O breathe on me, O Breath of God - Edwin Hatch & ST. COLUMBA

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 26 June 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. GOD PLEASE ctr-BREATH-FROM-NOSTRILS-downwards, ME ctr-TAKE-INTO-NOSTRILS-upwards. HAPPEN? ME FILLED-UP LIFE NEW. MEAN ME CHERISH THINGS me-SAME-AS-You. ME DO THINGS LIKE YOU-ctr.

2. GOD PLEASE ctr-BREATH-FROM-NOSTRILS-downwards, ME ctr-TAKE-INTO-NOSTRILS-upwards. HAPPEN? MY HEART BECOME PURE. MEAN ME REALLY-WANT me-SAME-AS-You. ME DO-UP, LIVE FOREVER.

3. GOD PLEASE ctr-BREATH-FROM-NOSTRILS-downwards, ME ctr-TAKE-INTO-NOSTRILS-upwards. HAPPEN? INSIDE-SELF SELFISH BURN-TO-ASH. ONLY LEAVE YOUR HOLY FIRE LIKE PENTECOST.

4. GOD PLEASE ctr-BREATH-FROM-NOSTRILS-downwards, ME ctr-TAKE-INTO-NOSTRILS-upwards. HAPPEN? ME NEVER DIE, BUT LIVE WITH YOU, EVERYTHING PERFECT FOREVER.


Notes: ctr-BREATH-FROM-NOSTRILS-downwards - Bow your head as if you were God and touch your nostrils with FTs of (2h)[O^], then twist hands away, open them to (2h)[5], POs down, FOs away, and descend.

ME - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

ctr-TAKE-INTO-NOSTRILS-upwards - Raise your head as if you were receiving from God, extend your hands to (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, twist your hands around and touch your nostrils with FTs of (2h)[O^].

FILLED-UP - [B], PO down, FO > NDS, is held close to body, starts rising from below waist and strikes chin in its rising.

PURE - like NICE but the DH moves backwards slightly on the palm, pauses, then moves forward rapidly to show intensity.

REALLY-WANT - WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

DO-UP - (2h)[5:], POs down, FOs away, circle in a plane parallel to the chest and move upwards as if doing much to be ready.

INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

BURN-TO-ASH - (2h)[5], POs > signer, FOs up, wg and move up chest as if burning + SOLVE close to chest.

HOLY - H-CLEAN. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Holy - 1.

PENTECOST - [4], PO away from signer, FO up, is held against forehead and the fingers are wiggled.

Lyrics:

1. O breathe on me, O Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the things you love, and do what you would do.

2. O breath on me, O Breath of God, until my heart is pure; until my will is one with yours, to do and to endure.

3. O breath on me, O Breath of God, my will to yours incline, until this selfish part of me glows with your fire divine.

4. O breath on me, O Breath of God, so I shall never die, but live with you the perfect life for all eternity.

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