• 
• 

Lyrics and Information

Psalm 119 Aleph and Beth

Words: Psalm 119:1-16 (KJV)
Tunes by S. S. Wesley and T. Kelway, from "The Church Hymnary" Revised Edition. Oxford University Press. London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Captown, Melbourne, Toronto, New York, Bombay. HUMPHREY MILFORD. 1927.
Key signature: F major (1 flat) and G major (1 sharp)
Meter: Irregular
Public Domain
The tune has two parts by two composers, respectively. It is likely sung as a chant. See chanting directions below.
1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, And that seek Him with the whole heart.
3. They also do no iniquity * they walk in His ways, 4. Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently. 5. O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes! 6. Then shall I not be ashamed, * when I have respect unto all Thy commandments.
7. I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, * when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments. 8. I will keep Thy statutes: * O forsake me not utterly. 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
10. With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, * that I might not sin against Thee. 12. Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.
13. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, * as much as in all riches. 15. I will meditate in Thy precepts, And have respect unto Thy ways.
16. I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I not forget Thy word. Gloria.
Directions for Chanting
from "The Hymnal," published in 1895 and revised in 1911 by the authority of The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America with the supplement of 1917. Philadelphia. The Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work. 1926.
1 Chants consist of two distinct divisions: one portion is recited, portion is sung.
2 The words from the commencement of each verse and half-verse up accented syllable, which is printed in italics, are called the Recitation, and should be recited smoothly, and without undue haste.
3 On reaching the accented syllable, and beginning with it, the music of chant commences, in strict time (a tempo), the upright strokes corresponding to the bars. The Recitation must therefore be considered as outside the chant may be of any length. The note on which the Recitation is made is called the Reciting-note.
4 If there is no syllable after that which is accented, the accented syllable must be held for one whole bar or measure.
5 An asterisk (*) is a direction to take breath. Other stops (, ;) must be attended to, as in good reading.
6 As the accent holds the position of the first beat of the first bar, it is unnecessary to sing it louder than any of the words recited: its position, musically, will give it quite enough emphasis.
7 Final "ed" is always to be pronounced as a separate syllable.
8 The expression "2nd part" indicates that the verse so marked is to be sung to the second half of a double chant, when such chant is used.