by Placide Cappeau (1808 - 1877)
Translation by John Sullivan Dwight (1813 - 1893)

Cantique de Noël
Language: French (Français) 
Our translations:  GER
Minuit ! Chrétien, c’est l'heure solennelle
Où l'homme Dieu descendit jusqu’à nous,
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de son père arrêter le courroux :
Le monde entier tressaille d’espérance
A cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
Peuple, à genoux !
Attends ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël !
Voici le Rédempteur !
Noël, Noël !
Voici le Rédempteur !

De notre foi, que la lumière ardente 
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'enfant, 
Comme autrefois, une étoile brillante 
Y conduisit les chefs de l’Orient, 
Le Roi des Rois naît dans une humble crèche ; 
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil c'est de là qu'un Dieu prêche :
Courbez vos fronts 
devant le Rédempteur, 
Courbez vos fronts 
devant le Rédempteur !
 
Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave :
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un frère où n’était qu'un esclave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance ?
C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt.
Peuple, debout,
Chante ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël !
Chantons le Rédempteur !
Noël, Noël !
Chantons le Rédempteur !

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Peter Gerloff (b. 1957) , "Heilige Nacht", written 2008 [an adaptation] ; composed by Peter Gerloff.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (John Sullivan Dwight) , "Cantique de Noël"
  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Weihnachtslied", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Bertram Kottmann

This text was added to the website: 2013-07-14
Line count: 35
Word count: 173

Cantique de Noël
Language: English  after the French (Français) 
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! 
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, 
O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, 
O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,
Behold your King! 
Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, 
Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! 
O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory
evermore proclaim.
His power and glory 
evermore proclaim.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Bertram Kottmann

This text was added to the website: 2016-11-27
Line count: 35
Word count: 225