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1  A Song of God's Glorious Name
 
     
1
  O Lord our governor,  •
    how glorious is your name in all the world!
     
2
  Your majesty above the heavens is praised  •
    out of the mouths of babes at the breast.
               
3
  You have founded a stronghold against your foes,  •
    that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
                 
4
  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,  •
    the moon and the stars that you have ordained,
     
5
  What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them;  •
    mere human beings, that you should seek them out?
                 
6
  You have made them little lower than the angels  •
    and crown them with glory and honour.
     
7
  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands  •
    and put all things under their feet,
               
8
  All sheep and oxen,  •
    even the wild beasts of the field,
               
9 
  The birds of the air, the fish of the sea  •
    and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea.
     
10
  O Lord our governor,  •
    how glorious is your name in all the world!            
   
Psalm 8
    For an alternative version, see page 00.
     
   
   
2  A Song of God's Descending
 
     
1
  I love you, O Lord my strength.  •
    The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer,
     
2
  In my distress I called upon the Lord  •
    and cried out to my God for help.
                 
3
  He heard my voice in his temple  •
    and my cry came to his ears.
     
4
  He parted the heavens and came down  •
    and thick darkness was under his feet.
                 
5
  He rode upon the cherubim and flew;  •
    he came flying on the wings of the wind.
     
6
  He made darkness his covering round about him,  •
    dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion. 
         
7
  From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds  •
    burst hailstones and coals of fire.
     
8
  The Lord also thundered out of heaven;  •
    the Most High uttered his voice
          with hailstones and coals of fire.
   
9
  For you will save a lowly people  •
    and bring down the high looks of the proud.
     
10
  You also shall light my candle;  •
    the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright. 
     
11
  As for God, his way is perfect;
          the word of the Lord is tried in the fire;  •
    he is a shield to all who trust in him.
   
Psalm 18.1,6,7,10-14,28,29,31
     
   
   
3  A Song of the King's Glory
 
     
1
  The earth is the Lord's and all that fills it,  •
    the compass of the world and all who dwell therein.
     
2
  For he has founded it upon the seas  •
    and set it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
     
3
  'Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord,  •
    or who can rise up in his holy place?'
     
4
  'Those who have clean hands and a pure heart,  •
    who have not lifted up their soul to an idol,
          nor sworn an oath to a lie;
     
5
  'They shall receive a blessing from the Lord,  •
    a just reward from the God of their salvation.'
                 
6
  Such is the company of those who seek him,  •
    of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
     
7
  Lift up your heads, O gates;
          be lifted up, you everlasting doors;  •
    and the King of glory shall come in. 
     
8
  'Who is the King of glory?'  •
    'The Lord, strong and mighty,
          the Lord who is mighty in battle.'
     
9
  Lift up your heads, O gates;
       be lifted up, you everlasting doors;  •
    and the King of glory shall come in. 
 
10
  'Who is this King of glory?'  •
    'The Lord of hosts,
          he is the King of glory.'                                                     
   
Psalm 24
     
     
   
4  A Song of God's Light
 
     
1
  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
          whom then shall I fear?  •  
    The Lord is the strength of my life;
          of whom then shall I be afraid?
               
  2
  Though a host encamp against me,
          my heart shall not be afraid,  •
    and though there rise up war against me,
          yet will I put my trust in him.
     
3
  One thing have I asked of the Lord
          and that alone I seek:  •
    that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
          all the days of my life,
     
4
  To behold the fair beauty of the Lord  •
    and to seek his will in his temple.
     
5
  For in the day of trouble
          he shall hide me in his shelter;  •
    in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
          and set me high upon a rock.
     
6
  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
          with great gladness;  •
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.      
   
Psalm 27.1,3-6,8
     
                           
   
5  A Song of Trust in God
 
     
1
  As the deer longs for the water brooks,  •
    so longs my soul for you, O God.
     
2
  My soul is athirst for God, even for the living God;  •
    when shall I come before the presence of God?
     
3
  My tears have been my bread day and night,  •
    while all day long they say to me, 'Where is now your God?'
                 
4
  Now when I think on these things, I pour out my soul:  •
    how I went with the multitude
          and led the procession to the house of God,
     
5
  With the voice of praise and thanksgiving,  •
    among those who kept holy day.
                             
6
  Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul,  •
    and why are you so disquieted within me?
                 
7
  O put your trust in God;  •
    for I will yet give him thanks,
          who is the help of my countenance, and my God.                  
   
Psalm 42.1-7
     
   
   
6  A Song of Penitence
 
     
1
  Have mercy on me, O God, in your great goodness;  •
    according to the abundance of your compassion
          blot out my offences.
     
2
  Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness  •
    and cleanse me from my sin.
     
3
  For I acknowledge my faults  •
    and my sin is ever before me.
                 
4
  Against you only have I sinned  •
    and done what is evil in your sight,
                 
5
  So that you are justified in your sentence  •
    and righteous in your judgement.
     
6
  Cast me not away from your presence  •
    and take not your holy spirit from me.
     
7
  Give me again the joy of your salvation  •
    and sustain me with your gracious spirit;
     
8
  Then shall I teach your ways to the wicked  •
    and sinners shall return to you.
 
     
9
  Deliver me from my guilt, O God,
          the God of my salvation,  •
    and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.                                      
   
Psalm 51.1-5,12-15
     
   
   
7  A Song of God's Praise
 
     
1
  O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you;  •
    my soul is athirst for you.
                           
2
  My flesh also faints for you,  •
    as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
                         
3
  So would I gaze upon you in your holy place,  •
    that I might behold your power and your glory.
     
4
  Your loving-kindness is better than life itself  •       
    and so my lips shall praise you.
                           
5
  I will bless you as long as I live  •
    and lift up my hands in your name.
                 
6
  My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness,  •
    and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
     
7
  When I remember you upon my bed  •
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
                           
8
  For you have been my helper  •
    and under the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
                           
9
  My soul clings to you;  •
    your right hand shall hold me fast.                          
   
Psalm 63.1-9
     
   
   
8  A Song of God's Blessing
 
     
1
  God be gracious to us and bless us  •
    and make his face to shine upon us,
     
2
  That your way may be known upon earth,  •
    your saving power among all nations.
     
3
  Let the peoples praise you, O God;  •
    let all the peoples praise you.
                 
4
  O let the nations rejoice and be glad,  •
    for you will judge the peoples righteously
          and govern the nations upon earth.
     
5
  Let the peoples praise you, O God;  •
    let all the peoples praise you.
                 
6
  Then shall the earth bring forth her increase,  •
    and God, our own God, will bless us.
     
  7
  God will bless us,  •
    and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
   
Psalm 67
   
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