Lenten Lament: Attende, Domine

R. Attende, Domine, et miserere: quia peccavimus tibi.

(Hear us, O Lord, and have mercy: because we have sinned against You.)

1. Ad te, Rex summe, omnium Redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces.

(To you, Most High King, Redeemer of us all, we lift our eyes, weeping: hear, O Christ, our prayers of supplication.)

2. Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti.

([You are] at the right hand of the Father, the Corner-stone, the Way of Salvation, the Doorway to Heaven: blot out the stains of our sins.)

3. Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge.

(We ask Your Majesty, O God: hear [our] groans with [Your] holy ears: graciously pardon our offenses.)

4. Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua Redemptor, pietas ignoscat.

(To You we confess [our] consented sins: we disclose [our] hidden [sins] with contrine heart: O Redeemer, may your mercy forgive [them/us]!)

5. Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus, testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus: quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe.

(Innocent, held captive; not fighting back, lead forth; condemned by false witnesses, for [the sake of] the wicked: O Christ, keep safe those whom you have saved.)

In verse 5, the clause testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus can be translated a number of ways, including "condemned by false witnesses in the midst of the wicked" (wicked = Pharisees, etc.) and "condemned as the wicked [are condemned], by false witnesses" (wicked = sinners in general).

Next week, I'll work on producing "nice" translations (i.e. ones that roll of the tongue more easily) of Parce, Domine and Attende, Domine.