1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
–
Music text, paraphrased by William Bartholomew (1793-1867)
Hear my prayer, O God, incline Thine ear!
Thyself from my petition do not hide!
Take heed to me! Hear how in prayer I mourn to Thee!
Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide.
The enemy shouteth, The godless come fast!
Iniquity, hatred upon me they cast!
The wicked oppress me, Ah, where shall I fly?
Perplexed and bewildered, O God, hear my cry!
My heart is sorely pained within my breast,
My soul with deathly terror is oppressed,
Trembling and fearfulness upon me fall,
With horror overhelmed, Lord, hear me call!
O for the wings of a dove!
Far away would I rove!
In the wilderness build me a nest,
And remain there for ever at rest.
Performed by the Schola Cantorum of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at Choral Evensong on 20 March 2011. Soprano soloist Sara Botkin. Alastair Stout, organ; Peter Luley, conductor.
George Bartle (boy treble) sings Hear My Prayer with noise reduction June 1992
Performed by the Choir of Ely Cathedral, soloist George Bartle
The beginning verses of the Gospel of John, from a facsimile edition of William Tyndale’s 1525 English translation of the New Testament. (Image via Wikipedia)
33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
—
Handel’s music text:
Blessed are they that considereth the poor and needy:
the Lord will deliver them in time of trouble,
the Lord preserve them and comfort them.
They deliver the poor that crieth, the fatherless
and him that hath none to help him.
The Lord will comfort them.
O God, who from the suckling’s mouth
ordaineth early praise,
of such as worship Thee in truth
accept the humble lays.
The charitables shall be had in everlasting remembrance
and the good will shine as the brightness of the firmament.
Comfort them, O Lord, when they are sick:
make thou their bed in sickness.
Keep them alive, let them be blessed upon the earth
and not deliver them unto their foes.
Hallelujah.
The Kingdom of this world
is become the kingdom of our Lord
and of His Christ,
and He shall reign forever and ever.
Hallelujah!
Handel offered his first benefit concert for the Hospital in 1749 to fund the completion of the Chapel, and composed the anthem Blessed are they that considereth the poor, known as the Foundling Hospital Anthem, for this occasion. (source: Foundling Museum)
Performed by The Academy of Ancient Music, Dir. Simon Preston, Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford
Soloists Emma Kirkby – Judith Nelson – Shirley Minty – James Bowman – Martyn Hill – David Thomas
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
—
[Psalter text by Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker:]
God grant with grace, he us embrace,
in gentle part bless he our heart.
With loving face shine he in place,
his mercies all on us to fall.
That we thy way may know all day,
while we do sail this world so frail.
Thy health’s reward is nigh declared,
as plain as eye all gentiles spy.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
![Blessed are they that considereth the poor [Foundling Hospital Anthem] (Psalm 41:1-3) – George F. Handel](https://bibleasmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/220px-Georg_Friedrich_Händel.jpg)
