Child in the Manger / Leanabh an àigh

folk song / traditional, holiday

Lyrics - Gaelic

(Traditional Gaelic tune, English Lyrics by Lachlan Macbean, 1888 & Gaelic Lyrics by Mary M. Macdonald, 1789–1872)

Leanabh an àigh, an Leanabh bh’ aig Màiri
Rugadh san stàball, Rìgh nan Dùl;
Thàinig do ‘n fhàsach, dh’fhuling ‘n ar n-àite
Son’ iad an àireamh bhitheas dhà dlùth!

Ged a bhios leanabain aig rìghrean na talmhainn
An greadhnachas garbh is anabarr mùirn,
‘S geàrr gus am falbh iad, ‘s fàsaidh iad anfhann,
An àilleachd ‘san dealbh a’ searg ‘san ùir.

Cha b’ionann ‘s an t-Uan thàinig gur fuasgladh
Iriosal, stuama ghluais e’n tùs;
E naomh gun truailleachd, Cruithfhear an t-sluaigh,
Dh’éirich e suas le buaidh o ùir.

Leanabh an àigh, mar dh’aithris na fàidhean;
‘S na h-àinglean àrd’, b’e miann an sùl;
‘S E ‘s airidh air gràdh ‘s air urram thoirt dhà
Sona an àireamh bhitheas dhà dlùth.

English Translation – Child of Joy

The child of joy, the child who was Mary’s,
born in the stable, Lord of the Universe,
came to the wilderness to suffer in place of us.
happy are those who are close to him.

Although kings in the world have children
in high pomp and with much joy
they are soon gone and they grow weak
their beauty and their figure withering in the grave

Nothing is equal to the lamb who came to free us,
humble and modest when he first moved,
saintly, with no impurity, the creator of humanity
he rose up with victory from the grave

The child of joy as told by the prophets
and the archangels, he was the apple of their eye
it is he who deserves to be loved and honored
happy are those who are close to him.
(source)