RN: World Peace Prayer

1998-12-25

Jan Slakov

Dear RN list,  Dec. 25

I wanted to have something a bit "Christmasy" to send to you today (even if
at least one person on this list is avoiding Christmas stress by totally
ignoring the holiday:-). What I came up with is this: The World Peace
Prayer. According to the Fellowship of Reconciliation, people around the
world join in this tradional World Peace Prayer each day for one minute at
midday, thus forming a continuous chain to encircle the earth.

At our local Christmas Eve vigil/protest against the Iraq war I read out the
prayer in English. I also have it in Arabic, Hebrew and Spanish. (I made a
tune for the Spanish version and sometimes it gets belted out by me as I go
on an early morning walk in the woods. Sometimes the birds join in!) Anyhow,
I thought it would be neat to learn how to pronounce the Arabic version and
a friend was able to help me. I'll copy our phonetic version out below (but
it would certainly be advisable to get an Arabic-speaker to help you if you
do not know Arabic!)

Warm best wishes to you all,

Jan
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World Peace Prayer

Lead me from death to life
 from falsehood to truth
Lead me from despair to hope
 from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love
 from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world,
 our universe. (bis)

Oracion por la paz

Llevame de la muerte a la vida
 de la falsedad a la verdad
Llevame de la desesperacion a la esperanza
 del miedo a la confianza
Llevame del odio al amor
 de la guerra a la paz
Permite que la paz llene nuestro corazon,
nuestro mundo, nuestro universo (bis)

* * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE: Stressed syllables in caps

SAlawat elsalAM

koedny meen elMOWT
ila elHAYat
wamin elKEd(th)ip ila elhaKEEkah

koedny min elyaess 
ila elAmel
wamin elKOWF ila elAmann

koedny min elKOORH ila elHOB
wamin elKARB ila elsaLAM

DAa elsaLAM yamla koelooBAna
waA LAmeena, walKOWN min HOWlina