Mihi autem nimis

This antiphon (138:17 [Vulgate]) is used for feasts of several apostles as well as being the offertory for the Conversion of St. Paul. The chant is found on p. 1206 of the Liber Usualis as the introit for St. Andreas, using vv. 1-2 for the verse and again as the offertory on p. 1207.

It has been set by Dufay (Missa S. Jacobi), Isaac (CC3), Thomas Stolzer, Carissimi (SSB & bc), Johann Adolf Hasse (with orchestra) and Flor Peeters (SATB & organ). (these not yet available on CPDL)

The offertory Mihi autem adhaerere (psalm 73) from the mass of St. Francis, has been set for men's voices by Franz Liszt.

Settings by composers

• Marcin Leopolita SSATB (introit, with verse & doxology)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina SAATB or SATTB
• Thomas Tallis AATBB, SATBarB or SAATB
• Mikolaj Zielenski SSAB.TTBB

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Anonymous — Mihi autem I (D-Ju MS 33)

Text and translations

Psalm 139.17 [138.17]
Note that modern translations of this verse tend not to mention "friends" at all, making the reason for its appointment for saints’ days somewhat obscure. [The reason for this is that more recent translations (e.g. Coverdale) are relying on sources where the text is different from that of the Vulgate.]

Latin text Mihi autem nimis honorati* sunt amici tui, Deus, nimis confortatus est principatus eorum. [* honorificati in the (Vulgate) Palestrina & Zielenski setting] German translation Aber wie köstlich sind vor mir, Gott, deine Gedanken! Wie ist ihrer so eine große Summe!

English translation But to me, O God, how honoured are your friends! How much has their principality been strengthened! Hungarian translation Nekem pedig igen tiszteletre méltók a te barátaid, Isten, uralmuk igen erős lett.