A word for word rendering of Psalm 77:1-10 ESV

A Psalm of Asaph. 

Written between 1025-950 BC by Asaph. 

There were a number of Levites that King David assigned as worship leaders in the tabernacle choir, according to 1 Chronicles 6:31–32. Asaph was one of these men. Both Asaph and David are described in the word as skilled musicians. Asaph is also mentioned as a “seer” or prophet. 

The man was very impressive, but not as impressive as the God he glorifies with his music.

Musical instruction:
Verse Chords: D, Bm, D, Bm, Em, A
Chorus Chords: D, Bm, D, Bm, G, A, D, Bm
Capo: 1

Performed and recorded by Mike Neff on 3.27.24

Psalm 77:1-10 - Mike Neff

A word for word rendering of Psalm 77:11-20 ESV

A Psalm of Asaph. 

Written between 1025-950 BC by Asaph. 

There were a number of Levites that King David assigned as worship leaders in the tabernacle choir, according to 1 Chronicles 6:31–32. Asaph was one of these men. Both Asaph and David are described in the word as skilled musicians. Asaph is also mentioned as a “seer” or prophet. 

The man was very impressive, but not as impressive as the God he glorifies with his music.

Musical instruction:
Verse Chords: G, E
Chorus Chords: D, Em, D, C
Capo: 1

Performed and recorded by Mike Neff on 3.28.24

Psalm 77:11-20

A word for word rendering of Psalm 88 ESV

“A SONG. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. TO THE CHOIRMASTER:
ACCORDING TO MAHALATH LEANNOTH. A MASKIL OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE.”

Musical instruction:
Capo: 1

Verse Chords: 
D, Em

Chorus Chords: 
G, A, D, Bm
G, A, D 
G, A, D, Bm
G, A, D

Written likely sometime between 1025-950 BC by Heman the Ezrahite - Grandson of Samuel the Prophet. 

Summary from GotQuestions.org…

It is clear from this title that Heman was from “the sons of Korah,” meaning from the family of Korah, and that Heman was likely both a songwriter and musician. Heman worked closely with King David and is also named a seer in 1 Chronicles 25:5.

Heman of Psalm 88 is a Levite mentioned with his family line in 1 Chronicles 6:33: “From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel.”

Heman was the grandson of Samuel, the final judge of Israel who anointed King Saul and King David. In addition, Heman is listed as one of three main musicians appointed by King David “for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1).

Heman’s family was well known, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25:4–6: “As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. (All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.) All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.” His musical family of fourteen sons and three daughters was prominent during the reign of King David.

Heman and his family were also present when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem: “All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets” (2 Chronicles 5:12). Heman and the other Levites were formally dressed, sang, and played instruments at this time.

It seems that Heman was still serving during the time of King Solomon, son of David. Heman was considered very wise. Solomon, the wisest of all, was compared to Heman: “He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman” (1 Kings 4:31).

Performed and recorded on 4.14.24

Psalm 88

A word for word rendering of Psalm 91 ESV

Musical instruction:
Capo: 3

Verse Chords: 
Em, A, F#m, Bm

PreChorus Chords: 
G, A, F#m, Bm

Chorus Chords: 
G, Gm, D

Likely written by Moses sometime between 1446 BC and 1406 BC. And probably later arranged by David. 

Moses was the man of God, who lead the people of Israel out of slavery, by signs of devastating power in the ten plagues God wrought. 

He is the one who stretched out his hands and was allowed to part the Red Sea! 

Who spoke with God face to face in the ten of meeting and was given the true eye witness account of the creation of the world from the one who made it and was gifted with the beautiful task of recording the perfect history of the founding of the children of men. 

He was so loved by God that the Lord’s vengeance was immediate on every one of his enemies who rose up against him. 

Moses was also the meekest man on the earth at the time he lived as declared by God himself. And the Lord himself was the only one deemed worthy enough to attend his funeral.  

Even the body of Moses was precious to the Lord and he sent his chief commander of the armies of heaven, the Archangel, MICHAEL, to personally safe-keep it from the hands of the devil. 

I love this man.

Performed and recorded on 4.21.24

Psalm 91

A word for word rendering of Psalm 92 ESV

A PSALM, A SONG FOR THE SABBATH.

Musical instruction:
Capo: 5

Verse Chords: 
D, A, G

PreChorus Chords: 
G, A, Bm
G, A, Bm
D, A

Chorus Chords: 
Bm, G, D, A, Bm
G, A, Bm
G, A, Bm
G, A, Bm
D, A, G
D, A, G

Performed and recorded on 4.22.24

Psalm 92

A word for word rendering of Psalm 93 ESV

Musical instruction:
Capo: 3

Chords: 
C, C, Am, F

Matthew Henry Commentary…
This short psalm sets forth the honor of the kingdom of God among men, to his glory, the terror of his enemies, and the comfort of all his loving subjects. It relates both to the kingdom of his providence, by which he upholds and governs the world, and especially to the kingdom of his grace, by which he secures the church, sanctifies and preserves it. The administration of both these kingdoms is put into the hands of the Messiah, and to him, doubtless, the prophet here hears witness, and to his kingdom, speaking of it as present, because sure; and because, as the eternal Word, even before his incarnation he was LORD OF ALL. Concerning God's kingdom GLORIOUS things are here spoken.

Performed and recorded on 4.22.24

Psalm 93

A word for word rendering of Psalm 94:1-14 ESV

Musical instruction:
Capo: 6

Chords: 
Dm, G, C, Am

“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, "The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭1‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Performed and recorded on 4.23.24

Psalm 94:1-14

A word for word rendering of Psalm 94:15-23 ESV

Musical instruction:
Capo: 2

Chords: 
D, G, Bm, A

“for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94‬:‭15‬-‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Performed and recorded on 4.24.24

Psalm 94:15-23

A word for word rendering of Psalm 95 ESV

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways." Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Musical instruction:
Capo: 3

Chorus Chords: 
G, Am, Em, D

Verse Chords:
Am, D, G, C

Performed and recorded on 4.24.24

Psalm 95

A word for word rendering of Psalm 96 ESV

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭96‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Musical instruction:
Capo: 3

Chords: 
C, Em, Am, G

Performed and recorded on 4.26.24

Psalm 96

A word for word rendering of Psalm 97 ESV

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭97‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Musical instruction:
Capo: 2

Chords: 
Em, G, C

Performed and recorded on 4.27.24

Psalm 97

A servant of the Lord, on a mission to sing through the entire word of God. All glory to my King! 

All songs belong to the Lord. They are all his possession. These are sung for Him.

Psalm 77:11-20

Mike Neff

Related tracks