The National Anthem of Guatemala was adopted in 1896. The lyrics was written by Cuban poet diplomat José Joaquín Palma, and the music was composed by Guatemalan musician Rafael Álvarez Ovalle. In 1934, by the order of president Jorge Ubico, the lyrics were modified by the pedagogue José María Bonilla. The anthem was readopted two years later.[1][2][3]
¡Guatemala feliz…! que tus aras
no profane jamás el verdugo;
ni haya esclavos que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.
Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo amenaza invasión extranjera,
libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará.
Coro:
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera
a vencer o a morir llamará;
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.
De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tu forjaste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un día
encendidos en patrio ardimiento
y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor.
Coro:
Y lograron sin choque sangriento
colocarte en un trono de amor,
que de Patria, en enérgico acento,
dieron vida al ideal redentor.
Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
en que prende una nube su albura,
y ¡ay de aquel que con ciega locura,
sus colores pretenda manchar!
Pues tus hijos valientes y altivos,
que veneran la paz cual presea,
nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar.
Coro:
Nunca esquivan la ruda pelea
si defienden su tierra y su hogar,
que es tan solo el honor su alma idea
y el altar de la Patria su altar.
Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal.
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo;
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real!
Coro:
¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo,
más que el cóndor y el águila real,
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal![1]
Happy Guatemala…! Your altars
The fierce executioner no longer bloodies,
There are no cowards who lick the yoke
Nor tyrants who spit on your face.
If tomorrow your sacred ground
Is profaned by foreign invasion
Stained in blood, your beautiful flag
Will serve as a shroud for the bold.
Chorus:
Stained in blood, your beautiful flag
Will serve as a shroud for the bold,
May your people with fierce spirit
Be rather dead than a slave.
From your old and hard chains
You smelted with an angry hand
The plough that fertilises the soil,
And the sword that saves honour.
Our fathers fought one day
Burning with national ardour,
They tore you from the bloody rack
And lifted you a throne of love.
Chorus:
They tore you from the bloody rack
And lifted you a throne of love.
May from fatherland to the energetic focus
Crime die and error sink.
Your ensign is a piece of heaven
Between clouds of clear whiteness
And woe to he who perjures with hand
Dares to stain its colours!
May your brave and proud children
See with joy in the rough fight
The torrent of blood that emanates
From the steel to the vibrant clash.
Chorus:
The torrent of blood that emanates
From the steel to the vibrant clash,
Which is only the honour of their medal
And the altar of the fatherland, their altar.
Lying on the superb Andes
From two seas to the sonorous noise
Under the wing of scarlet and gold
You fall asleep to the beautiful quetzal.
Indian bird that lives on your coat of arms,
Palladium that protects your soil
May it take its flight
More than the condor and the golden eagle!
Chorus:
May it take its flight
More than the condor and the golden eagle,
And on its wings lift up to the sky,
Guatemala, your immortal name!
Original lyrics (1897–1934)[]
Spanish original
English translation
¡Guatemala Feliz…! ya tus aras
no ensangrienta feroz el verdugo:
ni hay cobardes que laman el yugo
ni tiranos que escupan tu faz.
Si mañana tu suelo sagrado
lo profana invasión extranjera
tinta en sangre tu hermosa bandera
de mortaja al audaz servirá
Coro:
Tinta en sangre tu hermosa bandera
de mortaja al audaz servirá
que tu pueblo con ánima fiera
antes muerto que esclavo será.
De tus viejas y duras cadenas
tú fundiste con mano iracunda
el arado que el suelo fecunda
y la espada que salva el honor.
Nuestros padres lucharon un día
encendidos en patrio ardimiento,
te arrancaron del potro sangriento
y te alzaron un trono de amor.
Coro:
Te arrancaron del potro sangriento
y te alzaron un trono de amor
que de patria al enérgico acento
muere el crimen y se hunde el error.
Es tu enseña pedazo de cielo
entre nubes de nítida albura,
y ¡ay de aquél que con mano perjura
sus colores se atreva a manchar!
Que tus hijos valientes y altivos
ven con gozo en la ruda pelea
el torrente de sangre que humea
del acero al vibrante chocar.
Coro:
El torrente de sangre que humea
del acero al vibrante chocar,
que es tan solo el honor su presea
y el altar de la patria, su altar.
Recostada en el Ande soberbio,
de dos mares al ruido sonoro,
bajo el ala de grana y de oro
te adormeces del bello quetzal;
Ave indiana que vive en tu escudo,
paladión que protege tu suelo,
¡ojalá que remonte su vuelo
más que el cóndor y el águila real!
Coro:
¡Ojalá que remonte su vuelo
más que el cóndor y el águila real,
y en sus alas levante hasta el cielo,
Guatemala, tu nombre inmortal![1]
Happy Guatemala…! Your altars
The fierce executioner no longer bloodies,
There are no cowards who lick the yoke
Nor tyrants who spit on your face.
If tomorrow your sacred ground
Is profaned by foreign invasion
Stained in blood, your beautiful flag
Will serve as a shroud for the bold.
Chorus:
Stained in blood, your beautiful flag
Will serve as a shroud for the bold,
May your people with fierce spirit
Be rather dead than a slave.
From your old and hard chains
You smelted with an angry hand
The plough that fertilises the soil,
And the sword that saves honour.
Our fathers fought one day
Burning with national ardour,
They tore you from the bloody rack
And lifted you a throne of love.
Chorus:
They tore you from the bloody rack
And lifted you a throne of love.
May from fatherland to the energetic focus
Crime die and error sink.
Your ensign is a piece of heaven
Between clouds of clear whiteness
And woe to he who perjures with hand
Dares to stain its colours!
May your brave and proud children
See with joy in the rough fight
The torrent of blood that emanates
From the steel to the vibrant clash.
Chorus:
The torrent of blood that emanates
From the steel to the vibrant clash,
Which is only the honour of their medal
And the altar of the fatherland, their altar.
Lying on the superb Andes
From two seas to the sonorous noise
Under the wing of scarlet and gold
You fall asleep to the beautiful quetzal.
Indian bird that lives on your coat of arms,
Palladium that protects your soil
May it take its flight
More than the condor and the golden eagle!
Chorus:
May it take its flight
More than the condor and the golden eagle,
And on its wings lift up to the sky,
Guatemala, your immortal name!
