Carl Nielsen - Mit hjerte altid vanker | Ars Nova Copenhagen

Carl Nielsen's classic setting of H.A. Brorson's beautiful lyrics.
Recorded live at Trinitatis Kirke , December 2023.
Ars Nova Copenhagen conducted by Eamonn Dougan.

Mit hjerte altid vanker i Jesu føderum,
did samles mine tanker i deres hovedsum;
dér er min længsel hjemme, dér har min tro sin skat,
jeg kan dig aldrig glemme, du søde julenat.

Men ak! hvad skal jeg sige, når jeg vil tænke på,
at Gud af Himmerige i stalden ligge må,
at Himlens fryd og ære, det levende Guds Ord,
skal så foragtet være på denne slemme jord!

En spurv dog har sin rede og sikre hvilebo,
en svale ej tør lede om nattely og ro,
en løve véd sin hule, hvor den sin ro kan få;
skal da min Gud sig skjule i andres stald og strå?

Ak, kom! jeg vil oplukke mit hjerte, sjæl og sind
med tusind længselssukke, kom, Jesus, dog herind!
Det er ej fremmed bolig, du har den selv jo købt,
så skal du blive trolig udi mit hjerte svøbt.

In English:
My heart always longs for Jesu birth place,
there my thoughts gather in their principal;
there is my longing for home, there my faith has its treasure,
i can you never forget, you sweet Christmas night.

But alas! what should I say, when i will think of
that God of Heaven lie in the stable must,
that Heaven's joy and glory, the living Word of God,
shall so despised be on this wicked earth!

A sparrow, however, has its nest and secure resting home,
a swallow dare not look for night shelter and peace,
a lion knows his den, where it can rest;
must then my God hide himself in other people's stable and straw?

Oh, come! I will open my heart, soul and mind
with a thousand longing sighs, come, Jesus, come in here!
It is not a stranger's dwelling, you bought it yourself
then you shall remain truly in my heart wrapped.