Bože pravde

Bože pravde

English: God of Justice
Sheet music of the anthem (for mixed choir)
National anthem of Serbia
Lyrics	Jovan Đorđević, 1872
Music	Davorin Jenko, 1872
Music sample
Bože pravde (Instrumental)

Fans singing "Bože pravde" in Belgrade Arena before the handball match Serbia vs Germany, 2012 European Men's Handball Championship

Bože pravde (Serbian Cyrillic: Боже правде; [bǒʒe prâːʋde]; English: God of Justice^[1]) is the national anthem of Serbia, as defined by the Article 7 of the Constitution of Serbia.^[2] Bože pravde was the anthem of the Principality of Serbia and the Kingdom of Serbia until 1918 when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was formed. It was recommended by the Parliament of Serbia on August 17, 2004^[1] and constitutionally adopted on November 8, 2006. The recommended text was made Law on May 11, 2009.^[3] The original song was written in 1872 with music by Davorin Jenko and lyrics by Jovan Đorđević. It was then a piece for the theater play Marko kazuje na kome je carstvo (Marko names the Emperor), and its immense popularity with audiences prompted its adoption as the Serbian national anthem.

While being the anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia, it occasionally was referred to as 'Serbian National Prayer'^[4] and the original lyrics contained a petition for the Serbian king. Various rulers of Serbia changed the words of the anthem to suit them. During the rule of Prince Milan I of Serbia, the words were "God, save Prince Milan" (knez Milana Bože spasi), which changed to King Milan when Serbia became a kingdom. Later the anthem was tailored to Peter I and Alexander I as well.^[5] During the time of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Kingdom of Yugoslavia), "Bože pravde" was part of its national anthem.

The current anthem uses slightly modified original lyrics, asserting that Serbia is no longer a monarchy — four verses are different. In three, "Serbian king" (srpskog kralja) is changed to "Serbian lands" (srpske zemlje) and in one, "God save the Serbian king" (srpskog kralja Bože spasi, literally The Serbian king, O God, save) is changed to "O God, save; O God, defend" (Bože spasi, Bože brani).

It was also used as an anthem of Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2006, when it was ruled down by the country's constitutional court. The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has ruled against the use of "Bože pravde" as the anthem of Republika Srpska in 2006, declaring it unconstitutional,^[6] and the decision was upheld by the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska.^[7]

In 1992, Vostani Serbije and Marš na Drinu were proposed as the anthem of Serbia along with Bоže pravde.^[8] The latter, promulgated by then-ruling Socialist Party of Serbia, even received a plurality of popular vote on referendum, but was never officially adopted.^[9]

Lyrics

The anthem officially has eight stanzas, but only the first two are usually sung.^[3]

Serbian Cyrillic[3]	Serbian Latin[3]	Traditional English translation[1][10]
Боже правде, ти што спасе од пропасти досад нас, чуј и од сад наше гласе и од сад нам буди спас. Моћном руком води, брани будућности српске брод, Боже спаси, Боже xрани,(*) српске земље, српски род!(*) Сложи српску браћу драгу на свак дичан славан рад, слога биће пораз врагу а најјачи српству град. Нек на српској блиста грани братске слоге златан плод, Боже спаси, Боже xрани(*) српске земље, српски род!(*) Нек на српско ведро чело твог не падне гнева гром Благослови Србу село поље, њиву, град и дом! Кад наступе борбе дани к победи му води ход Боже спаси, Боже xрани(*) српске земље, српски род!(*) Из мрачнога сину гроба српске славе нови сјај настало је ново доба Нову срећу, Боже дај! Отаџбину српску брани пет вековне борбе плод Боже спаси, Боже xрани(*) моли ти се српски род!(*)	Bože pravde, ti što spase od propasti dosad nas, čuj i odsad naše glase i od sad nam budi spas. Moćnom rukom vodi, brani budućnosti srpske brod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani,(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Složi srpsku braću dragu na svak dičan slavan rad, sloga biće poraz vragu a najjači srpstvu grad. Nek na srpskoj blista grani bratske sloge zlatan plod, Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Nek na srpsko vedro čelo tvog ne padne gneva grom Blagoslovi Srbu selo polje, njivu, grad i dom! Kad nastupe borbe dani k pobedi mu vodi hod Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) srpske zemlje, srpski rod!(*) Iz mračnoga sinu groba srpske slave novi sjaj nastalo je novo doba Novu sreću, Bože daj! Otadžbinu srpsku brani pet vekovne borbe plod Bože spasi, Bože hrani(*) moli ti se srpski rod!(*)	God of Justice; Thou who saved us when in deepest bondage cast, Hear Thy Serbian children's voices, Be our help as in the past. With Thy mighty hand sustain us, Still our rugged pathway trace; God, our hope; protect and cherish, Serbian lands and Serbian race! Bind in closest links our kindred Teach the love that will not fail, May the loathed fiend of discord Never in our ranks prevail. Let the golden fruits of union Our young tree of freedom grace; God, our Master! Guide and prosper,(*) Serbian lands and Serbian race!(*) Lord! Avert from us Thy vengeance, Thunder of Thy dreaded ire; Bless each Serbian town and hamlet, Mountain, meadow, heart and spire! When our host goes forth to battle Death or victory to embrace- God of armies! Be our leader,(*) Strengthen then the Serbian race!(*) On our sepulchre of ages Breaks the resurrection morn, From the slough of direst slavery Serbia anew is born. Through five hundred years of durance We have knelt before Thy face, All our kin, O God! Deliver,(*) Thus entreats the Serbian race!(*)
(*) Chorus sung twice

References

1. "National symbols and anthem of the Republic of Serbia". Government of Serbia. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
2. Constitution of Serbia Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. at the site of the Government of Serbia
3. "Zakon o izgledu i upotrebi grba, zastave i himne Republike Srbije — English: Law on the Appearance and Use of the Coat of arms, the Flag and the Anthem of the Republic of Serbia". Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – No. 36/2009 (in Serbian). Narodna skupština Republike Srbije – JP "Službeni glasnik". 2009-05-11 (valid from 2009-05-19). Retrieved 2009-06-26. Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. "Serbia - Bože pravde". NationalAnthems.me. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
5. LJ. M. V. - J. Ž. S. (2006-08-01). "Hej, Bože pravde!". Vecernje novosti (in Serbian). Retrieved 2007-04-17.
6. "Press Release". Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2007-01-27.
7. "Republika Srpska court upholds complaint about anthem". RFE/RL.
8. Konstantin Babić (2000-11-02). "Zašto Srbija još nema himnu". Vreme.
9. "Svi naši referendumi". Novi Sad: Radio-televizija Vojvodine. 2008-03-06.
10. Petrovitch, Voislav (1915). Serbia, Her People, History and Aspirations. Cosimo, Inc. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-60206-941-1. Translated by Elisabeth Christitch, originally published in The Times. Note: this is a free, not literal translation of the lyrics, also fitting the meter of the original.

External links

• Serbian anthem streaming audio, lyrics and info