Mizerna cicha


„Mizerna, cicha“ is a traditional Polish Christmas carol written by Teofil Lenartowicz in 1849. The original melody was composed 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
'		Literal translationEnglish lyrics
'
© ASCAP
English lyrics


English lyrics

Mizerna, cicha,

stajenka licha

pełna niebieskiej chwały.



Oto leżący,

przed nami śpiący

w promieniach Jezus mały.

A poor and quiet

humble stable

full of heavenly glory:



Here rests

in front of us, sleepy

and radiant, the small Jesus.

Only a manger

bed for the stranger,

rocked in a...




Humble and quiet

forgotten stable

full of heavenly glory:



At this late moment

guests were able

to rest from their journey.

Quiet and feeble,

this meagre stable

brimming with heavenly glory



Here, He lies sleeping,

peaceful, unweeping

glittering Jesus Holy

Nad nim anieli

w locie stanęli

i pochyleni klęczą.



Z włosy złotymi,

z skrzydła białymi

pod malowaną tęczą.

Angels above him

stopped flying

and bowed on their knees.



With golden hair,

with white wings,

under a colourful rainbow.

Heavenly angels

around the shepherds

on their knees are bowing,



golden hair shining,

white wings glowing

over the Child are bending.

Angels allying,

stop in their flying,

they kneel down in prayer



Gold and white-feathered,

banded together

under a rainbow layer

I oto mnodzy,

ludzie ubodzy

radzi oglądać Pana.



Pełni natchnienia,

pełni zdziwienia

upadli na kolana.

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.

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?

Poor people gather,

sister and brother

all glad to see our Saviour



What inspiration!,

what animation!,

all of them kneel in candour

Wielkie zdziwienie:

wszelkie stworzenie

cały świat orzeźiony.



Mądrość Mądrości,

Światłość Światłości

Bóg - człowiek tu wcielony!

A great surprise:

all creation,

the whole world gets renewed:



Wisdom from wisdom,

light from light,

God born as man here.

Works of mercy,

signs of glory

everywhere will be heard:



Wisdom, kindness,

light in darkness

He will bring to our world.

What great elation!,

what great creation!

all of the world has garnered



Wisdom of Wisdom,

Radiance of Radiance,

here lies God incarnate!

Oto Maryja,

czysta lilija

przy niej staruszek drżący.



Stoją przed nami,

przed pastuszkami

tacy uśmiechający.

Here is Mary,

a pure lily,

with her trembling old man:



They stand before us,

in front of the shepherds,

smiling so.

Dear Virgin Mary,

the purest lily,

and by her side Joseph gleaming



stand here before us –

the shepherd chorus,

both of their kind faces beaming