Veni de Libano

General information

Source of text is an unusual and distinctive compilation of verses from the song of Solomon; 4:8a & 11a, 5:2b & 7:5b, possible indicating a cantus origin.

Settings by composers

[[Veni de Libano (Lucio Barbieri)|Lucio Barbieri}} SAATTB [[Veni de Libano (Ottavio Vernizzi)|Ottavio Vernizzi}} SATTB

Text and translations

Latin text Veni de Libano, sponsa mea, veni et coronaberis. Aperi mihi, soror mea sponsa. Favus distillans labia tua sponsa, et comae capitis tui sicut purpura regis juncta[/vincta] canalibus.

English translation Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, and you shall be crowned. Open to me, my sister, my love Thy lips, my spouse, drop as honeycombs and the bush of thine head is like purple: the king is tied in the rafters. (trans Geneva Bible)

English translation Come from Lebanon, my bride, and be crowned; Open to me, my sister, my bride, your lips distilling nectar, my bride. and your flowing locks of your head are as purple; a king is held captive in the tresses. (trans James Gibb))

N.B. The first English translation was a serious garblement, but that version has been used as the basis of all subsequent versions to this day. Syntactically, a better translation of 7:5b, albeit slightly anachronistic, would be "Thine head of hair is as of royal purple, braided in dreadlocks".