"O Holy Night" - Quenya
I was bored, and it has been a long time since I did a lengthy translation of anything, especially in Quenya. So in honor of the holidays, I picked "O Holy Night," since I figured it would be the easiest to translate. It took me about a week, which is the average length of time to do one. If any expert Quenya speakers could critique this, it would be a great help, because I'm sure I messed something up. :)
The second and third verses are taken from two different versions of the song.
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining
Ai ló airë! Eleni sílar calimavë
Oh night holy! (The) stars are-shining brightly
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Ná lómë nostava Etelehtarva melda!
It-is night of-the-birth of-the-Deliverer dear!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Anda caitanë Ambar úcaressë ar úsahtissë nyényë
Long lied (the) World in-sin and in-temptation weeping
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
Tenna séyanero ar fëa tenyanë valdarya.
Until appeared-He and (the) soul felt worth-its.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
Tinwë estelwa Ambar lumba tenya alassë
A spark of-hope (the) World weary feels joy
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
An enta racë arin alcarin ar vinya!
For yonder breaks a morning glorious and new
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices
A lanta raikatelquissëlya, á hlarë i oman Valaron
Fall bent-legs-on-your, hear the voices of-the-Valar
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born
Ai ló Eruva, ai ló írë Hristo né nóna
Oh night of-Eru, Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, Oh night divine
Ai ló Eruva, Ai ló Eruva
Oh night of-Eru, Oh night of-Eru
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
Tulyanë calanen estelwa caltar senda,
Lead by-the-light of-hope shining at-peace,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
Asindor silari sé caimarya tyullvë.
With (symbolic) hearts white-shining at bed-His stand-we.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Or i Ambar él ná calar lissevë,
Over the World a star is shining,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
Tulë Istima Neri Ambarónallo.
Comes Wise Men from-the-Orient.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
I Aran Aranwa caitanë mi roccocoa núravë;
The King of-Kings lied horse-house lowly;
In all our trials born to be our Lord.
Mi tyastarlwë nóna na Herulva.
In testing-we born to be Lord-our.
He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
Istes maurelva, nimpelva úlartar,
Knows-He need-our, weakness-our not-enduring.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Aiya Aranlya! Epes cúna núravë!
Behold King-your! Before-him bend lowly!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Aiya Aranlya! Epes cúna núravë!
Behold King-your! Before-him bend lowly!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
Násië saitanelwës melë min enta;
Truly he-teached-we to-love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Axanrya ná melmë ar evandilyonrya ná sívë.
Law-His is love and gospel-His is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
Angwendar racuvas an mól ná otornolva;
Chains break-will-He for slave is sworn-brother-our;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Ar essesserya sangarë pustuva.
And name-in-His oppression will-cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Airelinnar lissi alasseva mi quanta hantvar ortalvë,
Hymns sweet joy-of in full of-thanks raise-we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Lava mi ve laita esserya airë.
Allow within us praise name-His holy.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
Hristo ná Heru! A laita esserya ráoirë,
Christ is Lord! Praise name-His for-eternity,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Tuorya ar alcarrya vorolil quetuva.
His-strength and His-glory evermore will-say.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Tuorya ar alcarrya vorolil quetuva.
His-strength and His-glory evermore will-say.
So, how did I do?
The second and third verses are taken from two different versions of the song.
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining
Ai ló airë! Eleni sílar calimavë
Oh night holy! (The) stars are-shining brightly
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Ná lómë nostava Etelehtarva melda!
It-is night of-the-birth of-the-Deliverer dear!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Anda caitanë Ambar úcaressë ar úsahtissë nyényë
Long lied (the) World in-sin and in-temptation weeping
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
Tenna séyanero ar fëa tenyanë valdarya.
Until appeared-He and (the) soul felt worth-its.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
Tinwë estelwa Ambar lumba tenya alassë
A spark of-hope (the) World weary feels joy
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
An enta racë arin alcarin ar vinya!
For yonder breaks a morning glorious and new
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices
A lanta raikatelquissëlya, á hlarë i oman Valaron
Fall bent-legs-on-your, hear the voices of-the-Valar
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born
Ai ló Eruva, ai ló írë Hristo né nóna
Oh night of-Eru, Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, Oh night divine
Ai ló Eruva, Ai ló Eruva
Oh night of-Eru, Oh night of-Eru
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
Tulyanë calanen estelwa caltar senda,
Lead by-the-light of-hope shining at-peace,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
Asindor silari sé caimarya tyullvë.
With (symbolic) hearts white-shining at bed-His stand-we.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Or i Ambar él ná calar lissevë,
Over the World a star is shining,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
Tulë Istima Neri Ambarónallo.
Comes Wise Men from-the-Orient.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
I Aran Aranwa caitanë mi roccocoa núravë;
The King of-Kings lied horse-house lowly;
In all our trials born to be our Lord.
Mi tyastarlwë nóna na Herulva.
In testing-we born to be Lord-our.
He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
Istes maurelva, nimpelva úlartar,
Knows-He need-our, weakness-our not-enduring.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Aiya Aranlya! Epes cúna núravë!
Behold King-your! Before-him bend lowly!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Aiya Aranlya! Epes cúna núravë!
Behold King-your! Before-him bend lowly!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
Násië saitanelwës melë min enta;
Truly he-teached-we to-love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Axanrya ná melmë ar evandilyonrya ná sívë.
Law-His is love and gospel-His is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
Angwendar racuvas an mól ná otornolva;
Chains break-will-He for slave is sworn-brother-our;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Ar essesserya sangarë pustuva.
And name-in-His oppression will-cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Airelinnar lissi alasseva mi quanta hantvar ortalvë,
Hymns sweet joy-of in full of-thanks raise-we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Lava mi ve laita esserya airë.
Allow within us praise name-His holy.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
Hristo ná Heru! A laita esserya ráoirë,
Christ is Lord! Praise name-His for-eternity,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Tuorya ar alcarrya vorolil quetuva.
His-strength and His-glory evermore will-say.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Tuorya ar alcarrya vorolil quetuva.
His-strength and His-glory evermore will-say.
So, how did I do?