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Wem wird's an der Wiege gesungen, Was Gottes Rath ihm erwählt? Ob Freuden mehr ihm, ob Leiden Einst seien zugezählt? Ob wenig, ob viel ihm die Erde Wird borgen von Schimmer und Glanz? Ob ruhmlos sein Name verhalle, Ob schmück' ihn der Ehre Kranz? Wohin er muß ziehen und wandern, Hinauf wohl oder hinab? Ob hier, ob dort ihm gegraben, Ob spät, ob frühe das Grab? Nur Eines singen die Engel, O horch! an der Wiege dir schon; Laß früh im Herzen erklingen Den wunderseligen Ton: Was Gott im Himmel beschlossen, Muß ewig das Beste doch sein: Getrost in seinem Namen Schlaf' ein, mein Kind, schlaf' ein!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 237-238.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wem wird's an der Wiege gesungen?", appears in Liederbuch, in 3. Hauslieder, no. 266 [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 Martinus Van Gelder (b. 1854) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "To whom is it sung at the cradle?", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 107
To whom is it sung at the cradle, What God's counsel has chosen for him? Whether more joys or more sorrows Shall be meted out to him someday? Whether little, whether much of shimmer and Radiance the earth shall lend to him? Whether his name shall fade away without fame, Whether he shall be crowned with wreath of honour? Whither he must go and wander, Whether upward or downward? Whether here or there, whether late, Whether early his grave shall be dug? The angels are already singing only one thing to you, Oh hearken! at your cradle; Let the wondrously blessed sound Ring out early in your heart: What God in Heaven has ordained, Must eternally be the best: In His name, fall asleep confidently, My child, fall asleep!
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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wem wird's an der Wiege gesungen?", appears in Liederbuch, in 3. Hauslieder, no. 266
This text was added to the website: 2026-06-12
Line count: 20
Word count: 129