| | Original | Approved adaptation | Formal equivalence |
| I | Dies iræ, dies illa, Solvet sæclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibylla. | Day of wrath and doom impending! David's word with Sibyl's blending, Heaven and earth in ashes ending! | The day of wrath, that day, will dissolve the world in ashes: (this is) the testimony of David along with the Sibyl. |
| II | Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando iudex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus! | Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, On whose sentence all dependeth. | How great will be the quaking, when the Judge is about to come, strictly investigating all things! |
| III | Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Per sepulchra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum. | Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth; All before the throne it bringeth. | The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound through the sepulchres of the regions, will summon all before the throne. |
| IV | Mors stupebit, et natura, Cum resurget creatura, Iudicanti responsura. | Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking, To its Judge an answer making. | Death and nature will marvel, when the creature will rise again, to respond to the Judge. |
| V | Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus iudicetur. | Lo, the book, exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded, Thence shall judgement be awarded. | The written book will be brought forth, in which all is contained, from which the world shall be judged. |
| VI | Iudex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet, apparebit: Nil inultum remanebit. | When the Judge his seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth. | When therefore the Judge will sit, whatever lies hidden, will appear: nothing will remain unpunished. |
| VII | Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix iustus sit securus? | What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing? | What then shall I, poor wretch [that I am], say? Which patron shall I entreat, when [even] the just may [only] hardly be sure? |
| VIII | Rex tremendæ maiestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis. | King of Majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us! | King of fearsome majesty, Who saves the redeemed freely, save me, O fount of mercy. |
| IX | Recordare, Iesu pie, Quod sum causa tuæ viæ: Ne me perdas illa die. | Think, kind Jesu! — my salvation Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation. | Remember, merciful Jesus, that I am the cause of Your journey: lest You lose me in that day. |
| X | Quærens me, sedisti lassus: Redemisti Crucem passus: Tantus labor non sit cassus. | Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me, On the Cross of suffering bought me. Shall such grace be vainly brought me? | Seeking me, You rested, tired: You redeemed [me], having suffered the Cross: let not such hardship be in vain. |
| XI | Iuste Iudex ultionis, Donum fac remissionis Ante diem rationis. | Righteous Judge, for sin's pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution, Ere the day of retribution. | Just Judge of vengeance, make a gift of remission before the day of reckoning. |
| XII | Ingemisco, tamquam reus: Culpa rubet vultus meus: Supplicanti parce, Deus. | Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning! | I sigh, like the guilty one: my face reddens in guilt: Spare the imploring one, O God. |
| XIII | Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. | Through the sinful woman shriven, Through the dying thief forgiven, Thou to me a hope hast given. | You Who absolved Mary, and heard the robber, gave hope to me also. |
| XIV | Preces meæ non sunt dignæ: Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne. | Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying. | My prayers are not worthy: but You, [Who are] good, graciously grant that I be not burned up by the everlasting fire. |
| XV | Inter oves locum præsta, Et ab hædis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra. | With Thy sheep a place provide me, From the goats afar divide me, To Thy right hand do Thou guide me. | Grant me a place among the sheep, and take me out from among the goats, setting me on the right side. |
| XVI | Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis. | When the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me with Thy saints surrounded. | Once the cursed have been silenced, sentenced to acrid flames, Call me, with the blessed. |
| XVII | Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis: Gere curam mei finis. | Low I kneel, with heart's submission, See, like ashes, my contrition, Help me in my last condition. | [Humbly] kneeling and bowed I pray, [my] heart crushed as ashes: take care of my end. |
| XVIII | Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favílla Iudicandus homo reus: Huic ergo parce, Deus: | Ah! that day of tears and mourning, From the dust of earth returning Man for judgement must prepare him, Spare, O God, in mercy spare him. | Tearful [will be] that day, on which from the glowing embers will arise the guilty man who is to be judged: Then spare him, O God. |
| XIX | Pie Iesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen. | Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest, Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen. | Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen. |
