Eram quasi agnus innocens

General information

7th of the Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday

Settings by composers

• Jeffrey Quick

Original text and translations

Latin text

Eram quasi agnus innocens, ductus sum ad immolandum, et nesciebam:
Concilium fecerunt inimici mei adversum me, dicentes:
Venite, mittamus lignum in panem ejus,
et eradamus eum de terra viventium.
Omnes inimici mei
adversum me cogitabant mala mihi:
Verbum iniquum mandaverunt adversum me dicentes:
Venite, mittamus lignum in panem eius,
et eradamus eum de terra viventium.

English translation

Behold, I was like an innocent lamb; I was led to the slaughter, and I knew it not.
My enemies have conspired together against me, saying:
Come, let us put poison into his bread,
And let us cut him off out of the land of the living.
All my enemies have thought evil things about me;
They have spoken evil words against me, saying:
Come, let us put poison into his bread,
And let us cut him off out of the land of the living.

Italian translation

Ero come un agnello innocente,
condotto al macello, e morivo.
I miei nemici fecero un'assemblea
contro di me, mandandomi sciagure.
Mi parlavano con parole inique, dicendo:
Venite, mettiamo del veleno nel suo pane,
e strappiamolo dalla terra dei viventi