psalm favorites

Fraught with error, but a worthwhile endeavour.


Ps 144 v 9-15 West Burn

(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland)

( L.M.)
1 All nations, clap your hands and shout!
Let joyful cries to God ring out!
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High,
Great King who rules the earth throughout!

3 He has subdued beneath our feet
The nations who had been our foes.
4 In blessing Jacob, whom he loved,
A heritage for us he chose.

5 God has gone up with shouts of joy,
The LORD amid the trumpets’ sound.
6 Sing praise, sing praise to God Most High;
To God our King let praise abound.

7 For God is King of all the earth;
Sing psalms of praise to him alone.
8 God rules the nations from on high;
He sits upon his holy throne.

9 The leaders of the nations come
To yield themselves to Abr’ham’s God.
To him belong the shields of earth;
Exalted greatly is the LORD!

Psalm 47 (Tune: Church Triumphant)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms
Recorded @ Singing the Reformation 2016
www.churchservicesociety.org/singing-re…ation-2016

Text: William Kethe, Scottish Psalter (Charteris 1596; Smyth 1599)
Scots performing edition: Jamie Reid Baxter
Setting in Reports: Scottish Psalter 1635, ed. Mick Swithinbank
Tune: German Psalter, 1526 via Calvin's Psalter, 1539 & Scottish Psalter, 1564 
Meter: LM Triple

1  Ye children which do serve the Lord,
      praise ye his Name with one accord;
         Yea, bless-ed be alway his Name,
      Who from the rising of the sun,
      Till it return where it begins,
         is to be praisèd with great fame.
      The Lord all people doth surmount
      as for his glory we may count,
         Above the heavens high to be.
      With God the Lord who can compare,
      Whose dwellings in the heavens are?
         of such great pow'r and force is he. 

   2  He doth abase himself we know,
      things to behold on earth below,
         And also in the heav'n above:
      The needy out of dust to draw,
      Also the poor which help none saw;
         his mercy only did him move:
      And so did set him up on high,
      with princes of great dignity,
         That rule his people with great fame.
      The barren he doth make to bear.
      And with great joy her fruit to rear;
         therefore praise ye his holy Name!


This represents a body of settings which are called Psalms in Reports. They frame the Kirk part in the context of a simple form of polyphonic writing which is designed to be used in conjunction with a skilled group of sang schule singers rendering the treble, alto and bass parts. They could stand as items only delivered by the sang schule as a type of anthem, or be sung with the congregation taking the kirk part. Although these settings are more elaborate than the basic settings in the Psalters, they retain the emphasis on clarity of word setting whilst adding another aesthetic dimension to Reformed worship. This arrangement of Psalm 113 is one of eight settings in reports found in the 1635 Psalter, edited by Edward Millar, master of music of the Scottish Chapel Royal. Although it is unattributed, the music has been identified as the work of Claude Goudimel and can be found in his Les 150 Psaumes, set to the text of Psalm 68 in the Huguenot Psalter.)

Psalm 113 - Scottish Psalter (1564)

(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). 1998 Glasgow Psalm Singing Recital.
Meter: 86.886

1 O LORD, give ear to what I say;
think on me as I sigh,
2 And listen, O my King and God,
As I plead earnestly for help,
because to you I cry.

3 At dawning of the day, O LORD,
you listen to my plea;
As morning light returns again,
I lay before you my requests
and wait expectantly.

4 For you are not a God who will
in evil take delight;
With you the wicked cannot dwell,
5 Nor can the proud and boastful stay
one moment in your sight.

You hate all those who practise wrong,
6 and liars you destroy.
These are the ones the LORD abhors—
All who go thirsting after blood
and who deceit employ.

7 But by your mercy and your grace
to your house I’ll draw near;
I will bow down in reverence
Towards your holy temple, LORD,
and worship you in fear.

ThePsalmsSung.org

Psalm 5 (Tune: Binney)

Sheet music & lyrics: http://allsaints-church.com/files/music-pdf/74.pdf
Sung by  Mr Michael E. Owens
Tune Information:
Arranger:	Leopold L. Dix (1861-1935)
Meter:	6.6.6.6 D

Adapted from the book of psalms for singing.

Cantus Christi

Psalm 40 (Tune: Fingal)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms
(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland).  2003 Inverness Festival of Psalm Singing. (Meter: LM)

1 To you I call, O LORD my Rock;
Do not be deaf to my loud cry.
I’ll be like those gone down to death,
If you are silent in reply.

2 Receive my plea for mercy, LORD,
As now I call to you for grace,
As I lift up my hands in prayer
And look to your Most Holy Place.

6 Praise to the LORD, for he has heard
The plea for mercy which I made.
7 He is my strength, he is my shield;
I trust in him who sends me aid.

9 LORD, save your people, your own flock;
Be pleased your heritage to bless.
Be their good shepherd; carry them
For ever in your faithfulness.

Psalm 28 v1-2, 6-9 (Tune: Walton)

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(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). 2000 Inverness Festival of Psalm Singing.
Meter: 66.66.88

7 The perfect law of God
Revives the soul of man;
His statutes which are sure
Make wise the simple one.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right
And fill the heart with great delight.

God’s radiant commands
Shed light on what we see;
9 The fear of God is pure
And lasts eternally.
The standards of the LORD express
His perfect truth and righteousness.

10 Of far more worth than gold—
Than much pure gold—they are;
Than honey from the comb,
Than honey sweeter far.
11 They warn the servant of the LORD;
In keeping them is great reward.

Psalm 19 v7-11 (Tune: Love Unknown)

"Rescue Me" is a new song from the latest Praise and Harmony album, "Reigning God" written by Keith Lancaster. It's taken from Psalm 17. You can order it online here: https://acappella.org/store/praise-and-harmony/reigning-god/

Psalm 17 (Composed by Keith Lancaster)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms
(reproduced with permission) Copyright: Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland). Recorded at a Free Church Psalmody Recital.
(Meter:  L.M. )

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
From him comes my salvation sure.
2 My safety, fortress, sheltering rock—
In him alone I am secure.

3 How long will you assault a man?
Do you all seek to lay him low—
This leaning wall, this tottering fence—
And bring about his overthrow?

4 They plan his fall from his high place;
They take delight in spreading lies.
With false and flattering mouths they bless,
But in their hearts curse and despise.

5 Find rest, my soul, in God alone;
In him my hope is ever sure.
6 My safety, fortress, sheltering rock—
In him alone I am secure

Psalm 62 v1-6 (Tune: Fossebridge)

Support the psalms: www.patreon.com/psalms

Recorded at 29rd Glasgow Psalmody Recital 1998(reproduced with permission) Copyright:  PSALM 119 Part 22, Sing Psalms 2003 (Produced by the Free Church of Scotland)
Meter: (99.99 anapaestic)

169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD;
Give me insight as pledged in your word.
170 May my pleading gain access to you;
Save my life, as you promised to do.

171 May my lips overflow with your praise,
For you teach me your statutes always.
172 May my tongue sing aloud of your word;
Your commandments are righteous, O LORD.

173 May your hand be stretched out for my aid,
Since by choice your commands I’ve obeyed.
174 I desire your salvation to see,
And your law is delightful to me.

175 Let me live and I’ll praise you in song;
May your laws give me help to go on.
176 Seek your servant who strayed like a sheep,
For your precepts I steadfastly keep.

Psalm 119 Part 22 (Tune: Mulchaich)

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms
Recorded @ Singing the Reformation 2016
http://www.churchservicesociety.org/singing-reformation-2016

Text: William Kethe, Scottish Psalter (Charteris 1596; Smyth 1599)
Scots performing edition: Jamie Reid Baxter
Melody: Scottish Psalter, 1564, ed. Mick Swithinbank
Original source: Cinquante Pseaulmes, 1547

Psalm 107 - Scottish Psalter of 1564

Support the psalms - www.patreon.com/join/psalms

psalm favorites

Amelia Takiura