A tree planted by the waters of the River Breamish in Nothumberland.
A tree beside the River Breamish in Northumberland. Northumberland is a remnant of the old Kingdom of Northumbria, in which St Bede lived his whole life. Fortunate in having, at the monastery of St Paul in Jarrow, one of the finest libraries in Europe at the time, Bede spent his days in prayer (especially singing Psalms) and in the study of Scripture and of the Church Fathers, becoming an authority on music, astronomy and theology recognised across the whole Western world, and a key figure in the ‘Northumbrian Renaissance’ that so invigorated Christianity on the Continent. The Psalmist might almost have been thinking of Bede when he wrote:
His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate both day and night. And he shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.
The Abbreviated Psalter of St Bede
This collection of verses from the Book of Psalms was made by Northumbrian monk St Bede (?672-735), our country’s first historian, and a man of learning in many fields from Biblical languages to mathematics and music. The collection is an instructive guide to the wisdom of the Psalms, and a window into the the mind of one of our greatest saints. What follows is not exactly a translation; rather, it matches lines from the Authorised Version of 1611 (and occasionally Myles Coverdale’s translation of 1535) to Bede’s selections as closely as possible.
Note: The division below into thirty-one Days is not in Bede’s original.
Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.
Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, 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 vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
He honoureth them that fear the Lord.
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.
I will love thee, O Lord, my deliverer, my God, my strength.
Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.
But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; save me from the lion’s mouth.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
I [he] shall receive the blessing from the Lord.
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation. Remember not the sins of my youth: according to thy mercy remember thou me. For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. O keep my soul, and deliver me[, and have mercy upon me].
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: [I had fainted, unless] I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity. The Lord is my strength and my shield.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants.
Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever; And the Lord shall help them.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God: because I follow the thing that good is. Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. Remove thy stroke away from me.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee. Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me.
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. [Bede: As a garden prepared for moistening waters, so my soul is prepared for thee, O God.]
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off?
Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; he is a great King over all the earth.
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. [Bede: For he shall be our light upon the mountain.]
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Day 12
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. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation [Bede: of thy Jesus]; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The goodness of God endureth continually. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication; Attend unto me, and hear me.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. I will not fear what flesh can do unto me; this I know; for God is for me.
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save [me].
Verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him [the King]. [Bede: Mercy and truth shall serve thee.]
For my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
O God, thou art my God [Bede: strength]; Early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth.
All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; God shall bless us.
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD. O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
His [Bede: Thy] name shall endure for ever: his [thy] name shall be continued as long as the sun.
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD.
For God is my King of old. O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.
O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation [Bede: Jesus our God], for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
Stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Sing aloud unto God our strength.
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Turn us, O God of our salvation [Bede: God our Jesus], and cause thine anger toward us to cease; Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
Day 20
Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name for evermore. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast helped me, and comforted me.
As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us.
For thou, Lord, art my hope;
for thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work.
Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.
Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God.
Honour and majesty are before him.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
He hath remembered his mercy.
Exalt ye the Lord our God.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me?
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: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
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 his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done.
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Save us, O Lord our God, to give thanks unto thy holy name. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.
O Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy.
Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
NOT unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.
O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul: [Bede: I will] call upon the name of the Lord.
I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Day 26
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. O let me not wander from thy commandments. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Before I was afflicted I went astray [Bede: Before I gave heed, I was ignorant]: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, and teach me thy statutes. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
Day 27
Psalm 120, Psalm 121, Psalm 122, Psalm 123, Psalm 124, Psalm 125, Psalm 126, Psalm 127, Psalm 128, Psalm 129, Psalm 130
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
They shall prosper that love thee.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
The blessing of the Lord be upon you [us].
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications [Bede: to the voice of thy servant].
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty.
This is my rest for ever; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, praise the Lord; for the Lord is good.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Blessed is the man [Bede: that feareth the Lord].
I will praise thee with my whole heart. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man.
Give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.
Hear my prayer, O Lord. Give ear to me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness; for in thee do I trust. cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble [Bede: quicken thou me]. For I am thy servent.
Blessed be the Lord my strength, my goodness, my fortress and my deliverer.
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord. I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Praise ye the Lord: for it is good. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created. Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints.
Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. He will beautify the meek with salvation [Bede: in Jesus]. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.