Verdi's Requiem text in English | Classical Music

Not fluent in Italian? Here are the lyrics of Verdi's Requiem translated into English

I Introit and Kyrie Chorus: Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam: ad te omnis caro veniet. Quartet and Chorus: Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.	I Introit and Kyrie Chorus: Grant them eternal rest, O Lord; and may perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn in Zion befits you, O God, and a debt will be paid to you in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer: all earthly flesh will come to you. Quartet and Chorus: Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
II Dies irae Chorus: Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla, teste David cum Sibylla. Quantus tremor est futurus, quando judex est venturus, cuncta stricte discussurus! Tuba mirum spargens sonum, per sepulcra regionem, coget omnes ante thronum.Bass: Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, judicanti responsura.Mezzo-soprano and Chorus: Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit: nil inultum remanebit. Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla, teste David cum Sibylla.Soprano, Mezzo-soprano and Tenor: Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, cum vix justus sit securus?Solo Quartet and Chorus: Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis: salva me, fons pietas.Soprano and Mezzo-soprano: Recordare, Jesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae: ne me perdas illa die. Quaerens me, sedisti lassus; redemisti crucem pacem: tantus labor non sit causas. Juste judex ultionis: donum fac remissionis ante diem rationis.Tenor: Ingemisco tamquam reus, culpa rubet vultus meus; supplicanti parce, Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sunt digne, sed tu, bonus, fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextra.Bass and Chorus: Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis: gere curam mei finis.Chorus: Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla, teste David cum Sibylla.Solo Quartet and Chorus: Lacrymosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla, judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus. Pie Jesu Domine: dona eis requiem. Amen.	II Dies irae Chorus: The day of wrath, that day will dissolve the world in glowing ashes, as David and the Sibyl prophesied. How great will be the terror, when the Judge comes to give strict justice. The trumpet, scattering a marvellous sound through the tombs of every land, will gather all before the throne.Bass: Death and Nature shall stand amazed, when all Creation rises again to answer to the Judge.Mezzo-soprano and Chorus: A written book will be brought forth, which contains everything for which the world will be judged. Therefore when the Judge takes His seat, whatever is hidden will be revealed: nothing shall go unpunished. The day of wrath, that day will dissolve the world in ashes, as David and the Sibyl prophesied.Soprano, Mezzo-soprano and Tenor: What can a wretch like me say? Whom shall I ask to intercede for me, when not even the righteous are safe from damnation?Solo Quartet and Chorus: King of dreadful majesty. who grants salvation to the redeemed ones, save me, O fount of mercy.Soprano and Mezzo-soprano: Recall, merciful Jesus, that I was the reason for your journey: do not destroy me on that day. In seeking me, you sat down wearily; enduring the Cross, you redeemed me: do not let these pains to have been in vain. Just Judge of punishment: give me the gift of redemption before the day of reckoning.Tenor: I groan as a guilty one, and my face blushes with guilt; spare the supplicant, O God. You, who absolved Mary Magdalen, and heard the prayer of the thief, have given me hope, as well. My prayers are not worthy, but show mercy, O benevolent one, lest I burn forever in fire. Give me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, placing me on your right hand.Bass and Chorus: When the damned are silenced, and given to the fierce flames, call me with the blessed ones. I pray, suppliant and kneeling, with a heart contrite as ashes: take my ending into your care.Chorus: The day of wrath, that day will dissolve the world in ashes, as David and the Sibyl prophesied.Solo Quartet and Chorus: That day is one of weeping, on which shall rise from the ashes the guilty man, to be judged. Therefore, spare this one, O God. Merciful Lord Jesus: grant them peace. Amen.
III Offertorium Quartet: Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae: libera animas omnium fidelum defunctorum de poenis inferni et profondo lacu; libera eas de ore leonis; ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum. Sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus. Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam, quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. Libera animas omnium fidelum defunctorum de poenis inferni; fac eas de morte transire ad vitam.	III Offertorium Quartet: O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory: deliver the souls of all the faithful dead from the pains of hell and from the deep pit; deliver them from the mouth of the lion; that hell may not swallow them, and that they may not fall into darkness. But may the holy standard-bearer Michael show them the holy light; which you once promised to Abraham and his descendents. We offer to you, O Lord, sacrifices and prayers. Receive them on behalf of those souls whom we commemorate today. Grant, O Lord, that they might pass from death into that life which you once promised to Abraham and his seed. Deliver the souls of all the faithful dead from the pains of hell; Grant that they might pass from death into life.
IV Sanctus Double Chorus: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis! Benedictus qui venit in nomini Domini. Hosanna in excelsis!	IV Sanctus Double Chorus: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
V Agnus Dei Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and Chorus: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.	V Agnus Dei Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and Chorus: Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
VI Lux aeterna Mezzo-soprano, Tenor and Bass: Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternam; quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis, cum sanctis tuis in aeternam; quia pius es.	VI Lux aeterna Mezzo-soprano, Tenor and Bass: Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord, with your saints forever; for you are merciful. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them with your saints forever; for you are merciful.
VII Libera me Soprano and Chorus: Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda; quando coeli movendi sunt et terra: dum veneris judicare saeclum per ignem. Tremens factus sum ego et timeo, dum discussio venerit atque ventura irae, quando coeli movendi sunt et terra. Dies irae, dies illa calamitatis et miseriae; dies magna et amara valde. Requiem aeternam, dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda. Libera me, Domine, quando coeli movendi sunt et terra; dum veneris judicare saeclum per ignem. Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna in die illa tremenda. Libera me.	VII Libera me Soprano and Chorus: Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death on that awful day, when the heavens and the earth shall be moved: when you will come to judge the world by fire. I tremble, and I fear the judgment and the wrath to come, when the heavens and the earth shall be moved. The day of wrath, that day of calamity and misery; a great and bitter day, indeed. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death on that awful day. Deliver me, O Lord, when the heavens and the earth shall be moved; when you will come to judge the world by fire. Deliver me, Lord, from eternal death on that awful day. Deliver me.

BBC Music Magazine