Singing and Praying the Psalms of David: July 2011

7/26/11

Psalm 149

1.	¹ O praise the LORD! O sing aloud A new song to the LORD! Where faithful ones assembled are His praise in song accord. ² With joy in his Creator now Let Israel shout and sing. And trembling let all Zion's sons Be joyful in their King.
2.	³ O let them in the whirling dance Give praise to His great name. Let them with sound of harp and drum Sing psalms of praise to Him. ⁴ That people which the LORD has claimed Is pleasant in His eyes, And with salvation's radiance The meek He beautifies.
3.	⁵ In glory let the faithful ones Exult with lifted heads. Let them for gladness shout aloud And sing upon their beds. ⁶ O let the lofty praise of God From out their throats be poured, And let them have within their hand A sharp two edged sword,
4.	⁷ on nations thus to take revenge And punish heathen folk, ⁸ to chain their kings, and on their chiefs to bind an iron yoke, ⁹ on them the judgment execute found written in His word; this honor all His faithful have. O do ye praise the LORD. Tune: Bethlehem (C M D)

Psalm 148

1.	¹ From heav'n O praise the LORD; Ye heights, HIS glory raise. ² All angels, praise accord; Let all His host give praise. ³ Praise Him on high, Sun, moon, and star, Sun, moon and star, Ye heav'ns afar, And cloudy sky.
2.	⁵ Yea, let them glorious make Jehovah's matchless name; For when the word He spake They into being came. ⁶ And from that place Where fixed they be, Where fixed they be, By His decree They cannot pass.
3.	⁷ From earth O praise the LORD, Ye deeps and all below; ⁸ Wild winds that do His word, Ye clouds, fire, hail, and snow; ⁹ Ye mountains high, Ye cedars tall. Ye cedars tall, ¹⁰ Beasts great and small, And birds that fly.
4.	¹¹ Let all the peoples praise, And kings of every land; Let all their voices raise Who judge and give command. ¹² By young and old, By maid and youth, By maid and youth, ¹³ His name in truth Should be extolled.
5.	Jehovah's name be praised Above the earth and sky. ¹⁴ For He His saints has raised And set their power on high. Him praise accord, O Israel's race, O Israel's race, Near to His grace. Praise ye the LORD. Tune: St. Catherines A great tune of which... I will try to find a midi.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises of my God through all my days.
Put no confidence in princes, nor for help on man depend;
He shall die, to dust returning, and his purposes shall end.

Happy is the man that chooses Israel’s God to be his aid;
He is blest whose hope of blessing on the Lord his God is stayed.
Heaven and earth the Lord created,Seas and all that they contain;
He delivers from oppression, righteousness He will maintain.

Food He daily gives the hungry, sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish, makes the sightless eyes to see.
Well Jehovah loves the righteous, and the stranger He befriends,
Helps the fatherless and widow, judgment on the wicked sends.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns forever, through all ages He is King;
Unto Him, thy God, O Zion, joyful hallelujahs sing.

Tune: Ripley

7/21/11

Psalm 145

  1 My God, O King, in praise I will exalt you;
    and I will bless your name forevermore.
  2 Yes, every day time and again I'll bless you
    and praise your name both now and evermore.
  3 Great is the LORD. How worthy to be praised!
    His greatness is unsearchable.

  4 Your works the fathers to their sons will praise
    And tell of all your mighty acts.

 5 On all your splendor, your majestic glory,
    On all your wondrous works, I'll meditate.
  6 Men tell the power of all your works most awesome,
    and I will join, your greatness to proclaim.
  7 They'll your abundant goodness celebrate;
    with joy they'll sing your righteousness.
  8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
    To anger slow, and rich in love.

  9 The LORD is good to all of his creation,
    compassion has on all that he has made.
 10 All you have made, O LORD, with thanks will praise you;
    your chosen holy ones will you extol.
 11 The glory of your kingdom they will tell,
    the greatness of your power proclaim,
 12 that sons of men may know your mighty acts,
    your kingdom's splendor glorious.

 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
    your rule endures through generations all.
 14 The Lord upholds all those who down are falling
    And raises up all those who are bowed down.
 15 The eyes of all on earth look up to you;
    you give them food all in good time.
 16 Your opened hand fills every need of life;
 17 The LORD is good to all that live.

 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
    to all who call on him with purpose true.
 19 He satisfies the wants of all who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them everyone.
 20 The LORD keeps watch o'er all those loving him,
    but wicked all he will destroy.
 21 My mouth and all creation praise the LORD!
    Forever praise his holy name.

Tune: "How Great Thou Art"

Psalm 144

1.	¹ Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for the fight. ² My Steadfast Love, my Fort, my Stronghold, my Deliverer, my Shield in whom I refuge take, he brings my people under me.
2.	³ O LORD, what then is man that you take note of him? What is the son of man that you consider him? ⁴ A breath, a nothingness, is man. As for the days of man, they all are like a shadow passing by.
3.	⁵ O LORD, bow low your heav'ns; may you yourself come down. Yes, touch the mountaintops and cause them thus to smoke. ⁶ Make lightning flash and scatter them. O may your arrows be sent forth to trouble and disquiet them!
4.	⁷ Your hand reach from on high to rescue me and save from waters great and deep. from hands of alien folk, ⁸ whose mouth speaks always what is false, and even the right hand of whom is a right hand of cunning lies.

5.	⁹ O God, in praise to you, a new song I will sing. Upon a ten-stringed harp your praises I will play. ¹⁰ For he salvation gives to kings; his servant David he will help and keep him from the wasting sword.
6.	¹¹ O rescue me and save, grant me deliverance, from hands of alien folk, from power of foreigners, whose mouth speaks always what is false, and even the right hand of whom is a right hand of cunning lies.
7.	¹² So be our sons like plants grown sturdy in their youth, and may our daughters be like palace cornerstones; ¹³ all kinds of goods fill up our barns; our flocks of sheep be multiplied by thousands and ten thousands more;
8.	¹⁴ yes, may our cattle bear. may there be no attacks, no going forth to war, no outcry in our streets. ¹⁵ O happy people who are thus! O happy people who can say they have the LORD to be their God! Tune: Lischer, 66.66.888.

Psalm 143

1 LORD, hearken to my prayer;
my supplication hear.
Reply in truth and in righteousness.
2 And with your servant now
to judgment do not come,
for in your sight no man is just.

3 The foe has hounded me;
my life to earth has crushed.
Entombed he kept me as those long dead.
4 My spirit therefore faints,
within me overwhelmed.
My heart in me is desolate.

5 I days of old recall;
I muse on all your deeds;
I ponder long what your hands have wrought.
6 I stretch my hands to you;
my soul longs after you
as thirsts a dry and desert land.

7 Haste, LORD, to answer me!
O how my spirit fails!
Hide not the light of your face from me,
Lest I become like those
who to the pit go down.
O let me not with them descend.

8 Let me your mercy hear
when morning light appears;
I flee to you for my hiding place.
Teach me to know the way;
Show me how I should walk,
for I lift up my soul to you.

9 Deliver me, O LORD,
from all my enemies;
that you may hide me I flee to you.
10 Teach me to do your will;
my God of Spirit good,
O make me dwell in upright lands.

11 For your name's sake, O LORD,
deal graciously with me;
relieve my soul in your righteousness.
12 My foes slay in your grace;
destroy my enemies,
because I am your servant true.

Tune: Fairest Lord Jesus

7/18/11

Psalm 142

1 I loudly cry out to the LORD;

I plead for aid to GOD.

2 Before him pour my troubled thoughts;

I tell him my distress.

3 For when my spirit is depressed,

you guard the way I take;

for in the path that I must walk

men hide their snares for me.

4 Look to my right and you will see;

none is concerned for me.

I have no place where I can hide;

none cares to guard my life.

5 I cry to you, O LORD, and say:

"In you I shelter find;

you are the one who's my support

within the land of life."

6 Pay heed now to my cry and save;

I am in desperate need.

save me from those who dog my heels,

for they're too strong for me.

7 O bring me from the prison house

so I can thank your name.

The just will crowd around me when

your love is shown to me.

Tune: Orton (C M)

or Auld Lang Syne

Psalm 141

1 O LORD, I am calling to you; please make haste,

and give you attention when I cry to you.

2 My prayer be as incense accepted by you;

as off'ring at ev'ning be my lifted hands.

3 O LORD, set a guard on my mouth, watch my lips;

4 my heart keep away from all evil desires.

Keep me back from evil and from evil men,

and let me not love to sit down at their feasts.

5 Let righteous ones strike me - a kindness it proves;

and if he rebuke me - it's oil on my head;

and I'll not refuse it, yet still I will pray

that evil ones' deeds will be quite overthrown.

6 The leaders of evil down cliffs will be thrown;

the wicked will learn that my words are all true.

7 they'll say, "Like one ploughing and breaking the earth,

our bones have been scattered in reach of hell's jaws."

8 But my eyes see you, Sovereign LORD, you're my hope;

9 Don't let me see death, keep me out of man's snares.

10 But let wicked ones in their own nets be caught,

while I at the same time pass by without hurt.

Tune: Immortal, invisible, God only wise

St. Denio (Joanna )

Psalm140

1. From men of greed and violence, O LORD my soul release;

2. they evil in their hearts devise, and wars they would increase.

3. As keen as any serpent’s fangs so sharp their tongues they make,

and underneath their lips there hides the venom of a snake.

4. Guard me from men of violence, O LORD, from lawless force;

their purpose is to bring me down, to overthrow my course.

5. The proud hid traps and cords for me; they have a secret net

along the wayside spread for me, and snares for me they set.

6. But I have said unto the LORD, “In truth you are my God."

Jehovah, hear my voice when I in supplication bow.

7. My Lord Jehovah is for me salvation’s strength and stay;

he is the cover for my head when comes the battle day.

8. Grant not, O LORD, that wicked men see their desire draw nigh.

and do not help them in their plots to lift themselves on high.

9. As for the head of all those men who have surrounded me,

by all the mischief of their lips let them now covered be.

10. Let burning coals upon them fall; to flames let them be cast,

and in the deepest pits from which they cannot rise at last.

11. Let not the slanderer on earth enjoy security;

let evil hunt the violent and smite relentlessly.

12. I know Jehovah will maintain the cause of those oppressed;

he will defend the right of those by poverty distressed.

13. And then the righteous to your name their thanks will surely give;

and they that upright are in heart shall in your presence live.

Tune: Old Lang Syne (C M D)

7/17/11

Psalm 138

1 With all my heart my thanks I'll bring,
before the gods your praises sing;
2 I'll worship in your holy place
and praise your name for truth and grace;

For you above your name adored
have magnified your faithful word.
3 The day I called your help appeared;
with inward strength my soul was cheered.

4 All kings of earth shall thanks accord
when they have heard your words, O LORD;
5 Jehovah's way they'll celebrate;
the glory of the LORD is great.

6 Although Jehovah is most high,
on lowly ones he bends his eye;
but those that proud and haughty are
he knows them only from afar.

7 Through trouble though my pathway be,
you will revive and comfort me.
your outstretched hand you will oppose
against the wrath of all my foes.

Your hand, O LORD, shall set me free.
8 God will perfect his plan for me;
Your mercy, LORD, forever stands;
Leave not the work of your own hands.

Tune: Hursley

Psalm 139

1 You've searched me, LORD, and know me well,

2 my sitting, rising, all my thoughts.

3 You mark my path and where I rest;

you're well informed of all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you know it fully, gracious LORD!

5 You hem me in, behind, before;

yes, you have laid your hand on me.

6 Such knowledge is to deep for me,

too high for me to understand.

7 Where can I from your Spirit go?

Where can I from your presence flee?

8 You're there if I go up in space;

you're there if I lie down in depths.

9 If I speed on the wings of dawn

and settle on the sea's west side,

10 your hand will guide me even there,

yes, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If in deep trouble I should cry:

"Nothing but darkness is my plight,

around me light has turned to night,"

12 even the dark's not dark to you;

and thus the night is bright as day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13 You're the creator of my life;

you wove me in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you for the way I'm made

awesome and wonderful it is .

Your works are truly wonderful,

and I am well aware of this.

15 My frame was not hid from your view

when i was made in secret place.

When I was woven in the womb

16 your eyes my unformed body saw.

And all the days ordained for me

were firstly written in your book.

17 How precious are your thoughts to me,

O God; how mighty is their sum!

18 Were I to count them, they'd be more

than all the grains of sand would be.

When I awaken from my sleep,

I find that I am still with you.

19 O that you'd slay the wicked, God!

Away from me, you ruthless ones.

20 They speak of you with evil aims;

your foes speak out deceitfully.

21 Do not I hate those hating you,

loathe those who rise against you, LORD?

22 I hate them with most perfect hate;

I count them as my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if a sinful way's in me,

lead in the everlasting way.

7/16/11

Psalm 137

1 By Babel's streams we sat and wept,
when we our thoughts to Zion turned.

2 There on the trees we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked for songs,

yes, our tormentors called for mirth:

"Sing to us one of Zion's songs!"

4 How can we sing the LORD's own songs

while we are in a foreign land?

5 If you, Jerus'lem, I forget,

let my right hand forget it's skill.

6 My tongue be dumb if Salem I

do not regard as my chief joy.

7 Remember, LORD, when Salem fell,

that Edom cried, "Raze, Raze it all!"

8 O Babylon, your doom's decreed,

And happy he who pays you back,

9 who takes your little ones instead

and dashes them against the rocks.

Tune: Melita

Psalm 136

1.	¹ O thank the LORD, for good is He; His mercy lasts forever. ² Thanks to the God of gods give ye; His mercy lasts forever.
2.	³ O praises give the King of kings; His mercy lasts forever; ⁴ For He alone does wondrous things; His mercy lasts forever.
3.	⁵ Who in His wisdom framed the skies; His mercy lasts forever; ⁶ Who made the earth from waters rise; His mercy lasts forever.
4.	⁷ Who placed the great lights on display; His mercy lasts forever; ⁸ The sun to rule the sky by day; His mercy lasts forever.
5.	⁹ The moon and stars to rule the night; His mercy lasts forever; ¹⁰ Who Egypt's firstborn all did smite; His mercy lasts forever.
6.	¹¹ Who freed all Isr'el from their charm; His mercy lasts forever; ¹² With mighty hand and outstretched arm; His mercy lasts forever.
7.	¹³ Who by His wind the Red Sea clave; His mercy lasts forever; ¹⁴ Led Isr'el through the parted wave; His mercy lasts forever.
8.	¹⁵ O'er Pharaoh He the Red Sea spread; His mercy lasts forever; ¹⁶ Through desert wastes His people led; His mercy lasts forever.
9.	¹⁷ To Him Who great kings overthrew; His mercy lasts forever; ¹⁸ Who famous kings in battle slew; His mercy lasts forever.
10.	¹⁹ King Sihon, of the Amorites; His mercy lasts forever; ²⁰ And Og, the king of Bashanites; His mercy lasts forever.
11.	²¹ Their land He gave to Israel; His mercy lasts forever; ²² His servant gave a place to dwell; His mercy lasts forever.
12.	²³ He thought on us when we were low; His mercy lasts forever; ²⁴ And made us free from every foe; His mercy lasts forever.
13.	²⁵ He food bestows on all that live; His mercy lasts forever; ²⁶ Thanks to the God of heaven give; His mercy lasts forever.

Tune: Constance

7/15/11

Psalm 135: 8-21

8 He Egypt's first-born struck with might, the first of man and beast one night.

9 You, Egypt, signs and wonders saw, that Pharaoh's might should be no more.

10/11 He struck great nations, mighty kings - Sihon and Og, all Canaan's kings.

12 He gave their lands to Is-ra-el, in this inheritance to dwell.

13 O LORD, for ever lasts your name, through ages all, O LORD, your fame.

14 For GOD will vindicate his own, his servants will his grace be shown.

15 The gods of silver and of gold are made by those who craft and mould.

16-18 They do not speak, see, hear, breathe air; they're helpless too, who trust their care.

19/20 Isr'el and Aaron, Levi too; all fearing GOD, give GOD his due.

21 To GOD in Zion praise accord; he dwells in Salem. Praise the LORD!

Tune:

7/14/11

Psalm 134

1 O come, bless Jehovah, all servants of GOD,

who stand in the house of the LORD ev'ry night.

2 Your hands lift in worship to his holy place,

the GOD of rich covenant grace to confess.

3 O may the LORD from Zi-on bless,

he is the creator of heaven and earth.

Tune: Shelter

7/12/11

Psalm 133

1 Behold! how good a thing it is, how wonderful to see,
when brethren make it their delight to dwell in unity!

2 For it is like the fragrant oil poured out on Aaron's head,
that, going down upon his beard, upon his collar spread.

3 Like Hermon's dew upon the hills of Zion, it descends.
The LORD commands his blessing there, ev'n life that never ends.

Tune: Azmon (C M)

"O for a thousand tongues"

7/11/11

PSALM 132 paraphrase of Isaac Watts

[No sleep nor slumber to his eyes

Good David would afford,

Till he had found below the skies

A dwelling for the Lord.

The Lord in Zion placed his name,

His ark was settled there;

To Zion the whole nation came

To worship thrice a year.

But we have no such lengths to go,

Nor wander far abroad;

Where'er thy saints assemble now,

There is a house for God.]

Arise, O King of grace, arise,

And enter to thy rest!

Lo! thy church waits with longing eyes

Thus to be owned and blessed.

Enter with all thy glorious train,

Thy Spirit and thy word;

All that the ark did once contain

Could no such grace afford.

Here, mighty God, accept our vows,

Here let thy praise be spread;

Bless the provisions of thy house,

And fill thy poor with bread.

Here let the Son of David reign,

Let God's Anointed shine;

Justice and truth his court maintain

With love and power divine.

Here let him hold a lasting throne;

And as his kingdom grows,

Fresh honors shall adorn his crown,

And shame confound his foes.

7/10/11

Psalm 131

1. LORD, I have given up all pride,
and turned from arrogance.
I'll not pry into things too great,
or truths beyond my reach,
2. Yes, I'm at rest and peace.

Just as a child weaned from the breast
lies in his mother's arms,
my heart within me is at rest.
3. Trust GOD, O Isra-el,
now and for evermore.

Tune: Evadna CM

Ps.131

7/09/11

Psalm 130

1.	¹ LORD, from the depths to thee I cried. ² My Lord, give ear to me. O hear my voice and harken to my supplicating plea, my supplicating plea.
2.	³ LORD, who shall stand if thou, my Lord, shouldst mark iniquity? ⁴ But yet with thee forgiveness is, that men may rev'rence thee, that men may rev'rence thee.
3.	⁵ I wait, my soul awaits the LORD; my hope is in his word. ⁶ More than the watchmen wait for morn my soul waits for my Lord, my soul waits for my Lord.
4.	⁷ O Israel, hope in the LORD; the LORD saves graciously. ⁸ And he shall Israel redeem from all iniquity, from all iniquity.

7/07/11

Psalm 129

1.	¹ "Time and again they greatly did oppress me from my youth up," let Israel declare; ² "Time and again they greatly did oppress me from my youth up, yet they did not prevail."
2.	³ Upon my back, like plowmen plowing furrows, so did they make their gouges deep and long. ⁴ Yet is Jehovah righteous in his dealings; the ropes of lawless men he cuts apart.
3.	⁵ Let them be shamed and fall back in confusion, all those who bear for Zion bitter hate. ⁶ Let them become like grass upon the housetops which withers up before it can be pulled.
4.	⁷ From such the reaper cannot get one handfull, nor can the one who binds fill up his arms. ⁸ None passing say, "Jehovah's blessing on you! We give you blessing in Jehovah's name!" Tune: Old 110th, 11.10.11.10

Psalm 128

Blessed the man that fears Jehovah
And that walketh in His ways.
Thou shalt eat of thy hands’ labor;
And be prospered all thy days.
Like a vine with fruit abounding
In thy house thy wife is found
And like olive plants, thy children
Compassing thy table ’round.

Lo, on him that fears Jehovah
Shall this blessedness attend
For Jehovah, out of Zion,
Shall to thee His blessings send
Thou shalt see Jerus’lem prosper
All thy days ’til life shall cease
Thou shalt see thy children’s children
Unto Isr-a-el be peace.

Tune: "Come Thou Fount of every blessing"

Here is a snippet from a family man: [the rest can be found here]

one of my boys asked, “Daddy, since we could not sing our psalm in the restaurant, can we sing it while we’re in the car?” You better believe we can! If a small step on my part can lead to my 11 or 12 year old asking to seize a moment to sing scripture together, let me take that step!

Then, our singing of Psalm 128 has had an unexpected sanctifying influence on me. The children enjoy the song so I can often hear them singing it lightly as they go about their tasks in the home. I hear them singing “Bless the man who fears Jehovah and that walketh in his ways” and the rest of the Psalm which expounds the benefits which will come to them as their father fears and obeys God.

7/05/11

Psalm 127 Paraphrase from 1912

Ps. 127

1. Unless the Lord the house shall build,

The weary builders toil in vain;

Unless the Lord the city shield,

The guards a useless watch maintain.

2. In vain you rise ere morning break,

And late your nightly vigils keep,

And of the bread of toil partake;

God gives to His beloved sleep.

3. Lo, children are a great reward,

A gift from God in very truth;

4.With arrows is his quiver stored

Who joys in children of his youth.

5. And blest the man whose age is cheered

By stalwart sons and daughters fair;

No enemies by him are feared,

No lack of love, no want of care.

7/04/11

Psalm 126 Isaac Watts paraphrase

1 When God reveal'd his gracious Name,
And chang'd my mournful state,
My rapture seem'd a pleasing dream,
The grace appear'd so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;
My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sung surprising grace:

3 "Great is the work," my neighbours cry'd,
And own'd the power divine;
"Great is the work," my heart reply'd,
"And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night,
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

5 Let those that sow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come,
They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.

6 Tho' seed lie bury'd long in dust,
It shan't deceive their hope;
The precious grain can ne'er be lost,
For grace insures the crop.

This last line was used by Spurgeon in an early sermon:

www.spurgeongems.org/vols49-51/chs2896.pdf

Can be sung to any C M tune

Psalm 125

Like Zion’s mountain shall they be who in the Lord confide
A mount which never can be moved, but ever shall abide

As all around Jerusalem the mountains firmly stand
The Lord forevermore surrounds the people of his hand

Upon the land of righteous ones no evil rod shall press
Lest righteous men put forth their hands to work unrighteousness

O Lord, to those men who are good show yourself good and kind
And likewise show your goodness to all them of upright mind

Yet shall the Lord drive out all those in crooked ways who dwell
Along with all who practice sin; but peace on Israel

Psalm 124

1.	¹ Now Israel may say and that in truth, "If that the LORD had not our right maintained, ² If that the LORD had not with us remained, When cruel men against us rose to strive ³ We surely had been swallowed up alive.
2.	Yea, when their wrath against us fiercely rose, ⁴ Then as fierce floods before them all things drown, So had they brought our soul to death quite down; ⁵ The raging streams, with their proud swelling waves, Had then our soul o'er whelmed as in the grave."
3.	⁶ Blessed be the LORD Who made us not their prey; ⁷ As from the snare a bird escapeth free, Their net is rent and so escaped are we. ⁸ Our only help is in Jehovah's name, Who made the earth and all the heav'nly frame.

Tune: Old 124th

Psalm 123 a song of ascents

1.	¹ To you I lift my eyes, O LORD You are in heav'n enthroned. ² As servants watch their master's hand, Or as a maid's eyes wait Her mistress' hand to see,
2.	So our eyes, waiting, now attend Upon the LORD our God, Until He gracious be to us. ³ Be gracious to us, LORD. Be gracious unto us.
3.	For we are sated with contempt ⁴ Our soul is surfeited With all the scoffing insolence Of those who live at ease, And with the proud's contempt.

Tune: Christmas 86.866