Psalm 133

Words: William Whittingham, as in  The Scottish Psalter of 1635

Music:
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Psalm 133, Anglo-Genevan Psalter 1556
Harmony by Edward Millar, c1635.
   1  O how happy a thing it is,
         and joyful for to see
      Brethren together fast to hold
         The band of amitie.
   2  It calls to mind that sweet perfume,
         and that costly ointment
      Which on the Sacrifices head
         by God's precept was spent.
   3  It wet not Aarons head alone,
         But drenched his beard throughout,
      And finally it did run down
         his rich attire about.
   4  And as the lower ground doth drink
         the dew of Hermon hill:
      And Zion with his silver drops
         the fields with fruit doth fill.
   5  Even so the Lord doth pour on them
         His blessings manifold:
      Whose hearts and minds without all guile
         this knot do keep and hold.

Yet another case where the tune is a doubled metre (CMD), but there are an odd number of verses. We wonder what was done in these cases. Did they simply stop at the end? 

It is interesting to compare this to our version from Sternhold and Hopkins. Note that the Sternhold and Hopkins is missing verse 3 altogether. This is a good example of how much the Old Version was edited over the years and through its many printings. 


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