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Giv mig ej glans, ej guld ej prakt i signad juletid. Giv mig Guds ära änglavakt och över jorden frid. Giv mig en fest som gläder mest, den konung jag har bett till gäst! Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt, giv mig en änglavakt! Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord, en gran med barn i ring, en kväll i ljus med Herrens ord och mörker där omkring! Giv mig ett bo med samvetsro, med glad förtröstan, hopp och tro! Giv mig ett hem på fosterjord och ljus av Herrens ord! Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm, kom, helga julefrid! Kom barnaglad, kom hjärtevarm i världens vintertid! Du ende, som ej skiftar om min Herre och min konung, kom! Till hög, till låg, till rik, till arm kom glad och hjärtevarm!
Text Authorship:
- by Zachris Topelius (1818 - 1898), appears in Jul Qvällen, first published 1887 [author's text not yet checked 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 Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), "Giv mig ej glans", op. 1 no. 4 (1909), from 5 julsånger, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), "Giv mig ej glans", 1942 [ solo voice and three- or four-part women's chorus ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), "Giv mig ej glans", 1942 [ solo voice, men's chorus, and mixed chorus ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Alexandra Glynn) , "I seek no gold or majesty", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 27
Word count: 134
I seek no gold or majesty, no pearl or shining gem, but Lord above, I pray to Thee for peace on earth to men. O Lord divine, my heart is Thine! Oh, let my thoughts to Thee incline! I seek no pearl or shining gem but peace on earth to men. Among the children, in our home give blessed harmony. The light that on the shepherds shone, oh, let it shine on me! O Word of light, O truth and might, oh, shed thy blessing glad and bright. O Word of grace and pardon free: Give peace and harmony. Let Christmas come to rich and poor, its brilliant light unfold and with the wealth of God allure to heaven's streets of gold. I long for Thee, I wait for Thee, O Lord, I need Thy charity! May rich and poor alike abide in peace at Christmastide.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2009 by Alexandra Glynn, (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 Swedish (Svenska) by Zachris Topelius (1818 - 1898), appears in Jul Qvällen, first published 1887
This text was added to the website: 2009-01-18
Line count: 27
Word count: 146