Vexilla Regis pródeunt:
fulget Crucis mystérium,
qua Vita mortem pértulit,
et morte vitam pértulit.

The royal banners forward go, / The Cross shines forth in mystic glow, / Where Life Himself our death endured / And by His death our life procured.

Quæ, vulneráta lánceæ
mucróne diro, críminum
ut nos laváret sórdibus,
manávit unda et sánguine.

Where deep for us the spear was dyed, / Life’s torrent rushing from His side, /To wash us in that precious flood, / Where mingled water flowed, and blood.

Impléta sunt quæ cóncinit
David fidéli cármine,
dicéndo natiónibus:
Regnávit a ligno Deus.

Fulfill’d is all that David told / In true prophetic song of old / To all the nations: “God,” saith he, / “Hath reigned and triumphed from the Tree.”

Arbor decóra ut fúlgida,
ornáta Regis púrpura,
elécta digno stípite
tam sancta membra tángere.

O Tree of beauty, Tree of light, / O Tree with royal purple dight, / Elect on whose triumphal breast / Those holy limbs should find their rest. 

Beáta, cuius bráchiis
prétium pepéndit sǽculi,
statéra facta córporis,
tulítque prædam tártari.

On whose dear arms, so widely flung, / The weight of this world’s ransom hung: / The price of human kind to pay, / And spoil the spoiler of his prey.

O Crux, ave, spes única,
hoc Passiónis témpore
piis adáuge grátiam,
reísque dele crímina.

O Cross, our one reliance, hail! / This holy Passiontide avail / To give new virtue to the saint / And pardon to the penitent.

Te, fons salútis, Trínitas,
colláudet omnis spíritus:
quibus Crucis victóriam
largíris, adde prǽmium. Amen.

To Thee, eternal Three in One, / Let homage meet by all be done; / As by the Cross Thou dost restore, / So rule and guide us evermore. Amen. 

Vespers hymn from Brevarium Romanum – Dominica Secunda Passionis seu in palmis.