Heyr, himna smiður,
hvers skáldið biður,
komi mjúk til mín
miskunnin þín.
Því heit eg á þig,
þú hefur skaptan mig,
ég er þrællinn þinn,
þú ert Drottinn minn.
Guð, heit eg á þig,
að græðir mig,
minnst, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín.
Ryð þú, röðla gramur,
ríklyndur og framur,
hölds hverri sorg
úr hjartaborg.
Gæt, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín
helzt hverja stund
á hölda grund.
Set, meyjar mögur,
máls efni fögur,
öll er hjálp af þér,
í hjarta mér.
* see Translation below *
Listen, Smith of the heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
your mercy.
So I call on only you,
for you have created me.
I am your servant,
you are my Master.
God, I beg of you
heal me.
Remember how great is
our need of you.
Creator of the cosmos,
generous and great,
wipe away human sorrow,
from our fortress of hearts.
Watch over me, mild One,
most we need you,
truly every moment
in the world of humanity.
Send us, Son of an innocent,
good causes,
all aid is from you,
in my heart.
Heyr himnasmiður (trans.-- “Listen, Smith of the heavens”) was originally a prayer written over 800 years ago by Kolbeinn Tumason (1208), a powerful Icelandic chieftain. Tradition says he wrote it on his deathbed, after being mortally wounded in a military battle of eccesiastical origin.
The music that accompanies this poem was composed 700 years later, in the early 20th century, by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, when the poem was transformed into an Icelandic hymn.
This vocal version was sung by Árstíðir in an impromptu performance in a train station in Wuppertal, Germany. The original performance can be seen on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/e4dT8FJ2GE0 ,
or on their FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/arstidir .
Sheet music for this arrangement can be obtained through: