Dies irae (séquence de la messe des morts) – Latin Prayer

Dies iræ, dies illa

Dreaded day, that day of ire,

Solvet sæclum in favílla:

When the world shall melt in fire,

Teste David cum Sibýlla.

Told by Sibyl and David’s lyre.

Quantus tremor est futúrus,

Fright men’s hearts shall rudely shift,

Quando judex est ventúrus,

As the Judge through gleaming rift

Cuncta stricte discussúrus!

Comes each soul to closely sift.

Tuba mirum spargens sonum

Then, the trumpet’s shrill refrain,

Per sepúlcra regiónum,

Piercing tombs by hill and plain,

Coget omnes ante thronum.

Souls to judgment shall arraign.

Mors stupébit et natúra,

Death and nature stand aghast,

Cum resúrget creatúra,

As the bodies rising fast,

Judicánti responsúra.

Hie to hear the sentence passed.

Liber scriptus proferétur,

Then, before Him shall be placed,

In quo totum continétur,

That whereon the verdict’s based,

Unde mundus judicétur.

Book wherein each deed is traced.

Judex ergo cum sedébit,

When the Judge His seat shall gain,

Quidquid latet, apparébit:

All that’s hidden shall be plain,

Nil inúltum remanébit.

Nothing shall unjudged remain.

Quid sum miser tunc dictúrus?

Wretched man, what can I plead?

Quem patrónum rogatúrus,

Whom to ask to intercede,

Cum vix justus sit secúrus?

When the just much mercy need?

Rex treméndæ majestátis,

You, O awe-inspiring Lord,

Qui salvándos salvas gratis,

Saving e’en when unimplored,

Salva me, fons pietátis.

Save me, mercy’s fount adored.

Recordáre, Jesu pie,

O sweet Jesus, mindful be,

Quod sum causa tuæ viæ:

That You came on earth for me:

Ne me perdas illa die.

Cast me not from You this day.

Quærens me, sedísti lassus:

Seeking me Your strength was spent

Redemísti Crucem passus:

Ransoming Your limbs were rent:

Tantus labor non sit cassus.

Is this toil to no intent?

Juste judex ultiónis,

You, awarding pains condign,

Donum fac remissiónis

Mercy’s ear to me incline,

Ante diem ratiónis.

Ere the reckoning You assign.

Ingemísco, tamquam reus:

I, felon-like, my lot bewail,

Culpa rubet vultus meus:

Suffused cheeks my shame unveil:

Supplicánti parce, Deus.

God! O let my prayer prevail.

Qui Maríam absolvísti,

Mary’s soul You fashioned white,

Et latrónem exaudísti,

And did to heaven the thief invite;

Mihi quoque spem dedísti.

Hope in me these now excite.

Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:

Prayers of mine in vain ascend:

Sed tu bonus fac benígne,

You are good and will forefend,

Ne perénni cremer igne.

In quenchless fire my life to end.

Inter oves locum præsta,

When the cursed by shame oppressed,

Et ab hœdis me sequéstra,

Enter flames at Your behest,

Státuens in parte dextra.

Call me then to join the blessed.

Confutátis maledíctis,

Place amid Your sheep accord,

Flammis ácribus addíctis:

Keep me from the tainted horde,

Voca me cum benedíctis.

Set me in Your sight, O Lord.

Oro supplex et acclínis,

Prostrate, suppliant, now no more

Cor contrítum quasi cinis:

Unrepenting, as of yore,

Gere curam mei finis.

Save me dying, I implore.

Lacrimósa dies illa,

Mournful day that day of sighs,

Qua resúrget ex favílla

When from dust shall man arise,

Judicándus homo reus.

Stained with guilt his doom to know,

Huic ergo parce, Deus:

Mercy, Lord, on him bestow.

Pie Jesu Dómine,

Jesus, kind! Your souls release,

Dona eis réquiem.

Led them thence to realms of peace.

Amen.

Amen.