Newborn Prince of Peace - Doug Eckert

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 21 December 2005, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

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

1. IN PLACE CALLED BETHLEHEM, IN HOUSE FOR ANIMAL CLOSE-TO I-N-N,
MARY AND J-O-S-E-P-H THEIR-rt BABY BORN WITHOUT SIN.
SEEM WORLD alt.OVERLOOK. SEEM WORLD DON'T-CARE.
BUT THAT NIGHT GOD GIFT-TO-us US "WHAT" BABY THERE-lf.

Refrain: "HEY"-all CHILDREN COME-ON SEE HOW GOD HIS GIFT SHINY BRIGHT.
THAT GIFT TONIGHT FOR (2h)YOU AND ME.
LOOK'look++'-AT-lf RECENTLY BORN BABY. WATCH"over time" WHILE HE-lf SLEEP.
HE-lf BRING "WHAT"? CHRISTMAS JOY. HE-lf RECENTLY BORN PRINCE OFFER PEACE.

2. COW, HORSE, SHEEP LOOK-TO-lf HIM-lf. THEY-ctr KNOW-NOTHING HIS-lf WORTH.
BUT ANGEL STAND-IN-CIRCLE-hi SING'look down'. SOUND"pow" SPREADwg.
NEXT-TURN-rt SHEPHERD GROUP-GO-TO-lf PRAISE HIM-lf, KNEEL"each"-TO-lf.
WHY? THEY-rt KNOW++ HE-lf RECENTLY BORN PRINCE OFFER PEACE.


Notes: BETHLEHEM - "B" CITY.

MARY - [M] touches NDS temple, is drawn across forehead, and descends. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Mary - 1.

SIN - (2h)[X] touch their respective sides of the mouth, descend to neutral space and circle antisymmetrically parallel to the chest. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Sin.

GIFT-TO-us - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, hands tip back towards signer to show that something is given as a gift.

THERE - Underlined prounouns (ME, YOU, HE) are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

"HEY"-all - (2h)[B], PO down, FO away, wave while separating as if getting everyone's attention.

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

SHINY - (2h)[open 8], POs down, FOs away, twist rapidly at wrists while rising. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Shine.

LOOK'look++' - FT of [V] point at what the signer is encouraging people to look at and mouths "look, look, look".

PRINCE - P-KING.

KNOW-NOTHING - [F], PO > NDS, FOs up, move hand side-to-side slightly at midforehead.

STAND-IN-CIRCLE-hi - (2h)[4], POs away, FO away, are held together then trace half circle like FAMILY, while the hands are held high.

SOUND'pow' - Touch ear with index finger then (2h)[S], PO down, FO away, move antisymmetrically from side to side while mouthing "pow". For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - thunder.

NEXT-TURN - [L], PO down, FO away, hand twists so that the thumb points to whose turn it is next.

GROUP-GO-TO - (2h)[C], POs ><, FT touch, and both hands move together > appropriate space.

KNEEL"each"-TO-lf - [V:], taps upturned palm while NDH [B] moves away.

Lyrics:

1. In a town called Bethlehem, in a stable by an inn,
A child was born to Mary and to Joseph without sin.
But the world seemed not to notice, and the world seemed not to care.
But the gift God gave to us that night is the gift that's sleeping there.

Refrain: Oh children come and see how God's gift is shining bright.
It's a gift for you and me that was given this night.
Look upon the newborn baby and watch o'er him as he sleeps.
It's the gift of Christmas joy he brings. 'Tis the newborn prince of peace.

2. Oh the beasts all looked at him, but they did not understand.
But the angels sang around him there: voices calling though the land.
Then the shepherds came to praise him, and they fell upon their knees,
For they knew what lay before them there: 'twas the newborn prince of peace.

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