The Byrds in 1965. From left to right: David Crosby, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Chris Hillman, and Jim McGuinn.
The Byrds in 1965. From left to right: David Crosby, Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Chris Hillman, and Jim McGuinn.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

[The only lyrics in the song not straight from scripture is “turn” and the last line: “A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late”]


Turn! Turn! Turn! written by Pete Seeger (1919-2014) in 1959 and covered by The Byrds in 1965

The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! (Live)

Performed live by The Byrds (Purchase the MP3 or stream it here)

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Orlando Gibbons - Portrait by an unknown artist
Orlando Gibbons 

Psalm 38:1 [English]

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak:
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.
My soul is also sore troubled:
but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?
O save me, for thy mercy’s sake.


O Lord, in thy wrath, composed by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)

O Lord in Thy Wrath - Orlando Gibbons

Performed by The Merbecke Choir

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Choral Public Domain Library

Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach’s harmonization on organ around a chorale melody and text that paraphrases Psalm 51:1-4

German text of chorale:

Erbarm’ Dich mein o Herre Gott!
nach Deiner groß’n Barmherzigkeit,
wasch’ ab mach’ rein mein’ Missethat,
ich kenn’ mein’ Sünd’ und ist mir leid;
allein ich Dir gesündigt hab’,
das ist wider mich stetiglich;
das Bös’ vor Dir mag nicht bestahn,
Du bleibst gerecht, ob Du urtheilest mich.

English translation of chorale:

O God, be mercyfull to me,
Accordynge to Thy great pitie;
Washe of, make clene my iniquite:
I knowlege my synne, and it greveth me
Agaynst The, agaynst The only
Have Isynned, which is before myne eye:
Though Thou be judged in man’s syght,
Yet are Thy wordes founde true and ryght.

Psalm 51:1-4

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.


Erbarme dich mein, O Herre Gott, BWV 721, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

J. S. Bach: Erbarme dich mein, O Herre Gott BWV 721

Performed by Robert Hovencamp, organist

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 International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) / Petrucci Music Library

 

 

Monteverdi by Bernardo Strozzi (c. 1630)
Claudio Monteverdi by Bernardo Strozzi (c. 1630)

Psalm 110:1-7 [Latin]

1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.


Dixit Dominus from Vespers for the Blessed Virgin, SV 206 (1610), composed by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

1610 - Vesperae Virginis - Monteverdi

Performed by John Eliot Gardiner and Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Les Pages du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles

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Choral Public Domain Library