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W zlobie lezy

Infant Holy (Polish Carol)

Here are the original Polish words:

[1] W zlobie lezy! Któz pobiezy                   
Koldowac malemu
Jezusowi Chrystusowi
Dzis do nas zeslanemu?
Pastuszkowie przybywajcie
Jemu wdziecznie przygrywajcie,
Jako Panu naszemu.

[2] My zas sami z piosneczkami
Za wami pospieszymy,
A tek Tego Malenkiego
Niech wszyscy zobaczymy;
Jak ubogo narodzony
Placze w stajni polozony,
Wiec go dzis ucieszymy.

Here is Edith M. Reed's English verse translation:

[1] Infant holy, Infant lowly,
for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing,
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

[2] Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story,
tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, 
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you.
standard citation for this article:
“Infant Holy” (Polish Carol), 14 Dec 2008, Gilnahirk Baptist Church Web site. http://www.gilnahirkbaptist.org.uk/resources/worship/polish-carol.php (accessed 31 Jul 2010).

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The words of this carol are based on the old Polish carol Spiewniczek Piesni Koscielne (In a manger lies), 1908, which was translated from Polish to English by Edith M. Reed, 1921. The words are interesting because they add a bit of the Book of Revelation (which refers to Jesus as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords", Rev. 19:16) to Luke's nativity story.