Te Deum


Te Deum, also sometimes called the Ambrosian Hymn because of its association with St. Ambrose, is a traditional hymn of joy and thanksgiving. First attributed to Sts. Ambrose, Augustine, or Hilary, it is now accredited to Nicetas, the fourth century Bishop of Remesiana.

Verdi opens the work with the men of the choir in a quotation of the original Gregorian chant, and proceeds to take us on an expressive excursion through the sequence of prayers and celebrations that comprise the poetry. Near the works end, a solo soprano intones the powerful affirmation of faith-- "In te, Domine, speravi," described by Verdi as "the voice of humanity in fear of hell," and is joined by the community of singers in fervent, final cry.
 
 
Te Deum laudamus: 
te Dominum confitemur. 
Te æternum Patrem 
omnis terra veneratur. 

 Tibi omnes Angeli, tibi coeli 
et universæ Potestates, 
tibi Cherubim et Seraphim 
incessabili voce proclamant: 

 Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, 
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. 
Pleni sunt coeli et terra 
majestatis gloriæ tuæ. 

 Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus, 
te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus, 
te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. 

 Te per orbem terrarum 
sancta confitetur Ecclesia, 
Patrem immensæ majestatis; 
venerandum tuum verum 
et unicum Filium; 
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum. 

 Tu Rex gloriæ, Christe. 
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius. 
Tu, ad liberandum 
suscepturus hominem, 
non horruisti Virginis uterum. 

 Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, 
aperuisti credentibus 
regna coelorum. 

 Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, 
in gloria Patris. 
Judex crederis esse venturus. 

 Te ergo quæsumus, 
tuis famulis subveni, 
quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. 

 Æterna fac cum Sanctis tuis 
in gloria numerari. 

 Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, 
et benedic hæreditati tuæ. 
Et rege eos, et extolle illos 
usque in æternum. 

 Per singulos dies benedicimus te, 
et laudamus nomen tuum 
in sæculum, et in sæculum 
sæculi. 

 Dignare, Domine, die isto 
sine peccato nos custodire. 
Miserere nostri, Domine, 
miserere nostri. 

 Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, 
super nos, quemadmodum 
speravimus in te. 
In te speravi: 
non confundar in æternum.

We praise thee, God, 
we confess thee as our Lord. 
All the earth worships thee 
as eternal Father. 

 All the Angels, all heavenly 
and universal Powers, 
the Cherubim and Seraphim 
ceaselessly proclaim thee: 

 Thrice holy 
Lord God of Hosts. 
Heaven and earth are full 
of the glory of thy majesty. 

 The mighty chorus of Apostles, 
the worthy number of Prophets, 
the splendid army of Martyrs praise thee. 

 Over all the earth 
the holy church confesses thee, 
our majestic Father; 
praised be thy true 
and only Son, 
and the Comforting Holy Spirit. 

 Thou art King of glory, Christ. 
Thou the Son art everlasting with thy 
Father. Thou, to free us, 
wert born as a man, 
and didst not shun a Virgin's womb. 

 Thou, having conquered death's sting, 
didst open to the faithful 
the kingdom of heaven. 

 Thou sittest at God's right hand, 
to the glory of thy Father. 
We know that thou wilt be our judge. 

 We pray to thee therefore 
to come to the aid of thy servants 
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. 

 Number us among thy Saints 
in eternal glory. 

 Save thine own people, Lord, 
and bless thy children. 
Lead them, and deliver them 
unto eternity. 

 Every day we bless thee, 
and we shall praise thy name 
for a hundred years, for a hundred 
centuries. 

 Vouchsafe, Lord, this day 
to keep us free of sin. 
Have mercy, Lord, 
have mercy upon us. 

 Let thy mercy shine, Lord, 
on us in so far as we 
place our trust in thee. 
In thee I have put my trust; 
let me not be confounded for eternity.