O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Our numerous tribes devoutly say

O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Our numerous tribes devoutly say

Adapter: Francis Hopkinson
Tune: GENEVAN 84
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 O 'twas a joyful Sound to hear
Our num'rous Tribes devoutly say,
Up, Israel, to the Temple haste,
And keep your solemn festal Day:
At Salem's Courts we must appear,
With all our congregated Pow'rs;
In strong and beauteous Order rang'd,
Like her united Tow'rs.

2 'Tis hither, by Divine Command,
That all the Tribes of GOD repair;
Before his Ark, to celebrate
His holy Name with Praise and Pray'r.
Tribunals stand erected there,
Where Truth and Equity take place;
There stand the Courts and Palaces
Of holy David's Royal Race.

3 O, pray we then for Salem's Peace;
For they shall ever prosp'rous be,
(Thou holy City of our GOD!)
Who true Affection bear to thee:
May Peace within thy sacred Walls
For evermore a Guest be found;
With Plenty and Prosperity,
May all thy Palaces be crown'd!

4 For my dear Brethren's sake, and Friends,
To me no less than Brethren dear,
I'll pray, may Peace in Salem's Tow'rs
An everlasting Guest appear!
My Soul shall ever seek thy Good,
My Heart shall ever wish thee well;
For Sion and the Temple's sake,
Where GOD himself vouchsafes to dwell.

Source: The Psalms of David: with the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre...for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the city of New York #CXXII

Adapter: Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson; grad. College of Philadelphia with master’s degree; studied law and passed Pa. bar; opened conveyancer’s office in Philadelphia; musical and literary talent; prolific writer who frequently used pen name, A. B. LOC Name Authority Files Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Our numerous tribes devoutly say
Adapter: Francis Hopkinson
Source: Tate and Brady's New Version, "O 'twas a joyful sound to hear"
Language: English
Publication Date: 1767
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

GENEVAN 84

GENEVAN 84 first appeared in the 1562 edition of the Genevan Psalter; Howard Slenk (PHH 3) harmonized it in 1985. The rhythm of the first phrase is altered to match that of the second and final phrase. (The original first phrase began with two half notes followed by four quarter notes.) This loved G…

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The Psalms of David #CXXII

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