Eg veit i himmerik ei borg

Eg veit i himmerik ei borg is a Norwegian folk song, coming from Hallingdal. The text is German, from before 1600. The text was translated into Norwegian by Bernt Støylen in 1905. The song has been sung by many artists, including Andrea Een, Arild Sandvold, and Sissel Kyrkjebø. English variations on the title include, I know a castle in heaven, castle in the sky, I know there is a castle in heaven, I know of a heavenly stronghold, and, I know a castle in heaven above. The German title is Ich weiß im Himmelreich.

Lyrics

Eg veit i himmerik ei borg

Eg veit i himmerik ei borg,
ho skin som soli klåre
der er kje synder eller sorg,
der er kje gråd og tåre.

Der inne bur Guds eigen son
i herlegdom og æra,
han er min trøyst og trygge von,
hjå honom eg skal vera.

Men visst eg veit, ein morgon renn
då dødens natt skal enda
Min lekam opp or gravi stend
og evig fryd får kjenna

Me takker deg til evig tid,
Gud Fader, alle saman,
for du er oss så mild og blid
i Jesus Kristus! Amen.

Translation

I know of a heavenly stronghold

I know of a heavenly stronghold
shining as bright as the sun;
there are neither sin nor sorrow
and never a tear is shed.

I am a weary traveller;
may my path lead me
from here to the land of my father;
God, protect me on my way.

We thank you for eternity
God the Father, one in three.
For you are gentle and mild to us
in Jesus Christ! Amen.

Note

The English translation (made by Andrew Smith, 2005) excludes the two middle verses in Norwegian, but includes another Norwegian verse in the middle:
Eg er ein fattig ferdamann,
må mine vegar fara
herfrå og til mitt fedreland,
Gud, meg på vegen vara!

External links

* [http://mms.digitroll.com/sissel/4_-_innerst_i_sjelen_-_eg_veit_i_himmerik_ei_borg.mp3 Sample of Sissel Kyrkjebø singing Eg veit i himmerik ei borg]
* [http://www.andreaeen.com/hardanger/index.htm Webpage with download link of Andrea Een playing Eg veit i himmerik ei borg]
* [http://www.sissel-online.dk/tekster-e.html#A02 Norwegian lyrics on a Danish Sissel fansite]
* [http://www.c4md.org/hancher/mediaeval.html Andrew Smiths English translation]