Nunc Dimittis: Canticle of Simeon, Latin, English and Meaning

The Nunc Dimittis is the song of the old man Simeon, who held the infant Jesus in his arms in the Temple: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation.” The Church sings it every night at Night Prayer, entrusting the day and the night to God, and on the feast of the Presentation, when Simeon met the Lord. Below are the Latin and English texts, the story behind them, their meaning, and how to pray the canticle.

The Nunc Dimittis in English

From St. Luke’s Gospel, Douay-Rheims Bible:

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

In Latin

Nunc dimittis, servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace.
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum, quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum.
Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloria plebis tuae Israel.

The story of Simeon

St. Luke tells how Simeon, “a just and devout” man, had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Christ. When Mary and Joseph brought the forty-day-old Jesus to the Temple, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God with these words. He then told Mary that her Son would be “a sign which shall be contradicted,” and that “thy own soul a sword shall pierce” (Luke 2:25–35). See the Presentation of the Lord.

What the canticle means

“Now thou dost dismiss thy servant”: Simeon is ready to die in peace, because God has kept his promise.
“My eyes have seen thy salvation”: salvation is not an idea but a person, the child Jesus.
“Before the face of all peoples”: Christ comes for the whole world.
“A light to the revelation of the Gentiles”: Jesus is the Light of the nations, the reason the Presentation is celebrated with candles.
“The glory of thy people Israel”: the promises to Israel are fulfilled in him.

Where the Church sings it

At Night Prayer (Compline) every night, as the Gospel canticle before sleep. Traditionally it is framed by the antiphon Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes: “Save us, O Lord, while we are awake, and guard us while we sleep, that we may watch with Christ and rest in peace.” See Compline.
On the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas), February 2, during the blessing and procession of candles. See the Presentation of the Lord.
At the bedside of the dying, as a prayer of peaceful surrender. See prayers for the dying.

How to pray the Nunc Dimittis

At the end of the day, make a short examination of conscience. See the daily examen.
Pray the canticle slowly, thanking God for the ways you have “seen his salvation” today.
Entrust the night, and your death whenever it comes, to God’s peace.
End with the Glory Be and a prayer to Mary.

Frequently asked questions

What does Nunc Dimittis mean?

“Now you dismiss,” the first words of the canticle in Latin: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine.

Who wrote the Nunc Dimittis?

It is the song of Simeon recorded by St. Luke (2:29–32), when he saw the infant Jesus in the Temple.

When is the Nunc Dimittis prayed?

Every night at Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, and on the feast of the Presentation, February 2.

More Gospel canticles and night prayers

Texts and sources

English: Luke 2:29–32, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
Latin: Latin Wikisource, “Nunc dimittis.”
The translation of the antiphon Salva nos is our own.