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[REFRAIN]
Now unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty
All glory and strength and dominion accord
Ascribe to Him glory and render Him honor
In beauty of holiness, worship the Lord
The voice of Jehovah comes down on the waters
In thunder the God of the glory draws nigh
Lo, over the waves of the wide-flowing waters
Jehovah as King is enthroned on high!
The voice of Jehovah is mighty, is mighty
The voice of Jehovah in majesty speaks
The voice of Jehovah the cedars is breaking
Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon breaks
Each one in His temple His glory proclaimeth
He sat on the flood, He is King on His throne
Jehovah all strength to His people imparteth
Jehovah with peace ever blesseth His own
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2. |
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Come, ye souls by sin afflicted,
Bowed with fruitless sorrow down
By the broken law convicted
Through the cross behold the crown
Look to Jesus—mercy flows through Him alone
Take His easy yoke and wear it
Love will make obedience sweet
Christ will give you strength to bear it,
While His wisdom guides your feet
Safe to glory, where His ransomed captives meet
Blessed are the eyes that see Him,
Blest the ears that hear His voice
Blessed are the souls that trust Him,
And in Him alone rejoice
His commandments then become their happy choice
Sweet as home to pilgrims weary,
Light to newly opened eyes
Or full springs in deserts dreary
Is the rest the cross supplies
All who taste it shall to rest immortal rise
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3. |
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Rest of the weary, Joy of the sad,
Hope of the dreary, Light of the glad
Home of the stranger, Strength to the end,
Refuge from danger, Savior and Friend!
Pillow where, lying, Love rests its head,
Peace of the dying, Life of the dead
Path of the lowly, Prize at the end,
Breath of the holy, Savior and Friend!
[REFR AIN]
When my feet stumble, I’ll to Thee cry
Crown of the humble—Cross of the high
When my steps wander, over me bend
Truer and fonder, Savior and Friend
Ever confessing Thee, I will raise
Unto Thee blessing, Glory and praise
All my endeavor, World without end
Thine to be ever, Savior and Friend!
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4. |
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Mighty Lord, extend Your kingdom Be the truth with triumph crowned
Let the lands that sit in darkness Hear the glorious Gospel sound
From our borders, from our borders To the world’s remotest bound
By Your arm, eternal Father, Scatter far the shades of night
Let the great Immanuel’s kingdom Open like the morning light
Let all barriers, let all barriers
Yield before Your heavenly might
Come in all Your Spirit’s power Come, your reign on earth restore
In Your strength ride forth and conquer, Still advancing more and more
Till all people, Till all people Shall Your holy Name adore
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5. |
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Call Jehovah your salvation,
Rest beneath th’Almighty’s shade
In his secret habitation dwell,
And never be dismayed
There no tumult shall alarm you
You shall dread no hidden snare
Guile nor violence can harm you
In eternal safeguard there
From the sword at noonday wasting,
From the noisome pestilence
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be your sure defense
He shall charge his angel legions
Watch and ward o’er you to keep T
hough you walk through hostile regions
Though in desert wilds you sleep
Since, with pure and firm affection
ou on God have set your love
With the wings of his protection
He will shield you from above
You shall call on him in trouble,
He will hearken, he will save
Here for grief reward you double,
Crown with life beyond the grave
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6. |
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O God, to Thine anointed King
Give truth and righteousness
Thy people He will justly judge
And give the poor redress
Then every fruitful mountainside
Shall yield its rich increase
nd righteousness in all the land
Shall bear the fruit of peace
The poor man’s cause He will maintain
The needy He will bless
And He will break the strength of those
Who would the poor oppress
So men shall fear Thee while the sun
In daily splendor glows
And through all ages, while the moon
On earth its light bestows
Like rain upon the newborn grass
That falls refreshingly
Like gentle showers that cheer the earth
So shall His coming be
The righteous in His glorious day
Shall flourish and increase
The earth, until the moon shall fade
Shall have abundant peace
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7. |
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O bless the Lord, my soul!
His grace to you proclaim!
And all that is within me join
To bless His holy Name!
O bless the Lord, my soul!
His mercies bear in mind!
Forget not all His benefits!
The Lord to you is kind
He will not always chide
He will with patience wait
His wrath is ever slow to rise,
And ready to abate
He pardons all your sins,
Prolongs your feeble breath
He heals all your infirmities
And ransoms you from death
He clothes you with His love,
Upholds you with His truth
And like the eagle He renews
The vigor of your youth
Then bless His holy Name,
Whose grace has made you whole
Whose loving-kindness crowns your days!
O bless the Lord, my soul
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8. |
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Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish;
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish.
Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal.
Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying,
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,
"Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure."
Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing
Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing
Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can remove.
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9. |
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Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry
Have ready access unto Thee;
When in distress to Thee I fly,
O hide not Thou Thy face from me.
Attend, O Lord, to my desire,
O haste to answer when I pray;
For grief consumes my strength like fire,
My days as smoke pass swift away.
My heart is withered like the grass,
And I forget my daily bread;
In lonely grief my days I pass
And sad my thoughts upon my bed.
My foes reproach me all the day,
My drink is tears, my bread is grief,
For in Thy wrath I pine away,
My days are like a fading leaf.
But Thou, Jehovah, shalt endure,
Thy throne forever is the same;
And to all generations sure
Shall be Thy great memorial name.
The time for Zion’s help is near,
The time appointed in Thy love;
O let Thy gracious aid appear,
Look Thou in mercy from above.
The Lord, exalted on His throne,
Looked down from Heav’n with pitying eye
To still the lowly captive’s moan
And save His people doomed to die.
All men in Zion shall declare
His gracious name with one accord,
When kings and nations gather there
To serve and worship God the Lord.
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10. |
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Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.
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11. |
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How blest the man who thoughtfully
The poor and weak befriends;
Deliverance in the evil day
To him Jehovah sends.
The Lord will keep him, guard his life,
On earth he shall be blest;
The Lord will not surrender him
By foes to be distressed.
Upon the bed of suffering
Jehovah will sustain,
And in his sickness God will soothe
The weariness and pain.
O Lord, to Thee my cry ascends,
Let me Thy mercy see;
Heal Thou my soul, for I have sinned,
I have offended Thee.
Do Thou, Jehovah, show me grace,
And raise me up again,
That I with justice may requite
These base and wicked men.
By this I know assuredly
That I am loved by Thee,
Because my foe does not exult
In triumph over me.
And as for me, in uprightness
Thou dost uphold me well,
And settest me before Thy face
Forevermore to dwell.
Blest be Jehovah, Israel’s God
Forevermore. Amen.
Let age to age eternally
Repeat His praise. Amen.
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12. |
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Let God arise in all His might,
And put the troops of hell to flight;
As smoke that sought to cloud the skies
Before the rising tempest flies.
He comes arrayed in burning flames,
Justice and Vengeance are His names;
Behold His fainting foes expire,
Like melting wax before the fire.
He rides and thunders through the sky,
His name Jehovah sounds on high;
Sing to His name, ye sons of grace;
Ye saints, rejoice before His face.
The widow and the fatherless
Fly to His aid in sharp distress;
In Him the poor and helpless find
A Judge that’s just, a Father kind.
He breaks the captive’s heavy chain,
And prisoners see the light again;
But rebels that dispute His will
Shall dwell in chains and darkness still.
Kingdoms and thrones to God belong;
Crown Him, ye nations, in your song:
His wondrous names and powers rehearse;
His honors shall enrich your verse.
He shakes the heav’ns with loud alarms;
How terrible is God in arms!
In Israel are His mercies known,
Israel is His peculiar throne.
Proclaim Him king, pronounce Him blest;
He’s your defense, your joy, your rest:
When terrors rise and nations faint,
God is the strength of every saint.
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13. |
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Lord Jesus, think on me
And purge away my sin;
From earthborn passions set me free
And make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
With many a care oppressed;
Let me Thy loving servant be
And taste Thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me
Amid the battle’s strife;
In all my pain and misery
Be Thou my Health and Life.
Lord Jesus, think on me
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point Thou the heavenly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me
When floods the tempest high;
When on doth rush the enemy,
O Savior, be Thou nigh!
Lord Jesus, think on me
That, when the flood is past,
I may th’eternal brightness see
And share Thy joy at last.
Lord Jesus, think on me
That I may sing above
To Father, Spirit, and to Thee
The strains of praise and love.
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14. |
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From depths of woe I raise to Thee
The voice of lamentation
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
And hear my supplication
If Thou shouldst be extreme to mark
Each secret sin and misdeed dark
O who could stand before Thee?
O who could stand before Thee?
To wash away the crimson stain,
Grace, grace alone availeth
Our works, alas! Are all in vain
In much the best life faileth
No man can glory in Thy sight,
All must alike confess Thy might
And live alone by mercy,
and live alone by mercy
Therefore my trust is in the Lord
And not in mine own merit
On Him my soul shall rest,
His word upholds my fainting spirit
His promised mercy is my fort,
My comfort and my sweet support
I wait for it with patience,
I wait for it with patience
What though I wait the live-long night
And till the dawn appeareth
My heart still trusteth in His might:
It doubteth not, nor feareth
So let the Israelite in heart,
Born of the Spirit, do his part
And wait till God appeareth,
And wait till God appeareth
Although our sin is great indeed,
God’s mercies far exceed it
His hand can give the help we need,
However much we need it
He is the Shepherd of the sheep,
Who Israel doth guard and keep
And shall from sin redeem him, A
nd shall from sin redeem him
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15. |
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Blest is the man, forever blest,
Whose guilt is pardoned by his God;
Whose sins with sorrow are confessed,
And covered with his Savior’s blood.
Blest is the man to whom the Lord
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
And not on works, but grace relies.
From guile his heart and lips are free;
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith sincere.
How glorious is that righteousness
That hides and cancels all his sins!
While a bright evidence of grace
Through his whole life appears and shines.
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O give the Lord whole-hearted praise,
To Him thanksgiving I will bring;
With all His people I will raise
My voice and of His glory sing.
His saints delight to search and trace
His mighty works and wondrous ways;
Majestic glory, boundless grace,
And righteousness His work displays.
The wondrous works that God has wrought
His people ever keep in mind;
His works with grace and mercy fraught,
Revealing that the Lord is kind.
God’s promise shall forever stand,
He cares for those who trust His Word;
Upon His saints His mighty hand
The wealth of nations has conferred.
His works are true and just indeed,
His precepts are forever sure;
In truth and righteousness decreed,
They shall forevermore endure.
From Him His saints’ redemption came;
His cov’nant sure no change can know;
Let all revere His holy name
In Heav’n above and earth below
In reverence and godly fear
Man finds the gate to wisdom’s ways;
The wise His holy name revere;
Through endless ages sound His praise.
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These Psalms and hymns were written with congregational singing in mind. As such, the aesthetic of these works is consciously striving towards accessibility and excellence. One of my foundational motivations in planning worship services is choosing and writing music and texts that are objectively beautiful and good as an appropriate offering to the Most High God as He calls us as His people into worship. I believe that the eternal Word of God should be set to music that has an appropriate Biblical sense of permanence, beauty, goodness, and truth. There is a timelessness that is inherent in music of folk traditions that transcends when it was written—this has been a significant source of inspiration since that timelessness provides an appropriate foundation for eternal truth. Hans Rookmaaker reminded the Church that we must bring the Gospel to bear in the times in which God has placed us. While this does not mean succumbing to the styles of the day, it does pose the challenge of applying theological, Biblical and historical models to our own era.
With this in mind, the music and texts reflect the specific needs for corporate worship in a local church: specifically a local congregation in Middle Tennessee— an area steeped in folk, Celtic and Southern Harmony musical roots. Some of these songs have texts that fit a particular sermon or service. Many of these Psalm settings were written as the Psalm of the Month for our worship services. While the needs of congregational singing were at the forefront of the compositional process, one of the great pleasures I have with this project is the ongoing journey of this music. As these songs moved from the worship services of a local church to the recording process, changes were necessarily made to present a collection of songs that sing forth Biblical truth in a format for a listener outside of corporate worship. However, it is my great desire to see these works retranslated from this current presentation in such a way that they are reintroduced in corporate worship while taking on the local flavor of various churches. In no way would I say that this is the only way to present Psalms and hymns for corporate worship, but it has been an effective way for our congregation to sing, meditate and incarnate the Word of God in their families, hearts and lives.