And Comfort Still

Psalm 23 will be read today in many churches, and probably sung as well.  Here at the blog, as I always say, we have not yet run out of hymns derived from those well-loved verses.

You are my Shepherd, you know all my needs,

And I am blest;

By quiet streams, in pastures green, you lead

And make me rest.

My soul you save, and for your own Name’s sake

You guide my feet the paths of right to take.

Though in death’s vale and shadow be my way

I fear no ill,

For you are near, your rod and staff my stay

And comfort still.

My table you have spread before my foes,

My head you will anoint, my cup o’erflows.

The goodness and the mercy that have e'er

Upon me shone

Shall surely follow me through all the way

Till life is done;

And ever my Creator's house shall be

My dwelling place through all eternity.

The Psalter, 1912; alt.

Tune: SANDON (10.4.10.4.10.10)

Charles H. Purday, 1857

Nine (Liturgical) Years Ago: My Shepherd, you supply my need

Eight (Liturgical) Years Ago: Since God is my Shepherd

Seven (Liturgical) Years Ago: Thou art my Shepherd

Six (Liturgical) Years Ago: I shall not want: in deserts wild

Five (Liturgical) Years Ago: Beside the still waters

Four (Liturgical) Years Ago: My Shepherd, you will hold me

Even more paraphrases and adaptations can be found by clicking the "Psalm 23" tag at the very bottom of this post.

Ash Wednesday

Another Lent begins, a difficult time of year for some, yet eagerly anticipated by others.  Today's hymn is a partial paraphrase of Psalm 51, one of the appointed psalms for the day.

Gracious God, my heart renew,

Make my spirit right and true;

Cast me not away from thee,

Let thy Spirit dwell in me;

Thy salvation’s joy impart,

Steadfast make my willing heart.

Those who seek shall learn from me

And return, O God, to thee;

Savior, all my guilt remove,

And my tongue shall sing thy love;

Touch my silent lips, O Lord,

And my mouth shall praise accord.

Not the formal sacrifice

Has acceptance in thine eyes;

Broken hearts are in thy sight

More than sacrificial rite;

Contrite spirit, pleading cries,

Thou, O God, will not despise.

Prosper Zion in thy grace

And its broken walls replace:

Then our righteous sacrifice

Shall delight thy holy eyes;

Free-will offerings, gladly made,

On thine altar shall be laid.

The Psalter, 1912; alt.

Tune: BREAD OF HEAVEN (7.7.7.7.7.7.)

William Dalrymple Maclagan, 1875

Eight (Liturgical) Years Ago: Lord, who throughout these forty days

Seven (Liturgical) Years Ago: Awhile in spirit, Christ, to thee (now on Facebook)

Five (Liturgical) Years Ago: O Christ, whose tender mercy hears

Four (Liturgical) Years Ago: All those who seek a comfort sure

Rivers of Unfailing Joy

A portion of Psalm 36 is the appointed Psalm for the day in the Revised Common Lectionary. It's always appropriate to sing a paraphrase of the day's psalm, so we have here another one from The Psalter (1912), a collection we have seen before which was published in cooperation with a number of Presbyterian bodies in the United States.

Thy mercy and thy truth, O God,
Transcend the lofty sky;
Thy judgments are a mighty deep,
And as the mountains high.

Lord, thou preservest all on earth;
Since thou art ever kind;
Beneath the shadow of thy wings
We may a refuge find.

With the abundance of thy house
We shall be satisfied,
From rivers of unfailing joy
Our thirst shall be supplied.

The fountain of eternal life
Is found alone with thee,
And in the brightness of thy light
We clearly light shall see.

From those that know thee may thy love
And mercy ne’er depart,
And may thy justice still protect
And bless the upright heart.

The Psalter, 1912; alt.
Tune: ST. STEPHEN (C.M.)
William Jones, 1789

Six Years Ago: Glory to thee O Christ (available on Facebook at "Conjubilant W. Song")