1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed,
—
[Psalter text by Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker:]
Why fum’th in fight the Gentiles spite, in fury raging stout?
Why tak’th in hand the people fond, vain things to bring about?
The Kings arise, the Lords devise, in counsels met thereto,
against the Lord with false accord, against His Christ they go.
Thomas Tallis: Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter
Performed by Alamire, directed by David Skinner
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia sobre un tema de Thomas Tallis HQ
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Davis
“At the Gloucester Cathedral (where it in 1910 was played for the first time and conducted by Vaughan Williams himself)”
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
5 God ascended in hearty song; and the Lord in the voice of a trump. (God ascended with a hearty song; the Lord went up with the sound of trumpets.)
19 The Lord hath made ready his seat in heaven; and his realm shall be lord of all. (The Lord hath prepared his throne in heaven; and he shall rule over all as their King.)
Charles Villiers Stanford: Nunc Dimittis in G | The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford
Performed by The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford; David Crown (conductor), Robert Smith (organ), Stephen O’Driscoll (baritone); Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), 6 February 2012