Magnificat

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The Visitation by Juan Correa De Vivar

Originating from the Latin word for “magnify” (although originating in the Greek New Testament), the Magnificat is the name given to the words of Mary in Luke’s Gospel, beginning “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” According to the gospel, Mary, while pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elisabeth, who was at the time pregnant with John the Baptist. In response to Elisabeth’s salutation Ave Maria, she spoke the words of the Magnificat.

In the Roman Rite the Magnificat is the canticle appointed to be sung at Vespers, together with a proper antiphon. The various Gregorian reciting tones or toni (given in the Liber Usualis) are chosen to agree with the mode of the antiphon, and their various terminations are likewise meant to dovetail with the opening of the antiphon's repetition; in general the numbering of the tones corresponds to the 8 modes (The 9th Tonus peregrinus is usually associated with mode I).

Anglican Evening Prayer (called “Evensong” when sung) was created by combining elements of Vespers and Compline. Composers writing in this tradition typically treat the Magnficat and the 2nd canticle Nunc dimittis (used only at Compline in the Roman rite) as a related pair.

Further discussion

Musical settings at CPDL

See Category:Evening Canticles for a list of all evening canticles on CPDL.

In Latin

In English

(BCP translation unless otherwise stated)

In other languages

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

Texts used in settings and translations

Latin.png Latin text
Vulgate

1 Magnificat, anima mea, Dominum
2 et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo, salutari meo.
3 Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ:
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
4 Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius,
5 et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
6 Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
7 Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles;
8 esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
9 Suscepit Israel puerum suum recordatus misericordiæ suæ,
10 sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in sæcula.
11 Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
12 Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Differences in the Ambrosian Text

Milanese composers (e.g. Cima) set the text according to the Ambrosian Rite, which has the following differences:
Line 5: Et misericordia eius a sæculo et in sæculorum super timentibus eum.
Line 6: Fecit potentiam in brachio suo; dissipavit superbos mente cordis eorum.
Line 8: Esurientes satiavit bonis
Line 9: Suscepit Israel puerum suum memor misericordiæ suæ.
Line 10: Sicut locutus…Abraham et semini eius usque in æternum.
The meaning is not significantly different from that of the Roman version.

English.png English translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, 1582

1 My soul doth magnify the Lord.
2 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid:
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4 Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
5 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
6 He hath shewed might in his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
10 As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.
(Most musical settings of the Magnificat will append the minor doxology, Gloria Patri.)

English.png English text
The Book of Common Prayer, 1662

1 My soul doth magnify the Lord:2 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3 For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.
4 For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.
5 And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.
6 He hath showed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9 He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.
10 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
11 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 
King James Version, 1611

1 My soul doth magnify the Lord,
2 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
3 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
4 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
5 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
6 He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
8 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
9 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
10 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Most musical settings in English use the Book of Common Prayer text, including the minor doxology, Gloria Patri. The King James Version is provided for comparison.
French.png French translation

1 Mon âme exalte le Seigneur.
2 Exulte mon esprit en Dieu mon sauveur !
3 Il s’est penché sur son humble servante,
désormais, tous les âges me diront bienheureuse.
4 Le puissant fit pour moi des merveilles; saint est son nom !
5 Son amour s’étend d’âge en âge sur ceux qui le craignent.
6 Déployant la force de son bras, il disperse les superbes.
7 Il renverse les puissants de leur trône,il élève les humbles.
8 Il comble de biens les affamés, renvoie les riches les mains vides.
9 Il relève Israël son serviteur, il se souvient de son amour,
10 de la promesse faite à nos pères, en faveur d’Abraham et de sa race, à jamais.
11 Gloire au Père, au Fils et au Saint-Esprit.
12 Comme au commencement, maintenant et toujours,
et pour les siècles des siècles. Amen.

Spanish.png Spanish translation

1 Mi alma canta la gandeza del Señor
2 y mi espíritu se llena de gozo en Dios mi salvador.
3 Porque supo ver la pequeñez de su esclava,
desde ahora todas las generaciones me llamaran feliz.
4 Porque el todopoderoso ha hecho grandes cosas en mí, Su Nombre es santo
5 y cuya misericordia se derrama de generación en generación sobre quienes lo temen.
6 Hizo alarde la potencia de su brazo; deshizo las miras del corazón de los soberbios.
7 Derribó a los poderosos de sus tronos y exaltó a los humildes,
8 colmó de bienes a los hambrientos y a los ricos los despojó sin nada
9 Atendió a Israel su pueblo por su misericordia
10 Según la promesa que hizo a nuestros padres, Abraham y a su decendencia por los siglos de los siglos.
11 Gloria al Padre, Gloria al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo,
12 como era en un principio, ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos.Amen.

Portuguese.png Portuguese translation

1 A minha alma glorifica o Senhor
2 E o meu espírito se alegra em Deus, meu Salvador.
3 Porque pôs os olhos na humildade da sua serva:
de hoje em diante me chamarão bem-aventurada todas as gerações.
4 O Todo-poderoso fez em mim maravilhas, Santo é o seu nome.
5 A sua misericórdia se estende de geração em geração
sobre aqueles que O temem.
6 Manifestou o poder do seu braço e dispersou os soberbos.
7 Derrubou os poderosos de seus tronos e exaltou os humildes.
8 Aos famintos encheu de bens e aos ricos despediu de mãos vazias.
9 Acolheu a Israel, seu servo, lembrado da sua misericórdia,
10 Como tinha prometido a nossos pais, a Abraão e à sua descendência para sempre.
11 Gloria ao Pai, ao Filho e ao Espírito Santo
12 Assim como era no princípio, agora e sempre. Amém.

German.png German translation

1 Meine Seel erhebt den Herren,
2 Und mein Geist freuet sich Gottes, meines Heilandes;
3 Denn er hat seine elende Magd angesehn.
Siehe, von nun an werden mich selig preisen alle Kindeskinder.
4 Denn Er hat große Dinge an mir getan,
Der da mächtig ist und dessen Namen heilig ist.
5 Und seine Barmherzigkeit währt von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht
bei denen, die ihn fürchten.
6 Er übt Gewalt mit seinem Arm und zerstreut, die hoffärtig sind in ihres Herzen Sinn.
7 Er stößt die Gewaltigen von dem Thron und erhebt die Niedrigen.
8 Die Hungrigen füllt er mit Gütern, und läßt die Reichen leer ausgehen.
9 Er gedenket der Barmherzigkeit und hilft seinem Diener Israel auf,
10 Wie er geredet hat zu unsern Vätern, Abraham und seinen Kindern in Ewigkeit.
11 Ehre sei dem Vater und dem Sohn und dem Heiligen Geist
12 wie im Anfang so auch jetzt und allezeit und in Ewigkeit

Chinese.png Chinese translation

Modern Chinese
我的靈魂頌揚上主,我的心神歡躍於天主,我的救主,
因為衪垂顧了衪婢女的卑微,今後萬世萬代都要稱我有福;
因全能者在我身上行了大事,衪的名字是聖的,
衪的仁慈世世代代於無窮世,賜於敬畏衪的人。
衪伸出了手臂施展大能,驅散那些心高氣傲的人。
衪從高座上推下權勢者,卻舉揚了卑微貧困的人。
衪曾使飢餓者飽饗美物,反使那富有者空手而去。
衪曾回憶起自己的仁慈,扶助了衪的僕人以色列,
正如衪向我們的祖先所說過的恩許,施恩於亞巴郎和他的子孫,直到永遠。
 
光榮歸於父、及子、及聖神,
起初如何,今日亦然,直到永遠。亞孟。

 

Classical Chinese
吾魂弘天主,中心不勝喜;
感荷救主恩,眷顧及賤婢。
行見後代人,稱我膺元祉;
祇緣大能者,向我施靈異。
厥名何聖潔,天慈洵靡已;
但能懷寅畏,承澤無窮世。
運臂耀神德,傲慢頓粉潰;
王侯遭傾覆,卑賤升高位;
飢者飫珍饈,富人赤手退。
扶植僕義塞,舊恩依然在;
每許我列祖,恩諾終不改;
矜憐亞伯漢,苗裔永見愛。

Dutch.png Dutch translation

1 Mijn ziel prijst en looft de Heer,
2 mijn hart juicht om God, mijn redder:
hij heeft oog gehad voor mij, zijn minste dienares.
3 Alle geslachten zullen mij voortaan gelukkig prijzen,
4 ja, grote dingen heeft de Machtige voor mij gedaan, heilig is zijn naam.
5 Barmhartig is hij, van geslacht op geslacht, voor al wie hem vereert.
6 Hij toont zijn macht en de kracht van zijn arm
en drijft uiteen wie zich verheven wanen,
7 heersers stoot hij van hun troon en wie gering is geeft hij aanzien.
8 Wie honger heeft overlaadt hij met gaven, maar rijken stuurt hij weg met lege handen.
9 Hij trekt zich het lot aan van Israël, zijn dienaar, zoals hij aan onze voorouders heeft beloofd:
10 hij herinnert zich zijn barmhartigheid jegens Abraham en zijn nageslacht, tot in eeuwigheid.

Danish.png Danish translation

1 Min sjæl ophøjer Herren,
2 og min ånd fryder sig over Gud, min frelser!
3 Han har set til sin ringe tjenerinde.
For herefter skal alle slægter prise mig salig,
4 thi den Mægtige har gjort store ting mod mig. Helligt er hans navn,
5 og hans barmhjertighed mod dem, der frygter ham, varer i slægt efter slægt.
6 Han har øvet vældige gerninger med sin arm,
splittet dem, der er hovmodige i deres hjertes tanker;
7 han har styrtet de mægtige fra tronen, og han har ophøjet de ringe;
8 sultende har han mættet med gode gaver, og rige har han sendt tomhændet bort.
9 Han har taget sig af sin tjener Israel og husker på sin barmhjertighed
10 som han tilsagde vore fædre mod Abraham og hans slægt til evig tid.

Greek.png Greek text

Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον
καὶ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου,
ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αυτοῦ.
ἰδού γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί,
ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγάλα ὁ δυνατός,
καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,
καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς
τοῖς φοβουμένοῖς αυτόν.
Ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ,
διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν·
καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων
καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς,
πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν
καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς.
ἀντελάβετο Ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ,
μνησθῆναι ἐλέους,
καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν
τῷ Αβραὰμ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

 

Μεγαλύνει η ψυχή μου τον Κύριον
και ηγαλλίασε το πνεύμά μου εις τον Θεόν τον Σωτήρά μου,
διότι επέβλεψεν επί την ταπείνωσιν της δούλης αυτού.
Επειδή ιδού, από του νυν θέλουσι με μακαρίζει πάσαι αι γενεαί.
διότι έκαμεν εις εμέ μεγαλεία ο δυνατός
και άγιον το όνομα αυτού,
και το έλεος αυτού εις γενεάς
γενεών επί τους φοβουμένους αυτόν.
Ενήργησε κραταιώς διά του βραχίονος αυτού,
διεσκόρπισε τους υπερηφάνους κατά τα διανοήματα της καρδίας αυτών.
Εκρήμνισε δυνάστας από θρόνων και ύψωσε ταπεινούς,
πεινώντας ενέπλησεν από αγαθά και πλουτούντας εξαπέστειλε κενούς.
Εβοήθησεν Ισραήλ τον δούλον αυτού, ενθυμηθείς το έλεος αυτού,
καθώς ελάλησε προς τους πατέρας ημών,
προς τον Αβραάμ και προς το σπέρμα αυτού εις τον αιώνα.

Church_Slavonic.png Church Slavonic text

Величай, душе моя, честнейшую горних воинств,
Деву Пречистую Богородицу.
Недоумеет всяк язык благохвалити по достоянию,
изумевает же ум и премирный пети Тя, Богородице;
обаче Благая сущи, веру приими, ибо любовь веси Божественную нашу:
Ты бо христиан еси предстательница, Тя величаем.

Russian.png Russian translation

Величит душа Моя Господа,
И возрадовался дух Мой о Боге, Спасителе Моем,
Что призрел Он на смирение Рабы Своей, ибо отныне будут ублажать Меня все роды;
Что сотворил Мне величие Сильный, и свято имя Его;
И милость Его в роды родов к боящимся Его;
Явил силу мышцы Своей; рассеял надменных помышлениями сердца их;
Низложил сильных с престолов, и вознес смиренных;
Алчущих исполнил благ, и богатящихся отпустил ни с чем;
Воспринял Израиля, отрока Своего, воспомянув милость,
Как говорил отцам нашим, к Аврааму и семени его до века.

Norwegian.png Norwegian translation
Nynorsk

1 Mi sjel høglovar Herren,
2 og mi ånd frydar seg i Gud, min frelsar.
3 For han har sett til si ringe tenestekvinne.
Og sjå, frå no av skal alle ætter prisa meg sæl,
4 for store ting har han gjort mot meg, han, den mektige; heilagt er hans namn.
5 Frå ætt til ætt varer hans miskunn for dei som ottast han.
6 Han gjorde storverk med sin sterke arm;
han spreidde dei som bar hovmodstankar i hjartet.
7 Han støytte stormenn ned frå trona og lyfte opp dei låge.
8 Han metta dei svoltne med gode gåver, men sende dei rike tomhendte frå seg.
9 Han tok seg av Israel, sin tenar, og kom i hug si miskunn
10 slik han lova våre fedrar, Abraham og hans ætt, til evig tid.

 

Bokmål
1 Min sjel opphøyer Herren,
2 og min ånd fryder seg i Gud, min frelser.
3 For han har sett til sin ringe tjenerinne.
Og se, fra nå av skal alle slekter prise meg salig,
4 for store ting har han gjort mot meg, han, den mektige; hellig er hans navn.
5 Fra slekt til slekt varer hans miskunn for dem som frykter ham.
6 Han gjorde storverk med sin sterke arm;
han spredte dem som bar hovmodstanker i hjertet.
7 Han støtte herskere ned fra tronen og opphøyet de lave.
8 Han mettet de sultne med gode gaver, men sendte de rike tomhendte fra seg.
9 Han tok seg av Israel, sin tjener, og kom i hu sin miskunn
10 slik han lovet våre fedre, Abraham og hans ætt, til evig tid.

Tagalog.png Tagalog translation

Traditional
At sinabi ni Maria, Dinadakila ng aking kaluluwa ang Panginoon,
At nagalak ang aking espiritu sa Dios na aking Tagapagligtas.
Sapagka’t nilingap niya ang kababaan ng kaniyang alipin.
Sapagka’t, narito, mula ngayon ay tatawagin akong mapalad ng lahat ng maghahalihaliling lahi.
Sapagka’t ginawan ako ng Makapangyarihan ng mga dakilang bagay; At banal ang kaniyang pangalan.
At ang kaniyang awa ay sa mga lahi’t lahi.
Sa nangatatakot sa kaniya.
Siya’y nagpakita ng lakas ng kaniyang bisig;
Isinambulat niya ang mga palalo sa paggunamgunam ng kanilang puso.
Ibinaba niya angmga prinsipe sa mga luklukan nila, At itinaas ang mga may mababang kalagayan.
Binusog niya ang nangagugutom ng mabubuting bagay;
At pinaalis niya ang mayayaman, na walang anoman.
Tumulong siya sa Israel na kaniyang alipin, Upang maalaala niya ang awa (Gaya ng sinabi niya sa ating mga magulang)
Kay Abraham at sa kaniyang binhi magpakailan man.

 

Modern Text
Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri sa Panginoon,
at ang aking espiritu’y nagagalak sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas,
sapagkat nilingap niya akong kanyang abang alipin!
Mula ngayon, ang lahat ng tao’y tatawagin akong mapalad;
dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan.
Siya’y banal!
Ang kanyang kahabagan ay para sa mga tao
at sa lahat ng salinlahing may takot sa Kanya.
Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang mga bisig,
nilito niya ang mga may palalong isip.
Tinanggal sa kanilang luklukan ang mga may kapangyarihan,
at itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan.
Pinasagana niya sa mabubuting bagay ang mga kapus-palad,
at pinaalis nang walang dalang anuman ang mga mayayaman.
Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel,
at naalala ito upang kanyang kahabagan.
Tinupad niya ang kanyang pangako sa ating mga ninuno,
kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi, magpakailanman!

English.png English text
Metrical English version from A New Version of the Psalms of David by Brady and Tate

My soul and spirit, filled with joy,
My God and Saviour praise,
Whose goodness did from poor estate
His humble handmaid raise.

Me bless’d of God, the God of pow’r,
All ages shall confess;
Whose Name is holy, and whose love,
His saints shall ever bless

The proud, and all their vain designs,
He quickly did confound ;
He cast the mighty from their seat,
The meek and humble crown’d.

The hungry with good things were filled,
The rich with hunger pined:
He sent his servant Israel help,
And called his love to mind;

Which to our fathers heretofore
By oath he did ensure,
To Abra’m and his chosen seed
Forever to endure.

Vietnamese.png Vietnamese translation

Vespers
1 Linh hồn tôi ngợi khen Đức Chúa
2 thần trí tôi hớn hở vui mừng, vì Thiên Chúa, Đấng cứu độ tôi.
3 Phận nữ tỳ hèn mọn, Người đoái thương nhìn tới:
Từ nay hết mọi đời sẽ khen tôi diễm phúc.
4 Đấng Toàn Năng đã làm cho tôi biết bao điều cao cả, danh Người thật chí thánh chí tôn!
5 Đời nọ tới đời kia, Chúa hằng thương xót những ai kính sợ Người.
6 Chúa giơ tay biểu dương sức mạnh, dẹp tan phường lòng trí kiêu căng.
7 Chúa hạ bệ những ai quyền thế, Người nâng cao mọi kẻ khiêm nhường;
8 kẻ đói nghèo, Chúa ban của đầy dư, Người giàu có, lại đuổi về tay trắng.
9 Chúa độ trì Ítraen, tôi tớ của Người, như đã hứa cùng cha ông chúng ta,
10 vì Người nhớ lại lòng thương xót dành cho tổ phụ Ápraham, và cho con cháu đến muôn đời.
11 Vinh danh Chúa Cha, và Chúa Con, cùng vinh danh Thánh Thần Thiên Chúa:
12 Tự muôn đời, và chính hiện nay, luôn mãi đến thiên thu vạn đại. Amen

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