Dies irae, dies illa. Day of wrath, day of anger
Selecting the link immediately above will display a YouTube video of the Verdi Requiem performed by the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra (Brazil). Following is the Latin original followed by an English translation of the opening lyrics drawn from the Catholic mass for the dead.
Dies irae, dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favilla,
teste David cum Sibylla.
Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!
Day of wrath, day of anger
will dissolve the world in ashes,
as foretold by David and the Sibyl.
Great trembling there will be
when the Judge descends from heaven
to examine all things closely.
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
The trumpet will send its wondrous sound
throughout earth’s sepulchres
and gather all before the throne.
Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.
Death and nature will be astounded,
when all creation rises again,
to answer the judgement.
A book will be brought forth,
in which all will be written,
by which the world will be judged.
Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet, apparebit,
nil inultum remanebit.
When the judge takes his place,
what is hidden will be revealed,
nothing will remain unavenged.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
What shall a wretch like me say?
Who shall intercede for me,
when the just ones need mercy?
