Singing

the Psalms Marty Haugen / Tony Alonso

Singing the Psalms

Origins and Evolu;on of Psalms

v Emerged within Jewish cultural life v Original songs reect Jewish poe;c structure v Transla;ons obscure & alter meaning & understanding v Musical forms & seDngs create addi;onal distance from original use & meaning

Origins and Evolu;on of Psalms

v Evolved over hundreds of years v Func;oned for/as Personal prayer Formal Temple worship Royal and na;onal events (enthronement / waging war / celebra;ons / lament) Songs for prilgrimages

Psalm Genres - Psalms of Praise

v Call to Worship (impera;ve verb addressed to angels, na;ons, created order, persons) v Body of Hymn (usually introduced by ki, a Hebrew word indica;ng for or because) v Concluding Praise (oRen a shortened version of the call to worship)

Psalm 146

Alleluia! My soul, give praise to the LORD; I will praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live. Put no trust in princes, in mortal man who cannot save. Take their breath, they return to the earth, and their plans that day come to nothing. Blessed is he who is helped by Jacobs God, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made the heavens and the earth, the seas and all they contain, who preserves delity forever, who does jus;ce to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the LORD who sets prisoners free, the LORD who opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the LORD who loves the just, the LORD who protects the stranger and upholds the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The LORD will reign forever, the God of Sion from age to age. Alleluia!

Psalm 146

Alleluia! My soul, give praise to the LORD; I will praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live. Put no trust in princes, in mortal man who cannot save. Take their breath, they return to the earth, and their plans that day come to nothing. Blessed is he who is helped by Jacobs God, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made the heavens and the earth, the seas and all they contain, who preserves delity forever, who does jus;ce to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the LORD who sets prisoners free, the LORD who opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the LORD who loves the just, the LORD who protects the stranger and upholds the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The LORD will reign forever, the God of Sion from age to age. Alleluia!

Psalm 146

Alleluia! My soul, give praise to the LORD; I will praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live. Put no trust in princes, in mortal man who cannot save. Take their breath, they return to the earth, and their plans that day come to nothing. Blessed is he who is helped by Jacobs God, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made the heavens and the earth, the seas and all they contain, who preserves delity forever, who does jus;ce to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the LORD who sets prisoners free, the LORD who opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the LORD who loves the just, the LORD who protects the stranger and upholds the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The LORD will reign forever, the God of Sion from age to age. Alleluia!

Psalm Genres - Psalms of Thanksgiving

v Declara;on of thanksgiving (todah) v Body of psalm (usually recounts situa;ons from which God rescued the psalmist or the people) v Conclusion (usually a shortened form of the declara;on)

Psalm 136

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD of LORDs, for his mercy endures forever; Who alone has wrought marvelous works, for his mercy endures forever; who in wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endures forever; who spread the earth on the waters, for his mercy endures forever. It was he who made the great lights, for his mercy endures forever; the sun to rule in the day, for his mercy endures forever; the moon and the stars in the night, for his mercy endures forever. The Red Sea he divided in two, for his mercy endures forever; he made Israel pass through the midst, for his mercy endures forever; he ung Pharaoh and his force in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. Through the desert his people he led, for his mercy endures forever. He gives food to all living creatures, for his mercy endures forever. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD of LORDs, for his mercy endures forever; Who alone has wrought marvelous works, for his mercy endures forever; who in wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endures forever; who spread the earth on the waters, for his mercy endures forever. It was he who made the great lights, for his mercy endures forever; the sun to rule in the day, for his mercy endures forever; the moon and the stars in the night, for his mercy endures forever. The Red Sea he divided in two, for his mercy endures forever; he made Israel pass through the midst, for his mercy endures forever; he ung Pharaoh and his force in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. Through the desert his people he led, for his mercy endures forever. He gives food to all living creatures, for his mercy endures forever. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD of LORDs, for his mercy endures forever; Who alone has wrought marvelous works, for his mercy endures forever; who in wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endures forever; who spread the earth on the waters, for his mercy endures forever. It was he who made the great lights, for his mercy endures forever; the sun to rule in the day, for his mercy endures forever; the moon and the stars in the night, for his mercy endures forever. The Red Sea he divided in two, for his mercy endures forever; he made Israel pass through the midst, for his mercy endures forever; he ung Pharaoh and his force in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. Through the desert his people he led, for his mercy endures forever. He gives food to all living creatures, for his mercy endures forever. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever. Give thanks to the LORD of LORDs, for his mercy endures forever; Who alone has wrought marvelous works, for his mercy endures forever; who in wisdom made the heavens, for his mercy endures forever; who spread the earth on the waters, for his mercy endures forever. It was he who made the great lights, for his mercy endures forever; the sun to rule in the day, for his mercy endures forever; the moon and the stars in the night, for his mercy endures forever. The Red Sea he divided in two, for his mercy endures forever; he made Israel pass through the midst, for his mercy endures forever; he ung Pharaoh and his force in the Red Sea, for his mercy endures forever. Through the desert his people he led, for his mercy endures forever. He gives food to all living creatures, for his mercy endures forever. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his mercy endures forever.

Psalm 138

Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love. I thank you, LORD, with all my heart; you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I praise you. I bow down toward your holy temple. I give thanks to your name for your merciful love and your faithfulness. On the day I called, you answered me; you increased the strength of my soul. All earths kings shall thank you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, How great is the glory of the LORD!

Psalm 138

Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love. I thank you, LORD, with all my heart; you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I praise you. I bow down toward your holy temple. I give thanks to your name for your merciful love and your faithfulness. On the day I called, you answered me; you increased the strength of my soul. All earths kings shall thank you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, How great is the glory of the LORD!

Psalm Genres - Psalms of Individual Lament

v Impera;ve verb addressed to God v Divine name and epithets v Body of psalm (descrip;on of the situa;on and request for help) v Inducements for God to act v Conclusion (entrus;ng the situa;on to God) v Promise of future ac;on (vow)

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. So you are just in your sentence, without reproach in your judgment. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yes, you delight in sincerity of heart; in secret you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may exult. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.

Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salva;on; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salva;on, and then my tongue shall ring out your jus;ce. LORD, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. For in sacrice you take no delight; burnt oering from me would not please you. My sacrice to God, a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. In your good pleasure, show favor to Sion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrice, burnt oerings wholly consumed. Then you will be oered young bulls on your altar.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. So you are just in your sentence, without reproach in your judgment. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yes, you delight in sincerity of heart; in secret you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may exult. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.

Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salva;on; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salva;on, and then my tongue shall ring out your jus;ce. LORD, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. For in sacrice you take no delight; burnt oering from me would not please you. My sacrice to God, a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. In your good pleasure, show favor to Sion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrice, burnt oerings wholly consumed. Then you will be oered young bulls on your altar.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. So you are just in your sentence, without reproach in your judgment. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yes, you delight in sincerity of heart; in secret you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may exult. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.

Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salva;on; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salva;on, and then my tongue shall ring out your jus;ce. LORD, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. For in sacrice you take no delight; burnt oering from me would not please you. My sacrice to God, a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. In your good pleasure, show favor to Sion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrice, burnt oerings wholly consumed. Then you will be oered young bulls on your altar.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. So you are just in your sentence, without reproach in your judgment. O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yes, you delight in sincerity of heart; in secret you teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may exult. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.

Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence; take not your holy spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salva;on; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salva;on, and then my tongue shall ring out your jus;ce. LORD, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. For in sacrice you take no delight; burnt oering from me would not please you. My sacrice to God, a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn. In your good pleasure, show favor to Sion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in right sacrice, burnt oerings wholly consumed. Then you will be oered young bulls on your altar.

Psalm 13

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear grief in my soul, have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy prevail over me? Look, answer me, LORD my God! Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death; lest my enemy say, I have overcome him; lest my foes rejoice when they see me fall. As for me, I trust in your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in your salva;on. I will sing to the LORD who has been boun;ful with me. I will sing psalms to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm 13

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear grief in my soul, have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy prevail over me? Look, answer me, LORD my God! Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death; lest my enemy say, I have overcome him; lest my foes rejoice when they see me fall. As for me, I trust in your merciful love. Let my heart rejoice in your salva;on. I will sing to the LORD who has been boun;ful with me. I will sing psalms to the name of the LORD Most High.

Psalm Genres - Psalms of Communal Lament

Similar structural pabern to the individual lament

v Impera;ve verb addressed to God v Divine name and epithets v Body of psalm (descrip;on of the situa;on and request for help) v Inducements for God to act v Conclusion (entrus;ng the situa;on to God) v Promise of future ac;on (vow)

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon there we sat and wept, remembering Sion; on the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. For it was there that they asked us, our captors, for songs, our oppressors, for joy. Sing to us, they said, one of Sions songs. O how could we sing the song of the LORD on foreign soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!

O let my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I prize not Jerusalem as the rst of my joys! Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem, when they said, Tear it down! Tear it down to its founda;ons! O daughter Babylon, destroyer, blessed whoever repays you the payment you paid to us! Blessed whoever grasps and shabers your children on the rock!

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon there we sat and wept, remembering Sion; on the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. For it was there that they asked us, our captors, for songs, our oppressors, for joy. Sing to us, they said, one of Sions songs. O how could we sing the song of the LORD on foreign soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!

O let my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I prize not Jerusalem as the rst of my joys! Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem, when they said, Tear it down! Tear it down to its founda;ons! O daughter Babylon, destroyer, blessed whoever repays you the payment you paid to us! Blessed whoever grasps and shabers your children on the rock!

Psalm Genres - Liturgical / Ritual Behavior

v Determined by content rather than structure v Direc;ves for ritual behavior play a large role in the text v May take the form of a hymn of praise, song of thanksgiving or a lament

Psalm 100

Cry out with joy to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy. Know that he, the LORD, is God. He made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his ock. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with songs of praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. Indeed, how good is the LORD, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.

Psalm 100

Cry out with joy to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy. Know that he, the LORD, is God. He made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his ock. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with songs of praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. Indeed, how good is the LORD, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.

Psalm Genres - Wisdom Psalms

v Determined by content rather than structure v Reec;on on life (rather than upon revelatory historical events) v Proverbs v Numerical sayings v Beber than sayings

Psalm 19

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect; it revives the soul. The decrees of the LORD are steadfast; they give wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right; they gladden the heart. The command of the LORD is clear; it gives light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, abiding forever. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are, all of them, just. They are more to be desired than gold, than quan;;es of gold. And sweeter are they than honey, than honey owing from the comb.

Psalm Genres - Royal Psalms

v Determined by content rather than by structure v Concerned with the ac;vi;es of the Hebrew royalty Enthronement (Pss. / 72 / 89) Waging war (Pss. 20 / 21) Marrying (Pss. 45)

Psalm 89

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. With my chosen one I have made a covenant; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your descendants forever, and set up your throne through all ages. How blessed the people who know your praise, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who nd their joy every day in your name, who make your jus;ce their joyful acclaim. He will call out to me, You are my father, my God, the rock of my salva;on. I will keep my faithful love for him always; with him my covenant shall last.

Psalm Genres - Songs of Ascent

v Determined by ;tle rather than content or structure v Psas. 120-134 v shir hamaaloth = song of the going up v Pilgrimage song v Priestly / gradual song (15 steps of the Temple)

Psalm 121

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. I liR up my eyes to the mountains; The LORD will guard you from evil; from where shall come my help? he will guard your soul. My help shall come from the LORD, The LORD will guard your going and coming, who made heaven and earth. both now and forever. He will keep your foot from stumbling. Your guard will never slumber. No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israels guard. The LORD your guard, the LORD your shade at your right hand. By day the sun shall not smite you, nor the moon in the night.