Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ps. 129 set to Genevan 2

The Genevan melody for Ps. 129 is, imo, the most difficult of the 150. Here, with a bit of tweaking, is Ps. 129 set to Genevan 2 (for midi, click here):


1.         “They have oppressed me greatly from my youth.”
Make this your song, O Israel, and repeat it:               
“They have oppressed me greatly from my youth,
but they have failed, for I am undefeated.
Long furrows drew those enemies who hound me.
They ploughed my back as if they ploughed a field.”
God cut the cords with which the wicked bound me.
The Lord is righteous; he, my strength and shield,

2.          May all those who hate Zion be brought low.
Put them to shame, Lord. Crush them by your power.
Make them like grasses that on housetops grow,
that shrivel in the sun before they flower.      
No binder such a worthless crop will rescue;  
no reaper gathers those to have them threshed.
No one will say, “We in the Lord’s  name bless you!”
No passers-by will shout, “May you be blessed!”

The metre of Genevan 129 is 10.11.10.11.
The metre of Genevan 2 is 10.11.10.11.11.10.11.10