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Drei Kön'ge wandern aus Morgenland, Ein Sternlein führt sie zum Jordanstrand, In Juda fragen und forschen die Drei, Wo der neugeborene König sei? Sie wollen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold Dem Kinde spenden zum Opfersold. Und hell erglänzet des Sternes Schein, Zum Stalle gehen die Kön'ge ein, Das Knäblein schaun sie wonniglich, Anbetend neigen die Kön'ge sich; Sie bringen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold Zum Opfer dar dem Knäblein hold. O Menschenkind, halte treulich Schritt! Die Kön'ge wandern, o wandre mit! Der Stern der Liebe, der Gnade Stern Erhelle Dein Ziel, so Du suchst den Herrn, Und fehlen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold, Schenke Dein Herz dem Knäblein hold!
Composition:
- Set to music by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", op. 8 no. 3 (1856), published 1871 [ voice and piano ], from Weihnachtslieder, no. 3, Leipzig, Fritzsch
Text Authorship:
- by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Zu eignen Weisen, in Weihnachtslieder
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The Kings", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (H. N. Bate) , "The three kings"
- ENG English [singable] (Elsa Ebertz) , "The Kings"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "I Re", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 116
Three kings are traveling from the East; a small star leads them to Jordan. In Judea they ask and search, these three, where the new-born king is. They wish to bring incense, myrrh and gold as an offering to the child. And the light of the star shines brightly: the kings go into the stall; gazing with wonder at the child, the kings bow low in worship. They bring incense, myrrh and gold as an offering to the sweet baby boy. O Sons of Man! keep faith! The kings are journeying - travel with them! The star of love, the star of grace shine on your goal as you seek the Lord, and if you lack incense, myrrh and gold, give instead your heart to that sweet baby boy!
Note: the footnotes below describe changes for the sung text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Zu eignen Weisen, in Weihnachtslieder
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 134