I love Christmas music and am really liking the literal translation of Silent Night. “Blessed boy in curly hair” makes more sense to me that “Holy Infant so Tender and Mild”, but maybe the latter is more musical. Ruh!
DEUTSCH Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818 Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816/1818 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schl ft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Halleluja, T nt es laut von fern und nah: Christ, der Retter ist da! Christ, der Retter ist da! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht Lieb’ aus deinem g ttlichen Mund, Da uns schl gt die rettende Stund’. Christ, in deiner Geburt! Christ, in deiner Geburt!
ENGLISH Literal English prose translation by Hyde Flippo Silent night, holy night All is sleeping, alone watches Only the close, most holy couple. Blessed boy in curly hair, Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace! Silent night, holy night, Shepherds just informed By the angels’ hallelujah, It rings out far and wide: Christ the Savior is here! Christ the Savior is here! Silent night, holy night, Son of God, oh how laughs Love out of your divine mouth, Because now the hour of salvation strikes for us. Christ, in Thy birth! Christ, in Thy birth!
CURRENT ENGLISH VERSION Popular English version tranlsated by Episcopal priest John Freeman Young Silent night, holy night! All is calm, All is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so Tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia! Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born! Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light! With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King! Christ the Saviour is here, Jesus the Saviour is here! Silent night, Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord at thy birth; Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Rosenkohl
12 years ago
Brilliant – very helpful for students of German. Thanks 🙂
Note that there’s no comma after “virgin”‚Äîand there should not be a pause or breath there either. “All is calm, all is bright ’round yon virgin mother and child.”
John Freeman Young’s 1859 English translation (version) as it appears in most hymnals:
Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child. Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Allelu-a! Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light! With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King! Christ the Saviour is here, Jesus the Saviour is here!
Silent night, Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light, Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth; Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
I love Christmas music and am really liking the literal translation of Silent Night. “Blessed boy in curly hair” makes more sense to me that “Holy Infant so Tender and Mild”, but maybe the latter is more musical. Ruh!
DEUTSCH Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818 Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816/1818 Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schl ft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Halleluja, T nt es laut von fern und nah: Christ, der Retter ist da! Christ, der Retter ist da! Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht Lieb’ aus deinem g ttlichen Mund, Da uns schl gt die rettende Stund’. Christ, in deiner Geburt! Christ, in deiner Geburt!
ENGLISH Literal English prose translation by Hyde Flippo Silent night, holy night All is sleeping, alone watches Only the close, most holy couple. Blessed boy in curly hair, Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace! Silent night, holy night, Shepherds just informed By the angels’ hallelujah, It rings out far and wide: Christ the Savior is here! Christ the Savior is here! Silent night, holy night, Son of God, oh how laughs Love out of your divine mouth, Because now the hour of salvation strikes for us. Christ, in Thy birth! Christ, in Thy birth!
CURRENT ENGLISH VERSION Popular English version tranlsated by Episcopal priest John Freeman Young Silent night, holy night! All is calm, All is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so Tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia! Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born! Silent night, holy night! Wondrous star, lend thy light! With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King! Christ the Saviour is here, Jesus the Saviour is here! Silent night, Holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord at thy birth; Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Brilliant – very helpful for students of German. Thanks 🙂
Note that there’s no comma after “virgin”‚Äîand there should not be a pause or breath there either. “All is calm, all is bright ’round yon virgin mother and child.”
John Freeman Young’s 1859 English translation (version) as it appears in most hymnals:
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Allelu-a!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Saviour is here,
Jesus the Saviour is here!
Silent night, Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth;
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.