This carol was written in 1818, in the Tyrolean village of Hallein, by the local church organist Franz Gruber and a schoolmaster called Joseph Mohr. This resulted in one of the most popular of all carols.
1818年在奥地利一个名叫奥本多夫的小镇上住着一个默默无闻的乡村神父--摩尔。这年圣诞节,摩尔发现教堂里的管风琴被老鼠咬坏了,修理已经来不及了。怎么庆祝圣诞呢?摩尔为此闷闷不乐。他忽然想起《路加福音》里记载着,耶稣降生时,天使向白冷郊外的牧羊人报佳音后,高唱颂歌:"天主受享荣福于天,良人受享太平于地。"他灵机一动,根据这两句经文写成一首赞美诗,取名《平安夜》。摩尔写好歌词后拿给本镇小学教师葛路伯看,请他谱曲。葛路伯读完歌词很受感动,谱好曲,第二天在教堂里演唱,大受欢迎。
后来有两个商人路过这里,学会了这首歌,他们为普鲁士国王威廉四世演唱,威廉四世听后大加赞赏,下令把《平安夜》定为全国教堂过圣诞节时必唱的歌曲之一。于是,这首不朽的作品一直传唱至今。
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heav'nly host sing Alleluia
Christ the Saviour, is born
Christ the Saviour, is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth