Although most of Requiem were set to the Catholic Latin text, there are few of them using different language and text (usually Pslam).  eg. (Brahms's "German Requiem").

General Latin Mass Lyrics

The lyrics structure of Requiem can be divide in to twelve parts:

1. Requiem

2. Kyrie

3. Gradual

4. Tract

5. Sequentia (Dies Irae)

6. Offertory

7. Sanctus

8. Pie Jesus Domine

9. Agnus Dei

10. Communion

11. Exsequiae

12. Valedictio

Here is the original Latin text: (English translation)

Requiem aeternum

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine:

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

and may light eternal shine upon them.

(4 Esdr. 2, 34-35)

Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion,

It is fitting that a hymn should be raised unto Thee in Sion

et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem:

and a vow paid to Thee in Jerusalem:

exaudi orationem meam,

give ear to my prayer, O Lord,

ad te omnis caro veniet.

unto Thee all flesh shall come at last.

(Sal. 64 (65), 1-2)

Requiem aeternam dona eis, etc.

Kyrie, eleison!

Lord, have mercy!

Christe, eleison!

Christ, have mercy!

Kyrie, eleison!

Lord, have mercy!

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

and may light eternal shine upon them.

V.  In memoria aeterna erit iustus:

V.  The just shall live in memory everlasting:

ab auditione mala non timebit.

and shall not be in fear of ill report.

(4 Esdr. 2: 34-35; Sal. 110(111), 7)

Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omni vinculo delictorum.

Absolve, O Lord, the souls of all the faithful departed from every bond of sin.

V.  Et gratia tua illis succurrente mereantur evadere judicium ultionis.

V.  And by the help of Thy grace may they be enabled to escape the avenging judgement.

V.  Et lucis aeternae beatitudine perfrui.

V.  And enjoy the happiness of everlasting life.

Dies irae, dies illa,

This day, this day of wrath

Solvet saeclum in favilla:

shall consume the world in ashes,

Teste David cum Sibylla.

as foretold by David and the Sibyl.

Quantus tremor est futurus,

What trembling there shall be

Quando judex est venturus,

when the judge shall come

Cuncta stricte discussurus!

to weigh everything strictly!

Tuba mirum spargens sonum,

The trumpet, scattering its awful sound

Per sepulcra regionum,

across the graves of all lands,

Coget omnes ante thronum.

summons all before the throne.

Mors stupebit et natura,

Death and nature shall be stunned

Cum resurget creatura,

when mankind arises

Iudicanti responsura.

to render account before the judge.

Liber scriptus proferetur,

The written book shall be bought

In quo totum continetur,

in which all is contained

Unde mundus judicetur.

whereby the world shall be judged.

Iudex ergo cum sedebit,

When the judge takes his seat

Quidquid latet apparebit:

all that is hidden shall appear

Nil in-ultum remanebit.

nothing will remain unavenged.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?

What shall I, a wretch, say then?

Quem patronum rogaturus?

To which protector shall I appeal

Cum vix justus sit securus.

when even the just man is barely safe?

Rex tremendae majestatus,

King of awful majesty,

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

who freely savest those worthy of salvation,

Salva me, fons pietatis.

save me, fount of pity!

Recordare Iesu pie,

Remember, gentle Jesus,

Quod sum causa tuae viae:

that I am the reason for Thy time on earth,

Ne me perdas illa die.

do not cast me out on that day.

Quaerens me, sedisti lassus:

Seeking me, Thou didst sink down wearily,

Redemisti crucem passus:

Thou hast saved me by enduring the cross,

Tantus labor non sit cassus.

such travail must not be in vain.

Iuste iudex ultionis,

Righteous judge of vengeance,

Donum fac remissionis,

grant Thy gift of absolution

Ante diem rationis.

before the day of reckoning.

Ingemisco, tanquam reus:

I groan, like the sinner that I am,

Culpa rubet vultus meus:

guilt reddens my face,

Supplicanti parce Deus.

O God, spare the supplicant!

Qui Mariam absolvisti,

Thou, who pardoned Mary

Et latronem exaudisti,

and heeded the theif,

Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

hast given me hope as well.

Preces meae non sunt dignae:

Though my prayers are not worthy of Thee,

Sed tu bonus fac benigne,

grant that through your good grace

Ne perenni cremer igne.

I may not be consumed in eternal fire.

Inter oves locum praesta,

Give me a place among the sheep

Et ab hoedis me sequestra,

and separate me from the goats,

Statuens in parte dextra.

let me stand at Thy right hand.

Confutatis maledictis,

When the damned are cast away

Flammis acribus addictis,

and consigned to the searing flames,

Voca me cum benedictus.

call me to be with the blessed.

Oro supplex et acclinis,

Bowed down in supplication I be Thee,

Cor contritum quasi cinis:

my heart as though ground to ashes:

Gere curam mei finis.

Help me in my last hour.

Lacrimosa dies illa,

O this day full of tears,

Qua resurget ex favilla.

when from the ashes arises

Iudicandus homo reus:

guilty man to be judged:

Huic ergo parce, Deus.

O Lord, have mercy upon him!

Pie Jesu Domine,

Gentle Lord Jesus,

Dona eis requiem. Amen.

grant them eternal rest. Amen.

Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni, et de profundo lacu: libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum: sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam:

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all who died in faith from the pains of hell and from the deep pit.  Deliver them from the lion's mouth, lest the jaws of hell swallow them, lest they fall into everlasting darkness.  But let Saint Michael, the leader of hosts, bring them forth into Thy holy light:

Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini ejus.

Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and to his seed.

V. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus: tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus: fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam:

V. We offer prayers and sacrifice unto Thee, O Lord: receive them on behalf of those souls whom we remember this day: grant them, O Lord, to pass over from death to life:

Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semine eius.

Thou didst promise of old to Abraham and to his seed.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts.

Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua, Hosanna in excelsis.

Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.  Hosanna to God in the highest,

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna to God in the highest.

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem,

Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them rest,

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem,

Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them rest,

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem, sempiternam.

Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecatta mundi:

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

dona eis requiem.

grant them rest.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi:

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

dona eis requiem.

grant them rest.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

dona eis requiem sempiternam.

grant them eternal rest.

Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine:

Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord:

Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.

with Thy saints for ever, for art merciful.

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine,

V. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

and may light perpetual shine on them,

Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum:

in the company of Thy saints for evermore,

quia pius es.

because Thou art merciful.

Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna, in die illa tremenda:

Deliver me, O Lord, from everlasting death on that dread day:

Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra:

when the heavens and earth shall quake:

Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.

when thou shalt come to judge the world to come.

Tremens factus sum ego et timeo, dum discussion venerit atque venture ira.

I am seized with trembling and I am afraid until the day of reckoning shall arrive and the wrath to come.

Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra.

when the heavens and earth shall quake.

Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde.

That day, that day of wrath, of calamity and misery, a great day and exceeding bitter.

Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem.

when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine:

Lord, grant them eternal rest:

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

and let the perpetual light shine upon them.

Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy!

Christe eleison.

Christ, have mercy!

Kyrie eleision.

Lord, have mercy!

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine:

Lord, grant them eternal rest:

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

and let the perpetual light shine upon them.

Requiescat in pace.  Amen.

Let them rest in peace.  Amen

Valedictio

In paradisum deducant te Angeli:

Into Paradise may the Angel lead thee:

in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.

at thy coming may the Martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem.

Chrous Angelorum te suscipiant, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem.

May the Choir of Angels receive thee, and with Lazarus, once poor, may thou have eternal rest.

Copyright © 2001~2004 by Steven Chang-Lin Yu. All rights reserved.
Revised: 07/01/05 20:36:37 -0400.