Emendemus in melius

General information

Matins Responsory for Lent I & Distribution of Ashes on Ash Wednesday.
Sources of text are Psalm 105:6 (Vulgate), Ps. 78:9; cf. Esther 13, Joel 2)

Settings by composers

William Byrd SATTB (Adds variant 3) Baldassare Donato SAATB or SATTB (Adds variant 1) Andrea Gabrieli ATTBBB

Orlando di LassoSATTB Cristóbal de Morales ATTBB or SAATB (Adds variant 2) Ascanio Trombetti SATTT

Original text and translations

Latin text Emendemus in melius quae ignoranter peccavimus; ne subito praeoccupati die mortis, quaeramus spatium poenitentiae, et invenire non possimus. Attende, Domine, et miserere; quia peccavimus tibi. Variant 1 Peccavimus cum patribus nostris, iniuste egimus, iniquitatem fecimus. Variant 2 Memento, homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris. Variant 3 Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster, et propter honorem nominis tui libera nos.

English translation Let us amend for the better in those things in which we have sinned through ignorance; lest suddenly overtaken by the day of death,  we seek space for repentance, and be not able to find it. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy: for we have sinned against thee. Variant 1 105:6  We have sinned like our fathers, we have acted unjustly and done wrong. Variant 2 Remember, O man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return. Variant 3 Help us, O God of our salvation, and for the honour of thy name deliver us.