Night Is Still O'er Ancient Israel

 

New English words to the Russian Carol, Ночь тиха над Палестиной "Noch tikha nad Palestinoi"  ("Quiet Night Over Palestine")

You can see the original Russian version and

my line-by-line English translation here:  Ночь тиха над Палестиной

1.

Night is still o'er ancient Israel,

Earth is tired and slumbers on.

Mountains, forests, hills, and valleys—

Dark of night has hid them all.

2.

There in Bethlehem so wearied,

All the lights were finally out;

Only in remotest pastures,

Shepherds kept their night lookout.

3.

They knew nothing nor suspected;

So to pass the weary night,

Seated then they started talking,

With the comp'ny of firelight.

4.

Suddenly th'angelic voice came;

Trembling took the men with fear;

And in robes of snow-white brilliance,

[An] Angel of the Lord appeared.

5.

"Do not fear nor yet be anxious:

From the Lord in Heav'n Above,

Come I now with revelation

That your hearts rejoice in Love.

6.

"Mercy to the earth God sends now:

Christ, Himself, the Sovereign King.

Sinful earth He comes to ransom—

Gives Himself as offering!"

 

7.

(Repeat verse 1)

Night is still o'er ancient Israel,

Earth is tired and slumbers on.

Mountains, forests, hills, and valleys—

Dark of night has hid them all.

 

 

 

 

Listen to three versions of the original song sung in Russian:

• Дети Поют  (Children Sing)
  
  
• A group that uses the Дети Поют  (Children Sing) music track
  
  
• A Serbian Church choir

The Angels Sing

New English words to the Russian Carol, В Ночном Саду "V Nochnom Sadu"  ("In the Night Garden")

Original words and music by Vladimir Shishkarev.

You can see the original Russian version and
my English translation here: В Ночном Саду (In the Night Garden).

Lead sheet is found below.

1.

In Bethlehem upon a lonely night,

  Jehovah sent His Son,

The little Babe, so helpless in our sight—

  Salvation then begun.

  

  Chorus--

    The Angels sing, announcing Christ the King,

       The Wonders of His Love.

    Now come and see this blessed mystery—

       Immanuel from Above.

2.

The shepherds kept their flocks in fields at night

   All seated on the ground.

The angel of the Lord caused them great fright,

   The glory shone around.

  

  Chorus--

    The Angels sing, all glory to the King,

       To God who reigns on high.

    And peace on earth, the notice of his birth,

       His favor giv'n hereby.

3.

At once the shepherds left their flocks and ran

   To see this glorious sight.

The Babe was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid

   In manger on that night.

  

  Chorus--

    So let us sing, proclaiming Christ as King,

       The Wonders of His Love.

    Then go and tell that God with us does dwell—

       Immanuel from Above.

    

Listen to three versions of the original song sung in Russian:

* Adult A cappella

* Children's Choir & Full Orchestra

* Дети Поют  (Children Sing)

Ночь тиха над Палестиной — Quiet Night Over Palestine

 Youtube Video

 

Music can be found here:

• https://noty-bratstvo.org/node/4327
• http://invocal.ru/file.axd?file=/music/noch_tiha_nad_palestinoj.pdf 
• https://music-education.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Svyataya-noch-sbornik-kolyadok.pdf
• or  Ночь_тиха_над_Палестиной.pdf 
  

 

 

1. Ночь тиха над Палестиной.
Noch' tikha nad Palestinoy.
Night [is] quiet over Palestine.

Спит усталая земля.
Spit ustalaya zemlya.
Sleeps [the] tired earth.

Горы, рощи и долины
Gory, roshchi i doliny
Mountains, woods, and valleys

[:Скрыла всё ночная мгла.:]
[:Skryla vso nochnaya mgla.:]
[:hid all [the] night darkness.:]
  [:(Ie, The night darkness hid all):]



2. В Вифлееме утомлённом
V Vifleyeme utomlonnom
In Bethlehem wearied
   (Ie, in wearied Bethlehem)
   
Все погасли огоньки,
Vse pogasli ogon'ki,
All extinguished lights,
   (Ie, All lights were extinguished)
   
Только в поле отдалённом
Tol'ko v pole otdalonnom
Only in fields remote

[:Не дремали пастухи.:]
[:Ne dremali pastukhi.:]
[:Not slumbered [the] shepherds.:]



3. Словно что ожидали,
Slovno chto ozhidali,
As if that [they] expected,

Обходя ночной дозор,
Obkhodya nochnoy dozor,
Passing [the] night watch,

И, усевшись, завязали
I, usevshis', zavyazali
And, seated, [they] started

[:Меж собою разговор.:]
[:Mezh soboyu razgovor.:]
[:Between themselves conversation:]



4. Вдруг раздался голос нежный,
Vdrug razdalsya golos nezhnyy,
Suddenly rang out voice gentle,

Трепет пастухов объял,
Trepet pastukhov ob"yal,
Trembling [the] shepherd overtook,

И в одежде белоснежной
I v odezhde belosnezhnoy
And in robes snow-white

[:Ангел Божий им предстал.:]
[:Angel Bozhiy im predstal.:]
[:[An] angel [of] God [to] them appeared.:]


5. – Не пугайтесь, не смущайтесь!
– Ne pugaytes', ne smushchaytes'!
- Not be frightened, not be confused!

От Небесного Отца
Ot Nebesnogo Ottsa
From Heavenly Father

Я пришёл с великой тайной
YA prishol s velikoy taynoy
I arrived with great mystery

[:Вам возрадовать сердца.:]
[:Vam vozradovat' serdtsa.:]
[: [to] You (plural) to rejoice (to cause sudden joy) hearts. :]


6. Милость людям посылает
Milost' lyudyam posylayet
Mercy [to] people sends

Сам Христос, Владыка-Царь.
Sam Khristos, Vladyka-Tsar'.
Himself Christ, [the] Sovereign-King.

Грешный мир спасти желая,
Greshnyy mir spasti zhelaya,
Sinful world to save wanted,

[:Сам Себя Он в жертву дал.:]
[:Sam Sebya On v zhertvu dal.:]
[: Himself Himself He in sacrifice gave. :]
   (Ie, He Himself gave Himself in sacrifice.)


Repeat verse 1

-------  Better English  -------

1. The night is quiet over Palestine.
The tired earth sleeps.
Mountains, woods, and valleys—
[:The night darkness hid everything.:]

2. In weary Bethlehem
All the lights were extinguished,
Only in the remote fields
[:The shepherd did not slumber.:]

3. They expected little else
And to pass the night watch,
They being seated, started
[:Conversation among themselves.:]

4. Suddenly a gently voice rang out,
Trembling overtook the shepherds,
And in snowy-white raiment
[:An angel of the Lord appeared to them.:]

5. Do not fear, be not confused!
From the Heavenly Father
I arrived with a great mystery
[: To cause your hearts to rejoice suddenly!:]

6. Christ Himself, the Sovereign King
Sends mercy to the people.
Wanting to save the sinful world,
[:He Himself gave Himself as sacrifice.:]

 

 

Another version

Yet another version by Anna Abikulova

Many audio versions found here.

See this link for English words set to this music. 

BACK TO INDEX

В Ночном Саду — In The Night Garden

Youtube Video

 

Music here

 

Lyrics here

Written by: Владимир Федорович Шишкарёв 

(Vladimir Fedorovich Shishkaryov)

Opening conversation:

     (thank you, TG)

Boy - What are you reading?

 

Girl - Read to us too.

 

Older girl, reading - The time had come for Mary to give birth. The holy travelers had wandered for a long time, seeking shelter, but meanwhile, night fell, and they decided to spend the night in the outskirts of the city, in a cave where shepherds sheltered in bad weather, and in these conditions, in a cold cave, took place the greatest event in the lives of all people. On this holy night was born the God-man, Jesus Christ, the Savior of all the world. The holy virgin Mary swaddled the baby and laid him in a manger, a feeding trough for cattle. That night, shepherds were pasturing their flocks in the fields, when suddenly like lighting stood before them a radiant shining angel, and the shepherds were very afraid, but the angel of God said - Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Go to the cave and you will find the baby lying in a manger.

 

 

 

 

1. В ночном саду прохладно и светло,
V nochnom sadu prokhladno i svetlo,
In night garden cool and bright,

Стоит наш мирный дом.
Stoit nash mirnyy dom.
Stands our peaceful home.

Проходит ангел, белое крыло
Prokhodit angel, beloye krylo
Passes [an] angel, white wing

Мелькает за окном.
Mel'kayet za oknom.
flashes outside [the] window.


--припев--
В пещере ослик кушает овёс,
V peshchere oslik kushayet ovyos
In [a] grotto [a] donkey eats oats,

В яслях лежит Христос,
V yaslyakh lezhit Khristos,
In [a] creche lays [the] Christ,

Ослёнок носом тянется к Нему,
Oslyonok nosom tyanetsya k Nemu,
[A] donkey foal nose reaches toward Him,
   (Ie, the foal reaches [its] nose toward Him)
   
Звезда глядит во тьму.
Zvezda glyadit vo t'mu.
[A] star gazes into darkness.



2. Мария держит Сына на руках,
Mariya derzhit Syna na rukakh,
Mary holds [the] Son in arms,

Иосиф греет чай.
Iosif greyet chay.
Joseph warms [the] tea.

Тут ангел им сказал о пастухах:
Tut angel im skazal o pastukhakh:
Then [the] angel [to] them said about [the] shepherds:

"Сейчас придут, встречай!"
"Seychas pridut, vstrechay!"
"Now [they] come, greet [them]!"


--припев--


3. Волхвы дары свои Ему несут,
Volkhvy dary svoi Yemu nesut,
[The] Magi gifts their own [to] Him carry/bring,

За ними важно вслед
Za nimi vazhno vsled
After them importantly in wake

Верблюды длинноногие идут,
Verblyudy dlinnonogiye idut,
Camels long-legged come,

Звезда им дарит свет.
Zvezda im darit svet.
[The] star them gives light.


--припев--

 

 

 

-------  Better English  -------

 

1. In the night garden cool and bright,
Stands our peaceful home.
An angel passes, white wing
Flashes outside the window

--Chorus--
In a grotto a donkey eats oats,
In a creche lays the Christ,
The donkey foal reaches its nose toward Him,
The star gazes into darkness.


2. Mary holds the Son in her arms,
Joseph warms the tea.
Then the angel told them of the shepherds:
"They are coming now, greet them!"

--Chorus--


3. The Magi bring to Him their own gifts;
Following after in their wake,
Long-legged camels come;
The star gives them light.

--Chorus--

See this link for new words set to this same tune.

BACK TO INDEX

Infinite Mercy

Infinite Mercy from God above;
Unbounded favor poured out in Love.
God now incarnate with us to dwell:
Heavenly blessing—Immanuel!

    Sing out His Greatness: God become man!
    Tell of His Mercies: Salvation's Plan!
    Jesus was born to rescue the lost.
    Christmas but points the way to the Cross.

Born as a baby, yet born to die,
Jesus came down from Heaven on high.
The Cross before Him, vict'ry to win;
He rose triumphant o'er death and sin!

    Refrain
   
Wrapped in soft swaddling pointing the way
To when this Savior in the Grave lay.
Death cannot hold Him, this King of Life;
Jesus was born to conquer all strife!

    Refrain

He desired one thing: to do God's will.
He gave His body, yet He lives still.
Now is ascended, the Great I Am,
Jesus our Savior, God's spotless Lamb.

    Refrain

- D. Benning

Silent Night

Oberndorf, Austria

Consider the story of the man who wrote this beloved Christmas Hymn, Joseph Mohr.  He was illegitimate and an outcast, but taken in by monk to learn music.  He was a ready student and learned music very well.  He eventually became a priest.  He wrote this poem when he was 23.  Within a couple of years he had met Franz Gruber, an organist, who set the poem to music.  It had its debut on Christmas Eve in 1818.

But consider the tender wonder expressed in these simple lines.  A holy reverence and  awe that can be glossed over in the familiar English translation.  I appreciate our Associate Pastor pointing these things out and then providing a more literal translation from the German.  From that (along with other language tools), I formed a new English translation.  I hope that it enables you to see the wonder of that moment where the Infinite became finite, the Transcendent became bound within the span of man.  What wonder, what condescension, what humility!  For us and for our salvation!

German—

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; 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,
Tönt 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 göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

English—
 
Silent Night, Holy Night,
All asleep; yet awake
Holy couple, betrothed holy pair;
Babe in arms covered with her long hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

Silent Night, Holy Night,
Shepherds heard first announced
By the angel a great Hallelu
Sounded loud near and far as they flew:
Christ, the Savior is here!
Christ, the Savior is here!

Silent Night, Holy Night,
Son of God, oh what joy!
Love that flows from Your dear divine face
Strikes redemption for us in Your Grace—
Jesus Christ, in Your birth!
Jesus Christ, in Your birth!

Artist's conception of Bethlehem on the first Christmas

A Child Is Born

This is G. K. Chesterton's Poem:

The thatch on the roof was as golden,
Though dusty the straw was and old,
The wind had a peal as of trumpets,
Though blowing and barren and cold,
The mother's hair was a glory
Though loosened and torn,
For under the eaves in the gloaming
A child was born.

Have a myriad children been quickened.
Have a myriad children grown old,
Grown gross and unloved and embittered,
Grown cunning and savage and cold?
God abides In a terrible patience,
Unangered, unworn,
And again for the child that was squandered
A child is born.

What know we of æons behind us,
Dim dynasties lost long ago,
Huge empires, like dreams unremembered,
Huge cities for ages laid low?
This at least—that with blight and with blessing
With flower and with thorn,
Love was there, and his cry was among them,
"A child is born."

Though the darkness be noisy with systems,
Dark fancies that fret and disprove,
Still the plumes stir around us, above us
The wings of the shadow of love:
Oh! princes and priests, have ye seen it
Grow pale through your scorn.
Huge dawns sleep before us, deep changes,
A child is born.

And the rafters of toil still are gilded
With the dawn of the star of the heart,
And the wise men draw near in the twilight,
Who are weary of learning and art,
And the face of the tyrant is darkened.
His spirit is torn,
For a new King is enthroned; yea, the sternest,
A child is born.

And the mother still joys for the whispered
First stir of unspeakable things,
Still feels that high moment unfurling
Red glory of Gabriel's wings.
Still the babe of an hour is a master
Whom angels adorn,
Emmanuel, prophet, anointed,
A child is born.

And thou, that art still in thy cradle,
The sun being crown for thy brow.
Make answer, our flesh, make an answer,
Say, whence art thou come—who art thou?
Art thou come back on earth for our teaching
To train or to warn—?
Hush—how may we know?—knowing only
A child is born.

~G.K. Chesterton

I like it.  However, the last stanza seems unfinished—wondering?—How can you not know why this Child came if you have read the Bible for any length of time?

After a few minutes, I formulated an answering stanza, a stanza that declares why this Child came and for what reason He stepped into our dimensions.

And here is the news of the ages,
Though lost in the time and the din,
The winds of the age blew with racket
Though blaring and riddled with sin.
For us and our manifold problems,
Our life in bright glory was torn;
Now unto us and our salvation
A child was born!

          - D. B.

Christmas Meditation

Think on this at this time of year:

Christ the giver; Christ the gift. Christ the victim; Christ the priest. Christ the Blessed; Christ the Blesser and the Blessing. Christ the Alpha and the Omega. Christ the Fountain and the Flow. Christ the Way and Christ our Goal. Truly from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. And at Christmas we contemplate Him who had no beginning suddenly became: Eternity compressed within the span of man.

Seasons of My Time

There is a time for every lot,
  a season for each purpose beneath heaven wrought.
Each season tempered with His grace,
  encased in Love's steadfast embrace,
Though dark my sight and blind my ways,
  My God in Love traced out my days.
Foresaw, foreloved, foreknew and drew,
  and guided ways before I knew;
Ordained and marked with loving care,
  each step I took,
                    each breath of air:
From puerile child, to callow youth,
  to measured man, He led in truth.

But how was it He came to me?
  How was it that my life was freed?
Midst time and space with infinite Grace,
  He entered time and space—and human race—
To rescue helpless sinners steeped in need.

In history stepped while our kind slept,
  He came with promises He kept—
  Frail tent of clay He did accept,
  With blood and sweat and tears He wept,
But perfectly He kept each law and precept!

This is Christmas that we celebrate!
  Not lights, though bright,
  Nor presents given,
  It is the Gift of Heaven
For which we decorate.

His transcendent Life in earthly frame then tented,
Frailty cloaked His power—with lack and weakness scented—
Christmas came to earth with humbled glory rented.

It's not the lights, though bright,
It's not the gifts, though given,
It is the God of Right who gave that night
A gift of Love inestimable from Heaven.

 

Thus I'm equipped my way to wend,

Since God has placed me here with friends;

Friends who walk this path to Heav'n,

Inspire and love—with sins forgiven—

And all according to God's gracious plan:

We're pastored by a pious, learnèd man.

We then midst trial, down aisle, o'er mile and pile,
  midst smile then guile, and all the while,
      the traces of His love upon our dial.
Through confusion, exclusion, and occlusion,
  with effusion* as prolusion**—
      Divine intrusion as conclusion.

The inexorable hand of special grace
   defined my steps, kept safe my space,
      and led me safe to Him—
   And will bring me safe to heaven.
 
- D. Benning
 
*  effusion— an act of talking or writing in an unrestrained or heartfelt way.
 
** prolusion— a preliminary action or event; a prelude.

In the Cold of That Decemeber

In the cold of that December
Came a child so we'd remember
    That the gift most precious given
    Sent to earth from God in Heaven
        Came in dark midst hate most cruel—
        Yet earth will bow beneath His rule.

- D. Benning

Christmas

Part of my work time is spent in the Lab.  In the Lab they play the Radio.  The only station that the Radio receives is a Pop-music station and from Thanksgiving to Christmas it ONLY plays "Christmas" music.

I have a lot of time to think about the lyrics.

All I can say is that modern Christmas songs are so devoid of deep content, focusing solely on emotions and feelings and warm, fuzzy "feel-goods" without anything to substantiate those feelings.

It reminded me of this poem that I wrote a long while back.

I see the twinkle in the sky, the spark-

    ling diamonds in a tree—‘tis shining bright

    against the dark: vivid colors of light.

I hear the sounds of people’s voices—Hark!

The glad carols peal across the cold night sky,

    proclaiming loud the News, the Gospel fair.

    I feel the crisp-fresh air, the crunching where

The shoes meet frozen turf—I know God is nigh!

‘Tis Christmas time and no silver bells could

    ever tell the gratitude of mine:

   My Jesus—my Lord God—though still divine

did take the form of man and for me stood

       to bear my punishment. My Lord, my King,

       of You my soul and Christmas shout and sing!

David Benning, 24 Dec 1981