Jesous A-ha-ton-hia - The Huron Carol St. Jean de Brebeuf - English interpretation by Jesse Edgar Middleton
1
'Twas in the moon of winter time,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wond'ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your king is born!
Jesus is born: "In excelsis gloria!"
2
Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A raged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp'd his beauty 'round;
And as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your king is born!
Jesus is born: "In excelsis gloria!"
3
The earliest moon of winter time
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on
The helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt:
Jesus your king is born!
Jesus is born: "In excelsis gloria!"
4
O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou;
The holy child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace, and joy:
Jesus your king is born!
Jesus is born: "In excelsis gloria!"
The following is a literal translation of the Huron Carol from the Huron to English language. Translation by John Steckley / Teondecheron
Huron Carol
Have courage, you who are humans; Jesus, he is born
Behold, the spirit who had us as prisoners has fled
Do not listen to it, as it corrupts the spirits of our minds
Jesus, he is born
They are spirits, sky people, coming with a message for us
They are coming to say, "Rejoice (Be on top of life)"
Marie, she has just given birth. Rejoice"
Jesus, he is born
Three have left for such, those who are elders
Tichion, a star that has just appeared on the horizon leads them there
He will seize the path, he who leads them there
Jesus, he is born
As they arrived there, where he was born, Jesus
the star was at the point of stopping, not far past it
Having found someone for them, he says, "Come here!"
Jesus, he is born
Behold, they have arrived there and have seen Jesus,
They praised (made a name) many times, saying "Hurray, he is good in nature"
They greeted him with reverence (greased his scalp many times), saying 'Hurray'
Jesus, he is born
"We will give to him praise for his name,
Let us show reverence for him as he comes to be compassionate to us.
It is providential that you love us and wish, 'I should adopt them.'"
Jesus, he is born.