Text of Lauda 38 “Ben è crudele”

Ben è crudele e spietoso

ki non si move a gran dolore

de la pena del salvatore

che di noi fo si amoroso.

Amoroso veramente

fo di noi cum gram pietança,

poi ke d’alt’onnipotente

discese ad nostra semblança.

Or non fo grande disiança

per noi prender humanitate

et darsi in altrui podestade

quei k’e sovr’ogne poderoso?

Ben è crudele e spietoso

ki non si move a gran dolore

de la pena del Salvatore

che di noi fo si amoroso.

Doloroso flagellando

incoronâro di spina,

vis’ e corpo sanguinando

di voi fêr gran disciplina;

cum gram tempesta, cum gram ruina

vi fecer la croce portare,

et menarv’ad iustitiare

ad guisa de ladron otioso.

Ben è crudele e spietoso

ki non si move a gran dolore

de la pena del Salvatore

che di noi fo si amoroso.

Cruel and pitiless is he

who is not moved to great sorrow

by the suffering of the Saviour

who loved us so greatly.

Truly, he loved us so much,

with such great pity,

that he came down from his high throne of power

to take on human form.

Now was that not a great desire,

that he took on humanity for our sake,

that he who had power over all

gave himself into the power of others?

Cruel and pitiless is he

who is not moved to great sorrow

by the suffering of the Saviour

who loved us so greatly.

They whipped the man of sorrows,

they crowned him with thorns;

his body gushing with blood

took hard punishment for your sake.

With great torment, with great damage

they made him carry his cross

and let him to led him to judgment

like a lazy beggar.

Cruel and pitiless is he

who is not moved to great sorrow

by the suffering of the Saviour

who loved us so greatly.