NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

Someone asked me the other day for the Chamorro version of the bedtime prayer "Now I Lay me down to Sleep."

I told them I had never heard of one because that prayer comes from American custom. Our Chamorro devotions are from the Spanish culture. So, I decided, with help from Påle' José Villagomez who reviewed my translation, to come up with a Chamorro version.

VERSION I

Here is a Chamorro version for the original form of the prayer. First, the original in English, followed by the Chamorro, and audio to help those needing to hear the pronunciation.

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Umåsson yo' på'go pot para bai maigo',

hu tåyuyut i Saina na hu mantiene i anti-ho;
An siakåso na måtai yo' åntes de hu fakmåta,
hu gågagao i Saina na u konne' i anti-ho.

VERSION II

Then I was given another English version, so here it is, followed by the Chamorro :

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May the angels watch me through the night,

and keep me in their blessed sight.

Umåsson yo' på'go pot para bai maigo',

hu tåyuyut i Saina na hu mantiene i anti-ho;

puede i man ånghet u pulan yo' gi durånten i puenge,

ya u ma mantiene yo' gi såntos na fanatan-ñiha.