Psalm 67

Psalm 67 is the 67th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us". In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 66. In Latin, it is known as "Deus misereatur".[1] Its theme is a prayer for God's mercy, blessing and light.

This article uses Hebrew (Masoretic) psalm numbering. Psalm 67 in Greek (Septuagint or Vulgate) numbering corresponds to Psalm 68 in Hebrew numbering.
Psalm 67
"God be merciful unto us, and bless us"
Psalm 67 written in the shape of the menorah, a form called Shiviti
Other name
  • Psalm 66
  • "Deus misereatur"
LanguageHebrew (original)

The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been paraphrased in hymns and set to music.

Text

King James Version
  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.
  3. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
  4. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
  5. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
  6. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
  7. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Uses

Judaism

In some congregations, Psalm 67 is recited before Maariv on Motzei Shabbat.[2]

Catholic Church

Saint Benedict of Nursia selected this psalm as the first psalm of the solemn office at the Sunday lauds. (Rule of St. Benedict, chapter XII).[3]In a certain number of abbeys which maintain tradition, this Sunday service always begins with it. Saint Benedict also asked to perform this psalm during the lauds of the week (chapter XIII).[4][3] However, other psalms later replaced Psalm 66 (67), with the exception of Sunday, so that all 150 psalms are read weekly.[4]

It is one of the four invitatory prayers of the daily office, and is recited at the vespers of Wednesday of the second week, 8 and at the lauds of the Tuesday of the third week.[5]

It is read or sung at several Masses throughout the year because of its theme of the universal grace of God: on the Friday of the third week of Advent, and in the octave of the nativity of Mary. It is also found on the 20th Sunday of the year A (the first of the three years of the cycle of readings intended to ensure that "a more representative portion of sacred Scripture should be read to the people over a prescribed number of years"), the 6th Sunday of Easter in year C and the Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter.[6]

Anglican Church

It may be recited as a canticle in the Anglican liturgy of Evening Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer as an alternative to the Nunc dimittis, when it is referred to by its incipit as the Deus misereatur, also A Song of God's Blessing.

One English hymn paraphrase of this psalm is "God of mercy, God of grace" by Henry Francis Lyte, generally sung to the tune "Heathlands" by Henry Smart.

Lutheran churches

Martin Luther paraphrased the psalm in the hymn "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein", used particularly in Lutheran churches. In earlier hymnbooks this was set to the old chorale tune "Es wolle Gott uns gnädig sein", but the new Lutheran Service Book also provides a newer tune, "Elvet Banks".

Musical settings

Musical settings of Psalm 67 were composed by Samuel Adler,[7] Charles Ives and Thomas Tallis.

References
  1. Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 66 (67) Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  2. The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 594
  3. Traduction par Dom Prosper Guéranger (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 40 - 41.
  4. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 108, 1938/2003
  5. The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
  6. Roman Missal, Lectionary I: Proper of Seasons, Sundays in Ordinary Time, Collins/Geoffrey Chaucer/Veritas, 1981
  7. Samuel Adler - Works "Psalm 67" on samuelhadler.com
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