BIRCHWOOD CHURCH
A reformed church rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ
and living to the glory of God in Charlottetown, PEI
Psalm 120
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1 Unless the LORD builds up the house,
its builders toil in vain;
Unless he keeps the city safe,
they vainly watch maintain.
2 In vain you rise before the dawn
and late hours vainly keep
that you may toil for food to eat -
he gives his loved ones sleep.
3 Sons are a precious heritage
a blessing from the LORD;
the children that are born to us
are truly his reward.
4 Like arrows in a warrior's hand
are children of one's youth.
5 The man whose quiver's full of them
is blessed by God in truth.
Such men will not be put to shame -
that will not be their fate -
when they contend against their foes
who face them in the gate.
lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland.
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where am I to look for my aid?
2 My help comes to me from the LORD
By whom earth and heaven were made.
3 Your foot he will not leave to slide—
His watch over you he will keep.
4 The LORD over Isr’el keeps watch,
And he will not slumber or sleep.
5 The LORD will keep watch over you— Your shade from the heat and the light.
6 The sun will not harm you by day;
The moon will not harm you by night.
7 The LORD will protect you from harm—
Your life he will ever defend.
8 He’ll guard every step that you take
Both now and for days without end.
Psalm 122
1 “To the LORD’s house!” they were calling, and with joy I went with them.
2 Now at last our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 See, Jerus’lem, like a city
built compactly, close and strong.
4 That is where the tribes assemble, tribes which to the LORD belong.
To the LORD’s name praise they offer, as for Israèl decreed.
5 There are set the thrones for judgment, thrones of David’s royal seed.
6 Pray for Zion’s peace and safety: “May your friends securely dwell;
7 Peace within your walls continue, strength within your citadel.”
8 For the sake of friends and brothers, “Peace be in you,” I will say.
9 For the sake of our God’s temple, I seek your prosperity.
Psalm 123
1 To you, O LORD, I lift my eyes,
The God enthroned above the skies.
2 As servants watch their master’s hand
Or maids before their mistress stand,
So to the LORD our eyes we raise
Until his mercy he displays.
3 O LORD our God, your mercy show;
Take pity, LORD, on us below.
For scorn your people all have known;
4 Our foes’ contempt has made us groan. The proud have covered us with shame;
With insolence they mock our name.
Psalm 124
1 If God the LORD had not been on our side—
2 Let Isr’el say—had not the LORD been near
3 When foes attacked us, filling us with fear,
And when their wrath against us reached its height, Alive we had been swallowed in their spite.
4 We would have been enveloped by the flood; Over our heads the torrent would have gone;
5 The waters would have carried us along.
6 But praise the LORD, for he has set us free
And has not left us to their cruelty.
7 We have escaped—just as a captured bird Out of the fowler’s net has been set free; The snare is cut, we are at liberty.
8 Our help is in the name of God the LORD Who made the earth and heavens by his word.
Psalm 125
1 All those who trust the LORD
Like Zion are secure,
Which never can be moved
But always will endure.
2 Just as the mountains stand
Around Jerusalem,
The LORD surrounds his own,
For ever guarding them.
3 The wicked’s evil rule
Will not oppress for long
The righteous and their land,
Lest righteous folk do wrong.
4 On all those who are good
Bestow your goodness, LORD—
To those of upright heart
Who reverence your word.
5 But God will banish those
Who choose a crooked way;
They’ll share the sinner’s fate.
Let peace on Israel stay!
Psalm 126
1 When Zion's fortunes God restored,
it was a dream come true.
2 Our mouths were then with laughter filled,
our tongues with songs anew.
The nations said, "The LORD has done
great things for Israel."
3 The LORD did mighty things for us,
and joy our hearts knew well.
4 Restore our fortunes, gracious LORD,
like streams in desert soil.
5 A joyful harvest will reward
the weeping sower's toil.
6 The man who, bearing seed to sow,
goes out with tears of grief,
will come again with songs of joy,
bearing his harvest sheaf.
lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland.
PSALM 126 from Sing Psalm (2003)(Produced by the Free Church of Scotland) Sung acapella at the 29rd Glasgow Psalmody Recital (2000) Meter: CM
Music source: https://soundcloud.com/connorq/psalm-126-tune-brother-james-air?in=connorq/sets/sing-psalms
Psalm 127
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1 Unless the LORD builds up the house,
its builders toil in vain;
Unless he keeps the city safe,
they vainly watch maintain.
2 In vain you rise before the dawn
and late hours vainly keep
that you may toil for food to eat -
he gives his loved ones sleep.
3 Sons are a precious heritage
a blessing from the LORD;
the children that are born to us
are truly his reward.
4 Like arrows in a warrior's hand
are children of one's youth.
5 The man whose quiver's full of them
is blessed by God in truth.
Such men will not be put to shame -
that will not be their fate -
when they contend against their foes
who face them in the gate.
lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland.
Psalm 128
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1 How blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk the way that he has shown.
2 Success and blessing will be yours;
You'll eat the fruit that you have grown.
3 Your wife will be a fruitful vine;
and round your table will be placed
your children like young olive shoots.
4 Thus he who fears the Lord is blessed.
5 May you behold Jerus'lem's good;
From Zion may God's blessing flow.
6 Your children's children may you see.
May God on Isr'el peace bestow!
Psalm 129
1 They have oppressed me from my youth— Let Israèl now make this known—
2 They have oppressed me from my youth; Yet I have not been overthrown.
3 They drew their ploughs across my back; The ploughmen made their furrows long.
4 The LORD is just; he cut me free
From cords of those who did me wrong.
5 May all who hate Jerusalem
Be put to shame and turned away.
6 May they, like grass upon the roof,
Not grow, but wither and decay.
7 Such grass can fill no reaper’s hands;
The gatherer has no reward.
8 May passers-by not say to them:
“We wish you blessing from the LORD!”
Psalm 130
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1 LORD, from the depths I call to you;
Lord, hear me from on high
and give attention to my voice
when I for mercy cry.
3 LORD, in your presence who can stand,
if you our sins record?
4 But yet forgiveness is with you,
that we may fear you, LORD.
5 I wait - my soul waits - for the LORD;
my hope is in his word.
6 More than the watchman waits for dawn
my soul waits for the Lord.
7 O Isr'el, put your hope in God,
for mercy is with him
8 And full redemption. From their sins
his people he'll redeem.
Lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland
Psalm 131
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1 My heart’s not proud, O LORD,
nor haughty is my eye;
I do not occupy myself
with things too great or high.
2 My spirit I have calmed;
my heart is pacified.
My soul is like a little child
close to its mother’s side
Just like a little child
my soul is calmed in me.
3 O Isr’el, hope in God the LORD
now and eternally.
Psalm 132
1 LORD our God, remember David
and the hardships which he bore.
2 To the mighty One of Jacob,
to the LORD, this oath he swore:
3 "My house I will never enter;
4 rest and slumber I will shun,
5 Till I find the LORD a dwelling
fit for Jacob's Mighty One."
6 This we heard of in Ephrathah,
found it in the fields of Jaar:
7 "Let us hasten to his dwelling,
worship at his footstool there.
8 Rise, O LORD, and dwell among us,
resting with your ark of might!
9 May your priests be clothed with honour;
may your saints sing with delight."
10 For the sake of our own servant,
David, your appointed one,
Do not turn away your favour
from his own anointed son.
11 God has sworn an oath to David
and he will not turn from it:
"I will choose from your descendants
one who on your throne will sit."
12 "If your sons will keep my covenant
and the statutes I make known,
Surely then shall their descendants
sit for ever on your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion -
there he wishes to remain:
14 "Here's my resting place for ever,
here it pleases me to reign.
15 "I will bless her with abundance;
for her poor much food I'll bring.
16 I will grant her priests salvation,
and with joy her saints will sing.
17 I will raise a horn for David,
for my chosen one a light.
18 With disgrace his foes I'll cover;
he'll be crowned with glory bright."
Lyrics from 'Sing Psalms'. Copyright Free Church of Scotland
Psalm 133
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1 How excellent a thing it is,
how pleasant and how good,
When brothers dwell in unity
and live as brothers should!
2 For it is like the precious oil,
poured out on Aaron’s head,
That, running over, down his beard,
upon his collar spread.
3 Like Hermon’s dew, upon the hill
of Zion it descends.
The LORD bestows his blessing there—
the life that never ends.
Psalm 134(a)
1 Praise the LORD, all you his servants, as you serve with one accord;
Praise the LORD in your night watches in the temple of the LORD.
2 Raise your hands within his temple; to the LORD your God give praise.
3 He who made the earth and heavens bless you from his holy place!