The Psalms - Psalm 139

A performance of Psalm 139 set with a chant by Highmore Skeats Jr., a work which features on our latest album 'The Psalms'. Notes on the text and music are available in the album booklet.
Available now: lnk.to/Psalms
Booklet: l.ead.me/theps...

[@carlwhite908]

In 1000 years time they will still be saying this is the greatest psalm singing ever.

[@aarons8295]

Agreed

[@ventureciccarelli]

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

[@eslyngrant5962]

I love this chant. It’s solemn, but yet mellifluous. I listen to it daily for hours at a time. The words come alive with such beautiful tonality and inflection. Well done choir and director. I look forward to many more like this. May The Lord in heaven be continually glorified in song.

[@armenasamuel2275]

I love this Psalm. It brings such comfort and joy in my life that I have to watch it over and over again. Beautifully sang.

[@winstonpetersen3110]

Thank you and all praises to Jesus Christ our Lord and God

[@comianexclusive978]

WOULD LISTEN TO THIS ALL DAY God bless these choristers

[@dontmesstheoriginal454]

A precious piece of history already. The finest choir of its type in the world in its last stunning days as such, directed then by a genius.

[@artheath371]

This rendition of the beautiful 139th Psalm has me weeping every time.

[@henryliraqili3115]

A fitting farewell for the late Sovereign. A touching tribute indeed❤

[@Sam-xm8vg]

I have all the psalms (1 to 150) each at least four versions by various choirs. I sleep with the psalms singing every night and sing them often. Psalm 139 is one of my absolute best. I downloaded The Psalm album by this magnificent choir conducted by Andrew Nethsingha today and can’t get enough of it. There are some new tunes in this album that I have never heard before. This 139 is beautifully performed and kudos to Nethsingha. It will be wonderful if the lyrics are also shown so that some of us can sing along even if our voices are not exactly as heavenly as St John’s choir.

[@newtonikire6408]

You are simply blessed, sir

[@adachukwupreciousokafor8724]

I am fascinated that you have the whole book of Psalms. I wish I can have an album of it, especially from this magnificent choir.

[@annefranciselizabeth3840]

I would give anything to have four Anglican chants of each of the 150 Psalms. Can you offer any advice, please.

[@stephengoddard5093]

Absolutely beautiful.....used for the Queen's lying in state....!!❤

[@bobcoc8158]

An utter delight. Psalmody at its best.

[@Karolajn952]

the greatest masterpiece of music and spirituality! Greetings from Poland :)

[@simonblake3722]

Such amazingly beautiful phrasing and tone. Sublime.

[@joshuakampamba9061]

Well sang ❤this is so peaceful

[@AlfredHoogveld]

Heaven on earth

[@jayresusta]

Awesome❤❤❤

[@Absolutely_Cece]

Such a heavenly sound

[@baafimainoo]

This is so calming. ❤️‍🩹

[@bigkitchenburgers3436]

This is gorgeous 🥰,I love this chant. I always feel happy whenever I see something like this. Awesome

[@NnaaNnaa1660]

This is solemn

[@francescoanastasio2021]

The omitted verses: ' ' ' If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ' ' ' I wonder why they omitted them...

[@Sam-xm8vg]

The psalms were written about 2000 years before Christ. This was when the laws of Moses were the yardstick to follow but Christ came with His revolutionary teachings: love your enemies and pray for them. He was against tit for tat. Christians emulate Christ, not Moses.

[@sashes375]

If you want to pretend like the new testament doesn't exist, maybe you should be Jewish or something instead of Christian.

[@el7284]

Probably to save time. It's a lengthy text after all

[@brightdua-ansah8996]

The shivers I had soaking the content in.

[@larrytrem]

spectacular Psalm singing/really looking forward to more!

[@thesaucegroup1877]

Stunning

[@tabathastaples7884]

Shepherd's Chapel Network !!!!!!! Chapter by Chapter / Verse by Verse !!!!!!!

[@DanielFlailed]

I look forward to seeing you in Indianapolis around my birthday!

[@firstnamelastnam3]

❤

[@patricka.boateng8853]

This is so good ❤️❤️✌️✌️👌👌

[@RealCult]

This is my jam ❤

[@charlottewhyte9804]

who is the director,he is very good, nice style for the psalm.

[@razandry]

Andrew NETHSINGHA.

[@jonathanatomarkin4146]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@adachukwupreciousokafor8724]

I wish the captions are available.🥺

[@sjcchoir]

They should be available now

[@swd-kb9bm]

Where can I get the sheet music / notation for this? I have done many searches with no success. I would love to play the organ part.

[@sjcchoir]

The chant is by Highmore Skeats Jr, and it is available in a number of collections including this one (see p.77): imslp.org/wiki/Cathedral_Chants_(Various) Note: we sing the penultimate note in the tenor as a single Ab, not Bb-Ab as notated in this version)

[@swd-kb9bm]

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to give me this information. The music has been printed and I am happily playing along with you. I have the CD and this is my favourite track and is often played as I drift off to sleep. Thank you for everything!

[@sjcchoir]

@@swd-kb9bm You're most welcome: so pleased to hear you are enjoying the recording!

[@BarryNeufeld]

Beautiful! But They omitted the last verses (19-24) of the Psalm!

[@SimpleMinded221]

Preserve western culture and the church !!! This is what were protecting.

[@eddychinwe1163]

It's worth protecting. Think about what you destroyed in Africa and weigh our own desire to protect something of this quality. Regardless, I agree with you

[@davidevans1818]

You may enjoy this…

[@clintonjames9738]

... nothing to beat the Anglican chant - Diocese of Cape Town

[@egbayeloodunyemi2024]

so true

[@prins_af_danmark]

WHAT OF HIGHMORE SKEATS SR?

[@Erik-rj6ql]

the anglican church is theatrics

[@JM-gu3tx]

Pointless without the lyrics.