Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good rest of the night!

What is missing from all this is a proper cover version of "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie." Perhaps Whisperado can work on that for their Christmas album.

I was chided by someone else for not including the correct diacriticals; I don't know if this comment box will hold the more accurate version, but here goes:

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.
αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ ἐγένετο πρώτη ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.
καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν.
ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυεὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυείδ,
ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν,
καὶ ἔτεκεν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον, καὶ ἐσπαργάνωσεν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκλινεν αὐτὸν ἐν φάτνῃ, διότι οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τόπος ἐν τῷ καταλύματι.
Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες καὶ φυλάσσοντες φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν.
καὶ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἄγγελος· μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ἰδοὺ γὰρ εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην ἥτις ἔσται παντὶ τῷ λαῷ,
ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτὴρ ὅς ἐστιν Χριστὸς κύριος ἐν πόλει Δαυείδ·
καὶ τοῦτο ὑμῖν τὸ σημεῖον, εὑρήσετε βρέφος ἐσπαργανωμένον ἐν φάτνῃ.
καὶ ἐξαίφνης ἐγένετο σὺν τῷ ἀγγέλῳ πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων·
δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας.

Secondly, have the same verses. In Sámi:
Lukas 2:
1 Dan ájge tjäjssár Augustus guládahtij gåhttjomav ålles värált galgaj almasjlåhkuj tjáleduvvat.
2 Vuostasj tjáledibme almasjlåhkuj lij dalloj, gå Kvirinius lij Syria ednamhärrán.
3 Gájka mannin ietjasa tjáledittjat, iesj guhtik stádasis.
4 Ja Josef, guhti lij Davida máttos, vuolgij Galilea Nasaretas Judeaj, Davida stádaj Betlehemaj,
5 ietjas tjáledittjat aktan Mariajn gejna lij giláduvvam ja guhti lij iesselissan.
6 Gå dåppe lijga, de ållånij ájgge Mariaj riegádahtátjit,
7 ja bárnes riegádahtij, vuostasjriegádim mánáv, ja giessalij ja krubbuj biejaj, dan diehti gå sunnuj ij lim guossevieson sadje.
8 Dajn dáfojn lidjin soabmása sávttsaälosa iján räjnnuhime.
9 De Härrá ieññgil sijá åvddåj tjuottjadij. Sijá birra Härrá herlukvuohta bájtij ja alvosláhkáj ballá-
jin.
10 Valla ieññgil sidjij javlaj: ”Allit balá. Ávvoságajt mån didjij sárnov, ávov gájkka álmmugij.
11 Didjij le uddni lånestiddje Davida stádan riegádam, sån le Messias, Härrá.
12 Ja dát le märkkan didjij: riegádimmánáv gávnnabihtit giessaluvvam ja kruppon vellahime.”
13 Ja hähkkat lij danna ieññgilijn stuorra almefuovva Jubmelav hievedime:
14 ”Guddne Jubmelij allagisán ja ráfe suv gierugijda ednamin.”
15 Gå ieññgila lidjin sijá lussta almmáj mannam, javllin räjnnuhiddje guhtik guojmmásisá: ”Vuolggup dal Betlehemaj gehtjatjit mij le sjaddam ja majt Härrá le midjij diededam.”
16 Gáhtjos sij Betlehemaj mannin, ja gávnnin Mariav ja Josefav ja mánátjav, guhti lij kruppon.
17 Gå mánáv lidjin vuojnnám, subtsastin majt dán máná birra lidjin gullam.
18 Gájka imálussjin räjnnuhiddjij ságajt.
19 Maria gájkka vájmmusis vuorkkij ja ájádaláj.
20 Räjnnuhiddje máhttsin ja hievedin ja rámmpun Jubmelav dassta majt lidjin gullam ja vuojnnám:gájkka lij nåvti gåktu sidjij lij javladuvvam.

2 |1| And it came about at that time that a dvar malchut (decree) was sent out from Caesar Augustus to register everyone in the entire Roman Empire.
|2| This mifkad (census) was before that taken while Quirinius was governor in Syria.
|3| And everyone was traveling to register, each to his own shtetl.
|4| Now Yosef [ben Dovid] also went up from the Galil, from the shtetl of Natzeret, to Yehudah, to the Ir Dovid (City of David), which is called Beit- Lechem, because he was of the mishpochah and Bais of Dovid.
|5| And Yosef [ben Dovid] went up to register with Miryam, who had been given to him in erusin (betrothal) and who was with child.
|6| And it came about, while they were there, the yamim (days) were fulfilled for Miryam to give birth.
|7| And she bore her ben, her Bechor (firstborn); and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in an evus (animal feeding trough), because there was no place for them in the malon (inn).
|8| And ro’im (shepherds) were in the same region, living outside in the open air, and keeping shomer over their eder (flock) balailah.
|9| And, suddenly, a malach Hashem stood before them, and the kavod Hashem shone around them; and they were afraid with a yirah gedolah (great fear).
|10| And the malach said to them, Do not have pachad (fear, terror); for hinei I announce Besuras HaGeulah to you of great simcha (joy) which will be for kol Am Berit (all the People of the Covenant);
|11| Because hayom, in Ir Dovid, has been born to you a Moshia (Go’el, Savior, Oisleizer), who is Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach HaAdon. [YESHAYAH 9:5(6)]
|12| And this will be HaOt [The Sign] to you: you will find a small child, an infant, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in an evus. [SHMUEL ALEF 2:34; MELACHIM BAIS 19:29; TEHILLIM 86:17; YESHAYAH 7:14]
|13| And, suddenly, there was with the malach a multitude of the Tzivos Hashem, the Tzivos HaShomayim (Armies or Hosts of Heaven) praising Hashem, and saying,
|14| Kavod to Hashem in the Highest; and on haaretz shalom among Bnei Adam kavvanah tovah (of good intention). [YESHAYAH 9:5-6; 52:7; 53:5; MICHOH 5:4-5]
|15| And it came about, when the malachim withdrew from them to Shomayim, the roim (shepherds) were saying to one another, Let us go now up to Beit-Lechem and let us see this thing that has come about which Hashem has made known to us.
|16| And they came in haste and found both Miryam and Yosef [ben Dovid], and the child was lying in the evus (animal feeding trough, see Isa 53:7 on Moshiach the Seh).
|17| And when the roim saw this, they made known the dvar concerning this yeled which had been told them.
|18| And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the roim (shepherds).
|19| But Miryam was treasuring up all these things, pondering them in her lev.
|20| And the roim went back, and as they returned, they cried, Baruch Hashem! They gave kavod to G-d for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been foretold to them.

[And then note, that because Jesus was a Jew, he had a bris on the 8th day, as all (healthy) Jewish boys do (or should. Wherefore Debbie & I call New Years Day “Chrisbris”]:

|21| And when shemonah yamim were completed for his bris milah, YEHOSHUA was given as SHMO, which he was called by the malach, before he was conceived in the womb.

Rest ye merry, folks.

hmmm...must look around....

but if you find it first, go ahead and post it-- i won't be wroth.

the other versions are gorgeous, teresa. a few word break problems with luther's german, i think?

My parish choir sang this at 8 am Mass today. It rocked the house!

Ideo, O, O, in excelsis Deo!

Especial thanks for including the link to Jo's story about St. Joseph, which I had not read in awhile and was just wonderful.

Heading off to my sister's house now...
Merry Christmas to everyone who is celebrating today, and a happy and peaceful day to all here in the fluorosphere (and elsewhere, too).

"Ära i höjden åt Gud
och på jorden fred
åt dem han har utvalt."

Translating that somewhat literally:

Glory in the highest to God
and on Earth peace
to those he has selected.

Where did that last bit about the selected come from? Sounds Calvinist.

En það bar til á þeim dögum að það boð gekk út frá keisaranum Ágústo það heimurinn allur skyldi skattskrifast. Og þessi skattur hófst fyrst upp hjá Kýreno sem þá var landstjórnari í Sýria. Og allir fóru að tjá sig, hver til sinnar borgar. Þá fór og Jósef af Galílea úr borginni Naðaret upp í Júdeam, til Davíðs borgar, sú er kallast Betlehem, af því að hann var af húsi og kyni Davíðs, að hann tjáði sig þar meður Maríu, sinni festarkvon óléttri.

En það gjörðist þá þau voru þar að þeir dagar fullnuðust eð hún skyldi fæða. Og hún fæddi sinn frumgetinn son og vafði hann í reifum og lagði hann niður í jötuna því að hún fékk ekkert annað rúm í herberginu.

Og fjárhirðar voru þar í sama byggðarlagi um grandana við fjárhúsin, sem varðveittu og vöktu yfir hjörð sinni. Og sjá, að engill Drottins stóð hjá þeim, og Guðs birti ljómaði kringum þá. Og þeir urðu af miklum ótta hræddir, og engillinn sagði til þeirra: Eigi skulu þér hræðast, sjáið, því að eg boða yður mikinn fögnuð, þann er sker öllum lýð, því í dag er yður lausnarinn fæddur, sá að er Kristur Drottinn, í borg Davíðs. Og hafið það til merkis: Þér munu finna barnið í reifum vafið og lagt vera í jötuna. Og jafnskjótt þá var þar hjá englinum mikill fjöldi himneskra hersveita sem lofuðu Guð og sögðu: Dýrð sé Guði í upphæðum og friður á jörðu og mönnum %góðvilji.*

Og þá er englarnir fóru frá þeim aftur til himins, töluðu hirðarnir sín á milli: Göngu vær allt til Betlehem og sjáum þau merki er þar hafa skeð og Drottinn hefir kunngjört oss. Og þeir komu með skunda og fundu Maríu og Jósef og barnið liggja í jötunni. En þá er þeir höfðu það séð, víðfrægðu þeir það orð út sem þeim var sagt af þessu barni. Og allir þeir það heyrðu, undruðust það hvað þeim var af hirðurunum sagt. En María varðveitti öll þessi orð og rótfesti í sínu hjarta. Og fjárhirðarnir sneru aftur, dýrkandi og lofandi Guð um allt það hvað þeir höfðu heyrt og séð og eftir því sem þeim var til sagt.*

Biblically, of course, the census of Israel was taken by a half-shekel head tax. Which was obtained by foreigners from money changers at the Temple, since the text requires a half of a silver shekel, local currency, not some universal currency. Which process, of course, Jesus famously disrupted, for what he seemed to feel were abuses of the system.

The process is described in the first two chapters of Mishnah tractate Shekalim, here.

I suppose Roman censuses were similar? Collect a standard coin per person, and the number of coins equals the number of people? Apparently not, their censuses were like ours, in that taxation was based on the census, rather than the mechanism of the census.

I can't find the Luke text in Galician, but here's John 1, i-xviii in Galician:

No principio existía a Palabra, e a Palabra estaba onda Deus, e a Palabra era Deus. Ela estaba no principio onda Deus. Todo foi feito por ela, e sen ela non se fixo nada do que foi feito. Nela estaba a vida, e a vida era a luz dos homes; a luz aluma na tebra, e a tebra non a deu apagado.

Houbo un home mandado por Deus: o seu nome era Xoán. Este veu de testemuña para dar testemuño da luz, para que todos cresen por el. Non era el a luz, senón que veu para dar testemuño da luz. A Palabra era a verdadeira luz que aluma a todo home que vén a este mundo. Ela estaba no mundo, e o mundo foi feito por ela, pero o mundo non a recoñeceu. Veu á súa propiedade, e os seus non a acolleron. Pero a cantos a recibiron, -ós que cren no seu nome- déulle-lo poder de seren fillos de Deus. Estes, non naceron do sangue, nin da vontade da carne, nin da vontade do home, senón de Deus.

E a Palabra fíxose carne, e plantou entre nós a súa tenda, e nós vímo-la súa gloria, gloria coma de Unixénito que vén do Pai, cheo de gracia e de verdade. Xoán dá testemuño del, exclamando: Este évos de quen eu dixen: "O que vén detrás miña, pasa diante miña, pois existía primeiro ca min". E da súa abundancia recibimos todos nós gracia e máis gracia. Pois a Lei deuse por medio de Moisés; a gracia e a verdade realizáronse por Xesús Cristo. A Deus ninguén o viu; o Unixénito, que está no seo do Pai, foi quen nolo revelou.

The change from "peace on earth, good will toward men" to "peace on earth to people[1] of good will" or "to people whom God favors" was motivated by textual accuracy rather than dogma. In the oldest available Greek texts, "good will/favor" is genitive rather than nominative, leading to "people of good will". (Nicholas Whyte's post above has the genitive 'εὐδοκίας'). It's one of the many cases where the earlier English translation looks better than the original.

At least in the US, the use of the apparently Calvinist modern translations would correlate negatively with actual Calvinism.

[1] Yes, "people" is a more literal translation than "men" for "ἀνθρώποις"

It would have to be a census, because Roman taxation was conducted by selling tax farmers the right to collect taxes in a particular district, rather than directly by the government. This is why tax collectors (St. Matthew) have such a bad reputation in the New Testament.

But I hope no one thinks I'm lacking the spirit of the season if I point out that this is an improbable piece of stage business to get Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem, as required by the prophecy. Imagine requiring everyone in the empire to go to where their ancestors lived a thousand years before, in order to be accurately counted!

[1] Bu hefyd yn y dyddiau hynny fyned gorchymyn allan oddi wrth Augustus Caesar i drethu yr hollu syd.
[2] (A'r trethiad ymma, a wnaethbwyd gyntaf pan oedd Cyrenius yn rhâglaw ar Syria)
[3] A phawb a aethant i'w trethu bob un i'w ddigas ei hun.
[4] Ac aeth Joseph o Galilaea o dref Nazareth i Judaea, i dref Dafydd yr hon a elwir Bethlehem (am ei fod o dŷ, a thŷlwyth Dafydd):
[5] I'w drethu gyd â Mair, yr hon a ddyweddiesid yn wraig iddo, yr hon oedd yn feichiog.
[6] A by tra 'r oeddynt hwy yno, gyflawni ei dyddiau hi i escor.
[7] Ac hi aescorodd ar ei mab cynta-anedic, ac a'i rhwymodd ef mewn cadachau, ac a'i ir rhoddes yn y preseb, am nad oedd iddynt le yn y lletty.
[8] Ac yr oedd yn y wlad honno fugeiliaid yn gorwedd allan, ac yn gwilied eu yraidd liw nos.
[9] Ac wele angel yr Arglwydd a safodd gerllaw iddynt, a gogoniant yr Arglwydd a ddiscleiriodd o'u hamgylch, ac ofni yn ddirfawr a wnaethant.
[10] Yna yr angel a ddywedodd wrthynt, nac ofnwch, canys yr wyf yn mynegy i chwi lawennydd mawr, yr hwn a fydd i'r holl bobl:
[11] Geni i chwi heddyw geidwad, yn ninas Dafydd: yr hwn ydyw Cryst yr Arglwydd.
[12] A hyn [sydd] arwydd i chwi, chwi a gewch y dŷn bach wedi ei rwymo mewn cadachau a'i roddi yn y preseb.
[13] Ac yn ddisymmwth yr oedd gyd â'r angel nifeirimawr o luoedd nefol yn moliannu Duw gan ddywedyd,
[14] Gogoniant i Dduw yn yr ucheloer, a thangneddyf ar y ddaiar, ac i ddynion ewyllys da.
[15] Ac wedi darfod i'r angelion fyned oddi wrthynti'r nefoedd, yna y bugeiliaid a ddynwedasant wrth eu gilydd:awn hey Bethlehem, a gweldwn y pethhyn a ddangosodd yr Arglwydd i ni.

Counting that one? ;-)

Thomas #21: The change from "peace on earth, good will toward men" to "peace on earth to people[1] of good will" or "to people whom God favors" was motivated by textual accuracy rather than dogma.

It seems to me that it's the folk of good will who deserve peace....

Jon Baker #10: Wherefore Debbie & I call New Years Day “Chrisbris” <grin>

[1] Tua’r un adeg dyma Cesar Awgwstws yn gorchymyn cynnal cyfrifiad drwy'r Ymerodraeth Rufeinig i gyd. ([2] Hwn oedd y cyfrifiad cyntaf, gafodd ei gynnal cyn bod Cwiriniws yn llywodraethwr Syria.) [3] Roedd pawb yn mynd adre i’r trefi lle cawson nhw eu geni, i gofrestru ar gyfer y cyfrifiad.
[4] Felly gan fod Joseff yn perthyn i deulu’r Brenin Dafydd, gadawodd Nasareth yn Galilea, a mynd i gofrestru yn Jwdea – yn Bethlehem, hynny ydy tref Dafydd. [5] Aeth yno gyda Mair oedd yn mynd i fod yn wraig iddo, ac a oedd erbyn hynny’n disgwyl babi. [6] Tra roedden nhw yno daeth yn amser i’r babi gael ei eni, [7] a dyna lle cafodd ei phlentyn cyntaf ei eni – bachgen bach. Dyma hi'n lapio cadachau geni yn ofalus amdano, a'i osod i orwedd mewn cafn ar gyfer bwydo anifeiliaid. Doedd dim llety iddyn nhw aros ynddo.

Y Bugeiliaid a'r Angylion

[8] Yn ardal Bethlehem roedd bugeiliaid allan drwy’r nos yn yr awyr agored yn gofalu am eu defaid. [9] Yn sydyn dyma nhw’n gweld un o angylion yr Arglwydd, ac roedd ysblander yr Arglwydd fel golau llachar o'u cwmpas nhw. Roedden nhw wedi dychryn am eu bywydau. [10] Ond dyma'r angel yn dweud wrthyn nhw, "Peidiwch bod ofn. Mae gen i newyddion da i chi! Newyddion fydd yn gwneud pobl ym mhobman yn llawen iawn. [11] Mae eich Achubwr wedi cael ei eni heddiw, yn Bethlehem (tref y Brenin Dafydd). Ie, y Meseia! Yr Arglwydd! [12] Dyma sut byddwch chi’n ei nabod e: Dewch o hyd iddo yn fabi bach wedi ei lapio mewn cadachau ac yn gorwedd mewn cafn bwydo anifeiliaid."
[13] Yn sydyn dyma filoedd o angylion eraill yn dod i’r golwg, roedd fel petai holl angylion y nefoedd yno yn addoli Duw
[14] "Gogoniant i Dduw yn y nefoedd uchaf,
a heddwch ar y ddaear islaw
a bendith Duw ar bobl."

*grumble* "Blackletter. Why does it always have to be blackletter?" *grumble*

1. En amzer-se e voe embannet ul lezenn a-berzh Kezar-Aogust, evit ma vije graet ar gont eus tud ar bed holl.
2. Ar gont kentañ-se a voe graet e-pad ma oa Kiriniuz gouarner Siria.
3. Dre-se an holl a yae evit lakaat o anv, pep hini en e gêr.
4. Jozef ivez a bignas eus Galilea da Judea, eus kêr Nazared da gêr David anvet Betlehem, dre ma oa eus tiegezh hag eus familh David,
5. evit reiñ e anv gant Mari e wreg, hag a oa dougerez.
6. E-pad ma oant eno, an amzer ma tlee gwilioudiñ a erruas,
7. hag e c'hanas he mab kentañ-ganet, hag e mailhuras anezhañ, hag e lakaas anezhañ en ur c'hraou, abalamour ne oa ket plas evito en ostaleri.
8. Bez' e oa er memes korn-bro mêsaerien a gouske er parkeier, hag a ziwalle o loened e-pad beilhadennoù an noz.
9. Setu un ael eus an Aotrou en em ziskouezas dezho ha gloar an Aotrou a lugernas en-dro dezho, hag o devoe ur spont bras.
10. Neuze an ael a lavaras dezho: N'ho pet ket aon, rak setu e tegasan deoc'h ur c'heloù mat, a vo un abeg a levenez vras evit an holl bobl,
11. rak ganet eo hiziv deoc'h, e kêr David, ur Salver, hag a zo ar C'hrist, an Aotrou.
12. Setu amañ ur sin deoc'h: c'hwi a gavo ur bugel bihan mailhuret ha gourvezet en ur c'hraou.
13. Ha kerkent e voe gant an ael ul lod bras eus arme an neñv, o veuliñ hag o lavarout:
14. Gloar da Zoue el lec'hioù uhel-meurbet, ha peoc'h war an douar e-touez an dud karet gantañ!
15. Pa voe en em dennet an aeled diganto en neñv, ar vêsaerien a lavaras an eil d'egile: Deomp eta betek Betlehem, ha gwelomp ar pezh a zo c'hoarvezet, hag en deus an Aotrou roet da anavezout deomp.
16. Mont a rejont eta buan di, hag e kavjont Mari, Jozef hag ar bugel bihan a oa gourvezet er c'hraou.
17. O vezañ e welet, e tisklêrjont ar pezh a oa bet lavaret dezho diwar-benn ar bugel bihan-se.
18. An holl re o c'hleve a oa souezhet bras eus ar pezh a oa bet lavaret dezho gant ar vêsaerien.
19. Mari a vire an holl draoù-se, o tistremen anezho en he c'halon.
20. Hag ar vêsaerien a zistroas, en ur reiñ gloar ha meuleudi da Zoue, evit kement o devoa klevet ha gwelet, hervez ma oa bet lavaret dezho.

Thank you, Teresa and Patrick, for keeping open house here, and thanks as well to your deputies fellow moderators, abi, Jim and Avram.

A good and hopeful holiday season to everyone here, regular, lurker, or drop-in, and may the new year be a better trip around than any we have known before.

(And now, to me a good night, I think.)

Hence the translation "to men with whom he is pleased."

Yes, although that has a similar limiting sense as the other translation based on the genitive (peace just to some people).

It's amusing to note that the LOLcat Bible has one of the modern, more textually accurate versions, "peace fer doodz he luffs!", and the Conservapedia 'Conservative Bible Project' doesn't.