Manus tuae

General information

Source of text is Job 10:8-12,21.

Settings by composers

• Orlando di Lasso, both SATB (vv. 8-12)
  • Manus tuae Domine (1565)
  • Manus tuae Domine (1582)
• Cristóbal de Morales SSATB (vv. 8,21)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina SATTB (vv. 8-12)

Text and translations

Latin text 8  Manus tuae Domine fecerunt me et plasmaverunt me totum in circuitu: et sic repente praecipitas me. 9  Memento, quaeso quod sicut lutum feceris me et in pulverem reduces me. 10  Nonne sicut lac mulsisti me et sicut caseum me coagulasti? 11  Pelle et carnibus vestisti me: ossibus et nervis compegisti me. 12  Vitam et misericordiam tribuisti mihi et visitatio tua custodivit spiritum meum. 21  antequam vadam… ad terram tenebrosam et opertam mortis caligine.

English translation 8  Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me wholly round about, and dost thou thus cast me down headlong on a sudden? 9  Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and thou wilt bring me into dust. 10  Hast thou not milked me as milk, and curdled me like cheese? 11  Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh: thou hast put me together with bones and sinews: 12  Thou hast granted me life and mercy, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. 21  Before I go… to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death. (Douai-Rheims)