Nations Rage (Psalm 2)

In vain do nations gather and foolish people plot, 

against the plans of heaven, against the will of God,

who holds them in derision and speaks to them in wrath, 

to guide them on a journey along a chosen path.

—–

For God alone is sovereign, and God’s decree will stand. 

The earth is God’s possession. We all are in God’s hand.

Be wise, you kings and rulers, and serve the Lord with awe. 

Take refuge and be happy, while trusting in the Lord. 

———-

Photo:  by Siavosh Hosseini on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 2

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Woodbird (Es Flog Ein Kleins)

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2019/Score/ODayOfRest-Woodbird-Chords.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by permission. 

With Tambourines and Dances

Praise God in your sanctuaries.

Praise God where the sky is starry

Praise God for the mighty deeds

that display God’s majesty. 

—–

Praise God with both strings and trumpet.

Praise with tambourines and dances.

Make the praising heard abroad.

Everything that breathes, praise God!

———-

Photo:  by Moises Alex on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 150

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Urquell Aller Seligkeiten, Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2018/Score/VirginBorn-UrquellAller-Chords.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission 

Connection is Divine (Psalm 1)

Some paths don’t lead to happiness.

Some places are quite vile.

Avoid those ways, their uselessness

And focus for a while.

On thoughts that point to fruitfulness

And strength and joyful life.

In scattering there’s loneliness.

Connection is divine. 

———- 

Photo:  by William White on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 1

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020.

Tune:  Kingsfold, Public Domain.

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2016/Score/IHeardTheVoice-Kingsfold-Chords.pdf

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by permission.

Sing a New Song to the Lord

Sing a new song to the Lord.

Sing it loudly to be heard.

Let God’s people all be glad.

Join, all children, in the band.

—–

Come and praise God’s name with dance.

Play the harp and clap your hands.

God takes pleasure when with glee

Of our simple melody.

—–

Sing for joy from pew and couch.

Let God’s praises fill your mouth.

God’s will done through all the earth

Crowns all faithful folk with mirth. 

———-

Photo:  by One zone Studio on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 149

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Dent Dale,  Public Domain

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF-2010/SpreadOSpread-DentDale.pdf 

Audio:   www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

The Lord is to be Praised

The Lord is to be praised in heaven and on earth. 

With angel voices raised God’s host proclaims this worth.

Shine forth O sky. Sun, moon and star declare the name of God a-far.

—–

O air and cloud and bird you too take up the theme. 

For by God’s spoken word you have all come to be.

You’ve all been made by God’s decree established for eternity.

—–

All creatures of the deep, smoke fi-re ice and cloud,

The fruit of ev’ry tree and grass that hills does shroud,

beast, fowl and cow, bug, insect, worm come praise the One whose name is firm.

—–

All kings and common folk, you nobles of the world, 

men, women, young or old as well as boy and girl, 

turn to the Lord, your voices raise to God above in endless praise.

—–

For only God is true, whose glory covers all. 

And you the chosen few are rescued from the fall. 

O God’s elect of ev’ry race cease not to praise before God’s face. 

——

Photo by Arusfly 🌿 on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 148

Text: Loh Sian-chhun   Tr. © David Alexander, 2007 & 2020.

Tune: Darwall  

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/GodIsGoneUpOnHigh-Darwall.pdf 

Audio:www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Peace Within Your Borders

Sing, Jerusalem, to the Lord on high

Zion, give praise unto your God.

You’ve been made secure and you need not fear

And the children within your walls.

God grants peace within your borders.

You are filled with the finest wheat.

=====

The commands of God go to all the earth

Running swiftly to ev’rywhere.

God gives snow like wool, scatters frost like ash

And spreads hail like crumbs from the air.

Yet cold far beyond our standing

Is relieved by the word of God.

=====

God makes wind to blow so the waters flow

In the nation the word is sown.

There’s no other place has received such grace

Learning clearly the way to go.

Sing praises to God, O Zion.

Lift your voices unto the Lord.

==========

Photo:  Photo by Adam Kring on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 147

Text: © David Alexander 2009

Tune: Margaret , Public Domain

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/ThouDidstLeaveThyThrone-Margaret.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by permission. 

Whatcha’ Done for Us Lately? Psalm 44

We have heard the old folks say, what God did back in the day,

cleared the space to set them free, handed them the victory.

It was God, not guns or guts. Those two things they did not trust.

Since the foes had bit the dust, give God thanks is what we must.

—–

Lately, God, it seems not so. With our armies you don’t go.

For a pittance we’ve been sold, not like in the days of old.

Other nations, other folks, look at us as if we’re jokes.

We can find no resting place. All day long it’s just disgrace.

—–

We can’t see where we’ve gone wrong. Why we are no longer strong.

God, you know what’s in our hearts, what we do with all our parts.

But like sheep we have been led, to where others make us dead.

God, you’ve promises to keep. Rouse yourself, awake from sleep. 

———-

Photo:  by Fernando @cferdo on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 44

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Tichfield, Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2018/Score/LordFromWhomAll-Tichfield-Chords.pdf 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Walk Out of Chains and Jail

My soul and I will praise the Lord as long as we have breath.

We’ll sing the mighty power of God until our day of death.

Not trusting presidents or those whose plans will come to naught,

We’ll place our hope in God who made the heavens and whatnot.
—–

God’s promise is unbreakable, God’s justice doesn’t fail.

The poor are fed and prisoners walk out of chains and jail.

The blind receive their sight, the bowed-down widows helped to stand.

The orphan and the stranger find protection in the land.

———-

Photo:  by Zulmaury Saavedra on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 146

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:    Petersham,  Public Domain

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/WeLimitNotThyTruth-Petersham.pdf  

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Unsearchable Greatness (Psalm 145)

Unsearchable greatness belongs to the Lord,

   so praise God forever in movement and word.

Let each generation proclaim to the next

   the deeds God has done and the Lord’s righteousness. 

—–

Through grace and by mercy with love that won’t change

   the Lord has compassion on all that’s been made.

The works tell the power and glory of One,

   whose kingdom won’t end and to whom they belong. 

—–

God’s faithful and gracious, upholding the weak.

   Eyes look to the Lord for salvation and strength.

Each cry has been heard and each need has been met.

   Our mouths fill with praise and we bless with our flesh.

———-

Photo:  by Galyna Greiss on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 145

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: St Wilfrid, Public Domain

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2014/Score/IMetTheGood-StWilfrid.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Make the Mountains Smoke (Psalm 144)

Blessed is the Lord who trains us and protects us from the harm

that surrounds us and confounds us, mountain, forest, city, farm. 

It would seem we’re not enough for God to pay us faint regard.

We will pass, but God’s eternal, ever keeping watchful guard.

—–

Bow the heavens, reach to earth and touch the mountains, make them smoke.

Flash out lightning, shoot your arrows, rout the lying rabid folk.

We will sing a new song to you. On the ten-stringed harp we’ll play.

Rescue us from cru-el li-ars, from all enemies we pray.

—–

Cast your eye upon our children, sons and daughters now your own.

Fill all barns with what is needed. Bless the crops that we have sown.

May there be enough to share for hungry people in the streets

May there be no walls or exiles. Grant us everlasting peace.

———-

Photo:  by Callum Parker on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 144

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:     Esther, Public Domain

Score:   https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2013/Score/OToFathom-Esther.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission