by
Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956)
Vom Glück des Gebens
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Höchstes Glück ist doch, zu spenden
Denen, die es schwerer haben
Und beschwingt mit frohen Händen
Auszustreun die schönen Gaben.
Schöner ist doch keine Rose,
Als das Antlitz des Beschenkten,
Wenn gefüllet sich, o große
Freude, seine Hände senkten.
Nichts macht doch so gänzlich heiter,
Als zu helfen allen, allen!
Geb ich, was ich hab, nicht weiter,
Kann es mir doch nicht gefallen.
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Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Knut W. Barde) , "The joy of giving", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63
The joy of giving
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Without a doubt the greatest happiness is to give
To those who have a heavier lot in life
And to joyously spread with elated hands
The beautiful gifts all around
No rose can be more beautiful
Than the face of the recipient
when his hands are filled up, and
settled down with joy.
Nothing creates such complete cheerfulness
As helping everyone, everyone!
When I don't pass on what I have,
How could I ever enjoy it?
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Knut W. Barde, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 76