Singing and Praying the Psalms of David: January 2011

1/25/11

Psalm 23 with comment

Ps.23

Tune: Crimond or Evan CM

1 The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want;

2 He makes me down to lie

In pastures green; He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.

3 My soul He doth restore again,

And me to walk doth make

Within the paths of righteousness,

E'en for His own Name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,

Yet will I fear no ill,

For Thou art with me, and Thy rod

And staff me comfort still.

5 My table Thou hast furnishe'd

In presence of my foes;

My head Thou dost with oil anoint,

And my cup overflows.

6 Goodness and mercy all my life

Shall surely follow me,

And in God's house forevermore

My dwelling place shall be.

"Up until verse 4 David has been speaking about God in the 3rd person. In verse 4, as he enters the Valley of the Shadow of Death, he speaks to God in the second person, "you." It is as if the score of the psalm suddenly changes to a minor key. The green pastures and still waters become a dark, dangerous, deadly valley". ...continue

1/24/11

Psalm 22

Ps. 22
A psalm of David

Tune: The Lord's Prayer (Vader Unser) 8.8.8.8.8.8.
Our Father Clothed with Majesty"

1 My God, my God, O why have You
In my distress forsaken me?
O why so far from giving help,
And from my agonizing plea?
2 All day, my God, I cry in vain;
By night, yet no relief I gain.

3 But still you are the Holy One;
In Is-rael's praise You dwelling have.
4 Our fathers put their trust in You;
They trusted, and You rescue gave.
5 To You they cried; deliv-'ance came;
They trust-ed and were free from shame.

6 Re-proached of men, by all despised,
A worm and not a man am I;
7 And they that see me laugh in scorn;
They shake their heads and taunt-ing cry,
8 "He trusts the LORD! Let Him defend
And save him, if He is his friend!"

9 You took me safe-ly from the womb;
Gave faith when on my moth-er's breast;
10 From birth de-pen-dent on Your care.
You are my God; In You I rest.
11 Be not far off, for grief is nigh;
There's none on whom I can re-ly.

12 As herds of bulls that roam the wild
My cru-el foes a-bout me throng;
They bel-low and they com-pass me
Like bulls of Ba-shan fierce and strong;
13 Foes o-pen wide their mouths to slay,
Like li-ons roar-ing for their prey.

14 My life like wa-ter is poured out,
My bones at eve-ry joint a-part;
15 Like crack-ing pots my strength is dried;
14 In me like melt-ed wax my heart;
15 My tongue and jaws to-geth-er cling;
My soul to dust of death You bring.

16 Like dogs the wick-ed com-pass me,
And they have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I now can num-ber all my bones;
With gloat-ing stares all eyes me greet.
18 My clothes a-mong them they di-vide,
And on my robe with dice de-cide.

19 But be not far from me, O LORD!
Haste, O my Strength! Give help to me!
20 My soul de-liv-er from the sword.
My life from dogs and li-ons free.
21 Though by sharp horns I'm near-ly rent,
You have to me Your an-swer sent.

tune Vision

.	²² To all my brothers I'll declare The glory of Your holy name. ²³ I'll praise You where the people meet. Who fear the LORD, His praise proclaim; All sons of Jacob, praise His grace, And stand in awe, all Israel's race.
.	²⁴ For He has not despised the poor; He has not scorned their wretched state. ²³ He has not turned away His face From anyone in trouble great. When any cried to Him in grief, He heard his prayer and sent relief.
.	²⁵ Within the congregation great I offer praise You have supplied. I'll pay my vows with them who fear; ²⁶ The meek with food are satisfied, Who seek the LORD shall Him adore. May your heart live for evermore.

.	²⁷ All ends of earth, remembr'ing Him, Shall turn themselves unto the LORD. The kindreds of the nations then To Him their homage shall accord. ²⁸ Because the LORD the kingdom owns And rules above all earthly thrones.
.	²⁹ The rich and mighty of the earth Shall eat and low before Him bend, And in His presence all shall bow Who helpless to the dust descend, The wretched who, although they strive, Yet cannot keep their souls alive.
.	³⁰ A seed shall rise to serve His will, And to the age it shall be told ³¹ About our Lord; then they shall come And shall His righteousness unfold Unto a people yet unknown, That this was done by Him alone.

1/22/11

A Prayer for an end to Abortion from Psalm 10

Arise, O Lord, lift up your hand,
O God, Protect the poor and meek;
Why should the proud your justice doubt,
And words of bold defiance speak?

The proud you will indeed repay,
No spiteful sin escapes your view;
The helpless and the fatherless
Commit themselves, O Lord, to you.
Break down the power of wicked men
And let their works no longer stand.

The Lord is King for evermore,
Who drove the nations from his land.
Amen.

For the rest of this paraphrase and to sing it click here

1/21/11

Psalm 21

Jesus Crowned and Triumphant.
tune: Latakia 12.9s

1 Now the King in your strength shall be joyful, O LORD,

Your salvation shall make him rejoice;

2 For the wish of his heart you did freely accord,

The request of his suppliant voice.

3 All the blessings of goodness you freely did give;

With the purest of gold he is crowned;

4 When he asked of you life you have made him to live

While the ages shall circle around.

5 Through salvation from you has his fame spread abroad,

You did glory and honor impart;

6 You have made him most blessed forever, O God,

And your presence has gladdened his heart.

7 For the King in the strength of Jehovah Most High

Did unwavering confidence place;

On the Name of Jehovah he still will rely,

And shall stand evermore in his grace.

8 By the hand of your might and the dread of your name

All your foes you will burn in your fire;

9 You will swallow them up in the vengeance of flame,

10 And their race shall succumb to your ire.

11 Though they plotted their schemes against you and your might,

In their purpose they can not succeed;

12 You will certainly make them turn backward in flight,

For your arrows are ready to speed.

13 Then O be high exalted, Jehovah, our God,

And arise in the weight of your might;

We shall sing of your strength and omnipotent rod;

In your praises shall be our delight.

Link for Isaac Watt's Paraphrase

1/20/11

Psalm 20

We like this to the tune: Retreat LM * often used to sing "From Every Stormy Wind"

1.	¹ The LORD in your distress attend; Let Jacob's God exalt you still; ² Help from the holy temple send And strengthen you from Zion's hill.
2.	³ May He your sacrifice regard, And all your off'rings bear in mind May He your heart's desire reward, Fulfilling all you have designed.
3.	⁵ In your salvation we'll rejoice, In our God's name our banners raise. ⁴ O may Jehovah hear your voice, Grant all you ask through all your days.
4.	⁶ I know now that the LORD defends And saves His own anointed king. From holy heav'n He answer sends; His right hand saving power will bring.
5.	⁷ In chariots some boast confidence, And on their horses some rely; But we boast only one defense, The name of God, the LORD Most High.
6.	⁸ While we are raised and upright stand, Our foes are made to bow and fall. ⁹ O save the king, LORD, by Your hand, And answer us the day we call.

1/19/11

Psalm 19

Ps.19

Tune Haddam or Millenium 66.66.88

1. The spacious heav'ns declare the glory of our God;

the firmament displays his handiwork abroad;

2. day unto day doth utter speech,

and night to night doth knowledge teach.

3. Aloud they do not speak; they utter forth no word,

Nor into language break; their voice is never heard;

4. Yet through the world their line extends,

their words to earth's remotest ends.

In heav'n he set a tent a dwelling for the sun,

5. which as a mighty man delights his course to run.

He, bridegroom-like in his array,

comes from his chamber, bringing day.

6. His daily going forth is from the end of heav'n:

the firmament to him is for his circuit giv'n;

and everywhere from end to end,

his radiant heat he does extend.

7. Jehovah's perfect law restores the soul again;

his testimony sure gives wisdom unto men;

8. the precepts of the Lord are right,

and fill the heart with great delight.

The Lord's commands are pure, they light and joy restore;

9. Jehovah's fear is clean, enduring evermore;

his statutes, let the world confess,

are wholly truth and righteousness.

10. They are to be desired above the finest gold;

than honey from the comb more sweetness far they hold;

11. with warning they your servant guard,

in keeping them is great reward.

12. His errors who can know? Cleanse me from hidden stain;

13. keep me from willful sins, nor let them o'er me reign;

and then I upright shall appear

and be from great transgression clear.

14. As you do search my life, may all my thoughts within

and all the words I speak your full approval win.

O Lord, you are a rock to me,

and my Redeemer you will be.

Psalm 18 Paraphrase

Ps.18

1. I love the Lord, His strength is mine;

He is my God, I trust His grace.

My fortress high, my shield divine,

My Saviour and my hidingplace.

2. My prayer to God shall still be raised

When troubles thick around me close;

The Lord, most worthy to be praised,

Will rescue me from all my foes.

3. When, floods of evil raging near,

Down nigh to death my soul was brought,

I cried to God in all my fear;

He heard and great deliverance wrought.

4. He came: the earth's foundations quake,

The hills are shaken from their place,

Thick smoke and fire devouring break

In anger dread before His face.

5. Descending through the bending skies,

With gloom and darkness under Him,

Forth through the storm Jehovah flies

As on the wings of cherubim.

6. Thick darkness hides Him from the view,

And swelling clouds His presence veil,

Until His glorious light breaks through

In lightning flash and glistening hail.

7. Jehovah's thunders fill the heaven,

The dreadful voice of God Most High;

With shafts of light the clouds are riven,

His foes, dismayed, in terror fly.

8. The raging torrents overflow,

And sweep the world's foundations bare,

Because Thy blasts of anger blow,

O Lord of earth and sea and air.

9. He took me from the whelming waves

Of bitter hate and sore distress;

The Lord, my stay and helper, saves,

Though mighty foes around me press.

10. From direful straits He set me free,

He saved the man of His delight;

For good the Lord rewarded me,

Because I kept His ways aright.

1/17/11

Psalm 17

Ps.17 Tune: St. Matthew CMD

1   LORD, hear the right, Regard my cry
          Unto my prayer give heed,
     That doth not in hypocrisy
          From feigned lips proceed.
2   And from before thy presence let
          My judgment come to me;
     Turn thou thine eyes to upright things,
          Look thou on equity.

3   My heart thou provest, and by night
          Dost visit and me try,
     But findest nought; for my intent
          My mouth doth not belie.
4   As for men's works, I, by the word
          That from thy lips doth flow,
     Have kept myself out of the paths
          Wherein destroyers go.

5   Hold up my goings, Lord, me guide
          In those thy paths divine,
     So that my footsteps may not slide
          Out of those ways of thine.
6   I called have on thee, O God,
          Because thou wilt me hear:
     That thou may'st hearken to my speech,
          To me incline thine ear.

7   Thy wondrous loving-kindness show,
          Thou that, by thy right hand,
     Sav'st them that trust in thee from those
          That up against them stand.
8   As the apple of the eye me keep;
          In thy wings' shade me hide
9   From wasting deadly foes, who me
          Beset on every side.

10 In their own fat they are inclosed;
          Their mouth speaks loftily.
11 Our steps they compass, and to earth
          Down bowing set their eye.
12 He like unto a lion is
          That's greedy of his prey,
     Or lion young, which lurking doth
          In secret places stay.

13 Arise, and disappoint my foe,
          And cast him down, O Lord:
     And from the wicked man my soul
          Deliver by thy sword.
14 From worldly men, Lord, by thy hand
          Let me delivered be,
     Who only in this present life
          Their part and portion see;

     Whom with thy treasure thou dost fill:
          They many sons receive;
     And of their great abundance they
          Unto their children leave.
15 But as for me, I thine own face
          In righteousness will see;
     And with thy likeness, when I wake,
          I satisfied shall be.

Psalm 16

Ps.16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you do I trust.

2 My soul to the LORD has said, "You are my Lord.

No goodness have I beyond you; and my joy

3 I find in the godly, the noble on earth."

4 Those worshiping other gods multiply griefs.

I will not pour out their libations of blood,

Nor will I upon my lips take up their names.

5 The LORD's my inherited portion, my cup.

6 My lot you maintain, and the lines fell to me

In pleasant lands; I have a good heritage.

7 The LORD Who gives counsel to me I will bless.

My inmost self teaches me all through the night.

8 The LORD ever present before me I keep.

He stands at my right hand; I shall not be moved.

9 My heart's glad. My soul joys. My flesh rests in hope.

10 For you won't abandon my soul to the grave.

Your Holy One you will preserve from decay.

11 The pathway of life you will show unto me;

In your glorious presence is fullness of joy.

Your right hand holds pleasures for me evermore.

Tune: Adeste Fideles "How Firm a Foundation", 11.11.11.11.

1/15/11

Psalm 15

Ps.15

Tune: Helen 87.87.D

1 Who, O LORD, with you abiding,
in your house shall be your guest?
Who, his feet to Zion turning,
in your holy hill shall rest?
2 He that ever walks uprightly,
does the right without a fear,
when he speaks, he speaks not lightly,
but with truth and love sincere.

3 He that slanders not his brother,
does no evil to a friend;
to reproaches of another
he refuses to attend.
4 Wicked men win not his favor,
but the good who fear the LORD;
from his vow he will not waver,
though it bring him sad reward.

5 Freely to the needy lending,
no excess he asks again;
and the innocent befriending,
he desires not praise of men.
Doing this, and evil spurning,
he shall nevermore be moved;
this the man with you sojourning,
this the man by you approved.

Psalm 14 -- quoted in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans

Ps. 14

Tune: Munich 76.76.D "O Word of God Incarnate."

1.The fool in heart is saying, "There surely is no God."
Corrupt and vile their deeds are; not one of them does good.
2.The LORD looks down from heaven on sons of men abroad
To see which one has wisdom, if any seeks for God.

3. All far astray have wandered; they all to vileness run.
Not one of them is righteous, no, not a single one.
4. Have they of truth no knowledge? These evil-workers all,
Who eat, like bread, my people and on GOD do not call.

5. There shall they be in terror for God is with the just;
6.You would confound one struggling; Jehovah is his trust.
7. Salvation out of Zion who will to Isr’el bring?
The LORD brings back his captives. Joy, Jacob! Isr’el, sing!

1/12/11

Psalm 13

Ps.13

Tune: Passion Chorale 76.76.D "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"

Adapted from The Book of Psalms, 1871

1 How long will you forget me?
   Shall it forever be?
   O LORD, how long neglect me,
   And hide your face from me?
2 How long my soul take counsel,
   Thus sad in heart each day?
   How long shall foes exulting,
   Subject me to their sway?

3 O LORD, my God, consider,
   And hear my earnest cries;
   Lest I in death should slumber,
   Enlighten soon mine eyes;
4 Lest foes be heard exclaiming
   "Against him we prevailed;"
   And they that vex my spirit
   Rejoice when I have failed.

5 But on your tender mercy
   I ever have relied;
   With joy in Your salvation
   My heart shall still confide.
6 And I with voice of singing
   Will praise the LORD alone,
   Because to me His favor
   He has so largely shown.

1/11/11

Psalm 12

Ps. 12

Strength and Stay, 11.10.11.10. [F sharp]

1.	¹ Help, LORD, because the godly man now ceases; The faithful vanish from the sons of men. ² They empty falsehood speak to one another; With flatt'ring lips and double heart they speak.
2.	³ O may the LORD cut off all lips that flatter, And every boasting tongue that speaks great things; ⁴ Those who have said, "With our tongue we will conquer; Our lips are ours; who is the lord o'er us?"
3.	⁵ "Because of deep distress of the afflicted, Because of all the groaning of the poor, I will arise now," says the LORD Almighty; "I'll set him in the safety which he craves."
4.	⁶ Words of the LORD are pure, as smelted silver; ⁷ You, LORD, will keep them, seven times refined. You'll keep him always from this generation; ⁸ The wicked prance when vile men are revered.

1/10/11

Psalm 11

Ps. 11

Tune: Terra Beata SMD "This is my Father's world"

1.	¹ My trust is in the LORD; How can you say to me, "Now like a bird from peril haste And to your mountain flee!
2.	² "The wicked bend the bow With arrow fixed for flight, And stealthily in darkness go The true in heart to smite.
3.	³ "Foundations are destroyed! What can the righteous try?" ⁴ The LORD is in His holy place; The LORD's throne is on high.
4.	His eyes will surely see, His eyelids try men's sons. ⁵ The LORD tries just and wicked men; His soul hates cruel ones.
5.	⁶ Upon all wicked men He'll rain entangling snares. Brimstone and fire and burning wind He for their cup prepares.
6.	⁷ For righteous is the LORD, And He loves righteousness; And every one who upright is Will see His gracious face.

Psalm 10

Ps. 10

This psalm has been sung outside several abortion clinics.

Tune: Vision L M with refrain

by Wm H. Doane

1.
Why do you stand afar, O Lord?
Why are you hid in trouble's hour?
The wicked do oppress the poor
In haughty pride and reckless pow'r.
Let their devices work their fall,
For in their shame is all their pride;
2.
And while they seek dishonest gain
The Lord of justice is defied.
In foolish pride the wicked thinks
There is no God who will repay;
He has no fear of God or man
Because God's judgments long delay.
3.
Unmoved by fear of coming doom,
On fraud and wickedness intent,
With craft he lurks and waits to catch
The helpless and the innocent.
A lion crouching for his prey,
He waits the poor to overthrow.
4.
He thinks that God remembers not,
Or hides his face and will not know.
Arise, O Lord, lift up your hand,
O God, Protect the poor and meek;
Why should the proud your justice doubt,
And words of bold defiance speak?
5.
The proud you will indeed repay,
No spiteful sin escapes your view;
The helpless and the fatherless
Commit themselves, O Lord, to you.
Break down the power of wicked men
And let their works no longer stand.
6.
The Lord is King for evermore,
Who drove the nations from his land.
Lord, you have heard the lowly prayer,
The fainting heart you will restore,
The helpless' cause you will maintain,
That mortal man may boast no more. Amen.

adapted from the 1912 Psalter.

1/09/11

Psalm 9

Ps. 9

For the director of music. To the tune of "the death of the son." A psalm of David.

our tune: "To God be the Glory" 11.11.11.11.

or Joanna "Immortal, Invisible"

1 Wholehearted thanksgiving to you I will bring;
   in praise of your marvelous works I will sing.
2 For joy I will shout and exultingly cry
   in praise of your name, LORD my God, O Most High.

3 My foes were turned backward in utter despair;
they stumbled and perished because you were there.
4 For you have defended my right and my cause;
you sat in just judgement, upholding your laws.

5 You chided the nations, the wicked destroyed;
their names you erased and forever made void.
6 The foe is consumed and completely disgraced,
their cities uprooted, their mem'ry erased.

7 The LORD will eternally reign from his throne;
he has it established for justice alone.
8 He righteously judges the world in his sight;
all peoples will know that his judgement is right.

9 The LORD is a stronghold, a bulwark, a tower,
for all the oppressed in their dark, troubled hour.
10 Those knowing your name, LORD, trust you for your grace;
you have not forsaken those seeking your face.

11 Sing praise to the LORD, who in Zion does dwell;
among all the peoples his mighty deeds tell.
12 The cry of the poor never fades from his ear;
their blood he avenges; he always will hear.

13 LORD, see what I suffer from malice and hate;
Have mercy! O lift me away from death's gate,
14 That I with the daughter of Zion may voice
your praises, and in your salvation rejoice.

15 The nations are sunk in the pit they prepared;

their feet in the net they prepared are ensnared.

16 The LORD by his judgement has made himself known,

he by their own works has the wicked o'erthrown.

17 The wicked to death's dark abode shall be brought

and all of the nations who God have forgot.

18 Forgotten no longer the cause of the weak

nor perish forever the hope of the meek.

19 Rise LORD that mere man may not make himself strong;

let nations be judged in your presence for wrong.

20 Strike terror within them, O LORD, always then,

let nations know truly that they are mere men.

1/08/11

Psalm 8 and reference to the Son of Man

Ps. 8

1. LORD, our Lord, in all the earth How excellent Your name!
You above the heav'ens have set The splendor of Your fame.
2. From the mouths of infants young You the power of praise compose
In the face of enemies To stop avenging foes.

3. When I view the skies above Which Your own fingers made,
When I see the moon and stars Which You in order laid,
4. What is man so frail and weak That You should remember him?
What can be the son of man That You should care for him?

5. Next to God You have made man, With light and honor crowned.
6. You placed him above Your works; Beneath him all is found:
7. Oxen, sheep, and all wild beasts, 8. Birds, and fish the oceans claim.
9. LORD, our Lord, in all the earth How excellent Your name!

When the Psalm mentions son of man think of it in light of the ultimate Son of Man

Hebrews 2

5 Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” [Psalm 8]

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Psalm 7 to sing

Ps. 7

Tune: Penitentia "Here, O my Lord, I see Thee Face to Face", 10.10.10.10

A cry for vindication

1 O Lord my God, in You I refuge take.
O save me from all those who me pursue,
2 Lest he should like a lion tear my soul
and drag me off, with none to rescue me.

3 O Lord my God, if wrong is in my hands,
4 if I did evil to my friend or foe,
5 Let my pursuer overtake me now
and trample in the dust my life, my soul.

6 Arise, O Lord! In anger lift Yourself
against the fury of my enemies,
Awake for me! Your judgment You have set.
7 Let people in assembly compass You.

In triumph over them return on High.
8 The Lord now sits to judge the peoples all.
O vindicate me, Lord, in righteousness,
according to integrity in me.

9 O let the evil of the wicked cease,
but every righteous one establish firm,
For You it is Who tries the minds and hearts;
O Righteous God, You are the judge of men.

10 My shield and my defense is found with God,
for He it is Who saves the right in heart.
11 A righteous judge, God judges righteously,
and God is filled with anger ev’ry day.

12 If one does not repent, God whets His sword;
He has His bow already strung and bent.
13 He has prepared his instruments of death;
He makes His arrows fiery, deadly shafts.

14 See how the wicked evil thoughts conceives,
is pregnant with ill will, and brings forth lies.
15 He digs a pit, but stumbles in himself;
16 on his own head his plotted malice falls.

17 I will give thanks to Him who is the Lord
according to His perfect righteousness;
And I will sing with psalms for evermore
the name of Him who is the Lord Most High.

1/05/11

Psalm 6 -- a literal translation

^{Tune: Olives Brow L.M.}

Ps. 6

¹ In anger, LORD, rebuke me not,
        Nor judgment in Your wrath decide.
² My weakness pity, LORD, and heal,
        For in my bones I'm terrified.

³ My soul is greatly terrified.
        O LORD! - and yet how long You take!
⁴ Return, O LORD, and free my soul,
        And save me for Your mercies' sake.

⁵ For none in death remembers You,
        Or there Your memory shall keep.
And who can give You praises then,
        Within the region of the deep.

⁶ My groaning ever wearies me,
        Through every night till morn appears.
My grieving makes my bed to swim
        And waters all my cot with tears.

⁷ Because of all my enemies
        This bitter grief consumes my eyes.
⁸ Then let all evil men depart!
        The LORD has heard my weeping cries.

⁹ The LORD my supplication hears;
        The LORD has brought my prayers to mind;
¹⁰ My foes shall be ashamed and vexed,
        And sudden shame they all will find.