Astiterunt reges terrae
General information
7th of the Responsories for Holy Saturday.
Source: Vulgate, Psalm 2 vv.2-3.
These lines from Psalm 2 are also quoted verbatim in the New Testament at Acts 4:25-26. Note that the sequence of the lines in the musical text as quoted here is different from the biblical order.
The English translation based on the King James version; “vain thing” is plural in the Latin text.
Settings by composers
- Anonymous Gregorian chant
- Carlo Gesualdo SSATTB
- Tomás Luis de Victoria SATB
- Annibale Zoilo SATB
Original text and translations
Latin text
Italian translation Sono insorti i re della terra, |
English translation Translation supplied by Paul Pascal, Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Washington. |