憐憫‧洗滌

世事紛擾，常會令人肝火上升。外頭抗議喧囂，我尋求內心的寧靜。

耶誕節即將來臨，我想到了一首絕美的經文歌 (motet)。我雖不是教徒，但在純淨的無伴奏 (a cappella) 複音 (polyphonic) 樂聲中，對照著《詩篇》(Psalms) 51 篇的經文，我的心靈，彷彿也得到了洗滌……

Excerpted from Miserere mei, Deus
(Have mercy on me, O God)
Composed by Gregori Allegri (1582 – 1652)
Sung by Westminster Cathedral Choir



Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
(Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness)
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
(According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.)
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
(Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.)
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
(For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.)
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris.
(Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged.)
Ecce enim in inquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
(Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.)
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
(But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.)
Asperges me, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
(Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.)
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
(Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.)
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