第12首:For unto us a child is born (Chorus) ,合唱《因有一婴孩为我们而生》(《以赛亚书》9:6)
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
此曲体现了亨德尔的合唱才华,坚定的节奏,欢欣的情绪,美妙的和声与对位熔为一体,美不可言。先是女高音声部唱出:“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,”(“and the government shall be upon his shoulder”)然后男高音,女低音,男低音声部反复此句,在“born”字上作华丽的伸展。随后四声部齐声高唱“Wonderful, Counselor…”一句,壮丽宏伟,欢腾鼓舞,令人难忘。第一部分中的预言在此结束,为以后基督的出生做好铺垫。
第17首:Glory to God in the highest (Chorus) ,合唱《荣耀归神》(《路加福音》2:14)
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.”
“Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.(Revelation 19:6b) The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15b)
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16b)”
“哈利路亚!因为主我们的上帝,全能者作王了。世上的国成了我主和主基督的国;他要作王,直到永永远远。
万王之王,万主之主。”
什么都不用说了,“古今最壮丽的”“洋溢着世上最庄严、最神圣、最扣人心弦的力量”。哈利路亚是赞美上帝的意思,鼓声激荡,号声高昂,凯旋赞美合唱响彻宇内。先是四声部齐声高唱哈利路亚,当唱到“Thekingdom of the world”时用低音,“the kingdom of our lordand of his Christ”时跳至高音,女高音声部前后相差十度,表达了天上之国与地上之国的巨大差异。女高音声部在“KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”重复三次,一次比一次音高,大声宣告耶稣才是真正的万王之王,万主之主,其它声部以“for ever and ever,Alleluia”陪衬,三次重复也暗示神是三位一体的神。随后以复调式重复,最后四声部高唱哈里路亚,弦乐伴奏快速上行音阶,哈利路亚一声紧接一声,结尾时一个两拍休止符停顿,令人屏息,再以哈利路亚雄壮结束。
第45首:I know that my Redeemer liveth (Soprano),女高音咏叹调《我知道我的救赎主活着》(《约伯记》19:25;《哥林多前书》15:20)
“I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.”
“我知道我的救赎主活着,末了必站立在地上。我这皮肉灭绝之后,我必在肉体之外得见上帝。
基督已经从死里复活,成为睡了之人初熟的果子。”
紧接气势雄伟的哈利路亚赞歌后,是这首平静深度展现信仰的咏叹调,可谓亨德尔最佳的咏叹调之一。整曲关键为“For now is Christ risen from the dead”,女高音在risen(复活)一词上升G音,达到该曲的高潮,弥赛亚的复活蕴含作曲家的宗教深情。