Psalm Tunes

A selection of Psalms from the Scottish Psalter.

The Psalms Sung - Volume 4

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Text from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650.
Recorded at Glasgow RP Church

17 I shall not die, but live, and shall
the works of God discover.
18 The Lord hath me chastised sore,
but not to death giv'n over.

19 O set ye open unto me
the gates of righteousness;
Then will I enter into them,
and I the Lord will bless.

20 This is the gate of God, by it
the just shall enter in.
21 Thee will I praise, for thou me heard'st
and hast my safety been.

Psalm 118 v17-21 (Tune: Ericstane)

From the Scottish psalter of 1650
Recording used by permission of the free Church of Scotland Psalmody committee

1  My heart is fixed, Lord; I will sing,
       and with my glory praise.
 2  Awake up psaltery and harp;
       myself I'll early raise.

 3  I'll praise thee 'mong the people, Lord;
       'mong nations sing will I:
 4  For above heav'n thy mercy's great,
       thy truth doth reach the sky.

 5  Be thou above the heavens, Lord,
       exalted gloriously;
    Thy glory all the earth above
       be lifted up on high.

 6  That those who thy beloved are
       deliver-ed may be,
    O do thou save with thy right hand,
       and answer give to me.


Psalm 108 (Tune: Warrick)

Text: Scottish Psalter (1650) Recorded at Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland (Meter: CM)

  3  His work most honourable is,
       most glorious and pure,
    And his untainted righteousness
       for ever doth endure.

 4  His works most wonderful he hath
       made to be thought upon:
    The Lord is gracious, and he is
       full of compassion.

Psalm 111 (Tune: St Stephen aka Abridge)

Recorded during evening worship @ Airdrie RPCS 2010

1     The mighty God, the Lord,
         hath spoken, and did call
      The earth, from rising of the sun,
         to where he hath his fall.

   2     From out of Zion hill,
         which of excellency
      And beauty the perfection is,
         God shined gloriously.

   3     Our God shall surely come,
         keep silence shall not he:
      Before him fire shall waste, great storms
         shall round about him be.

   4     Unto the heavens clear
         he from above shall call,
      And to the earth likewise, that he
         may judge his people all.

   5     Together let my saints
         unto me gathered be,
      Those that by sacrifice have made
         a covenant with me.

   6     And then the heavens shall
         his righteousness declare:
      Because the Lord himself is he
         by whom men judged are.

Psalm 50 v1-6 (Tune: Carlisle)

This track has a predominate bass singer in the foreground however, the rest of the congregation can be heard in the background.

Psalm 118 - Coleshill

1  Hear, Isr'el's Shepherd! like a flock
         thou that dost Joseph guide;
      Shine forth, O thou that dost between
         the cherubims abide.

   2  In Ephraim's, and Benjamin's
         and in Manasseh's sight,
      O come for our salvation;
         stir up thy strength and might.

   3  Turn us again, O Lord our God,
         and upon us vouchsafe
      To make thy countenance to shine,
         and so we shall be safe.

   4  O Lord of hosts, almighty God,
         how long shall kindled be
      Thy wrath against the prayer made
         by thine own folk to thee? 

   7  Turn us again, O God of hosts,
         and upon us vouchsafe
      To make thy countenance to shine,
         and so we shall be safe.

Psalm 80 v1-7 (Tune: Evan)

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5  His testimony and his law
         in Isr'el he did place,
      And charged our fathers it to show
         to their succeeding race;

   6  That so the race which was to come
         might well them learn and know;
      And sons unborn, who should arise,
         might to their sons them show:

   7  That they might set their hope in God,
         and suffer not to fall
      His mighty works out of their mind,
         but keep his precepts all:

   8  And might not, like their fathers, be
         a stiff rebellious race;
      A race not right in heart; with God
         whose sp'rit not steadfast was.

From the Scottish Psalter of 1650

Psalm 78 v5-8 (Tune: Argyle)

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Psalm 139 sung acapella from the Scottish Psalter (1650) Recorded at Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland (Meter: CM)

1  O Lord, thou hast me searched and known.
 2      Thou know'st my sitting down,
    And rising up; yea, all my thoughts
       afar to thee are known.

  4  For in my tongue, before I speak,
       not any word can be,
    But altogether, lo, O Lord,
       it is well known to thee.

 7  From thy Sp'rit whither shall I go?
       or from thy presence fly?
 8  Ascend I heav'n, lo, thou art there;
       there, if in hell I lie.

 9  Take I the morning wings, and dwell
       in utmost parts of sea;
10  Ev'n there, Lord, shall thy hand me lead,
       thy right hand hold shall me.

Psalm 139 (Tune: St Columba)

This tune is usually sung to Psalm 80, Psalm 35, Psalm 119 Part 3.

Evan Bass (CM)

Argyle Bass (CM)

Text from the Scottish Psalter of 1650

 32  O all ye kingdoms of the earth,
         sing praises to this King;
      For he is Lord that ruleth all,
         unto him praises sing.

  33  To him that rides on heav'ns of heav'ns,
         which he of old did found;
      Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice
         in might that doth abound.

  34  Strength unto God do ye ascribe;
         for his excellency
      Is over Israel, his strength
         is in the clouds most high.
  
35  Thou'rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;
         Isr'el's own God is he,
      Who gives his people strength and pow'r:
         O let God blessed be.

Psalm 68 (Tune: Sheffield)

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Psalm 107 sung acapella from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650.
Singing by Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland. (Meter: CM)

 3  And gathered them out of the lands,
       from north, south, east, and west.
 4  They strayed in desert's pathless way,
       no city found to rest.

 5  For thirst and hunger in them faints
 6     their soul. When straits them press,
    They cry unto the Lord, and he
       them frees from their distress.

 7  Them also in a way to walk
       that right is he did guide,
    That they might to a city go,
       wherein they might abide.

 8  O that men to the Lord would give
       praise for his goodness then,
    And for his works of wonder done
       unto the sons of men!

 9  For he the soul that longing is
       doth fully satisfy;
    With goodness he the hungry soul
       doth fill abundantly.

Psalm 107 v3-9  (Tune: Newington)

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Psalm 18 sung acapella from the Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650.
Singing by Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland. (Meter: CM)

28  The Lord will light my candle so,
         that it shall shine full bright:
      The Lord my God will also make
         my darkness to be light.  

  29  By thee through troops of men I break,
         and them discomfit all;
      And, by my God assisting me,
         I overleap a wall.

31  Who but the Lord is God? but he
         who is a rock and stay?
  32  'Tis God that girdeth me with strength,
         and perfect makes my way.

 35  The shield of thy salvation
         thou didst on me bestow:
      Thy right hand held me up, and great
         thy kindness made me grow.

Psalm 18 (Tune: Warwick)

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Psalm 50 v1-6 (Tune: Carlisle)

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