Singing and Praying the Psalms of David

4/19/11

Psalm 89

1 Of GOD’S love I’ll sing forever, To each age Your faithfulness.

2 I’ll declare Your love’s forever, Founded in the word from heav’n:

3 “With My Chosen I’ve made cov’nant, To my servant David sworn:

4 ‘I’ll your line confirm forever, To each age build up your throne.”

5 LORD, the heavens praise Your Wonders, Angels sing Your faithfulness.

6 For none matches GOD in heaven, Who’s like GOD in heaven’s throng?

7 God is feared among the angels, He’s more awesome than they all.

8 LORD, O God of hosts, who’s like You? Mighty God, You’re girt with truth.

. . . .

20 “I have found my servant David; With My oil anointed him.

21 My hand will be ever with him, And My pow’r will make him strong.

22 None to tribute will subject him, Nor will wicked ones oppress.

23 I will crush his foes before him; Those who hate him I’ll strike down.

24 “My strong love and truth is with him; I will raise his head up high;

25 To the Sea his rule extending, And to rivers in the east.

26 He will cry: ‘You are my Father; You’re my God, my Saviour, Rock.’

27 I’ll appoint him as My firstborn, Highest of the kings of earth.

28 “I’ll keep love for him forever, My oath to him will not fail.

29 I’ll his line establish always, And his throne for evermore.

30 If his sons forsake My teaching,

31 Break My laws, commands and rules,

32 I’ll their sins severely punish,

33 But not take my love from him.

. . . .

50 Lord, remember all the insults Which Your servants bear for You.

In my heart I bear the insults Taunting nations cast on them.

51 Insults, LORD, for Your Anointed, Mocking ev’ry step he takes.

52 Yet, LORD, You are ever blessed, So I say, Amen! Amen!

Hymn to Joy

4/18/11

Psalm 88

1 LORD, the God of my salvation,

day and night I cry to you.

2 Let my prayer now find acceptance

in your mercy answer me.

3 Full of trouble, I am dying;

4 helpless, to the pit I'm brought.

5 Cast adrift as in death's darkness,

severed from your thought and care.

6 To the lowest pit you've brought me,

7 even to the darkest depth.

Your wrath heavy lies upon me;

I'm o'erwhelmed with waves of wrath.

8 You've my close friends taken from me,

made them all my name despise.

I'm confined as in a dungeon.

9 I am blinded by my tears.

God of grace, each day I cry out,

and I raise my hands to you.

10 Do you show the dead your wonders?

Do the dead rise up and praise?

11 Is your love in grave recited,

your truth in destruction told?

12 Are your wonders seen in darkness,

and your deeds in land of doom?

13 Still I cry to you for help, LORD;

ev'ry morn to you I pray.

14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me,

and your face turn from my soul?

15 From my youth I've been afflicted,

constantly been close to death.

I have suffered from your terrors,

and I am in deep despair.

16 Over me your anger rages;

your assaults have cut me off.

17 All day long I am afflicted:

by a flood I am engulfed.

18 You have taken dearest loved ones,

and my friends put far from me;

so that I, as my companion,

have the gloom of darkness near.

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the director of music.

According to mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Hemen the Ezrahite.

Tune: Genevan 42
Our Preferred Tune : Amara

4/17/11

Psalm 87

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

1 GOD's founded his city upon holy hills.

2 He loves Zion's gates more than all Jacob's homes.

3 O city of God, listen closely I say,

for glorious things have been spoken of you!

4 I'll make proclamations of Egypt's proud land,

and Babylon too, as now knowing my grace;

the land of Phil-lis-tia with Tyre and with Cush-

of these I will say now: “This one there was born.”

5 For truly of Zion it will be declared:

“This one there and that one in her have been born.”

And God the Supreme, in enlarging her thus,

is he who himself will establish her sure.

6 The LORD, in enrolling the nations of earth,

will write of each one, “This in Zion was born.”

7 The singers and minstrels will all cry aloud:

“The springs of salvation are all found in you.”

Tune: To God be the glory

It can be sung with or without the refrain.

4/16/11

Psalm 86

1 Turn to me, LORD, hear my cry,

for I poor and needy am.

2 Keep me safe is what I pray,

for I'm steadfast in your way.

Save your servant – you're my God,

and I ever trust in you.

3 Mercy show to me, O Lord,

for I cry to you each day.

4 Make your servant sing your song,

for your presence Lord, I long.

5 Lord, you're good, keen to forgive;

those who seek you know your love.

6 To my prayer, O LORD, give ear;

give attention to my plea.

7 In my strife, to you I go,

for you'll answer me I know.

8 There's no God like you, O Lord;
none can make what you have made.

9 All the nations that you've made,

Lord, will bow and honor you.

10 You are great, do wondrous things;

you are God, yes, you alone.

11 God of grace teach me your way;

I will walk on in your truth.

Give to me a single heart

so that I may fear your name.

12 Lord my God, I'll praise in truth,

give you honor evermore.

13 For your love to me is great;

you'll deliver from the grave.

14 God, the proud against me rise;

ruthless men now seek my life:

men without regard for you.

15 But, Lord, you're a God of grace,

full of pity, patient too,

loyal in your cov'nant love.

16 Turn to me and mercy show.

To your servant give your strength;

rescue me, your handmaid's son.

17 Show to me a sign for good,

so my foes may see, be shamed,

know that you, God, help and save.

A prayer of David.

Tune: Rock of Ages

4/15/11

1   LORD, your heart in love has yearned
   on your lost and fallen land;
     Israel's race is homeward turned,
2 you have freed your captive band;
   you have borne your people's sin,
   covered all their deeds of ill;
3 all your wrath is gathered in,
          and your burning anger still.

4 Turn us, stay us, now once more,
          God of all our health and peace;
   let your cloud of wrath fly o'er,

          from your own your fury cease.
5 Will you ne'er the storm assuage
   on the realm of your desire,
   lengthening out from age to age
   your consuming jealous ire?

6 Will you not in mercy turn?
          Turn, and be our life again,
   that your people's heart may burn
   with the gladness of your reign.
7 Show us now your tender love;
   your salvation, Lord, impart;
8 I the voice divine would prove,
          Listening in my silent heart:

     listening what the Lord will say
          'Peace' to all that own his will:
     To his saints that love his way,
          'Peace,' and 'turn no more to ill.'
9 You that fear him, nigh at hand
   now his saving health will find,
   that the glory in our land,
          As of old, may dwell enshrined.

10 Mercy now and justice meet,
          Peace and truth for aye embrace;
11 truth from earth is springing sweet,
   justice looks from her high place.
12 Nor will God his goodness stay,
   nor our land her bounteous store:
13 marking out her Maker's way,
   righteousness shall go before.

Adapted from the 1880 Irish Psalter

Tune: "St. George's Windsor"

Come, ye thankful people, come,

Raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in,

Ere the winter storms begin;

4/14/11

Psalm 84 paraphrase from 1912

Delight in Church Ordinances.

1 O Lord of Hosts, how lovely your tabernacles are;

for them my heart is yearning in banishment afar.

2 My soul is longing, fainting your sacred courts to view;

my heart and flesh are crying, O living God, for you.

3 Beneath your care the sparrow finds place for peaceful rest;

to keep her young in safety the swallow finds a nest;

then, Lord, my King Almighty,your love will shelter me;

beside your holy altar my dwelling-place shall be.

4 Blest they who dwell in your house, whose joy and strength you are;

5 forever they will praise you, your ways are in their heart.

6 though tried, their tears like showers shall fill the springs of peace,

7 and all the way to Zion their strength shall still increase.

True Blessedness.

8 Lord God of Hosts, in mercy my supplication hear;

almighty and all-faithful, our fathers' God, give ear;

9 our shield and great defender,no longer hide your face,

but look upon your servant, anointed by your grace.

10 In your blest courts to worship, my God, a single day

is better than a thousand while far from you I stray;

just standing in your doorway a servant of my Lord

I choose above all pleasures that sinful tents afford.

11 A sun and shield forever is God, the Lord Most High;

to those who walk uprightly no good will he deny;

his saints, his grace receiving, shall soon his glory view;

12 O Lord of Hosts, how blessed is he that trust in you.

This is a favorite with our family.

We named our house from the second stanza:

Sparrow's Rest

Tune :St. Edith

4/13/11

Psalm 83

1.	¹ Do not be silent, God or unresponding! Do not remain at rest, O Mighty One! ² For now Your foes arouse and make a clamor; Your bitter enemies lift up the head. ³ Against Your people now they plot in secret; They meet to work against Your hidden ones. ⁴ They say, "Let us go up and end their nation. The name of Israel shall be no more!"
2.	⁵ Together they conspire in deadly earnest; Against You they have made a covenant. ⁶ The Ishmaelites are there, the tents of Edom, The men of Moab with the Hagarenes. ⁷ See Gebal, Amalek, with men of Ammon; Behold Philistia and them of Tyre. ⁸ For Asshur too has come and joins their forces; They are the power of the sons of Lot.
3.	⁹ Treat them like Midian, like Jabin's army. Treat them like Sisera at Kishon's brook. ¹⁰ At Endor they were all annihilated, And they became as dung upon the ground. ¹¹ Like Oreb make their chiefs, their lords like Zebah! ¹² Who thought they would possess the land of God. ¹³ My God, O make them be like whirling dust clouds; Make them like bits of chaff before the wind.
4.	¹⁴ Like fire that burns the woods, like flames of lightning, ¹⁵ Pursue them with Your storms and strike with fear. ¹⁶ Fill up their faces with humiliation, And let them seek Your name, Jehovah, then. ¹⁷ Let them be terrified and shamed forever, And let them be dismayed and be destroyed. ¹⁸ Let them know You alone-You are Jehovah- You are the One Most High o'er all the earth. this is a much loved song and tune in our family: Salvum Fac, 11.10.11.10.

Psalm 82

1.	¹ God is in his congregation; Judge among the gods he stands. ² How long will you judge unjustly, favoring the wicked hands?
2.	³ Judge the destitute and orphan, and the poor, distressed defend; ⁴ free the destitute and needy; save them from the wicked's hand.
3.	⁵ These are they who have no knowledge,to perceive no effort make; they walk on in utter darkness; all of earth's foundations shake.
4.	⁶ Gods you are, I have declared it, sons now of the Highest, all; ⁷ yet you'll die as common men die and like any prince shall fall.
5.	⁸ Now, O God, arise we pray you,and the earth to judgment call; For you, as your own possession, shall inherit nations all.

4/10/11

Psalm 81

1 To God our Strength, to Jacob's God,
   a song and shout now raise!
2 With psalm and timbrel, harp, and lute,
   awake to joyous praise!
3 At each new moon the trumpets blow
   for solemn festal days.

4 This is the law of Jacob's God,
   for Isr'el his command.
5 This witness he for Joseph set
   when smiting Egypt's land.
   When there I heard a foreign tongue
   I could not understand.

6 I from his shoulder took the load,
   his hands from burdens freed.
7 You called me when in trouble sore;
   I saved you in your need,
   tried you at streams of Meribah;
   in thunder I gave heed. [Selah]

8 Hear, O my people! Is-ra-el;
   'Gainst you I'll testify.
   If only you would hear me now!
9 On no strange god rely;
   have none near you; don't worship them.
10 The LORD your God am I.

   I brought you up from Egypt's land;
   your opened mouth I'll fill.
11 My people would not hear my voice;
   my Isr'el spurned me still.
12 I left them to their stubborn heart,
   to walk by their own will.

13 O that my people would me hear
   and Isr'el choose my way!
14 How soon I would their foes subdue!
   My outstretched hand I'd lay
   upon their adversaries all,
   to fill them with dismay.

15 Then all who hate the LORD would cringe,
16 in fear and dread abide.
   But Isr'el with the finest wheat
   he'd always keep supplied.
   And I with honey from the rock
   would keep you satisfied.

Tune: All hail the Power of Jesus' Name

4/09/11

Psalm 80

1. Hear, O hear us, Israel's Shepherd, Who drives forth Joseph like a flock! 
From the cherubim O shine forth! Rise in valor that we be saved! 
So arise in sight of Ephraim, and Manasseh and Benjamin! 
God, we pray, O turn us! Bring us back! 
Make Your face shine, and we are saved! 

2. O how long, LORD God of Armies, burns Your wrath at Your people's prayer! 
With the bread of tears You feed them, and full measure of tears they drink! 
Strife You make us to our neighbors, and our foes laugh at us in scorn! 
God of Armies, turn us! Bring us back! 
Make Your face shine, and we are saved! 

3. You brought forth a vine from Egypt, and to plant it drove nations out. 
You made room to root it deeply, and it flourished and filled the land. 
Then its shadow wrapped the mountains, and its boughs hid the cedars tall! 
To the sea it thrust great branches forth. 
And young shoots to the mighty stream! 

4. Why have You torn down its fences? It is plucked by each passing hand! 
Forest boars have gnawed upon it, and wild creatures have pastured there! 
Turn again, O God of Armies! Look from heav'n! Visit this Your vine! 
So uphold what your right hand did plant, 
And the son You raised up in strength. 

5. It is burned and hewn in pieces - by Your frown will they be destroyed! 
Lay Your hand on him You favored, Son of man that You raised in strength! 
Then from You we will not wander; make us live! We will call Your name! 
O LORD God of Armies, turn us back! 
Make Your face shine, and we are saved!

Tune: Bryn Calfaria

Psalm 79 (first half)

1.	¹ O God, to your inheritance the heathen entrance made; they have defiled your house, in heaps have Salem laid.
2.	² Your servants' bodies they have cast to fowls of heav'n for meat; the flesh of your dear saints they gave wild beasts to eat.
3.	³ Their blood about Jerusalem like water they have shed; and there was none to bury them when they were dead.
4.	⁴ To all our neighbors we've become a scorn and a reproach a laughingstock to all who now on us encroach.
5.	⁵ How long, O LORD? Your wrath toward us will you forever turn? and will your fire-like jealousy forever burn?
6.	⁶ On heathen kingdoms pour your wrath, who call not on your name, ⁷ for Jacob they devour, and waste his fields with flame.
7.	⁸ Remember not our fathers' sins, which guilt on us bestow. Let your compassion soon meet us, brought very low. best tunes are Holy Cross 86.84 or Fair Haven 86.84

4/08/11

Psalm 78 (first part)

1.	¹ O you my people, to my law Attentively give ear; The words that from my mouth proceed Incline yourselves to hear. ² My mouth shall speak a parable, The sayings dark of old, ³ Which we have listened to and known As by our fathers told.
2.	⁴ We will not hide them from their sons But tell the race to come Jehovah's praises and His strength, The wonders He has done. ⁵ His word He unto Jocob gave, His law to Israel, And bade our fathers teach their sons ⁶ The coming race to tell,
3.	That children yet unborn might know And their descendants lead ⁷ To trust in God, recall God's works, And His commandments heed, ⁸ And not be like their fathers were, A race of stubborn mood, Which never would prepare its heart Nor keep its faith with God. This is all for now -- express interest and I will post some more...

Psalm 77

Ps.77

1 I cry to God to hear and help;
2 I sought you when distressed;
through all the night I stretched my hands;
   my soul refused to rest.
3 I thought of you, O God, and groaned;
   and, musing, felt quite weak;
4 you kept sleep far from me, yet I
   too troubled was to speak.

5 I thought of days and years gone by,
   recalled my song at night;
6 I meditated in my heart,
   my spirit searched for light.
7 Forever will the Lord cast off?
   His favor show no more?
8 Forever has his mercy gone?
   Is his word now no more?

9 Has God forgotten all his grace
   and his compassions kind?
   Or can it be his mercies all
   he has in wrath withdrawn?

10 Then I replied: "Such questions show
     my own infirmity.
    The right hand of the Mighty God
    through years must changeless be."

11 The LORD's deeds I will celebrate;
     your works of old recall.
12 I'll ponder all that you have done,
     think on your wonders all.
13 O God, most holy is your way;
     what god is like our God?
14 O God of miracles; your strength
     you have made known abroad.

15 You have redeemed your people all,
     your arm's strength you have shown;
     your people sons of Jacob are,
     and Joseph is your own.
16 The waters saw you, God, and feared;
     the deeps were all convulsed.
17 The clouds burst and the thunder pealed;
     your arrows brightly flashed.

18 Your thunder rolled around the heav'ns;
     your lightnings lit the sky;
     the earth was trembling fearfully:
19 your way led through the sea.
     You cut your path through mighty floods,
     no footprints left behind.
20 By Moses and by Aaron you
     your flock led by their hand.
Auld Lang Syne CMD

4/05/11

Psalm 76 Paraphase

God is known among His people,

Every mouth His praises fill;

From of old He hath established

His abode on Zion's hill;

There He broke the sword and arrow,

Bade the noise of war be still.

Excellent and glorious art Thou,

With Thy trophies from the fray;

Thou hast slain the valiant-hearted,

Wrapt in sleep of death are they;

When Thy anger once is risen,

Who can stand in that dread day.

When from heaven Thy sentence sounded,

All the earth in fear was still,

While to save the meek and lowly

God in judgment wrought His will;

E'en the wrath of men shall praise Thee,

Thy designs it shall fulfill.

Vow and pay ye to Jehovah,

Him your God forever own;

All men, bring your gifts before Him,

Worship Him, and Him alone;

Mighty kings obey and fear Him,

Princes bow before His throne.

Tune:

https://www.opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=212

4/04/11

Psalm 75

1. To you, O God, we render thanks, to you give thanks sincere,
because your wondrous works declare that your great name is near.

2. When my appointed time is come, I'll judge with even hand.

3. Though earth and all its dwellers melt, I make its pillars stand.

4. I to the boastful said, "Boast not!" to vile men, "Lift no horn!

5. Do not lift up your horn on high, nor speak with neck of scorn!"

6. For not from east nor west nor wilds comes exaltation nigh,

7. for God is judge, debasing one, another raising high.

8. The LORD pours out a foaming cup which well-mixed wine contains,

and every wicked one on earth must drink; the dregs he drains.

9. But I will tell it evermore, to Jacob's God sing praise;

10. all horns of sinners I'll cut off, but just men's horns I'll raise.

Here's a possible tune (with the 1912 paraphrase words): Farrant C.M.

4/03/11

Psalm 74

A Maskil of Asaph Tune: Leaf 86.866.

1. Why God forever cast us off?

Why does your anger burn against the flock of your own field;

2. Recall your gathered ones you purchased from of old.

Remember them that you redeemed, your tribe and heritage, and Zion's mount where you did dwell.

3. O turn your steps to walk where ruin is complete!

Your foes laid waste the holy place; 4. they shouted in your halls; they set their alien emblems up; 5. it seemed as if an axe had cut down forest trees.

6. With pikes they broke the carven work; 7. the holy place they burned. The place you made your name to dwell, now even to the ground they have profaned and razed.

8. [ To be continued]

Psalm 73

¹ God's surely good to Israel, to every one whose heart is pure.
² but as for me, I nearly fell; my footsteps were no longer sure.
³ For I was envious of the proud and wicked ones with wealth endowed.

⁴ For till their death no pangs they know; their strength is firm from day to day;
⁵ they have no part in others' woe, nor plagued as mortal men are they.
⁶ They make their necklace arrogance, and clothe themselves with violence.

⁷ Their eyes are bulging from excess; their hearts o'er flow with dreams they seek.
⁸ They scoff; they threaten to oppress; disdainful words they proudly speak.
⁹ Their mouth the heights of heaven raids; their tongue around the world parades.

¹⁰ His people therefore this way turn and drink their streams that overflow.
¹¹ "For how," they say, "can God discern?" And does the Most High really know?"
¹² Behold, ungodly men are these, who gain in wealth and live at ease.

¹³ Then surely I have toiled in vain to cleanse my heart from all offense,
and vainly from each guilty stain have washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴ Still grievous plagues all day I've borne and have been chastened every morn.

¹⁵ If I would let my thoughts lead me to speak with doubting words this way,
behold, the children called by thee I certainly would then betray.
¹⁶ But though the facts I tried to see the problem deeply troubled me.

Tune: Vader Unser *

¹⁷ Then came I to God's sanctuary and there considered well their end.
¹⁸ They're set on slipp'ry ground by thee, and them to ruin thou dost send.
¹⁹ How rapidly destroyed are they, by sudden terrors swept away!

²⁰ As one who from a dream awakes, their form, O Lord, thou wilt despise.
²¹ So when my heart with grieving breaks, and bitter thoughts within me rise,
²² I senseless am, and blind within; a beast before thee I have been.

9.	²³ Yet evermore I am with thee;thou holdest me by my right hand. ²⁴ And thou, ev'n thou, my guide shalt be; thy counsel shall my way command; and afterward in glory bright shalt thou receive me to thy sight.
10.	²⁵ For whom have I in heav'n but thee? None else on earth I long to know. ²⁶ My flesh may faint and weary be; my heart may fail and heavy grow; with strength doth God my heart restore; he is my portion evermore.
11.	²⁷ They perish that are far from thee; Lo, in their lewdness they shall die. ²⁸ But surely it is good for me that unto God I should draw nigh. I refuge take in GOD the Lord, that all thy works I may record.

For second half: Tune: St Petersburg 8.8.8.8.8.8

"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"

4/01/11

Psalm 72 paraphrase

Christ's kingdom among the Gentiles.

1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

2 Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at his feet.

3 There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barb'rous nations at his word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.

4 For him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

5 People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his name.

6 Blessings abound where'er he reigns,
The pris'ner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

7 Where he displays his healing power
Death and the curse are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

8 Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the long Amen.

By Isaac Watts

Tune: Duke Street L.M.

3/28/11

Let's review the Psalms we have sung and prayed in March or how about this song?

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Found this on a blog

3/25/11

Psalm 71

1 In you, O LORD, I refuge take;
   Ashamed let me not be;
2 O save me in your righteousness,
   Give ear, and rescue me.

3 O be my rock, my dwelling place,
   my constant safe resort.
   You my salvation have ordained;
   You are my rock and fort.

4 Free me, my God, from wicked hands,
   Hands cruel and unjust;
5 You, Lord Jehovah, are my hope;
   From youth you are my trust.

6 For I have been sustained by you
   through birth and early days;
   Brought from my mother's womb by you,
   I'll give you constant praise.

7 To many I a wonder am;
   You are my refuge strong.
8 My mouth is brimming with your praise
   and honor all day long.

9 Do not reject me in the time
   when old age I shall see;
   And in my days of failing strength
   do not abandon me.

10 For those who are my enemies
   against me evil speak;
   Those who are watching for my life
   united counsel seek.

11 They say, "God has forsaken him!"
   Pursue him! None will save!"
12 O God, do not be far from me;
   My God, your help I crave.

13 Let adversaries of my soul
   disgraced and wasted be,
   All covered with reproach and shame
   who seek to injure me.

14 But I with lasting confidence
   will hope through all my days,
   And I will add still more and more
   O God, to all your praise.

15 All day my mouth your righteousness
   and your salvation show,
   For proofs of them are far beyond
   the numbers which I know.

16 For I will go forth in the strength
   of you, Jehovah Lord;
   Your righteousness, and yours alone,
   abroad I will record.

17 O God, I have been taught by you
   ev'n from my days of youth;
   And all the wonders you have done
   I still declare as truth.

18 So now, when I am old and gray,
   O God, forsake me not,
   Until your strength and power
   I have each generation taught.

19 Your perfect righteousness, O God,
   The heights of heav'n exceeds;
   O who is like to you, who has
   performed such mighty deeds?

20 You who before have made me see
   Much evil and distress
   Will me revive and bring me up
   from depths which me depress.

21 Increase my greatness, turn again,
   And comfort to me bring.
22 Then with a harp I'll give You thanks;
   my God, your truth I'll sing.

   O Holy One of Israel, with harp
   your psalms I'll bring;
23 My lips will shout; my ransomed soul
   in psalms to you will sing.

24 My tongue will also celebrate
   your justice all day long;
   For they are humbled and ashamed
   who seek to do me wrong.


Psalm (adapted from The Book of Psalms for Singing) Sheet Music: Contemplation C. M.

3/24/11

Psalm 70

*	¹ O God, deliver me. LORD, speed your help to me; ² and let all those who seek my soul ashamed and humbled be.
	Turned back be they, disgraced, that in my hurt delight; ³ appalled by their own shame be they who say, "A-ha", in spite.
	⁴ Let all who seek you joy and glad in you abide. Let those who your salvation love say, "God be magnified."
	⁵ In need am I and poor; O God, make haste I pray; my Help and my Deliverer, O LORD, do not delay. *for the director of music. Of David. To bring to remembrance. Leominister S.M.D.

3/22/11

Psalm 69

Ps.69
To the choir director. according to Soshannim. A psalm of David.

1 Save me, God! For waters rise up to my neck.

2 I'm sinking in mud, and no foothold can find;

the deep flooding waters sweep over my soul;

3 I'm weary from crying; my throat is inflamed.

My eyesight is failing as I wait for God.

4 My foes are so many and hate without cause;

those wanting me dead are all treacherous foes,

so they make me pay back what I did not take.

5 O God you know well that I'm not free of sin;

my guilty misdeeds are not hidden from you;

6 but let those who trust you, O Lord GOD of hosts,

not be disappointed because of my sake.

Yes, let those who seek you, O Is-ra-el's God,
not be shamed, defeated, because of my sake,
7 because for your sake I have borne this reproach;
for your sake my face is now covered with shame.

8 I have to my brothers a stranger become,
a foreigner I to my own mother's sons.
9 It's zeal for your house that has eaten me up:
the insults intended for you fall on me.

10 I wept and I fasted, but they scoffed at me;
11 I put on rough sackcloth, they made me a joke;
12 they in public places speak evil of me;
and drunkards sing songs that revile my name.

13 Yet I pray to you, LORD, for you're well disposed;
   O God, in your love send your sure help to me.
14 Lift me from the mud so that I do not sink;
   O save from my foes, from the watery depths.

15 O let not the floodwaters sweep me away,
   the deep me engulf, and the pit close o'er me.
16 But answer me, LORD, in your covenant love,
and in your great mercy come now to my aid.

17 O hide not your face from your servant in need;
18 give answer with speed; and come near to redeem.
19 Free me from my foes for you know my reproach,
my shame and dishonour; you see all my foes.

20 Reproaches my heart break; I am in despair;
for pity and comfort I hope, but find none.
21 They offer to me bitter gall as my food,
and vinegar give me to quench my great thirst.

22 The place where they eat meals - may it be a snare;
the place where they feel safe - may it be a trap;
23 and may their eyes dim so that they cannot see;
may their backs be trembling so that they collapse.

24 On them pour your wrath, yes, your anger most hot.
25 Their dwellings break down and leave none in their tents.
26 For they persecute those chastised by your hand;
they jest at the pain of those wounded by you.

27 Add to all their evil the evil it brings;
let them have no share in your pardoning grace.
28 Let them be deleted from your book of life;
inscribe not their names with the names of the just.

29 Afflicted, in pain, God, your help keeps me safe.
30 I'll sing to God's name and exalt him with praise.
31 This will please the LORD more than best fattened beasts,
than oxen and bulls each with horns and with hooves.

32 The humble will see this, with gladness rejoice;
and those who seek God find their hearts are revived.
33 The LORD hears the poor and his captives spurns not;
34 so creatures of heaven and earth praise his name.

Let seas and sea creatures his praises raise too;
35 for God will save Zion, restore Judah's towns.
36 His servants, their children, will dwell there secure;
yes, all those who love him will dwell with him there.

3/21/11

Psalm 68

Ps. 68

Tune: Old 124th (10.10.10.10.10)

1 God shall arise, his foes be put to flight;

those hating him shall flee before his face.

2 As smoke is blown you'll drive them right away;

even as wax before the fire melts,

so perish wicked ones before our God.

3 But the just joy, in God's sight they exult;

yes, they rejoice, rejoice exceedingly.

4 O sing to God, sing praises to his name;

for him who rides in deserts make a road;

he is the LORD; before his face rejoice!

5 Father of fatherless, the widow's help

is God who dwells within the holy place.

6 God brings the lonely into families,

leads forth the pris'ners into happiness;

only the rebels stay in desert parts.

7 O God, when you went forth before your folk,

when through the wilderness you marched along,

8 the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain,

before the Strong God, God of Si-na-i!

Before the Strong God, God of Is-ra-el!

9 O God, you give abundant rain to us;

so you refresh your weary heritage.

10 Your children settle in the land you gave,

and in your bounty, O Almighty One,

you, for your poor and needy ones provide.

11 The sovereign Lord commanded victory;

the women crowd about to bring the news:

12 The kings and armies are in headlong flight;

13 housewives and shepherds in the plunder share:

trophies of silver and of finest gold.”

14 When the Almighty scattered all these kings,

it seemed as if snow covered the Black Mount;

15 the God-like mount, the jagged Bashan range -

16 why gaze in envy at God's home in Zion?

Surely, the LORD will there forever dwell.

17 God's chariots are thousands multiplied;

The Lord's here, Si-nai's in the holy place.

18 You've gone on high, led captives in your train;

as gifts you took men, even rebels proud,

so that the LORD God may among them dwell.

19 O bles-sed be the sovereign Lord of all,

who day by day our heavy burden bears;

the Mighty God is our salvation sure.

20 God is for us a God of saving deeds;

to GOD the Lord belongs escape from death.

21 Yes, God will shatter his foes' head, the skull
22 of those who practice sin; for the Lord says:
"I'll bring them back from Bashan or seas deep,
23 so that you may your feet wash in their blood,
and that your dogs may have their portion too."

24 Your triumph march, O God, comes into view,
my God and King's march to the holy place:
25 In front go singers, minstrels come behind,
maidens surround and beat their tambourines.
26 "O in the great assemblies praise our God!"

"Yes, praise the LORD; he's Isr'el's fountainhead."
27 There's little Benjamin - a ruler strong;
and there's the throng of Judah's princes great,
there also are the great of Zebulun,
there, too the princes of Naphtali's tribe.

28 Your God, O Isr'el, has ordained your strength;
so, God, us strengthen as you've done before.
29 Let kings to you present rich offerings
because your dwelling at Jerusalem
above the city stands in majesty.

30 Rebuke that Beast of Reeds, the herd of bulls
with bullocks of the nations at its heels;
brought low may it bring silver tribute bars.
O scatter nations who delight in war.
31 Egypt sends envoys! Cush submits to God!

32 Sing praise to God you kingdoms of the earth;
yes, sing true praises to the sovereign Lord,
33 to him who rides upon the ancient heav'ns;
lo, hear him speak with mighty thunderings.
34 Proclaim the power of the Mighty God.

His majesty is over Is-ra-el;
his mighty pow'r is in the skies above.
35 O God, you're awesome in your holy place;
the God of Isr'el gives great strength and might
to his own people; therefore praise God's name.

Tune: Old 124th (10.10.10.10.10)

3/20/11

Psalm 67

Ps.67
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

tune: Meirionydd 7.6.7.6.D

1 O God, to us show mercy

and bless us in your grace;

O cause to shine upon us

the brightness of your face;

2 So that your way most holy

on earth may soon be known,

and unto ev'ry people

your saving grace be shown.

3 O God, let peoples praise you,

let all the people sing;

4 Let nations now be joyful;

let songs of gladness ring;

for you will judge the peoples

in truth and righteousness,

and through the earth the nations

shall your just rule confess.

5 O God, let peoples praise you,

let all the people sing;

6 for earth in rich abundance

to us her fruit shall bring.

God our own God will bless us,

our God will blessing send,

and all the earth shall fear him

to its remotest end.