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Boh sja raždajet
This Christmas hymn is taken from the 1969 booklet Christ is Born: Glorify Him, which also included an English setting, God's Son is born.
Sources
Rusyn
This hymn does not appear in the Užhorod Pisennik (1913), but was included in the 1932 Greek Catholic collection, Kolady, with six verses:
1. Boh sja raždaje, kto Ho može znati - Isus Mu imja, Marija Mu Mati - tut anhely čudatsja - roždennoho bojatsja - a vol stojit, trjasetsja - osel smutno pasetsja - Pastyrije kl'ačut - Boha v ploti bačut - tut že, tut že, tut že, tut že, tut.
2 Marija Mu Mati prekrasno spivaje - i chor Anhelskij' Jij dopomaje - Tut anhely...
3. Josif stareňkij koliše Diťatko - l'ul'aj že l'ul'aj, male Otročatko. - Tut anhely...
4. Trie carie k vertepu pridoša - livan i smirnu zlato prinesoša. - Tut anhely...
5. A pastyrie k Nemu pribihajut - i jako carja svoho vitajut. - Tut anhely...
6. I my dnes virno k Nemu pribihajme - roždenomu Bohu, chvalu čest' otdajme. - Tut anhely...
In 1969, Father Stefan Papp printed a version with music (Duchovňi Pisňi, page 158), and a small number of textual changes.
In 1969, Monsignor William Levkulic published verse 1 in the booklet Christ is Born: Glorify Him. This version was reprinted (without music) in Byzantine Liturgical Chant (1970) and in the Hymns section of The Divine Liturgy, a Book of Prayer (1978).
Galician
My Divine Friend (1959), a Ukrainian Sunday and holyday missal by Redemptorist Father Michael Schudio, included a four-verse version with an English translation (pages 855-856); the Cyrillic has been transliterated for inclusion here.
| Boh sja raždaje, kto k Ho može znati Isus Mu imja, Marija Mu Mati Tut anhely čudat'sja, Roždenoho bojat'sja, A vid stojit', trjaset'sja, Osel smutno paset'sja Pastyrije kl'ačut V ploti Boha bačut Tut že, tut že, tut že, tut že, tut. |
God is now born, who can comprehend this? Jesus is His name, Mary is His mother: Now the angels gaze in awe Fearing the new born of men And the oxen shudder all, Solemnly the donkey feeds, Shepherds reverently kneel, Seeing here the God incarnate, Here-now, here-now, here-now, here-now, here. |
Marija Mu Mati prekrasno spivaje |
Mary His Mother sings a lovely tune |
| Josif stareňkij koliše Diťatko L'ul'aj že l'ul'aj, male Otročatko. Tut anhely... |
The aging Joseph rocks the Babe to sleep, Sleep, gentle Baby, sleep, and take your rest. Now the angels gaze in awe... |
I my dnes virno k Nemu pribihajme |
Let us come near Him, faithfully approaching To God incarnate, glory, honor, giving. Now the angels gaze in awe... |
Verse 4 and 5 (concerning the Magi and shepherds) are omitted, but this translation is singable with only one or two slight changes in accent.
English translations
In 1969, Monsignor William Levkulic published a loose English translation of the first verse as God's Son is born in the booklet Christ is Born: Glorify Him. This setting was reprinted in Byzantine Liturgical Chant (1970, with music) and in the Hymns section of The Divine Liturgy, a Book of Prayer (1978, without music). Unfortunately, this version does not reflect the sense of reverent awe in the original, or the sing-song nature of the ending.
A different English translation (by J. Michael Thompson) of verses 1, 2 and 6 can be found on page 984 of the The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Worship (Ukrainian Catholic, 2004), titled "God now is born here."