vér lofum ţitt heilaga, heilaga nafn,
úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta ţér krans
ţínir herskarar, tímanna safn.
Fyrir ţér er einn dagur sem ţúsund ár
og ţúsund ár dagur, ei meir:
eitt eilífđar smáblóm međ titrandi tár,
sem tilbiđur guđ sinn og deyr.
Íslands ţúsund ár,
eitt eilífđar smáblóm međ titrandi tár,
sem tilbiđur guđ sinn og deyr.
We worship thy holy, holy name.
From the solar systems of the heavens
bind for you a wreath
Your warriors, the assembly of the ages.
For thee is one day as a thousand years,
And a thousand years a day and no more,
One small flower of eternity with a quivering tear,
That prays to its God and dies.
Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years,
One small flower of eternity with a quivering tear,
That prays to its God and dies.
Another English Translation
(These are the original three poems but usually only the first is performed.)
Our country's God! Our country's God!
We worship Thy name in its wonder sublime.
The suns of the heavens are set in thy crown
By thy legions, the ages of time!
With Thee is each day as a thousand years,
Each thousand of years, but a day.
Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears,
That reverently passes away.
Iceland's thousand years!
Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears,
That reverently passes away.
Our God, our God, we bow to Thee,
Our spirits most fervent we place in thy care.
Lord, God of our fathers from age unto age,
We are breathing our holiest prayer.
We pray and we thank Thee a thousand years
For safely protected we stand;
We pray and we bring Thee our homage of tears
Our destiny rest in Thy hand.
Iceland's thousand years
The hoarfrost of morning which tinted those years,
Thy sun rising high, shall command!
Our country's God! Our country's God!
Our life is a feeble and quivering reed;
We perish, deprived of Thy spirit and light
To redeem and uphold in our need.
Inspire us at morn with Thy courage and love,
And lead through the days of our strife!
At evening send peace from Thy heaven above,
And safeguard our nation through life.
Iceland's thousand years!
O, prosper our people, diminish our tears
And guide, in Thy wisdom, through life!
Translation by Jakobina Johnson