Latin text
Quid admiramini,
quid opinamini, filiae Jerusalem, de partu novitatis?
Licet mirabile, tamen possibile virginem puerperam fuisse gravidam:
omnia quae voluit, ex nihilo creavit;
omnia quae docuit naturam, naturavit;
natus ipse voluit naturam claudicare.
Miremur amplius! Quid illo dignius,
qui de terra caelum fecit, mundum de immundo?
Tu caelis altior, tu stellis clarior,
me dignare te laudare carmine iucundo.
Tu omnis boni praetium,
tu balsamus odoris,
tu lilium convallium,
tu formula pudoris,
tu caeli sanctuarium,
tu gaudium maeroris,
tu merces annua,
tu vitae ianua,
tu via veris in via,
tu salus in prophetis,
tu caecis oculus,
tu claudis baculus,
tu sitientibus rivulus,
tu quies inquietis,
tu clericorum iubilus,
tu merces viduarum,
tu mulierum titulus,
tu gemma puellarum:
te tui orant famuli,
da fontem lacrimarum.
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English translation
Why do you marvel?
What do you think, O daughters of Jerusalem, of this new birth?
Though it is wondrous, it is still possible:
that a virgin, though a mother, should be with child.
All that He willed, He created out of nothing;
all that He taught nature, He brought to pass in nature.
He Himself, being born, willed that nature should limp.
Let us marvel even more! What is more worthy than He
who made heaven from earth, and purity from impurity?
You, higher than the heavens, you, brighter than the stars;
grant me the grace to praise you in a joyful song.
You, the price of every good,
you, balm of fragrance,
you, lily of the valleys,
you, pattern of modesty,
you, sanctuary of heaven,
you, joy in sorrow,
you, reward eternal,
you, gate of life,
you, the true way on the way,
you, salvation foretold by the prophets,
you, eyes to the blind,
you, staff to the lame,
you, stream to the thirsty,
you, rest for the restless,
you, jubilation of the clergy,
you, reward of widows,
you, honour of women,
you, jewel among maidens:
your servants beseech you;
grant the fountain of tears.
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