The best-known Swedish summer song by Israel Kolmodin

A Summer Song

The flowering season’s here now

With beauty and great joy/

Delightful summer’s near now

When grass and plants deploy.

The gentle sun’s warmth coaxes

Fresh growth in what’s been dead;

As soon as she approaches/

Reborn life lies ahead.

The meadows’ lovely flowers

And fields of sprouting seeds/

The budding plants in bowers

And all the green-leafed trees/

Should serve to make us wonder

At God’s great goodness here:

On God’s grace then to ponder

Which lasts throughout the year.

We hear birds gladly raising

Their many-throated song;

Shall we then not be praising

Our Lord God too ere long?

My soul, extol God’s splendour

And joyous songs unfold/

That bring delight and tender

Such benefits untold.

Christ Jesus, sun ascending,

Our source of joy and light/

Stay with us till life’s ending;

Our cold minds warm aright:

Renew our soul and spirit:

Our hearts with love’s fire brand:

All pain and grief inhibit/

With thy most gentle hand.

Thou Sharon’s flowers alluring/

Thou lily in green vale/

Ah! crown the soul ensuring

That good deeds there prevail:

Thy mercy shower discreetly/

Like dew of Zion snows;

That it may smell as sweetly/

As Lebanon’s fair rose.

Bless this year’s crop now growing,

And water all our land:

Be daily bread bestowing;

Bless likewise sea and strand.

Thy footsteps drip with richness.

Us nourish with thy word/

And with its wondrous sweetness/

While we have life on earth.

For anyone finding the translation unlikely, consult the original Swedish version to be found under the usual one here.