song info
category ▸ Hymns
text ▸ William Tans’ur (1734)
music ▸ Caspar J. Boye/Valdimar Briem (1833)
listen here 🔈 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TT_YYrouKk
“Nú bráðum vetrar byrja él” reflects on the transition from summer to winter, using the changing seasons as a metaphor for spiritual themes. The lyrics were penned by Danish poet Caspar J. Boye in 1833 and later translated into Icelandic by Valdimar Briem. The melody is attributed to William Tans’ur, dating back to 1734. The opening lines reflect on the impending arrival of winter and bid farewell to the beauty of summer. As the hymn progresses, it delves into themes of hope, faith, and the constancy of divine love, even as the natural world undergoes its seasonal transformations.
Nú bráðum vetrar byrja él
Nú bráðum vetrar byrja él,
nú bliknar grund og hlíð.
Með fegurð þína far þú vel,
þú fagra sumartíð.
Senn stynur vetrarvinda raust,
nú visna blómin skær.
Þótt visni sérhvað hér um haust
í hjarta vonin grær.
Þótt lækki sól og lýsi skammt
ei lækkar Drottins náð,
þótt vaxi nótt ei villist samt
Guðs vísdóms eilíft ráð.
Þótt fölni sérhvert blóm og blað
og blikni hvert eitt strá
Guðs elska—víst vér vitum það—
ei visna þannig má.
Þótt falli hvert að hausti blóm
ei hverfur gleðin mér.
Frá Betlehem ég heyri hljóm
er huggun ávallt lér.
Ég veit hvar best mín blómgast von
er bliknar jörðin hér:
Það tré, hvar líf sitt lét Guðs son,
mér lífsins ávöxt ber.
Þótt fölni grös um fjall og dal
og frjósi vötn og lönd
mín trú á hann ei hverfa skal
sem heljar leysti bönd.
Um eilíft vor hann von mér gaf
er vetur ævi þver,
sjálft lífið gröf er gengið af.
Það gleði dýrst mér er.
English translation
Full soon will fall the winter rain
Full soon will fall the winter rain,
soon fade the green hill-side;
with all thy glory, fare thee well,
thou radiant summer-tide.
Full soon will wail the winter wind,
soon fail the flowers that blow;
let autumn blight the buds of earth,
the flower of Hope doth grow!
What though the sunlight wane? ne’er wanes
the grace of Christ the Lord;
amid the gathering gloom shines on
God’s everlasting Word.
Though leaf may wither, floweret fade,
though tiny grass blade pale,
our hearts can trust a surer truth—
God’s love shall never fail.
Though winter chill each struggling herb,
my gladness ne’er can cease;
from Bethlehem calls a voice, “To you
is born the Prince of Peace.”
Upon my fairest trees of hope
lies cold a robe of snow,
but from the Tree where Jesus died
the Living Waters flow.
Though fade the grass on hill and dale,
though ice bind stream and fell,
my faith in Him shall never fail,
Who burst the bonds of Hell.
Good hope of everlasting spring
His Church the Saviour gave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! The Life Himself
is risen from the grave!
Lyrics reproduced under fair use for artistic commentary.