Huron Carol/Iesus Ahattonnia (Huron/Wendat, Canada)

VERSION I: ORIGINAL WENDAT/FRENCH/ENGLISH LITERAL




VERSION II: ENGLISH PARAPHRASE BY J.E. MIDDLETON (1923)




Huron/Wendat Original:

Ehstehn yayau deh tsaun we yisus ahattonnia
O na wateh wado:kwi nonnwa 'ndasqua entai
ehnau sherskwa trivota nonnwa 'ndi yaun rashata
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia

Ayoki onki hm-ashe eran yayeh raunnaun
yauntaun kanntatya hm-deh 'ndyaun sehnsatoa ronnyaun
Waria hnawakweh tond Yosehf sataunn haronnyaun
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia

Asheh kaunnta horraskwa deh ha tirri gwames
Tishyaun ayau ha'ndeh ta aun hwa ashya a ha trreh
aundata:kwa Tishyaun yayaun yaun n-dehta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia

Dau yishyeh sta atyaun errdautau 'ndi Yisus
avwa tateh dn-deh Tishyaun stanshi teya wennyau
aha yaunna torrehntehn yataun katsyaun skehnn
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia

Eyeh kwata tehnaunnte aheh kwashyehn ayehn
kiyeh kwanaun aukwayaun dehtsaun we 'ndeh adeh
tarrya diskwann aunkwe yishyehr eya ke naun sta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia

French Lyrics (as sung in the YouTube videoclip):

Chrétiens, prenez courage, Jésus Sauveur est né!
Du malin les ouvrages à jamais sont ruinés.
Quand il chante merveille à ces troublants âppats
Ne prêtez plus l'oreille: Jésus est né. Jesous ahatonhia.

Oyez cette nouvelle, dont un ange est porteur!
Oyez! Âmes fidèles, et dilatez vos coeurs.
La Vierge dans l'étable entoure de ses bras
L'Enfant-Dieu adorable: Jésus est né. Jesous ahatonhia

English Lyrics (as sung in the YouTube videoclip):

Let Christian men take heart today
The devil's rule is done;
Let no man heed the devil more,
For Jesus Christ is come
But hear ye all what angels sing:
How Mary Maid bore Jesus King.
Jesous ahatonhia.
Jesus is born. Jesous ahatonhia.

Three chieftains saw before Noël
A star as bright as day;
"So fair a sign," the chieftains said,
"Shall lead us where it may."
For Jesu told the chieftains three:
"The star will bring you here to me."
Jesous ahatonhia. Jesus is born.
Jesous ahatonhia.


VERSION II: ENGLISH PARAPHRASE BY JESSE EDGAR MIDDLETON (1926):

Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime 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.

O children of the forest free, O seed 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.


Words: Jean de Brébeuf, S.J. (1643)
Music: Traditional French