet goodness of the heart The attendance of hope.
1 Kamm, Mendelssohn: "Many a"
2 Kamm: "no one"
3 Kamm: "earnest"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Peter Hebel (1760 - 1826), "Neujahrslied"
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-16
Line count: 25
Word count: 136