這首聖誕詩歌由英國作曲家John Rutter寫詞譜曲,Rutter是備受推崇的當代聖樂大師。多年前我曾唱過他的Go forth into the world in peace,偶然聽到這首Angels' Carol,行雲流水般的歡唱竟日縈耳,難以忘懷!網路遍尋不到中文版,這麼美妙的詩歌怎能任它雲遊在外?忍不住燈下推敲,把中文翻譯出來,逐字鑲嵌入四聲部,期望未來有更多團隊來唱它。
天使佳音Angels' Carol
你是否聽見天使歌聲歡唱 Have you heard the sound of the angel voices 多麼悅耳動聽響徹入雲霄 Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear? 你是否看見夜空明星閃亮 Have you seen the star shining out so brightly 上帝賜標記主基督在這裡 As a sign from God, that Christ the Lord is here?
你是否聽見天使來報佳音 Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven 牧人謙卑等候久旱逢甘霖 To the humble shepherds who have waited long 榮耀歸于真神上帝(x2) Gloria in excelsis Deo! 傾聽天使歡呼高聲唱 Hear the angels sing their joyful song
寧靜的冬天平安來臨人間 He is come in peace in the winter's stillness 如同雪花輕盈溫柔又恬靜 Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night 祂帶來喜樂如同清晨朝陽 He is come in joy like the sun at morning 普照全世界榮光遍滿大地 Filling all the world with radiance and with light
瑪麗亞之子為拯救人降世 He is come in love as the child of Mary 出生卑微馬槽萬民好消息 In a simple stable we have seen his birth 榮耀歸于真神上帝(x2) Gloria in excelsis Deo! 聽天使高唱平安歸世人 Hear the angels singing Peace on earth
祂帶來光明照亮黑暗大地 He will bring new light to a world in darkness 祂是明亮晨星閃耀在天際 Like a bright star shining in the skies above 祂帶來盼望萬民等待救星 He will bring new hope to the waiting nations 慈悲憐憫心以愛治理全地 When he comes to reign in purity and love
舉世要歡欣迎接救主降臨 Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour's coming 天上萬軍慶賀喜樂的清晨 Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn 榮耀歸于真神上帝(x2) Gloria in excelsis Deo! 天使歡唱基督今降生(x2) Hear the angels singing "Christ is born"