Silent night - Josef Mohr, translated by John F. Young, Franz X. Gruber

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 22 December 2004, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

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

1. QUIET NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT.
(<) ALL CALM, (>) ALL BRIGHT.
THERE-rt VIRGIN MOTHER SIT"over time" WITH C-H-I-L-D.
HOLY INFANT, "WOW" SOFT-HEARTED, SWEET.
||: SLEEP LIKE HEAVEN ITS PEACE. :||

2. QUIET NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT.
SHEPHERD MANY-LOOK-TO-God SCARED, KNEES-KNOCK.
HEAVEN SEND alt.GLORY STREAM-FROM-heaven.
ANGEL SCADS-OF-high SING ALLELUIA!
||: CHRIST HE-lf SAVIOR FINISH BORN. :||

3. QUIET NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT.
GOD HIS SON, L-O-V-E PURE LIGHT.
HIS-lf HOLY FACE lf-SHINY BRIGHT.
GRACE PAY-OFF OUR DEBT NOW DAWN.
||: JESUS LORD NOW YOUR-lf BIRTH. :||

4. QUIET NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT.
WONDERFUL STAR, SEND YOUR-rt,hi LIGHT-BEAM.
COME-ON JOIN-rt,hi ANGEL GO-AHEAD SING.
ALLELUIA TO OUR KING INDEX-lf.
||: CHRIST HE-lf SAVIOR FINISH BORN. :||


Notes: CALM - (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, both hands descend on NDS, then DS, then NDS.

THERE-rt - [B], PO up, FO away, acts as an honorific index and points to right and descends slightly.

INFANT - (2h)[C], POs > signer, hold an imaginary baby vertically on the NDS with the DH below the NDH.

"WOW" - [5] shakes out hand, swiveling at the elbow.

SOFT-HEARTED - HEART + (2h)[5^] descend slightly twice while closing to (2h)[O^].

MANY-LOOK-TO-God - (2h)[4] move FT towards Heaven as if many eyes were looking to God.

KNEES-KNOCK - (2h)[1^], POs down, FOs away, hands shake from side to side symmetrically as if knees are knocking.

alt.GLORY STREAM-FROM-heaven - (2h)[5], POs ><, FOs away from signer, DH which is on top wiggles fingers while ascending, then change hands + [O^] is held high PO > signer; hands open to [5^] while moving > signer.

SCADS-OF-high - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, move forward to show many beings but high for the angels.

PURE - like NICE but the DH moves backwards slightly on the palm, pauses, then moves forward rapidly to show intensity.

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

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.

GRACE - [O^] or [S], held high and PO > Heaven, supinates and opens to [5] while being brought towards head. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Grace.

PAY-OFF - [open 8] runs middle finger up palm (> wrist), changes to a [B], PO down, and then moves back across palm.

LIGHT-BEAM - [O^] is held high PO > signer; hands open to [5^] while moving > signer.

GO-AHEAD - (2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, move forward in a jerk.

Lyrics:

1. 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.

2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

3. 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.

4. Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to The cyber hymnal: Silent night.

To see another translation of this hymn performed, go to Silent Night.signing hands

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