Edition notes: Source: New Obrecht Edition, vol. 16, ed. Chris Maas, KVVNM, 1996. Notation here is a minor third higher than the original with note values halved. Translation, text underlay, musica ficta and some alterations (see last page) by John Hetland and the Renaissance Street Singers. 24 Apr 2016
Audiit ípse támen pópuli gémitus lachrymósos,
ad pácem vérsus, híncque misértus éi,
pácem donávit e céli cúlmine tráctam,
quam nec mortáles sic dáre suffícerent.
Ergo ómnis pópulus nunc cum júbilo modulétur
et Dómino láudes exímias réferat.
Fúnde préces Gálle fundántque préces inimíci,
quéque es in térris nátio fúnde préces
ad Dóminum, ut dáta pax sit duratúra per évum,
néu módico léta témpore deínde gémas,
múneris et tánti ne si sis ímmemor ípse
lóra tráhat, quáre pácis habéna cádat.
Amen.
English translation
Who could count the cruel deeds of the wars,
the damage filled with irreparable evils?
Let the good man himself count, who has suffered such things,
but let the bad man count who himself has inflicted them on him.
Anyone would say that God did all this to us,
bringing us the merited wages of sins.
He himself, however, heard the tearful groans of the people,
turned to peace, and hence, pitying them,
gave peace from the summit of heaven drawn,
which mortals would not be able so to give.
Therefore let all the people sing for joy
and give back extraordinary praises to the Lord.
Pour prayers, Frenchman, and may the enemies pour prayers,
and every nation on earth pour prayers
to the Lord, that the given peace shall last forever,
lest you be joyful a little while and then groan,
and that if you be unmindful of so great a boon, he himself
may draw the lash, whereby the rein of peace shall fall.
Amen.