Translation:
Hindemith-CUM NATUS ESSET
(Motette-Martin Luther, Mattäus 2, 1-12)
Cum natus esset Jesus in Bethlehem Juda in diebus Herodis regis, ecce, Magi ab Orient venetunt Jerosolymam, dicentes: « Ubi est, qui natus est rex Judaeorum? Vidimus enim stellam ejus, in Oriente, et venimus adorare eum. »
Audiens autem Herodes rex, turbatus est et omnis Jerosolyma cum illo. Et congregans omnes principes sacerdotum et scribas populi, sciscitabatur ab eis, ubi Christus naceretur.
At illi dixerunt ei: « In Bethlehem Judae, Sic enim scriptum est perprophetam. Et tu, Bethlehem terra Judae nequaquam minima es in principibus Juda, ex tu enim exiet dux, qui regat populum meum Israel. »
Tunc Herodes, clam vocatis magis, diligenter didicit ab eis: tempus stellae qui apparuit eis: et mittens illos in Bethlehem dixit: « Ite et interrogate diligenter de puero: et cum inveneritis, renunciate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum. »
Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt. Et ecce, stella, quam viderant in Oriente antecedebat eos usque dum veniens staret, supra, ubi erat puer. Videntes autem stellam, gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.
Et intrantes, intrantes domum, invenerunt Puerum cum Maria Matre ejus et procidentes ad oraverunt eum. Et, apertis thesauris suis, obtulerunt ei munera aurum, thus et myrrham.
Et responso accepto in somnis, «Ne redirent ad Herodem.» Per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam.
Hindemith-WHEN JESUS WAS BORN
(Motet–Martin Luther, Matthew 2, 1-12)
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the reign of King Herod, behold, three Kings from the Orient came, saying: “Where is He who is born King of the Jews? We saw a star from the Orient, and have come to adore him.”
Hearing this, however, King Herod was disturbed, and all of Jerusalem with him. They gathered the high priests and scribes together and asked where Christ was born.
They answered: “In Bethlehem Judea, It is prophesized in the scriptures. From Bethlehem, not the least place Judea, will come a leader who will rule the people of Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called the Kings, and carefully inquired of them the time that the star had appeared to them, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying: “Go and find out about the child, and when you have found him, report back to me and I will come to adore him.”
And they departed obediently.
Behold, the star which they saw in the Orient preceded them until it settled over the place, where the Boy was. All of the stars in the galaxy were rejoicing greatly.
Then they entered the house of the Boy with his Mother Mary and prostrated themselves before him in adoration. And they opened their treasures and presented gold, incense and myrrh.
And in sleep one heard the message, “Do not return to Herod.” They returned to their own Kingdom by another route.
