Pastores loquebantur

General information

Source of text is Luke 2: 15-20.

Settings by composers

• Anonymous SATB
• Franz Xaver Brixi SATB
• Jacobus Clemens non Papa ATTBarB
• Francisco Guerrero SSATBB or AATBBB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Franz Bühler — Weihnachtliches Graduale und Offertorium, Op. 8
• Antonio Cifra — Angelus ad pastores ait (1629)

Text and translations

Latin text Vulgate 15b  Pastores loquebantur ad invicem: transeamus usque Betlehem, et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis. Alleluia [or Noe]. 16  Et venerunt festinantes et invenerunt Mariam et Joseph et infantem positum in praesepio. 17  Videntes autem notum fecerunt verbum, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. 18  Et omnes, qui audierunt, mirati sunt de his, quae dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. 19  Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec conferens in corde suo. 20  Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum. Alleluia [or Noe]. Italian translation 15b  I pastori si dicevano l'un l'altro: andiamo fino a Betlemme e vedremo che Dio ci mostrerà la realizzazione della sua promessa. Alleluia 20  E tornarono i pastori, glorificando e lodando Dio. Alleluia.

English translation KJV 15b  The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Translation by Edward Tambling 15b  The shepherds said to one another: "Let us cross over to Bethlehem, and see this word which has been made, and which the Lord has shown us". Alleluia [or Noel]. 16  And they hurriedly came and found Mary and Joseph and the child laid in a manger. 20  And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God. Alleluia [or Noel].