Gypsy Prayers
Gypsy Prayer To The Virgin
The following short prayer to the Virgin, which I have frequently heard amongst the Gypsies of Hungary and Transylvania, will serve as a specimen of their language.
Gula Devla, da me saschipo. Swuntuna Devla, da me bacht t’aldaschis cari me jav; te ferin man, Devla, sila ta niapaschiata, chungale manuschendar, ke me jav ande drom ca hin man traba; ferin man, Devia; ma mek man Devla, ke manga man tre Devies-key.
Sweet Goddess, give me health. Holy Goddess, give me luck and grace wherever I go; and help me, Goddess, powerful and immaculate, from ugly men, that I may go in the road to the place I purpose: help me, Goddess; forsake me not, Goddess, for I pray for God’s sake.
From: The Zincali by George Barrow
Go With God
Gypsy Prayer of Thanksgiving
Gypsy Prayer For Protection
Lord’s Prayer in the Gypsy Dialect
Here is the Lord’s Prayer in the Gypsy Dialect of Transylvania:
Miro gulo Devel, savo hal oté ando Cheros,
te avel swuntunos tiro nav;
te avel catari tiro tem;
te keren saro so cames oppo puv,
sar ando Cheros.
Dé man sekhonus miro diveskoe manro,
ta ierta mangue saro so na he plaskerava tuke,
sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue saro so na plaskerelen mangue.
Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo camoben;
tama lel man abri saro doschdar.
Weika tiro sin o tem,
tiri yi potea,
tiri yi proslava akana ta sekovar.
And here is the English Translation:
My sweet God,
who art there in Heaven,
may thy name come hallowed;
may thy kingdom come hither;
may they do all that thou wishest upon earth,
as in Heaven.
Give me to-day my daily bread,
and forgive me all that I cannot pay thee,
as I shall forgive other men all that they do not pay me.
Do not let me fall into evil desire;
but take me out from all wickedness.
For thine is the kingdom,
thine the power,
thine the glory now and ever.