The psalms are meant to be sung! Read the article “Singing the Psalms: Recovering the Church’s God-Inspired Hymnbook.”
Original Metrical Setting
Sing to the tune Nettleton (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing), 87.87 D. Sung Year A, First Sunday of Advent.
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us to God’s house now go!”
To Je-ru-sa-lem, strong city,
Where the tribes their thanks bestow.
There the thrones of righteous judgment
Were established by the Lord;
There the thrones of David’s house were
Settled by his sacred word.
Pray for peace within Je-ru-s’lem,
“May they prosper who love you.
May there always be within you
Walls and towers safe and true.”
For the sake of my whole fam’ly,
I will say, “Peace be to you,”
For the house of God, his temple,
I will seek the best for you.
The following verse may also be sung.
We the Church, a pilgrim people,
Look for peace that’s coming soon,
When the heavenly Je-ru-s’lem
Comes to earth and all is new.
Then upon the throne of David,
Christ will reign upon the earth,
All creation be his temple,
And all nations praise his worth.
The Gloria Patri may also be sung.
Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to the God the Son,
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
Praise and bless the three in one;
As it was in the beginning,
Is right now and e’er shall be,
In a world that endeth never,
We will praise and worship thee.
Metrical Settings
- [Recommended] Seedbed (Tennents) Metrical Psalter with Audio (see also the book) — easily sung by congregations; see the video below
Chants
- [Recommended] St. Bernard Breviary — the Daily Office of the 2019 BCP with simple chant tones; see the “Chant Helps” page of the Breviary website
- Theopolis Liturgy and Psalter
- Anglican Chant — King’s College Choir / Willcocks
