Drei [Könige]1 wandern aus Morgenland,
Ein Sternlein führt sie zum Jordanstrand,
In Juda fragen und forschen die Drei,
Wo der [neugeborne]2 König sei?
Sie wollen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold
[Zum Opfer weihen dem Knäblein hold]3.

Und hell erglänzet des Sternes Schein,
Zum Stalle gehen die [Könige]1 ein,
Das Knäblein schaun sie wonniglich,
Anbetend neigen die [Könige]1 sich;
Sie bringen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold
Zum Opfer dar dem Knäblein hold.

O Menschenkind, halte treulich Schritt!
Die Kön'ge wandern, o wandre mit!
Der Stern [des Friedens]4, der Gnade Stern
Erhelle Dein Ziel, [wenn]5 Du suchst den Herrn,
Und fehlen Weihrauch, Myrrhen und Gold,
Schenke Dein Herz dem Knäblein hold!

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Peter Cornelius, Gedichte, eingeleitet von Adolf Stern, Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger, 1890, page 141. Note: the footnotes below show the changes Cornelius made for his song setting.

¹ Cornelius: "Kön'ge"
² Cornelius: "neugeborene"
³ Cornelius: "Dem Kinde spenden zum Opfersold"
⁴ Cornelius: "der Liebe"
⁵ Cornelius: "so"

Text Authorship:

• by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Zu eignen Weisen, in Weihnachtslieder [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

• by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874), "Die Könige", op. 8 no. 3 (1856), published 1871 [ voice and piano ], from Weihnachtslieder, no. 3, Leipzig, Fritzsch [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The Kings", copyright ©
• ENG English [singable] (H. N. Bate) , "The three kings"
• ENG English [singable] (Elsa Ebertz) , "The Kings"
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "I Re", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 116

Three kings are traveling from the East;
a small star leads them to Jordan.
In Judea they ask and search, these three,
where the new-born king is.
They wish to bring incense, myrrh and gold
as an [offering dedicated to the lovely child]1.

And the light of the star shines brightly:
the kings go into the stall;
gazing with wonder at the child,
the kings bow low in worship.
They bring incense, myrrh and gold
as an offering to the sweet baby boy.

O Sons of Man! keep faith!
The kings are journeying - travel with them! 
The star of [peace]2, the star of grace
shine on your goal as you seek the Lord,
and if you lack incense, myrrh and gold,
give instead your heart to that sweet baby boy!