Ég heyri klukkur hljóma

Ég heyri klukkur hljóma skært
svo hljóma aftur orðin tært,
er fluttu englar fjárhirðum
um frið á jörð með mönnunum.

Þótt hatur ríki hér á jörð,
þá hljómar boð frá englahjörð,
er friðlaus heimur fær í dag
um frið á jörð og betri hag.

Mér bjölluhljómur berst í nótt
með boðskap jóla títt og ótt,
að frelsari’ okkur fæddur er,
sem friðinn gefur þér og mér.

Því fögnum allir, fögnum dátt
og færum lofgjörð Guði hátt,
er flytur heimi frið á jörð.
Sé frelsaranum þakkargjörð!

Guðlaugur Gunnarsson
í nóvember 1979

I heard the bells

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of Peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of Peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair, I bow'd my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song,
Of Peace on earth, good will to men."

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearthstones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With Peace on earth, good will to men."

l: John Baptiste Calkin.
t.: Henry W. Longfellow