Nox et tenebrae

Nox et tenebrae et nubila (Prudentius)

Meter: 8.8.8.8

Melody: a a a a a ab a a

• File:199 Nox et tenebrae.mp3 H.I, p. 199

Latinam Nox et tenebrae et nubila, confusa mundi et turbida, lux intrat, albescit polus: Christus venit; discedite. Caligo terrae scinditur percussa solis spiculo, rebusque iam color redit vultu nitentis sideris. Sic nostra mox obscuritas fraudisque pectus conscium, ruptis retectum nubibus, regnante pallescet Deo. Te, Christe, solum novimus, te mente pura et simplici rogare curvato genu flendo et canendo discimus. Intende nostris sensibus vitamque totam dispice: sunt multa fucis illita quae luce purgentur tua. Sit, Christe, rex piisime, tibi Patrique gloria cum Spiritu Paraclito, in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

English O both night and darkness' clouds, the world's confusions and storms, light now enters, the sky becomes white: Christ has come, Depart! May the gloom of the earth be torn apart, pierced by the sun's spikes, to all things now colour returns from the face of the glittering star. As such soon our spiritual darkness and the conscious feeling of depravity, unravelled from the ruptured mists, will fade in God's reigning. Thee, O Christ, only do we seek to know, Thee with a mind pure and simple with a knee bent to entreat we learn in what is to be wept for and in what is to be sung. Look on our senses and consider our whole life; many are smeared with deceit let them be made clean in Thy light. May it be, O Christ, king most loving, and to Thee Father, Glory with the Spirit Paraclete, in every age. Amen.