Psalm 54

CM

O God, by your name, set me free
By your might, justify.
The words of my mouth heed, hear me,
O God, now hear my cry.

Strangers me are attacking hard;
My life they will not spare.
They're ruthless men, with no regard
For God; they do not care.

God is my help; the Lord, surely,
Who me sustains all through.
Let evil come back on those who slander me;
In faithfulness, destroy.

I'll give a freewill sacrifice,
An offering to you;
I will, O Lord, your great name praise,
For your name's good, it's true.

For me salvation he supplies,
Saves me from all my woes,
They've looked in triumph have my eyes
Upon my many foes.

Psalm 53

CM (St Agnews [Dykes])

The fool, he speaks to his own heart,
He says ‘There is no God.’
Their ways are vile, they are corrupt;
There’s no-one who does good.

God from his heaven looks down and scans
The sons of men to see
If there is one who understands
Or seeks to God to flee.

They’ve turned aside, yes, every one,
Corrupted they’ve become;
Those who do good - there now are none,
No, there’s not even one.

Will evil doers never learn? -
My people they’ve devoured,
As though they’re bread, there’s no concern,
They do not call on God.

There they were all in dread so great -
Where nothing was to dread.
Shamed there by God, for he did hate,
The raiders bones God spread.

From Zion may deliv’rance rise,
From God for Israel!
Jacob be glad, Isra’l rejoice
When God makes all things well.

Psalm 52

CM

You mighty man, why do you boast
Of sin; why boast all day?
You are a man who is disgraced
In God's own eyes today.

Your tongue, destruction it conceives;
It's like a razor keen,
Your mouth by practice, it deceives,
You love what is unclean.

You love what's evil not what's good,
Love lies, not staying true.
Yes, you adore each harmful word,
O tongue so vile, untrue!

God will arrange for your descent
To lasting ruin, damned.
He'll snatch and tear you from your tent,
Uproot you from the land.

The righteous they will see and fear;
“Here is the man who failed
To make,” they'll say, yes how they'll jeer,
“Make God his safe stronghold.”

“In his great wealth he trusted, he,
Grew strong destroying others!”
But I am like an olive tree
That blossoms in God's house.

I trust in God's unfailing grace
For ages yet to come.
Forevermore your name I'll praise
For all that you have done.

My hope I will in your name place
Because it's good, your name.
How I'll praise you before the face
Of saints you've freed from blame.

Psalm 51b

CM

From all my sins, O hide your face,
Blot out iniquity.
God, make a pure heart in its place,
Renew resolve in me.

Me from your presence do not send
Or your pure Spirit take.
A willing spirit to me lend,
Salvation’s joy rewake.

And then I will transgressors teach
Your ways that are so true,
Then sinners will turn back, changed each,
They will turn back to you.

O God from bloodguilt set me free,
The God who saves me, yes,
And then my tongue will singing be
About your righteousness.

O Lord, my lips unloose to sing,
Let my mouth speak your praise.
If you craved off'rings, these I'd bring;
You don't want lambs to blaze.

The sacrifices sought by God -
A broken soul that cries;
A bruised and broken heart, O God,
You never will despise.

In your good pleasure Zion make
To prosper and to grow;
O may Jerus'lem's walls not break,
Rebuilding may they know.

Then righteous sacrifice there'll be,
A whole burnt offering
To give delight to you, for see
To altars bulls we'll bring.

Psalm 51a

CM

O God, be merciful to me,
According to your grace;
According to your sympathy
Transgression’s stains efface.

Wash me from all iniquity,
Cleanse me from sin, I cry.
All my transgressions known to me,
My sin I can’t deny.

I’ve sinned against you, only you,
Done evil in your sight,
So when you speak, your words prove true
And when you judge, you’re right.

I’ve been a sinner from the start,
Conceived I was, in sin.
The truth you seek within the heart,
You wisdom teach within.

With hyssop cleanse and clean I’ll be;
Wash me more white than snow.
May joy and gladness come to me,
The bones you crushed bliss know.

From all my sins, O hide your face,
Blot out iniquity.
God, make a pure heart in its place,
Renew resolve in me.

Psalm 50

CMD

True God, the Lord, the Mighty One,
He tells the earth to come
From where begins the rising sun,
To where the sun goes down.
From Zion, perfect beauty see -
God shines in bright array.
Our God comes forth; mute he'll not be,
For he has things to say.

Before him raging flames devour,
Around him tempests rage.
The heav'ns above, him stand before,
And earth, that he may judge:
“Bring me my sons of holiness,
Who gave their gifts in pledge.”
The heav'ns proclaim his righteousness,
For God himself is judge.

Hear, O my people, I’ll declare,
O Israel, this rebuke,
I'm God, your God, O be aware,
Hear me against you speak.
I don’t reprove for sacrifice
Or off'rings that you've made.
They're ever set before my eyes.
I do not need your aid.

Goats from your pens I do not need
Nor bulls out of your stalls.
Each woodland beast is mine indeed,
Herds on a thousand hills.
The mountain birds I know them too,
All beasts I own in fields.
If hungry I would not tell you,
Earth's mine and all it yields.

The flesh of bullocks do I eat
Drink blood from goats do I?
Give God thank-offerings of meat,
Keep vows to the Most High.
And call upon me in the day
When troubles great you see;
I will deliver you, I say,
And you will honour me.

But to the wicked, God he speaks,
“And what right makes it yours
To take my cov'nant on your lips
Or to recite my laws?
Yes, my instruction you so hate
My words behind you throw.
You'll with a thief associate,
You'll with adult'rers go.”

“You use your mouth for evil crimes,
Your tongue it lies, what shame.
You've smeared your brother many times,
Your mother's son defame.
These things you've done and mute I stayed;
You thought me just like you.
But by me charges will be laid,
You'll see me confront you.”

Consider this and think it through,
All you who God forget:
Or into shreds I will tear you,
With none to rescue yet.
The one who will thank-off'rings slay
He seeks to honour me.
The way he readies so he may
By God be then set free.

Catechism 8

Questions 53-67

CM

And now what is the fifth command?
To honour mum and dad.
What is taught by the fifth command?
They must be loved, obeyed.

Then next, what is the sixth command?
It says you shall not kill.
What is taught by the sixth command?
Repent from all ill-will.

What is in the seventh command?
Adultery must not be.
What is taught by this next command?
Keep heart, word, deed, stain-free.

And then what is the eighth command?
It says you must not steal.
What is taught by the eighth command?
Don't take. Be honest, real.

And what is it, the ninth command?
False witness do not bear.
What is taught by the ninth command?
Speak truth and say what's fair.

Fin'lly, what is the tenth command?
Don't want what you don't have.
What is taught by the tenth command?
Be pleased with what you have.

*****************

Can any keep these ten commands?
No, none since Adam's fall.
None ever kept these ten commands
Or can - we're sinners all.

Of what use are the ten commands?
Our duty thus we know,
It's made clear that we are condemned,
Our need of Christ they show.

Does God declare all men condemned?
No, though he justly could.
See, a gracious cov'nant he made,
Many to save - how good!

Catechism 6

Questions 34-41
CM

At Sinai how many commands
Did God give? - There were ten.
What can we call these ten commands?
God’s moral law. Amen.

Now, in the first four what is taught?
Duty to God. And then,
As for the other six what's taught?
Duty to fellow men.

What would the sum of all ten be?
Love God with all I am,
My neighbour as myself. Who's he?
That's any fellow man.

With those who love him and obey
God's happy – can that be?
Oh yes it is. We've heard him say
'I love them that love me'.

Is God pleased if men don't obey
Or love him? What's it say?
No. 'With sinners' we've heard him say
'God's angry every day'.

Yet more extra verses

The True God is so big,
He’s so strong and so mighty,
There’s nothing that he cannot do.
The mountains are his, the rivers are his,
The stars are his handiwork too.
The True God is so big,
He’s so strong and so mighty,
There’s nothing that he cannot do.

(Below are my two extra verses)

The True God is so great,
He’s so high but so gracious,
He sent down his Son men to save.
He lived without sin, then died on the cross,
Then went back to God from the grave.
The True God is so great,
He’s so high but so gracious,
He sent down his Son men to save.

The True God is so good,
He’s so kind and so loving,
He poured out his Spirit on all.
He changes men's hearts and turns them from sin,
He makes them respond to Christ's call.
The True God is so good,
He’s so kind and so loving,
He poured out his Spirit on all.

Psalm 49

CM

Hear this, you peoples all, take heed,
All who in this world live,
Both high and low, rich or in need,
Wise words my mouth will give.

Now from the utterance of my heart,
Full knowledge you will gain.
My ear to proverbs turns apart;
My harp makes riddles plain.

Why should I fear for evil days,
When wicked li'rs surround -
Who trust in wealth and give self praise
Because their goods abound?

No man another’s life buys back
Or pays to God enough -
The ransom price for life we lack,
No payment is enough -

None always live free from decay.
It's clear that wise men die;
The fool, the senseless, pass away,
They bid their wealth goodbye.

Their tombs their houses will remain,
Their dwellings, endless years,
Though lands for their own selves they named,
Though rich, not one endures.

For man is like the beasts that die.
For those, this fate's reserved,
Who trust themselves or who ally
With them, their speech approved -

Like sheep they to the grave will go
And on them death soon feed.
The upright ruling them they'll know
When morn shall night succeed.

Their forms will moulder in the grave,
Far from their halls of pride.
But God my life from death will save;
He’ll take me to his side.

Despair not when men surge ahead,
Their family fame grown strong;
For he’ll have nothing when he’s dead,
His fame will not last long.

Though while he lived he felt content -
And you’re praised when you thrive -
He to his fathers will be sent
And they will not revive.

Those men will never see the light.
A man whose wealth's heaped high
And yet his mind has no insight
Is like the beasts that die.

Psalm 48

Abends (8888)

Great is the Lord, most due our praise,
Within the city of our God,
His holy mount, whose heights amaze,
Its handsome heights make all earth glad.

Like Zaphon's utmost heights is Zi'n
The city of the great King's throne.
God is her citadels within;
That he's her fortress has been shown.

When kings joined forces and advanced,
They saw her and were staggered there;
They fled in fear, with trembling seized,
With pain like labouring women bear.

Like Tarshish ships destroyed they’ve been,
You shattered them with an east wind.
As we have heard, so we have seen,
There in the Lord Almighty’s land.

Within the city of our God:
God makes her safe for evermore.
Within your temple we, O God,
Seek on your constant love to pore

Just like your name, O God, your praise
Reaches all earth, both far and wide;
Your right hand’s filled with righteousness.
Your judgements make Zi’n’s towns all glad.

Walk all round Zion, go round her,
Count all her towers, her ramparts view,
All of her strongholds consider,
That you your sons may tell it to.

For this God is our God always;
Right to the end he’ll be our guide.
Great is the Lord, most due our praise,
Within the city of our God.

Psalm 47

Nottingham

All you nations, clap your hands;
Shout to God with joyful cry.
Awesome is the Lord Most High,
Great King over all earth’s lands!

Through us nations he's subdued,
Put beneath our feet our foes.
Our inheritance he chose,
Jacob’s Pride, whom he has loved.

God, midst joyful shouts, takes wing,
There the Lord midst trumpets' ring.
Sing God’s praises, praises sing;
Praises sing, praise to our King.

God is King, all earth’s his own;
To him sing a psalm of praise.
God rules lands, his sceptre sways;
God sits on his holy throne.

As the God of Abram’s own,
Nations’ heads together throng,
For earth’s kings to God belong;
Honoured, great is his renown.

Psalm 46

Ein Feste Burg

God is our refuge and our might,
An ever present help in trial.
Therefore against our fears we fight,
Though earth give way and mountains fall,
Though mountains all be thrown
Into the sea and drown,
Though waters roar and foam
And mountains start to quake
With surging as they move and shake.

A river flows whose streams give joy,
God’s city, holiest place of all,
Where dwells our God, our God Most High,
God’s in her and she will not fall;
He’ll help at break of day.
Realms quake, kingdoms decay;
He speaks - earth melts away.
He’s with us - mighty Lord,
Our safe stronghold is Jacob’s God.

Come see the works of God the Lord,
The desolations he has worked.
Throughout the earth he ends discord;
Breaks bow and spear and burns up shield.
Be still, know I am He;
Exalted I will be
Exalted - let earth see.
He’s with us - mighty Lord;
Our safe stronghold is Jacob’s God.

Psalm 45

Melita

A noble theme my heart it stirs
As for the king I words recite;
My tongue a pen that now in verse
With skill conveys the things I write.
You hold midst men the highest place,
Your lips anointed with true grace.

For God has blessed you and forev'r.
Come, gird your sword upon your side,
O mighty one; great splendour wear,
Be clothed in majesty to ride,
Be for the truth victorious,
For meekness too and righteousness.

Deeds awesome with your right hand show.
Let your sharp arrows pierce the heart
Of each who is the Great King’s foe;
Let nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will always last;
Your kingdom's sceptre - sceptre just.

You love what’s righteous, hate what’s bad;
So God, your God, has made you Lord.
Above each peer, each one you had,
The oil of joy upon you poured.
All of your robes they fragrant are -
With aloes, myrrh and cassia.

From palaces of ivory
The sound of strings it brings you mirth.
Honoured by you we often see
Daughters of kings, of royal birth;
The Royal Bride’s at your right hand
In gold from Ophir’s distant land.

Give ear, O daughter, hark, recall:
Your father's house no thought accord.
How does your charm the king enthral;
Him honour, for he is your Lord.
Tyre's daughter will with gifts embrace
And men of wealth your favour chase.

Within her room the princess shines;
In rich embroidered clothes they bring,
In woven gown with gold designs,
Into the presence of the king;
Her virgin friends then follow too
As all of them are brought to you.

With joy they in his palace stand.
Your fathers by your sons replaced;
They'll princes be throughout the land.
Your mem'ry I'll perpetuate
On down the generations all;
Forever praised by nations all.

Catechism 5

Questions 28-33
CM

And what is it that Adam's sin
To all mankind did do?
In sin and mis'ry all are born,
Of all mankind that's true.

What have we all inherited
Due to orig'nal sin?
A sinful nature's credited
Because of Adam's sin.

What is sin? Sin is transgression,
Yes, of the law of God.
What is meant by that expression?
To do what's banned by God.

What is by every sin deserved?
God's anger, we must say,
And the judgement that is reserved
For use on that great day.

Do we know just what God requires?
Yes. Laws to us are giv'n,
Both in our hearts (our good desires),
And (surer yet) those writt'n.