Mizerna, cicha is a popular traditional Christmas carol in Poland, whose lyrics were written by Teofil Lenartowicz in 1849. The original melody was written by Jakub Wrzeciono in the 19th century, but nowadays the best-known version was composed by Jan Gall around the year 1900.
Lyrics
The song originally had 11 verses of which people nowadays typically sing four or five, which are listed below.
Original Polish lyrics
(1849 Lenartowicz) |
Literal translation |
English lyrics
(2008 Jill Gallina)
© ASCAP
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English lyrics
(2019 Ion Mittler)
CC BY-SA 4.0
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Mizerna, cicha,
stajenka licha
pełna niebieskiej chwały.
Oto leżący,
przed nami śpiący
w promieniach Jezus mały.
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A poor and quiet
humble stable
full of heavenly glory:
Here rests
in front of us, sleepy
and radiant, the small Jesus.
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Only a manger
bed for the stranger,
rocked in a ...
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Humble and quiet
forgotten stable
full of heavenly glory:
At this late moment
guests were able
to rest from their journey.
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Nad nim anieli
w locie stanęli
i pochyleni klęczą.
Z włosy złotymi,
z skrzydła białymi
pod malowaną tęczą.
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Angels above him
stopped flying
and bowed on their knees.
With golden hair,
with white wings,
under a colourful rainbow.
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Heavenly angels
around the shepherds
on their knees are bowing,
golden hair shining,
white wings glowing
over the Child are bending.
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I oto mnodzy,
ludzie ubodzy
radzi oglądać Pana.
Pełni natchnienia,
pełni zdziwienia
upadli na kolana.
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And here there are many
poor people, who
ask to look at the Lord.
Full of surprise,
full of astonishment
they fell on their knees.
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Out in the village
people now gather,
to come and see the Newborn.
Seeing this mirage,
they start to wonder,
might this be Divine Lord?
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Wielkie zdziwienie:
wszelkie stworzenie
cały świat orzeźiony.
Mądrość Mądrości,
Światłość Światłości
Bóg - człowiek tu wcielony!
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A great surprise:
all creation,
the whole world gets renewed:
Wisdom from wisdom,
light from light,
God born as man here.
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Works of mercy,
signs of glory
everywhere will be heard:
Wisdom, kindness,
light in darkness
He will bring to our world.
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Oto Maryja,
czysta lilija
przy niej staruszek drżący.
Stoją przed nami,
przed pastuszkami
tacy uśmiechający.
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Here is Mary,
a pure lily,
with her trembling old man:
They stand before us,
in front of the shepherds,
smiling so.
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