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English translations of three well known Welsh carols, with thanks to the Learning Network of the Methodist Church in Wales

ORIGINAL WELSH CAROL 1. AR GYFER HEDDIW’R BORE Eos Iâl (Dafydd Hughes,1794-1862) Ar gyfer heddiw’r bore, ’n faban bach, ’n faban bach, y ganwyd gwreiddyn Jesse, ’n faban bach; y Cadarn ddaeth o Bosra, y Deddfwr gynt ar Seina yr Iawn gaed ar Galfaria, ’n faban bach, ’n faban bach, yn sugno bron Marïa. ’n faban bach. Caed bywiol ddŵr Eseciel ar lin Mair, ar lin Mair, a gwir Feseia Daniel, ar lin Mair; caed bachgen doeth Eseia, ’r addewid roed i Adda, yr Alffa a’r Omega ar lin Mair, ar lin Mair mewn côr ym Methlem Jwda, ar lin Mair. Am hyn, bechadur, brysia, fel yr wyt, fel yr wyt, ymofyn am y noddfa fel yr wyt; i ti’r agorwyd ffynnon a ylch dy glwyfau duon fel eira gwyn yn Salmon fel yr wyt, fel yr wyt; gan hynny tyrd yn brydlon fel yr wyt.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Translated by Tom Owen & David Fox, Seasons of Glory, Cytûn Today, this very morning as a child, as a child, is born the branch of Jesse, as a child; the mighty one of Bozrah, who gave the law on Sinai, who made the peace at Calv’ry, is a child, is a child, and sucks the breast of Mary, as a child. Ezekiel’s living waters, on her knee, Mary’s knee, see Daniel’s true Messiah, on her knee; Isaiah’s child of wisdom, the hope to Adam given, the Alpha and Omega on her knee, Mary’s knee, is found in Bethl’hem’s manger, on her knee. Haste, sinner, now to meet him, as you are, as you are, as refuge sure, now greet him as you are; the well of life now opened will cleanse and make the broken like Salmon’s snows unbroken, therefore come, as you are to him whose grace is spoken, as you are.

2. O DEUED POB CRISTION Jane Ellis (1779-1841) O deued pob Cristion i Fethlem yr awron, i weled mor dirion yw’n Duw; o ddyfnder rhyfeddod, fe drefnodd y Duwdod dragwyddol gyfamod i fyw: Daeth Brenin yr hollfyd i oedfa ein hadfyd er symud ein penyd a’n pwn; heb le yn y llety, heb aelwyd, heb wely, Nadolig fel hynny gadd hwn! Rhown glod i’r Mab bychan, ar liniau Mair wiwlan, daeth Duwdod mewn Baban i’r byd! Ei ras, O derbyniwn, ei haeddiant cyhoeddwn, a throsto ef gweithiwn i gyd. Tywysog tangnefedd wna’n daear o’r diwedd yn aelwyd gyfannedd i fyw; ni fegir cenfigen na chynnwrf na chynnen, dan goron bydd diben ein Duw. yn frodyr i’n gilydd, drigolion y gwledydd, cawn rodio yn hafddydd y nef; ein disgwyl yn Salem, i ganu yr anthem, ddechreuwyd ym Methl’em, mae ef. Rhown glod i’r Mab bychan, ar liniau Mair wiwlan, daeth Duwdod mewn Baban i’r byd! Ei ras, O derbyniwn! ei haeddiant cyhoeddwn, a throsto ef gweithiwn i gyd.

Verse 1 Translated by A.G.Prys-Jones; verse 2 by Jonathan Jones Come all Christians, singing, our glad praises bringing in thanks for the gift of God’s love; with hearts full of yearning to Bethlehem turning, we worship with angels above. The Lord of Creation has given each nation salvation from sorrow and sin; through Jesus so Holy, now cradled so lowly, for God found no room at the inn. Kneel down to the Child there, and Mary so mild there, for Godhead by this Babe is borne; so evil forsaking, and grace humbly taking, proclaim we our Saviour this morn. That Saviour so holy in stable so lowly his peace to all nations will give. All strife he will banish, all hatred will vanish when by the Lord’s teachings we live. Come, sister and brother, let’s dwell with each other in peace in God’s kingdom of love, and sing out the story of him, who in glory, awaits us in heaven above. Kneel down to the Child there, and Mary so mild there, for Godhead by this Babe is borne; so evil forsaking, and grace humbly taking, proclaim we our Saviour this morn.

3. RHOWN FOLIANT O’R MWYAF Rhys Prichard (1579-1644) Rhown foliant o’r mwyaf i Dduw y Goruchaf am roi’i Fab anwylaf yn blentyn i Fair; i gymryd ein natur, a’n dyled a’n dolur, i’n gwared o’n gwewyr anniwair. Yn Ddyn fe ddioddefwys, yn Dduw fe orchfygwys, yn Geidwad fe gadwys ein henaid rhag llid; fe dalodd ein dyled, adferodd ein colled, ni chawn ni mwy glywed o’n gofid. Fe’n gwnaeth ni, blant dynion, yn ferched, yn feibion, i’w Dad yn ’tifeddion o’r deyrnas sydd fry; i fyw yn ei feddiant, mewn nefol ogoniant, er mawrglod a moliant i’r Iesu. Gwahoddwch y tlodion, a’r clwyfus a’r cleifion, a’r gweiniaid a’r gweddwon, a chroeso i’ch gwledd; o barch i’r Mesïas a’n dwg ni i’w deyrnas, i gadw gŵyl addas heb ddiwedd.

Translated by Delyth Wyn Davies Give praise for the story of God in all glory who gave us, through Mary, Christ Jesus his Son; to take on our being, our debt for wrongdoing, and offer to us his salvation. As Man Jesus suffered, as God Jesus conquered, as Saviour he purchased our souls from death’s sting; he paid for our error, restored us to favour, to bring to an end all our vexing. He made us mere mortals, God’s sons and his daughters, eternal dwellers of heaven above; to live in his presence in glorious brilliance, to praise the Redeemer for his love. Invite all the needy, the hurt and the poorly, the weak and the lonely to feast and to sing; Praise be to the Saviour who brings us God’s favour to worship with joy everlasting.