by Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830 - 1894)
Translation © by Geart van der Meer

In the bleak midwinter
 (Sung text for setting by M. Trotta)
 See original
Language: English 
Our translations:  DUT FRI GER
 In the bleak mid-winter
 Frosty wind made moan;
Earth grew hard as iron,
 Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
  ... ,
In the bleak mid-winter
 Long, long ago.

 ...  heaven cannot hold Him,
 Nor earth sustain,
 ... 
 When He comes to reign:
 ... 

 ... 

What can I give Him
 Poor as I am? --
If I were a Shepherd
 I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man
 I would do my part,--
 ...  what I can I give Him, --
 Give my heart.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,5 of the original text.

First published in Scribner's Monthly, January 1872

Composition:

    Set to music by Michael John Trotta (b. 1978), "In the bleak midwinter", published 2010, stanzas 1-2,5 [ SATB chorus, piano, and oboe ], Colla Voce

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Geart van der Meer) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRI Frisian (Geart van der Meer) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 177

Language: Frisian  after the English 
Yn de fûle winter
Flime skerp de wyn;
Paden hurd as izer,
Wetter hurd as stien;
Snie as fine jiske
Wiske op ’e wyn;     
Yn de fûle winter - 
Lang al lyn.  

Foar God is de Himel
En de wrâld te’ ûnrom,
Ierde’ en himel flechtsje 
As Syn ryk hjir komt.
Yn de fûle winter 
Kaam hjir op ’e wrâld,
Jezus, Hear Almachtich,
Op in stâl sa kâld.

 ... 

En ik: wat kin ik Him jaan,
Sút’rich sa’t ik kaam? --
Wie ik mar in skeper,
Dan joech ik in laam;
Hie ik mar wat wiisheid,
Talmje soe ik net –
Inkeld wat ik jaan kin,
Is myn hert.

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,5 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to Frisian copyright © 2016 by Geart van der Meer, (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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This text was added to the website: 2016-01-16
Line count: 40
Word count: 170