 Latin text
Hic est dies verus Dei,
Sancto serenus lumine,
Quo diluit sanguis sacer
Probrosa mundi crimina.
Fidem refundens perditis,
Caecosque visu illuminans:
Quem non gravi solvit metu
Latronis absolutio.
Qui praemio mutans crucem
Iesum brevi acquirit fide,
Iustusque praevio gradu
Pervenit in regnum Dei.
Opus stupent et angeli,
Poenam videntes corporis,
Christoque adhaerentem reum
Vitam beatam carpere.
Mysterium mirabile,
Ut abluat mundi luem,
Peccata tollit omnium,
Carnis vitia mundans caro.
Quid hoc potest sublimius:
Ut culpa quaerat gratiam
Metumque solvat charitas,
Reddatque mors vitam novam.
Hamum sibi mors devoret
Suisque se nodis liget:
Moriatur vita omnium
Resurgat ut vita omnium.
Cum mors per omnes transeat,
Omnes resurgant mortui:
Consumpta mors ictu suo
Perisse se solam gemit.
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 English translation
This is the true day of God,
blessed with serene light
by which the sacred blood washed away
the shameful crimes of the world.
Restoring faith to the lost
and enlightening the blind with sight,
whom does the thief's absolution
not release from heavy dread?
He who changed the cross into a prize
soon gained Jesus by faith
and entered into the kingdon of God
before the just.
Even angels are astonished at the work,
seeing punishment of the body
and the guilty man clinging to Christ
to seize blessed life.
O wonderful mystery
that would wash away the plague of the world,
and take away the sins of all,
cleansing the blemishes of the flesh by flesh.
What can be more sublime?
that guilt might seek grace
and love might end fear
and death deliver new life.
Death devours its hook
and binds itself in knots
that all might die
and be raised to life.
Since death is overcome for all,
all may rise from death;
death consumed by its sting
laments that it alone might perish.
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