English translations of Drei ernste Sprüche, opus 2

by H. W. Egel

1. Wenn plötzlich in dein Lebenslicht
 (Sung text)
by H. W. Egel , "Wenn plötzlich in dein Lebenslicht", op. 2 (Drei ernste Sprüche) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn plötzlich in dein Lebenslicht
Die finsterste der Nächte bricht,
Du nicht begreifst, woher sie kommt,
Du nicht begreifst, zu was sie frommt,
Dich tiefer Gram macht sprachlos stumm,
Tröst' dich der Spruch:  "Gott weiß warum."

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Confirmed with: Kerners Werke, Zweiter Teil, Gedichte, ed. Raimund Pissin, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., 1914, page 372.

by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
1.
Language: English 
When suddenly into the light of your life
The darkest of nights falls,
You do not understand whence it came,
You do not understand what purpose it is to serve,
Deep sorrow makes you speechless, mute,
Then take comfort in the maxim: “God knows why.”

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  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translated titles:
"Wenn plötzlich in dein Lebenslicht" = "When suddenly into the light of your life"
"Gott weiß warum" = "God knows why"


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-26
Line count: 6
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs