"Lofsöngur" (English: "Hymn"), also known as "Ó Guð vors lands" (English: "O, God of Our Land"), is the national anthem of Iceland. The lyrics are by Matthías Jochumsson and the music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson. The anthem contains three verses, but only the first one is commonly sung. The melody is by many considered difficult to sing, and requires a vocal range of a minor forteenth. Many Icelandic people claim to be unable to sing it. The anthem is essentially a hymn, consistent with the fact that Iceland has a state church and Christianity is the established religion and one of the bases of the culture. English translation: Oh, God of our country! Oh, our country's God! We worship Thy name in its wonder sublime. The suns of the heavens are set in Thy crown By Thy legions, the ages of time! With Thee is each day as a thousand years, Each thousand of years, but a day, Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears, That reverently passes away. Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years! Eternity's flow'r, with its homage of tears, That reverently passes away. Our God, our God, we bow to Thee, Our spirits most fervent we place in Thy care. Lord, God of our fathers from age unto age, We are breathing our holiest prayer. We pray and we thank Thee a thousand years, For safely protected we stand; We pray and we bring Thee our homage of tears, Our destiny rest in Thy hand. Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years! The hoarfrost of morning which tounted those years, Thy sun rising high, shall command! Our country's God! Our God's country! Our life is a feeble and quivering reed; We perish, deprived of Thy spirit and light To redeem and uphold in our need. Inspire us at morn with Thy courage and love, And lead through the days of our strife! At evening send peace from Thy heaven above, And safeguard our nation through life. Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years! O, prosper our people, diminish our tears And guide, in Thy wisdom, through life!

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