Captabunt in Animam Justi (They Will Seize Upon the Soul of the Just) is a Gregorian chant antiphon from Holy Week, the third antiphon of the Third Nocturn on Good Friday.
The chant recalls the words of Psalm 93, which would be fulfilled in the capture of Our Lord, He Who is Innocence Itself. It is a reminder that although Our Lord
allowed evildoers to scourge and crucify Him
during His Passion, He promised revenge and victory over the wicked. Then the just, although isolated and persecuted by the evil, will be able to exclaim:
"And the Lord is become to me a refuge: and my God the help of my hope. And he will repay them their iniquity. And in their own wickedness He will destroy them. The Lord our God will destroy them.
Captabunt in Animam Justi is here interpreted by the Taverner Consort & Choir, directed by Andrew Parrot.
Note: the recording is a slight variation from the sheet music, and not all Psalm verses are sung. We have included all the verses below.
Listen to Captabunt in Animam Justi
Lyrics:
Latin text:
Ant. Captabunt in animam justi,
Et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt.
1. Deus, ultionum Dóminus:
Deus ultiónum libere egit.
2. Exaltare qui iudicas terram:
Redde retributionem superbis.
3. Usquequo peccatores Domine:
Usquequo peccatores gloriabuntur:
4. Effabuntur, et loquentur iniquitatem:
Loquentur omnes, qui operantur iniustitiam?
5. Populum tuum Domine humiliaverunt:
Et hereditatem tuam vexaverunt.
6. Viduam, et advenam interfecerunt:
Et pupillos occiderunt.
7. Et dixerunt: Non videbit Dominus,
Nec intelliget Deus Iacob.
8. Intelligite insipientes in populo:
Et stulti aliquando sapite.
9. Qui plantavit aurem, non audiet?
Aut qui finxit oculum, non considerat?
10. Qui corripit gentes, non arguet:
Qui docet hominem scientiam?
11. Dominus scit cogitationes hominum,
Quoniam vanæ sunt.
12. Beatus homo, quem tu erudieris Domine:
Et de lege tua docueris eum.
13. Ut mitiges ei a diebus malis:
Donec fodiatur peccatori fovea.
14. Quia non repellet Dominus plebem suam:
Et hereditatem suam non derelinquet.
15. Quoadusque iustitia convertatur in iudicium:
Et qui iuxta illam omnes qui recto sunt corde.
16. Quis consurget mihi adversus malignantes?
Aut quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem?
17. Nisi quia Dominus adiuvit me:
Paulominus habitasset in inferno anima mea.
18. Si dicebam: Motus est pes meus:
Misericordia tua Domine adiuvabat me.
19. Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde meo:
Cconsolationes tuæ lætificaverunt animam meam.
20. Numquid adhæret tibi sedes iniquitatis:
Qui fingis laborem in præcepto?
21. Captabunt in animam iusti:
Et sanguinem innocentem condemnabunt.
22. Et factus est mihi Dominus in refugium:
Et Deus meus in adiutorium spei meæ.
23. Et reddet illis iniquitatem ipsorum:
Et in malitia eorum disperdet eos:
Disperdet illos Dominus Deus noster.
English translation (1):
Ant. They will seize upon the soul of the just,
And condemn innocent blood.
1. God, the Lord of vengeance:
the God of vengeance hath acted freely.
2. Lift up thyself, Thou that judgest the earth:
Render retribution to the proud.
3. How long shall sinners, O Lord:
how long shall sinners glory [boast]?
4. Shall they utter, and speak iniquity:
Shall all who work injustice speak?
5. They have humiliated Thy people, O Lord:
And have vexed Thy inheritance.
6. They have slain the widow and the stranger:
And they have murdered the orphan.
7. And they said: The Lord shall not see,
Neither shall the God of Jacob understand.
8. Understand, you fools among the people:
And, you fools, be wise at last.
9. He who planted the ear, shall he not hear?
Or he who formed the eye, shall he not consider?
10. He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke?
He who teacheth man knowledge??
11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men,
For they are vain.
12. Blessed is the man Thou instructs, O Lord:
And teach him out of Thy law.
13. That Thou mayest keep him from evil days:
Until a pit be dug for the sinner.
14. For the Lord will not cast off his people:
Nor will he forsake his inheritance.
15. Until justice be turned into judgment:
And they that are near it are all the upright in heart.
16. Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers?
Or who will stand with me against the workers of iniquity?
17. Unless the Lord had been my helper:
My soul had almost dwelt in hell.
18. If I said, My foot is moved:
Thy mercy, O Lord, helped me.
19. According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart:
Thy consolations have gladdened my soul.
20. Shall the seat of iniquity cleave unto thee:
Who makest labor in the commandment?
21. They will seize upon the soul of the just,
And condemn innocent blood.
22. And the Lord is become to me a refuge:
And my God the help of my hope.
23. And he will repay them their iniquity:
And in their own wickedness he will destroy them:
The Lord our God will destroy them.
