Circumdederunt me

General information

Antiphon for the Office of the Dead.
Text based on Psalm 17:5-6 (Vulgate) or Psalm 114:3 (Vulgate).

Settings by composers

• William Byrd AATTB
• Juan Gutierrez de Padilla SSAATB
• Cristóbal de Morales SATTB

Text and translations

Latin text Byrd text 114:3  Circumdederunt me dolores mortis, et pericula inferni invenerunt me. Tribulationem et dolorem inveni, 114:4  Et nomen Domini invocavi. O Domine, libera animam meam. Gutierrez text 114:3  Circumdederunt me dolores mortis, et pericula inferni invenerunt me. In tribulatione mea invocavi Dominum et a Deum meum clamavi. Morales text Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis dolores inferni circumdederunt me.

English translation Byrd text 116:3  The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 114:4  And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. Gutierrez text 116:3  The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. Morales text The groanings of death have encircled me: the sorrows of hell have enclosed me.