One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 45.

What options are available?

The Book of Psalms for Worship has a version with 8 verses; Seedbed Psalter has 11 verses; Sing Psalms has 16 verses or 7 verses versions; and The Trinity Psalter Hymnal has two versions, one with 8 verses, the other 5 verses.  We decided to go for the version by Matt Searles.

From Matt Searles which can be sung to the tune for I Vow to Thee, My Country / O God beyond all praising:

O King, you are most worthy, of men you are the best
Your words are true and gracious, you are forever blessed
Take up your sword in splendour, ride forth in majesty
For justice and mercy and true humility
Your arrows pierce your enemies, you march across the land
The peoples and the nations against you cannot stand

Your throne will last forever, with justice you shall reign
You love all that is righteous and hate all evil gain
So God has richly blessed you with joy abundantly
Your robes are all fragrant, your courts are ivory
There princesses attend you, sweet music from of old
Your future queen awaits you arrayed in finest gold

O bride forsake all others, don’t give your love abroad
The king desires your beauty; so honour him your Lord
The gown he gives is glorious, the threads are twined with gold
In shimmering colours the envy of the world
A joyful crowd is with her, with gladness now they sing
And finally she enters the palace of the king

This king will reign forever, his sons upon the earth
And ev’ry generation will tell of his great worth
All nations will soon praise him and fall down at his feet
His kingdom established, where truth and mercy meet
O Jesus we adore you, our lover and our king
Your church, your bride is waiting and so to you we sing

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 44.

What options are available?

The Book of Psalms for Worship has a version with 12 verses; Seedbed Psalter has 11 verses, Sing Psalms has 17 verses, and The Trinity Psalter Hymnal has 12 verses.  This means a choice will need to be made about how many verses to sing from whichever version we choose.  We went for 4 verses from The Book of Psalms for Worship (covering Psalm 44:1-8).

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for How Firm a Foundation:

O God, we have heard of Your works with our ears;
Our fathers have told what You did in past years:
How nations were crushed and cast out by Your hand;
You planted our fathers to live in the land.

Success did not come from the sword in their hand,
Nor by their arm’s strength did they conquer the land.
But rather it was by the light of Your face,
Your right hand and arm, for You showed them Your grace.

O God, You alone are forever my King;
Command, and for Jacob deliverance bring.
Through You we will surely push back all our foes,
Through Your name we’ll trample on those who oppose.

No trust will I place in my sword or my bow.
We’ll boast in the God who saved us from the foe;
All those hating us You have brought down in shame,
And so we will ever give thanks to Your name.

(Photo: David Beale)