Silent Night is one of the most beloved Christmas Carols around the world. Here you can listen to a touching rendition in both German and English.

Background: Silent Night is originally a German Austrian Christmas song called Stille Nacht which was written as a poem by Joseph Mohr in 1816 and set to music by his friend Franz Gruber in 1818. John Freeman Young translated Stille Nacht into the English version called Silent Night that’s so well-known today.

In the recording below, you can hear the first verse of the German version followed by the 1st three verses of the English version. You can follow along with the lyrics below. At bottom you’ll find an English translation of the German verse.

German and English Recording of Silent Night

Stille Nacht! Heil’ge Nacht!
Stille Nacht! Heil’ge Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab’ im lockigen Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

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,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born,
Christ, the Savior, 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.

Translation of the German verse:

Silent night, holy night,
All asleep, only awake
Is that deeply, holy couple.
The nice boy with curly hair,
Sleeps in heavenly peace,
Sleeps in heavenly peace!

The Silent Night chorus in the recording consists of 57 LibriVox singers in German and English.

Check out our Silent Night around the World Page with versions of the song in various languages.

Check out our Christmas Carols around the World Page for many other carols.

Merry Christmas!

Mama Lisa

Image: Adoration of the Magis by Philippe de Champaigne circa 1630.