Some Songs from Psalm 32

A Selection of Songs Based On Psalm 32

This is the first of what we may make a regular feature. Here we focus on Psalm 32 and present a selection of songs from this psalm.

Perhaps this psalm was composed for the great day of the national atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month, Lev. 16. In it observe,
(1.) The exceeding riches of the grace of God, manifested in blessing men with forgiveness of sin, and with protection amidst dangers, and direction in duty, ver. 1-2, 7-8.
(2.) The indispensable duty of them who desire new-covenant blessings; viz. to acknowledge their offences to God; to implore his favour, which they need; to walk humbly and circumspectly before him, and to rejoice in him as God and their God, ver. 3-6, 9-11.
While I am truly conscious of my sinfulness, and deeply affected therewith, let the faith and experience of Jesus' full pardon of my sins, and of the communications of his grace, melt my heart, and animate me to every commanded duty.

John Brown of Haddington, c. 1841

Let's start with the oldest version of Psalm 32 that we have:
     Psalm 32, from Sternhold and Hopkins (Day's) 1562 Psalter

Here is the Scottish Metrical Psalter's rendition of Psalm 32, along with three tunes that have been recommended by various sources for use with these words:
   Psalm 32, The Scottish Metrical Psalter

Isaac Watts paraphrased this psalm in terms of the New Testament, or, as he expressed it, he "imitated" the Psalm in the language of the New Testament. This version is an excellent summary of the Psalm's message.
   Happy the Man, Psalm 32, paraphrased by Isaac Watts

These two songs use a metrical version of the Psalm by Charles Wesley
   Blest is the Man - Psalm 32:1-6
   Thou Art My Hiding-Place - Psalm 32:7-11

Here are two more modern settings of Psalm 32.
     Psalm 32 from "The Psalter Hymnal" (1950)
     Psalm 32, from "Psalms for Singing"   (1991)

Finally, here is Dwight Armstrong's version of this Psalm. It is not, strictly speaking, true to the scriptures nor a rendition of the Psalm in the same sense as the preceding versions because it makes no attempt to retain the original order of the verses or to maintain the parallelism of the original Hebrew poetry.
     They Are Blest Who Are Forgiven