by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874)
Translation Singable translation by Elsa Ebertz

Simeon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG ITA
Das Knäblein nach acht Tagen
  Ward gen Jerusalem
Zum Gotteshaus getragen
  Vom Stall in Bethlehem.
Da kommt ein Greis geschritten,
  Der fromme Simeon,
Er nimmt in Tempels Mitten
  Vom Mutterarm den Sohn.
Vom Angesicht des Alten
  Ein Strahl der Freude bricht,
Er preiset Gottes Walten
  Weissagungsvoll und spricht:
"Nun lässest du in Frieden,
  Herr, deinen Diener gehn,
Da du mir noch beschieden,
  Den Heiland anzusehn,
Den du der Welt gesendet,
  Daß er dem Heidenthum
Des Lichtes Helle spendet
  Zu Deines Volkes Ruhm!"
Mit froh [erstaunten]1 Sinnen
  Vernimmt's der Eltern Paar,
Dann tragen sie von hinnen
  Das Knäblein wunderbar.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   P. Cornelius 

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Peter Cornelius, Gedichte, eingeleitet von Adolf Stern, Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger, 1890, page 142.

1 Cornelius: "erstauntem"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Simeon", copyright ©
  • ENG English [singable] (Elsa Ebertz) , "Simeon"
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Simeone", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 99

Simeon
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Eight days the mother tarried,
  Then to Jerusalem,
To God's great house, was carried
  The Child of Bethlehem.
And by the temple meets them
  The gentle Simeon,
With reverence he greets them,
  Holds in his arms the son;
His eyes the old man raiseth,
  They glow with joyful rays,
God's wond'rous works he praiseth,
  He prophesies and says:
"Now lettest thou thy servent [sic],
  O Lord, depart in peace,
Now that my eyes so fervent
  Have known great happiness,
The Saviour whom thou sendest
  To bring the heathen light,
Through Him thou gently tendest
  The world with wondrous might!"
The parents stand amazed,
  With joy the mother mild,
Her glad heart heav'nward raised
  She bears away the Child.

from Edition Schott 610 of the Weihnachtlieder

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-12-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 118