LATIN

1. Vexílla Regis pródeunt:
   Fulget Crucis mystérium,
   Quo carne carnis cónditor
   Suspénsus est patíbulo.
    
2. Quo vulnerátus ínsuper
   Mucróne diro lánceae:
   Ut nos laváret crímine
   Manávit unda et sánguine.
    
3. Impléta sunt quae cóncinit
   David fidéli cármine,
   Dicens: in natiónibus
   Regnávit a ligno Deus.
    
4. Arbor decóra et fúlgida,
   Ornáta Regis púrpura,
   Elécta digno stípite
   Tam sancta membra tángere.
    
5. Beáta cuius bráchiis
   Secli pepéndit prétium!
   Statéra facta córporis,
   Praedámque tulit tártari.
   
6. O Crux, ave, spes única!
   Hoc Passiónis témpore
   († In hac triúmphi glória)
   Auge piis iustítiam,
   Reísque dona véniam.
   
7. Te, summa Deus Trínitas,
   Colláudet omnis spíritus:
   Quos per Crucis mystérium
   Salvas, rege per saécula.
   
   Amen.

PHONETIC

1. veh-KSEEL-lah REH-jees PRAWH-deh-oont:
   FOOL-jeht KHROO-chees mee-STEH-ree-oom,
   kwawh KAHR-neh KAHR-nees KAWHN-dee-tawhr
   soo-SPEHN-soos ehst pah-TEE-boo-lawh.
    
2. kwawh vool-neh-RAH-toos EEN-soo-pehr
   moo-KRAWH-neh DEE-rawh LAHN-cheh-eh:
   oot NAWHS lah-VAH-reht KREE-mee-neh
   mah-NAH-veet OON-deht SAHN-gwee-neh.
    
3. eem-PLEH-tah SOONT kweh KAWHN-chee-neet
   DAH-veed fee-DEH-lee KAHR-mee-neh,
   DEE-chehns: een nah-tsee-AWH-nee-boos
   reh-NYAH-veet ah LEE-nyawh DEH-oos.
    
4. AHR-bawhr deh-KAWH-reht FOOL-jee-dah,
   awhr-NAH-tah REH-jees POOHR-poo-rah,
   eh-LEH-ktah DEE-nyawh STEE-pee-teh
   tahm SAHNG-tah MEHM-brah TAHN-jeh-reh.
    
5. beh-AH-tah KOO-yoos BRAH-kee-ees
   SEH-klee peh-PEHN-deet PREH-tsee-oom!
   stah-TEH-rah FAH-ktah KAWHR-pawh-rees,
   preh-DAHM-kweh TOO-leet TAHR-tah-ree.
   
6. awh KROOKS, AH-veh, spehs OO-nee-kah!
   awhk pahs-see-AWH-nees TEHM-pawh-reh
   († een AHK tree-OOM-fee GLAWH-ree-ah)
   AHOO-jeh PEE-ees yoo-STEE-tsee-ahm,
   reh-EE-skweh DAWH-nah VEH-nee-ahm.
   
7. teh, SOOM-mah DEH-oos TREE-nee-tahs,
   kawhl-LAHOO-deht AWHM-nees SPEE-ree-toos:
   KWAWHS pehr KROO-chees mee-STEH-ree-oom
   SAHL-vahs, REH-jeh pehr SEH-koo-lah.
    
   AH-mehn.

METRICAL PARAPHRASE

1. ABROAD the regal banners fly,
   now shines the Cross’s mystery:
   upon it Life did death endure,
   and yet by death did life procure.
    
2. Who, wounded with a direful spear,
   did purposely to wash us clear
   from stain of sin, pour out a flood
   of precious water mixed with blood.
    
3. That which the prophet-king of old
   hath in mysterious verse foretold,
   is now accomplished, whilst we see
   God ruling the nations from a Tree.
    
4. O lovely and refulgent Tree,
   adorned with purpled majesty;
   culled from a worthy stock, to bear
   those limbs which sanctified were.
    
5. Blest Tree, whose happy branches bore
   the wealth that did the world restore;
   the beam that did that Body weigh
   which raised up Hell’s expected prey.
   
6. Hail Cross, of hopes the most sublime!
   Now, in the mournful Passion time;
   († On thy triumphant feast divine)
   grant to the just increase of grace
   and every sinner’s crimes efface.
    
7. Blest Trinity, salvation’s spring
   may every soul Thy praises sing;
   to those Thou grantest conquest by
   the Holy Cross, rewards supply.
   
   Amen.

SOURCE

Passiontide, Vespers hymn
† Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Vespers hymn