O HOLY NIGHT WAS ORIGINALLY A POEM
(SEE BELOW THE 2ND VERSION)
The last version given is the English Translation of the original poem/song
per wikipedia
Version 1 - O Holy Night
- O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
- It is the night of Our dear Saviour's birth.
- Long lay the world In sin and error pining,
- 'Til He appear'd And the soul felt its worth.
- A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,
- For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.
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- Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
- O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
- O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
- Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
- With glowing hearts By His cradle we stand.
- So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming,
- Here come the wise men From Orient land.
- The King of Kings Lay thus in lowly manger;
- In all our trials Born to be our friend.
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- He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger,
- Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
- Behold your King, Behold your King.
- Truly He taught us To love one another;
- His law is love And His gospel is peace.
- Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother;
- And in His name All oppression shall cease.
- Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we,
- Let all within us Praise His holy name.
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- Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
- His power and glory Evermore proclaim.
- His power and glory Evermore proclaim.
O Holy Night - Version 2:
- O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging,
- Watch o'er the Eve of our dear Saviour's birth.
- Long lay the world in sin and error, longing
- For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth.
- A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices,
- For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
-
- Fall on your knees! O, hear the angel voices!
- O night divine, the night when Christ was Born;
- O night, O holy night, O night divine!
- Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
- With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored.
- O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
- And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard.
- The Son of God lay thus w'thin lowly manger;
- In all our trials born to be our Lord.
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- He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
- Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
- Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
- Truly He taught us to love one another,
- His law is love and His gospel is peace.
- Long live His truth, and may it last forever,
- For in His name all discordant noise shall cease.
- Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
- With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
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- Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
- His power and glory ever more proclaim!
- His power and glory ever more proclaim!
(The second and third
choruses are often replaced with a refrain of the first).
Minuits, chrétiens / Cantique de Noël:
- Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,
- Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous
- Pour effacer la tache originelle
- Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
- Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
- En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
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- Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.
- Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,
- Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!
- De notre foi que la lumière ardente
- Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,
- Comme autrefois une étoile brillante
- Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
- Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:
- Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,
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- A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.
- Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
- Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
- Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
- La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
- Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,
- L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
- Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance,
- C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît, qu'Il souffre et meurt.
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- Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,
- Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,
- Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!
English Translation of Minuits, chrétiens / Cantique de Noël: (N.b. the English version of 'O Holy Night' is not a direct translation of the French.)
- Midnight, Christians is the solemn hour
- When God as Man descended unto us
- To erase the original stain (sin)
- And end the wrath of his Father.
- The entire world trembles with expectation
- In this night that gives to us a Savior.
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- Fall on your knees, await your deliverance.
- Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer,
- Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer!
- The ardent light of our Faith,
- Guides us all to the cradle of the infant,
- As in ancient times a brilliant star
- Conducted the Magi there from the orient.
- The King of kings was born in a humble manger;
- O mighty ones of today, proud of your grandeur,
- It is to your pride that God preaches.
- Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
- Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
- The redeemer has broken every shackle
- The earth is free, and heaven is open.
- He sees a brother where there was once only a slave
- Those who had been chained together by iron, love now unites.
- Who will tell Him of our gratitude
- It is for every one of us that he was born, suffered and died.
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- Stand on your feet, sing of your deliverance.
- Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer,
- Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer!