I heard the voice of Jesus - Horatius Bonar & traditional English melody, adapt. by Ralph Vaughn Williams

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 4 March 2007, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. ME HEAR JESUS SAY, (role play) COME-ON ME OFFER REST.
YOU-ctr WEARY, LIE-DOWN, YOUR-ctr HEAD REST-HEAD-ON-CHEST.
ME GO-TO-lf JESUS, ACCEPT ME WORN-OUT, SAD.
ME FIND WITH HIM-lf PLACE REST. LIFE WITH HIM-lf HAPPY.

2. ME HEAR JESUS SAY, (role play) KNOW-THAT ME GIFT
WATER OFFER LIFE. YOU THIRSTY, #DO-DO? WATER SCOOP-UP AND LIVE. (end role)
ME GO-TO-lf JESUS, DRINK FROM RIVER GIFT-TO-me LIFE.
THIRST GONE, MY SOUL REFRESHED, AND NOW ME LIVE INSIDE-SELF HIM-lf.

3. ME HEAR JESUS SAY, (role play) ME LIGHT FOR HERE WORLD DARK.
IF DEPEND ME, SUN NEW sun-RISE, AND ALL YOUR DAY BRIGHT WILL.
NOW DEPEND JESUS, HE-lf MY NEW STAR, MY SUN.
NOW ME FOLLOW HIM-lf UNTIL MY EARTH JOURNEY END.


Notes: ME - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

COME-ON - (2h)[B^] move in circles pivoting at the wrists to beckon someone to do something.

WEARY - TIRED + [V], PO up, FO > NDS, is drawn with effort across the palm of [B], PO up, FO away.

LIE-DOWN - DH [V], PO down, FO away, is laid in the palm of NDH [B], PO up, FO away.

REST-HEAD-ON-CHEST - HEAD + NDH pulls DH [S] to chest.

WORN-OUT - (2h)[A], FOs away, are held together, then separate while supinating and opening to (2h)[5:]. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - decay.

KNOW-THAT - Starts like KNOW but twists and descends, looking almost like DON'T-KNOW except the hand twists down at the end.

GIFT - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, nod downwards at wrist to show that something is given as a gift.

SCOOP-UP - Mime scooping up water from below.

REFRESHED - (2h)[S], elbows are pointed out somewhat and then pivot upwards twice, almost like "CHICKEN" (cowardly) but fists do not touch the body.

INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

LIGHT/BRIGHT - (2h)[O^], POs away, FOs up, open to (2h)[5], while separating. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Light - 1.

JOURNEY - (2h)[V:], PO down, FO away, travels away in a spiral path.

Lyrics:

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon my breast.
I came to Jesus, as I was, so weary, worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk till trav'ling days are done.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear a musical setting of these lyrics (without words), go to I heard the voice of Jesus and click on "Available in Midi at The Online Lutheran Hymnal" at the bottom of the page.

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