Text: Psalms of Joy, Sorrow and Thanksgiving

Eric Davis (b. 1966)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before God’s presence with singing. (Psalm 100)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth:
make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Sing unto the Lord with the harp;
with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
With trumpets and sound of cornet
make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. (Psalm 98)

Hear my prayer, O Lord
and let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me
in the day when I am in trouble
incline thine ear unto me:
For my days are consumed like smoke
and my bones are burned as a hearth.
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass;
so that I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning
my bones cleave to my skin.
I have eaten ashes like bread,
and mingled my drink with weeping,
My days are like a shadow that declineth;
and I am withered like grass.
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever;
and thy remembrance unto all generations.
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion:
for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. (Psalm 102)

Bless the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all God’s benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; (Psalm 103)

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, thou art very great;
thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment:
who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters:
who maketh the clouds his chariot:
who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Who maketh his angels spirits;
his ministers a flaming fire:
Who laid the foundations of the earth,
that it should not be removed for ever. (Psalm 104)

O come, let us sing unto the Lord:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto the Lord with psalms. (Psalm 95)

Amen.