Music - Saturday, 25 June 2022 – The Commemoration of the Augsburg Confession

The following songs and hymns have some basis in Psalm 46 – although none of them are actually paraphrases of the psalm itself.
LHS
195    A mighty fortress*
199  Christ, Thou strong guardian, e’er The Chucrh defending
690  God is our refuge and strength
854    Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side
AT
9    Be still and know that I am God   As the reader speaks the verses of Psalm 46, the congregation may respond after every few verses with the singing of the first verse of ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (LHS 885, ATN 9).
311    Be still and know that I am God  Most appropriate for an opening song.
339    In you, O Lord, I found refuge
458    God is our refuge and strength
526   God is our shelter and strength
TIS
103    A mighty fortress
120   God is the refuge of his saints

The following paraphrase of Psalm 46, by David Schütz, may be sung to the tune of ‘A mighty fortress’ (LH 195, TIS 103). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

God is our refuge and our strength
a present help in trouble.
And so we will not be afraid,
though all the earth may tremble.
Though mountains may fall,
though seas roar and foam,
though all the earth quakes,
still we are not afraid.
The Lord of hosts is with us!

A flowing river brings great joy
throughout God’s holy city,
for God himself is always there,
and it will not be shaken.
God’s help comes at dawn,
the nations will roar,
the kingdoms will fall,
his voice will melt the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us!

O come and see the fearsome things
the Lord has made to happen.
He makes wars cease; he shatters shields;
he breaks the spears and arrows.
‘Now be still, and know
that I am your God.
Throughout all the earth,
I am exalted high!’
The Lord of hosts is with us!

OR, the following paraphrase by David Schütz may be sung to the tune of ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (LHS 885, ATN 9). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

A mighty fortress is our God,
A mighty fortress is our God,
A mighty fortress is our God,

And so we will not be afraid;
and so we will not be afraid;
and so we will not be afraid.

The Lord of hosts is with us now,
The Lord of hosts is with us now,
The Lord of hosts is with us now.

He makes wars cease throughout the earth;
He makes wars cease throughout the earth;
He makes wars cease throughout the earth;’

‘Be still, and know that I am God!’
‘Be still, and know that I am God!’
‘Be still, and know that I am God!’

Either of the following metrical versions of Psalm 138 by David Schütz may be used. If reproducing these versions, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

This version is sung to the tune ‘The Greatest Commandment’ (ATA 175).

I give you thanks, Lord, with all my heart,
before the angels I will sing your praise.
I worship you in your holy place
and always praise and thank your holy name.
For by your love and your faithfulness
you set up your name above ev’rything.
And when I called on your holy name,
you gave me your answer and made me strong.

All kings and rulers shall praise you, Lord,
when they have heard your words of truth and love;
and they shall sing of the ways of God:
‘Tremendous is the glory of the Lord’.
Yet, though exalted, he keeps his watch
with love and compassion upon the poor.
The rich and proud he will still observe,
but like one that watches from far away.

And you preserve me throughout my life,
though trouble meets me everywhere I go.
You stretch your mighty right hand to save,
and fight the anger of my enemies.
The Lord fulfils his promise to me;
forever and ever your love endures.
Do not forsake what your hands have made,
remember you made me and I am yours.

This version is to the traditional tune Dir, dir, Jehovah, LH 218:

With all my heart, I give you thanks, Lord.
Before the angels I will sing your praise.
I worship in your holy temple
and always thank and praise your holy name.
For you have shown your love and faithfulness,
your holy name and word are glorified.

And on the day I called upon you,
you gave me answer and you made me strong.
The kings of all the earth shall praise you,
when they have heard your words of truth and love.
They all shall sing about your ways, O Lord,
‘Tremendous is the glory of the Lord’.

Yet, though the Lord is high in heaven,
he still regards the lowly of the earth.
He does not overlook the haughty,
but watches them like one who’s far away.
Though trouble meets me everywhere I go,
your right hand saves me from my enemies.

The Lord will keep his promise to me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, will always last.
Stretch out your hand and come to save me!
Do not forsake the work your hands have made.
With all my heart, I give you thanks, O Lord.
Before the angels I will sing your praise.