There's a focus this week on hymns that are inspired by the psalms, including All people that on earth do dwell (Psalm 100), and I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from Psalm 121.
Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
SONG: ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: William Kethe/Louis Bourgeois
Recording: Abbey 282830
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell.
Come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk; he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise;
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good;
his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
Amen.
SONG: I TO THE HILLS
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Psalm 121/William Ravenscroft
Recording: Abbey 282830
I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav'n and earth hath made.
Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.
The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay:
The moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.
The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill.
Henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.
SONG: PSALM 121 (ROSE)
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora, Noel Edison (dir), Michael Bloss (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 121/Barry Rose
Recording: Naxos 8.572540
I will lift up my eyes unto the hills
from whence cometh my help come.
My help cometh even from the Lord,
who hath made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved;
he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord himself is thy keeper;
the Lord is thy defence upon thy right hand.
So that the sun shall not burn thee by day,
neither moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil;
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out
and thy coming in from this time forth and for evermore.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
SONG: O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST
Artist: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury (dir)
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/William Croft
Recording: Argo 414609
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever rolling stream,
bears all our years away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.
SONG: O CHRISTE DOMINE JESU
Artist: St Thomas’ Music Group, Margaret Rizza (dir)
Words/Music: Jacques Berthier
Recording: Alliance Music 1999
O Christe Domine Jesu
I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace.
Peace for his people and his friends,
and those whose hearts turn to him.
My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
SONG: O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry, Paul Leddington Wright (dir), David Poulter (organ)
Words/Music: William Cowper/William Gardiner
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame.
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove! return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
And drove Thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame:
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
SONG: ONE THERE IS ABOVE ALL OTHERS
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry, Paul Leddington Wright (dir), David Poulter (organ)
Words/Music: John Newton/Christopher Norton
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!
Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.
When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.
Could we bear from one another
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.
O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.
SONG: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey
Composer: Joachim Neander trans Bridges/Herbert Howells
Label: Hyperion 712801
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
newborn worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th’almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ, his son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
