Bright and glorious is the sky,
radiant are the heavens high
where the golden stars are shining.
All their rays to earth inclining
beckon us to heav'n above,
beckon us to heav'n above.
On that holy Christmas night
through the darkness beamed a light;
all the stars above were paling,
all their luster slowly failing
as the wondrous star drew nigh,
as the wondrous star drew nigh,
Sages from the east afar,
when they saw this wondrous star,
went to find the king of nations
and to offer their oblations
to the child, the newborn king,
to the child, the newborn king.
Him they found in Bethlehem,
yet he wore no diadem;
there they saw a maiden lowly
with an infant pure and holy
resting in her loving arms,
resting in her loving arms.
Guided by the star, they found
him whose praise the ages sound.
We too have a star to guide us,
which forever will provide us
with the light to find our Lord,
with the light to find our Lord.
And this star, as bright as day,
that will never lead astray
with its message so appealing,
is the work of God, revealing
Christ, the way, the truth, the life,
Christ, the way, the truth, the life.
Words: Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig; translated by Jens Christian Aaberg, alt.
Music: Danish, 19th century