Psalm 63

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Settings by composers

Samuel Babcock STB (English, Isaac Watts' paraphrase, Part 3, st. 8) John Wall Callcott (English metrical New Version) Giovanni Gabrieli (verses 2-5, in Latin) Hans Leo Hassler (verses 2-5, in Latin) Oliver Holden SATB (English, Isaac Watts, paraphrase, st. 1-2)

Stephen Jenks SATB (English, Isaac Watts' paraphrase, st. 1-2) Justin Morgan SATB (English, Isaac Watts' paraphrase, st. 1-2) Henry Purcell (verses 1-5 and 8 in English) Daniel Read SATB (English, Isaac Watts paraphrase, Part 4) Bennett Mintern Swaffield (English metrical New Version)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Henry Purcell — Early, O Lord, my fainting soul, Z 132
• Heinrich Schütz — O Gott, du mein getreuer Gott, SWV 160
• Ludwig Senfl — Vidi spetiosam sicut columbam

Text and translations

Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 62) Latin text 1  Psalmus David, cum esset in deserto Idumaeae. 2  Deus, Deus meus, ad te de luce vigilo.   Sitivit in te anima mea; quam multipliciter tibi caro mea! 3  In terra deserta, et invia, et inaquosa,   sic in sancto apparui tibi, ut viderem virtutem tuam et gloriam tuam. 4  Quoniam melior est misericordia tua super vitas, labia mea laudabunt te. 5  Sic benedicam te in vita mea, et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas. 6  Sicut adipe et pinguedine repleatur anima mea, et labiis exsultationis laudabit os meum. 7  Si memor fui tui super stratum meum, in matutinis meditabor in te. 8  Quia fuisti adjutor meus, et in velamento alarum tuarum exsultabo. 9  Adhaesit anima mea post te; me suscepit dextera tua. 10  Ipsi vero in vanum quaesierunt animam meam: introibunt in inferiora terrae; 11  tradentur in manus gladii: partes vulpium erunt. 12  Rex vero laetabitur in Deo; laudabuntur omnes qui jurant in eo: quia obstructum est os loquentium iniqua.

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer English text   A psalm of David, when he was in the Idumaean desert. 1  O God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee. 2  My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee:   in a barren and dry land where no water is. 3  Thus have I looked for thee in holiness: that I might behold thy power and glory. 4  For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself: my lips shall praise thee. 5  As long as I live will I magnify thee on this manner: and lift up my hands in thy Name. 6  My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness: when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips. 7  Have I not remembered thee in my bed: and thought upon thee when I was waking? 8  Because thou hast been my helper: therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 9  My soul hangeth upon thee: thy right hand hath upholden me. 10  These also that seek the hurt of my soul: they shall go under the earth. 11  Let them fall upon the edge of the sword: that they may be a portion for foxes. 12  But the King shall rejoice in God; all they also that swear by him shall be commended: for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped

Douay-Rheims Bible

English translation

O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways!
In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory.
For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips will praise.
Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands.
Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.
If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning:
Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings:
My soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me.
But they have fought my soul in vain, they shall go into the lower parts of the earth:
They shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall be the portions of foxes.
But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised that swear by him: because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things.

Metrical 'New Version' (Tate/Brady) English text 1  O God, my gracious God, to thee My morning pray'r shall offer'd be; For thee my thirsty soul doth pant. My fainting flesh implores thy grace Within this dry and barren place, Where I refreshing waters want. 2  O to my longing eyes once more That view of glorious pow'r restore Which thy majestic house displays: 3  Because to me thy wondrous love Than life itself does dearer prove, My lips shall always speak thy praise. 4  My life, while I that life enjoy, In blessing God I will employ, With lifted hands adore his name. 5  My soul's content shall be as great As theirs who choicest dainties eat, While I with joy his praise proclaim. 6  When down I lie, sweet sleep to find, Thou, Lord, art present to my mind; And when I wake in dead of night: 7  Because thou still dost succour bring, Beneath the shadow of thy wing I rest with safety and delight. 8  My soul, when foes would me devour, Cleaves fast to thee, whose matchless pow'r In her support is daily shown: 9  But those the righteous Lord shall slay That my destruction wish, and they That seek my life shall lose their own. 10, 11  They by untimely ends shall die, Their flesh a prey to foxes lie; But God shall fill the king with joy: Who thee confess shall still rejoice, Whilst the false tongue and lying voice Thou, Lord, shalt silence and destroy.

Káldi fordítás (62. zsoltár) Hungarian translation Dávid zsoltára, midőn az idumei pusztában volt. Isten, én Istenem! tehozzád ébredek viradatkor; utánad szomjúhozik az én lelkem, szintoly nagyon vágyódik utánad az én testem is. A puszta és járatlan és vizetlen földön, úgy jelenek meg előtted, mint a szent helyen, hogy lássam a te erődet és dicsőségedet. Mert jobb a te irgalmasságod az életnél; az én ajkaim dicsérnek téged. Igy áldani foglak téged életemben; és a te nevedben fölemelem kezeimet. Mintegy zsirral és kövérséggel telik meg lelkem; és vigadás ajakival fog dicsérni az én szám, ha rólad emlékezem ágyamon, ha reggel felőled elmélkedem; mert segítőm vagy. És a te szárnyaid árnyéka alatt vigadok, az én lelkem hozzád ragaszkodik; jobbod fölvett engemet. Azok pedig hiába keresik lelkemet, lemennek a föld alsó részeibe; a kard kezébe adatnak, a rókák martalékai lesznek. A király pedig vigadni fog az Istenben; dicsértetni fognak mindnyájan, kik rája esküsznek; mert bezáratik a gonoszságot szólók szája.

Metrical Paraphrases by Isaac Watts, 1719

English text PART 1, vv. 1-5 (C. M.) The morning of a Lord's day Early, my God, without delay, I haste to seek Thy face; My thirsty spirit faints away Without Thy cheering grace. So pilgrims on the scorching sand, Beneath a burning sky, Long for a cooling stream at hand, And they must drink or die. I've seen Thy glory and Thy power Through all Thy temple shine; My God, repeat that heav'nly hour, That vision so divine. Not all the blessings of a feast Can please my soul so well, As when Thy richer grace I taste, And in Thy presence dwell. Not life itself, with all her joys, Can my best passions move, Or raise so high my cheerful voice, As Thy forgiving love. Thus till my last expiring day I'll bless my God and King; Thus will I lift my hands to pray, And tune my lips to sing.

PART 2, vv. 6-10 (C. M.) Midnight thoughts recollected 'Twas in the watches of the night I thought upon thy power, I kept thy lovely face in sight Amidst the darkest hour. My flesh lay resting on my bed, My soul arose on high: "My God, my life, my hope," I said, "Bring thy salvation nigh." My spirit labors up thine hill, And climbs the heav'nly road; But thy right hand upholds me still, While I pursue my God. Thy mercy stretches o'er my head The shadow of thy wings; My heart rejoices in thine aid, My tongue awakes and sings. But the destroyers of my peace Shall fret and rage in vain; The tempter shall for ever cease, And all my sins be slain. Thy sword shall give my foes to death, And send them down to dwell In the dark caverns of the earth, Or to the deeps of hell.

(L. M.) Longing after God; or, The love of God better than life Great God, indulge my humble claim, Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest; The glories that compose thy name Stand all engaged to make me blest. Thou great and good, thou just and wise, Thou art my Father and my God; And I am thine by sacred ties; Thy son, thy servant, bought with blood With heart, and eyes, and lifted hands, For thee I long, to thee I look, As travellers in thirsty lands Pant for the cooling water-brook. With early feet I love t' appear Among thy saints, and seek thy face; Oft have I seen thy glory there, And felt the power of sovereign grace. Not fruits nor wines that tempt our taste, Nor all the joys our senses know, Could make me so divinely blest, Or raise my cheerful passions so. My life itself without thy love No taste of pleasure could afford; 'Twould but a tiresome burden prove, If I were banish'd from the Lord. Amidst the wakeful hours of night, When busy cares afflict my head, One thought of thee gives new delight, And adds refreshment to my bed. I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, While I have breath to pray or praise; This work shall make my heart rejoice, And spend the remnant of my days.

(S. M.) Seeking God My God, permit my tongue This joy, to call thee mine; And let my early cries prevail To taste thy love divine. My thirsty, fainting soul Thy mercy doth implore; Not travellers in desert lands Can pant for water more. Within thy churches, Lord, I long to find my place; Thy power and glory to behold, And feel thy quick'ning grace. For life without thy love No relish can afford; No joy can be compared to this, To serve and please the Lord. To thee I'll lift my hands, And praise thee while I live; Not the rich dainties of a feast Such food or pleasure give. In wakeful hours at night I call my God to mind; I think how wise thy counsels are, And all thy dealings kind. Since thou hast been my help, To thee my spirit flies, And on thy watchful providence My cheerful hope relies. The shadow of thy wings My soul in safety keeps; I follow where my Father leads, And he supports my steps.