The Complete Sacred Text: Latin Lyrics and English Translation of Mozart’s Requiem

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626 is far more than a masterpiece of classical composition; it is a profound spiritual journey through the Catholic Mass for the Dead (Missa pro defunctis). Written during his final weeks in Vienna in 1791, the score reflects an intimate confrontation with mortality, divine judgment, and the desperate human plea for eternal peace.

To fully grasp the emotional and dramatic weight of the music, it is essential to understand the sacred liturgy that inspired it. Below is an overview of the structural movements, themes, and spiritual significance of the Requiem text, accompanied by the traditional Latin lyrics and English translations.

1. Introitus (Introductory Rites)

The Requiem opens with a solemn, atmospheric prayer invoking eternal rest and perpetual light for the departed, establishing a mood of deep mourning and supplication.

Latin Text (Introitus)	English Translation
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.	Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine on them. Thou, O God, art praised in Sion, and unto Thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.

2. Kyrie (The Plea for Mercy)

Following the Introit, the choir breaks into a rigorous, emotionally charged double fugue, begging for divine mercy in a brief yet intense supplication.

Latin Text (Kyrie)	English Translation
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.	Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

3. Sequentia (The Dies Irae and Inner Sections)

The Sequence is the longest and most dramatic section of the Requiem. It begins with the terrifying apocalyptic imagery of the Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), moving through various emotional states—from the awesome majesty of the Rex Tremendae to the poignant, weeping beauty of the Lacrimosa, the final 8 bars written directly by Mozart's hand.

Latin Text (Sequentia - Excerpt)	English Translation
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 regionum Coget omnes ante thronum. Mors slopebit et natora Cum resurget creatura Judicanti responsura. Liber scriptus proferetur In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo cum sedebit Quidquid latet apparebit, Nil inultum remanebit. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, Quem patronum togaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus? Rex tremendae majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salve me, fons pietatis. Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae, Ne me perdas ilia die. Quaerens me sedisti lassus, Redemisti crucem passus, Tamus labor non sit cassus. Juste judex ultionis Donum fac remissionis Ante diem rationis. lngemisco tamquam reus, Culpa rubet vultus meus, Supplicanti parce, Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sum dignae, Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremet igne. Inter oves locurn praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra, Statuens in parle dextra. Confutatis maledictis Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis, Gere curam mei finis. Lacrimosa dies ilia Qua resurget ex favilla Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus, Pie Jesu Domine, Dona els requiem.	Day of wrath, that day Will dissolve the earth in ashes As David and the Sibyl bear witness. What dread there will be When the Judge shall come To judge all things strictly. A trumpet, spreading a wondrous sound Through the graves of all lands, Will drive mankind before the throne. Death and Nature shall be astonished When all creation rises again To answer to the Judge. A book, written in, will be brought forth In which is contained everything that is, Out of which the world shall be judged. When therefore the Judge takes His seat Whatever is hidden will reveal itself. Nothing will remain unavenged. What then shall I say, wretch that I am, What advocate entreat to speak for me, When even the righteous may hardly be secure? King of awful majesty, Who freely savest the redeemed, Save me, O fount of goodness. Remember, blessed Jesu, That I am the cause of Thy pilgrimage, Do not forsake me on that day. Seeking me Thou didst sit down weary, Thou didst redeem me, suffering death on the cross. Let not such toil be in vain. Just and avenging Judge, Grant remission Before the day of reckoning. I groan like a guilty man. Guilt reddens my face. Spare a suppliant, O God. Thou who didst absolve Mary Magdalene And didst hearken to the thief, To me also hast Thou given hope. My prayers are not worthy, But Thou in Thy merciful goodness grant That I burn not in everlasting fire. Place me among Thy sheep And separate me from the goats, Setting me on Thy right hand. When the accursed have been confounded And given over to the bitter flames, Call me with the blessed. I pray in supplication on my knees. My heart contrite as the dust, Safeguard my fate. Mournful that day When from the dust shall rise Guilty man to be judged. Therefore spare him, O God. Merciful Jesu, Lord Grant them rest.

Latin Text (Sequentia - Excerpt)

English Translation

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 regionum
Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors slopebit et natora
Cum resurget creatura
Judicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur
In quo totum continetur,
Unde mundus judicetur.

Judex ergo cum sedebit
Quidquid latet apparebit,
Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus,
Quem patronum togaturus,
Cum vix justus sit securus?

Rex tremendae majestatis,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis,
Salve me, fons pietatis.

Recordare, Jesu pie,
Quod sum causa tuae viae,
Ne me perdas ilia die.

Quaerens me sedisti lassus,
Redemisti crucem passus,
Tamus labor non sit cassus.

Juste judex ultionis
Donum fac remissionis
Ante diem rationis.

lngemisco tamquam reus,
Culpa rubet vultus meus,
Supplicanti parce, Deus.

Qui Mariam absolvisti
Et latronem exaudisti,
Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces meae non sum dignae,
Sed tu bonus fac benigne,
Ne perenni cremet igne.

Inter oves locurn praesta,
Et ab haedis me sequestra,
Statuens in parle dextra.

Confutatis maledictis
Flammis acribus addictis,
Voca me cum benedictis.

Oro supplex et acclinis,
Cor contritum quasi cinis,
Gere curam mei finis.

Lacrimosa dies ilia
Qua resurget ex favilla
Judicandus homo reus.

Huic ergo parce, Deus,
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona els requiem.

Day of wrath, that day
Will dissolve the earth in ashes
As David and the Sibyl bear witness.

What dread there will be
When the Judge shall come
To judge all things strictly.

A trumpet, spreading a wondrous sound
Through the graves of all lands,
Will drive mankind before the throne.

Death and Nature shall be astonished
When all creation rises again
To answer to the Judge.

A book, written in, will be brought forth
In which is contained everything that is,
Out of which the world shall be judged.

When therefore the Judge takes His seat
Whatever is hidden will reveal itself.
Nothing will remain unavenged.

What then shall I say, wretch that I am,
What advocate entreat to speak for me,
When even the righteous may hardly be secure?

King of awful majesty,
Who freely savest the redeemed,
Save me, O fount of goodness.

Remember, blessed Jesu,
That I am the cause of Thy pilgrimage,
Do not forsake me on that day.

Seeking me Thou didst sit down weary,
Thou didst redeem me, suffering death on the cross.
Let not such toil be in vain.

Just and avenging Judge,
Grant remission
Before the day of reckoning.

I groan like a guilty man.
Guilt reddens my face.
Spare a suppliant, O God.

Thou who didst absolve Mary Magdalene
And didst hearken to the thief,
To me also hast Thou given hope.

My prayers are not worthy,
But Thou in Thy merciful goodness grant
That I burn not in everlasting fire.

Place me among Thy sheep
And separate me from the goats,
Setting me on Thy right hand.

When the accursed have been confounded
And given over to the bitter flames,
Call me with the blessed.

I pray in supplication on my knees.
My heart contrite as the dust,
Safeguard my fate.

Mournful that day
When from the dust shall rise
Guilty man to be judged.

Therefore spare him, O God.
Merciful Jesu,
Lord Grant them rest.

4. Offertorium (Offerings of Faith)

The Offertorium shifts the musical tone toward supplication and divine deliverance, asking God and St. Michael to rescue the souls of the faithful departed from the powers of darkness and bring them into holy light.

Latin Text (Offertorium - Excerpt)	English Translation
Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni... Hostias et preces, tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus...	Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell... We offer unto Thee this sacrifice of prayer and praise...

5. Sanctus & Benedictus (Heavenly Praise)

The Sanctus explodes with radiant, joyful majesty, proclaiming the holiness of God across heaven and earth, followed by the lyrical, peaceful grace of the Benedictus.

Latin Text (Sanctus & Benedictus)	English Translation
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth! Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Osanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Osanna in excelsis.	Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

6. Agnus Dei & Communio (Final Resolution)

The Requiem concludes with the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) offering a final plea for everlasting rest, and the Communio (Lux aeterna), which recalls the musical themes of the opening Introit to bring the entire monumental work full circle in an embrace of eternal light and mercy.

Latin Text (Communio - Excerpt)	English Translation
Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine...	May eternal light shine on them, O Lord, with Thy saints for ever, because Thou art merciful. Grant the dead eternal rest, O Lord...

Conclusion: The Eternal Resonance of Mozart’s Text

Mozart’s musical setting transforms these ancient Latin prayers into a living psychological drama. By understanding the exact words he set on his deathbed, we gain a deeper window into his final masterpiece—a bridge between human vulnerability and infinite peace.

Classical Music 24

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