This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Humility
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
STB · Barry Johnston
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Humility by Samuel Babcock — Lyrics
In finem, ipsi Idithun. Canticum David.
Dixi: Custodiam vias meas:
ut non delinquam in lingua mea.
Posui ori meo custodiam,
cum consisteret peccator adversum me.
Obmutui, et humiliatus sum, et silui a bonis;
et dolor meus renovatus est.
Concaluit cor meum intra me;
et in meditatione mea exardescet ignis.
Locutus sum in lingua mea:
Notum fac mihi, Domine, finem meum,
et numerum dierum meorum quis est, ut sciam quid desit mihi.
Ecce mensurabiles posuisti dies meos,
et substantia mea tamquam nihilum ante te.
Verumtamen universa vanitas, omnis homo vivens.
Verumtamen in imagine pertransit homo;
sed et frustra conturbatur:
thesaurizat et ignorat cui congregabit ea.
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About Humility
Samuel Babcock composed this sacred work for STB voices. The text draws from Psalm 39, beginning with a dedication to Jeduthun and a prayer for guidance. The psalmist expresses a resolve to guard his ways against sin, particularly through his tongue, and describes a period of silent suffering. He reflects on the brevity of life, acknowledging the transient nature of human existence and the futility of worldly accumulation. The Latin text then transitions into English, continuing this introspective meditation on mortality and the search for meaning. Babcock's setting reflects the contemplative and penitential nature of the words, offering a reflective experience for the choir and listeners.
