Bože pravde

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Categories: National anthems | Serbian culture | Culture of Republika Srpska | Serbian songs

Bože pravde (Serbian: Боже правде, English: God of Justice or Lord Give Us Justice^[1]) is the official anthem of Serbia. It was written in 1872 with music by Davorin Jenko and lyrics by Jovan Đorđević. It was also used as an anthem of Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period of 1991 to 2006, when it was ruled down by the country's constitutional court.

While being the anthem of the Kingdom of Serbia, it occasionally was referred to as "Serbian National Prayer" and the original lyrics contained a petition for the Serbian king. Various rulers of Serbia were changing 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 of Yugoslavia and Alexander I of Yugoslavia as well.^[2]

Republika Srpska retained the old lyrics, while Serbia uses slightly modified lyrics, asserting that it is no longer a monarchy – four verses, marked with ¹ and ² are different. In three, "Serbian king" is changed to "Serbian lands" and in one, "God, save Serbian king" is changed in "God save, God defend".

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has voted against the use of the current anthem of Republika Srpska declaring it unconsititutional. ^[3], and the decision was upheld by the Constitutional Court of Republika Srpska ^[4]

On May 31 2007, Parliament of Republika Srpska passed the decision that anthem of Republika Srpska is Bože pravde, but only music, without lyrics. The notion was passed by 45 votes for the notion, 6 against, and 19 neutral. However, the president Milan Jelić said he would ask the parliament to find a new anthem^[4]

1 Lyrics
2 Media
3 External links
4 References

Lyrics

Lyrics of Serbia
Serbian Cyrillic	Serbian Latin	English translation
Боже правде, ти што спасе од пропасти до сад нас, чуј и одсад наше гласе и од сад нам буди спас. Моћном руком води, брани будућности српске брод, Боже спаси, Боже храни, српске земље, српски род!¹ Сложи српску браћу драгу на свак дичан славан рад, слога биће пораз врагу а најјачи српству град. Нек на српској блиста грани братске слоге знатан плод, Боже спаси, Боже храни српске земље, српски род!¹ 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 храни српске земље, српски род!¹ 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 брани² моли ти се српски род!	Bože pravde, ti što spase od propasti do sad 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!¹ Složi srpsku braću dragu na svak dičan slavan rad sloga biće poraz vragu a najjači srpstvu grad. Nek na srpskoj blista grani bratske sloge znatan plod Bože spasi, Bože hrani srpske zemlje, srpski rod!¹ 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!¹ 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 brani² moli ti se srpski rod!	God of Justice; Thou who saved us When in deepest bondage cast, Hear our voices, we entreat Thee, Be our leader as in the past. With Thy mighty hand guide, defend Of the Serbian future pace, God of justice, save and nourish Serbian lands and Serbian race!¹ 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 Flourish with the freedom grace; God of justice, guide and prosper Serbian lands and Serbian race!¹ 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!¹ On our sepulchre of ages Breaks the resurrection morn, From the slough of direst slavery Serbia anew is born. T' Serbian home-land Thou shalt nourish, Five cent'ries a battle place, God of Justice! Guide and prosper,² Thus entreats the Serbian race!
Lyrics formerly used by Republika Srpska

¹српског Краља, српски род!	¹srpskog Kralja, srpski rod!	¹Serbian King and Serbian race!
²Српског краља, Боже храни	²Srpskog kralja, Bože hrani	²Serbian King, O God! deliver,

Media

The Serbian Anthem; instrumental

Image:Serbian National Anthem instrumental.ogg
Problems playing the files? See media help.

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

God of Justice

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Boze pravde instrumental

(Serbian) Parliament of Serbia A page featuring sheet music for Brass Band, and for Orchestra with mixed choir, as well as an instrumental file
Serbian Government - Page with information about the anthem, also featuring an instrumental file, while the Serbian language version also includes a Real Audio stream vocal file.
(Serbian)

Боже спаси актуелног краља - Information from the website, "Serbian Heritage".