"Heyr himna smiður" (literally "Hear, smith of the heavens") is a medieval Icelandic hymn written by chieftain and poet Kolbeinn Tumason in the 13th-century.
[2] Sigurbjörnsson composed his setting at the request of Róbert Abraham Ottósson, a German emigré who was at the time the Music Director (söngmálastjóri) of the Icelandic Lutheran Church.
[4] Heyr himna smiðr hvers skáldit biðr; komi mjúk til mín miskunnin þín.
Goð, heitk á þik at græðir mik; minzk mildingr mín, mest þurfum þín; ryð þú rǫðla gramr, ríklyndr ok framr, hǫlds hverri sorg ór hjarta borg.
Gæt, mildingr, mín mest þurfum þín helzt hverja stund á hǫlða grund; sett, meyjar mǫgr, málsefni fǫgr, ǫll es hjǫ́lp af þér í hjarta mér.
Ryð þú, röðla gramur, ríklyndur og framur, hölds hverri sorg úr hjartaborg.
Gæt, mildingur, mín, mest þurfum þín, helst hverja stund á hölda grund.
Set, meyjar mögur, málsefni fögur, öll er hjálp af þér, í hjarta mér.
Recordings featuring Sigurbjörnsson’s 20th-century melody: In September 2013, the hymn went viral thanks to an impromptu performance by Árstíðir, an Icelandic indie-folk group.