O Holy Night
Notes
Written by Eruyá Þorondil, in 2025. provided here under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). Retrieved on 2025-12-28. See VL post at https://hymnary.org/text/o_holy_night_the_stars_are_brightly_shin.
Translation of the Christmas song "Cantique de Noël", originally written as the poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau (1847), with music composed by Adolphe Adam. The English version, differing significantly in parts, and which forms the basis of the Quenya translation, is by John Sullivan Dwight (1855). This translation omits the second verse of the Cappeau and Dwight versions.
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【1】 A airë lómë
► O holy night
【3】 A airë lómë, i éli cálar calimë,
► O holy night, the stars are shining bright(ly)
【4】 I lómë ná yá Yésus né nóna.
► The night it is when Jesus was born.
【5】 Andavë cainë ambar úcarissë ar morniëssë,
► Longly lay (the) world in sin and in darkness,
【6】 tenna lélines ar farinyë feän.
► Until he appeared and the soul was satisfied.
【7】 Walmë estelwa, lumba ambar alarya,
► Excitement of hope, (the) weary world rejoices,
【8】 an enta oryeä winya anar.
► For yonder is rising a new sun.
【9】 Á laita, á hlarë valar lírar
► Praise! hear angels are singing
【10】 A lómë aina yá hristo ná nóna.
► O night divine when Christ was born.
【11】 A lómë aina, a lómë aina.
► O night divine, o night divine.
【13】 Naitië ñolyanes melë quen exenna
► Truly He taught to love one another
【14】 Þanyerya melmë ar mentarya rainë.
► His law (is) love and His message (is) peace.
【15】 Limili racuvas an i mól hánolva ná
► Chains He will break for the slave is our brother
【16】 Ar esseryanen ilya naitië teluva!
► And by His name every oppression will end!
【17】 Airilíri alassevë ómalvanen lindalvë
► Holy-songs of joy by our voice we sing
【18】 Nai illi wessë laituva alcarin essë.
► May all in us praise (the) glorious name.
【19】 Hristo Heru ná, á laita se tennoio!
► Christ is the Lord, praise Him forever!
【20】 Túrerya ar alcar oialë á nyarë!
► His power and glory forever tell!
【21】 Túrerya ar alcar oialë á nyarë!
► His power and glory forever tell!