O Lord our governor, Z 141 (Henry Purcell)

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  • (Posted 2022-08-29)  CPDL #70587:         
Editor: Raymond Nagem (submitted 2022-08-29).   Score information: Letter, 14 pages, 239 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Edited from British Library Add. MS MS 30930, f. 18r-20r. Contains an editorial realization of the continuo part.

General Information

Title: O Lord our governor, Z 141
Composer: Henry Purcell
Text: Psalm 8, paraphrased by John Patrick

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SSTB
Genre: SacredAnthem

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo

First published:
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

O Lord our Governor, on earth
Thy name is excellent;
Thy glory is exalted far
Above the firmament.

From the weak pow'r of babes thou mak'st
Thy victories arise;
They still the triumphs of thy foes
And shame thine enemies.

When I to heav'n, thy glorious work,
Raise my admiring eye,
And there behold the Moon and stars,
The beauties of the sky,

Lord, what is man, that he should have
In thy kind thoughts a place,
Why dost thou thus advance and bless
His miserable race?

Though lower than the angels made,
He wears a glorious crown;
Thy works below all stoop to him
And for their sovereign own.

The beasts that in the pastures feed,
Or in the deserts lie,
Fishes that move within the seas,
And fowls beneath the sky,

These are his slaves; but let not man
Disown God's government,
Whose pow'r does rule the world, whose name
Alone is excellent.

Original text and translations may be found at Psalm 8 .