Silent Night
The Cheyenne words were composed in 1909 by Rev. Rodolphe
Petter, a Mennonite missionary to the Cheyennes, who came to America from
Switzerland. Petter's first language was French but he was also fluent
in German. The Cheyenne is sung to the familiar tune from Gruber, known in English as Silent Night.
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1. Pavetaa'evȧ nėhe'xoveva
Tsexho'ehnėsė ho'eva,
Jesus Vo'ėstanevėstomanehe.
Ehvo'ėstanetsėhestaotsehoo'ȯ
Tsexho'eotsėstomotȧhaetsė
Vo'ėstanevėhahtsestotse.
2. Ahaa ešeeva nėhe'xoveva
Tsexho'ehnėsė ho'eva,
Jesus Vo'ėstanevėstomanehe,
Tsehvo'ėstanevėhatano'toetsė
Netao'ȯ havėseveva,
Tsehveno'ohaetse.
Translation:
1. It was a good night then
When he came to earth,
Jesus the Savior.
He became a person
When he brought us
Salvation.
2. It was a blessed day then
When he came to earth,
Jesus the Savior,
When he wanted to save us
From all sin,
When he rescued us.