For instance listen to these words from the book of job. I will say of the lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my god, in whom i trust. At the 300th anniversary of our congregation i was asked to put together some of the music that would have been sung at that time in boston area churches. Book 4 psalms 90106 bible commentary theology of work. We present here two little books intended to be carried by union soldiers in the. Courtesy of the old south church in boston w4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at.
Very often the psalmist will give a flashback, recounting the past distress, and. Before cromwells soldiers went into battle, they would pray and sing religious songs from the book of psalms. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Soldiers prayer a psalm 91 prayer for soldiers lamp post. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. And jonah went down into the inner things of the ship, and slept by a grievous sleep. I think this book is a must for any soldiers who are facing deployment.
Apr 03, 2012 the book is really an analysis of the chapter 91 psalms, verse by verse. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty. Often called the warriors psalm, psalm 91 has been a source of comfort to soldiers for thousands of years. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived. Written specifically for military men and women and their loved ones, psalm 91 military edition explains gods covenant of refuge and hope using stories and testimonies that demonstrate his protection of soldiers. Soldiers psalm 91 prayer to print 4 copies per page print 4copy psalm 91 on one side of the paper and the 4copy soldiers prayer on the. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Welcome to psalms books, inc the goal of our nonprofit organization is to mentor, train, and educate through writing, publishing, and seminarsconferences, to bring transformation in relational and economic conditions in deprived communities and individuals.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. Many lives could have been lost if they didnt have people back home in psalm 91 military edition, peggy joyce ruth has written this book to convey the safety. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. Prepared for the new england society in the city of new york.
Many military lives have been saved by soldiers mediating and speaking this psalm out loud while in the face of extreme danger. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. Jan 29, 2017 the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. Psalm 107 voice book five book five psalms bible gateway. The message of the psalms by walter brueggemann is not an easy read it is in the retrospect section of the book, brueggemann says there can be no doubt that the psalms are an important resource for spirituality and have been so for countless generations.
The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. A second american edition was issued in 1651, revised by henry dunster and richard lyon, partly because, according to increase mathers magnalia, it was thought. It was the first book printed in british north america. This is a wonderful modernization of the psalms, making the message of each psalm very personal and practical. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Very often the psalmist will give a flashback, recounting the past distress, and the plea that was uttered ps 30. Then he heard the words from psalm 91 go through his mind. Jewish and christian tradition suggest that psalm 1 and 2 function as an introduction to the book of psalms. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
The enigma of the bay psalm book will provide an historical overview prior to the presentation of the actual text with its subsequent notes on the reproduction of the original material. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in plymouth in 1620, the magnitude of the effort and. Indeed psalm 91 is quite commonly known as the soldiers psalm as it is said many soldiers in. The celebration of this book is the impetus for the librarys exhibition. The bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. But there is a place in goda secret placefor those who want refuge. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The soldiers psalm military christian fellowship of. Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony.
The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong. The witch book, which was later owned by descendants of one of the people hanged after the trials, is a previously unknown seventh edition of the bay psalm book, dating to the late 1600s. Reading the book of psalms in days of war sbl publications. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed into metrical. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Psalm 1 1 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. You turn us back to dustour years come to an end like a sigh ps. Most of the men were green soldiers who had never seen combat.
Book ii psalms 4272 psalm 42 for the director of music. The stories come from a mix of wars, from wwi to present day. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Thats a wrap the bay psalm book, the first book ever printed in british america, and the first book ever written in america. I was interested in this and looked up the reference. Moreover, david is sometimes used elsewhere as a collective for the kings of his dynasty, and this could also be true in the psalm titles. Publication date 1903 topics bible, psalters, hymns, english publisher new york. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. His first tunebook, the newengland psalm singer boston, 1770, was the earliest to contain only music by an american composer. Indeed psalm 91 is quite commonly known as the soldier s psalm as it is said many soldiers in wwi recited this psalm daily.
The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and more. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. At the 2016 national day of prayer for defence event in canberra, psalm 91 was read and referred to as the soldiers psalm. Book five book five psalms 107150 succinctly presents many of the major themes of the previous psalms. Indeed psalm 91 is quite commonly known as the soldiers psalm as it is said many soldiers in wwi recited this psalm daily. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york.
The volume was the bay psalm book a literary monument of the cultural and religious aspirations of the early settlers of the country. As in isaiah, the return from exile is described as a new exodus. The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. Soldiers life saved at the somme by his bible world war one. The life of 21yearold british soldier, pte frank viner, was saved at the somme by his bible.
Gods shield of protection underscores the importance of prayer during times of trouble. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Soldiers prayer books from the civil war society of archbishop. The bay psalm book is a book of many firststhe first englishlanguage book in north america, the first book of american poetry, and the first instance in a long and vital history of printing in america. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Peggy takes readers through the psalm of 91 verse by verse. Sign up to receive the book in your inbox daily at s.
The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. The bay psalm book was intended as a utilitarian book for the common people in a way that the gutenberg bible surely was not, and copies were subjected to hard and constant use. The psalm book, written and printed by the puritans of massachusetts bay colony in 1640, was designed to allow a whole congregation to sing psalms together in church and at home. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Soldiers psalm 91 prayer to print 4 copies per page print 4copy psalm 91 on one side of the paper and the 4copy soldiers prayer on the reverse side. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Wallet size soldiers psalm 91 prayer they are a smaller credit card size. Psalms introduction, new american bible, revised edition. The book is really an analysis of the chapter 91 psalms, verse by verse. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Bay psalm book, the article about bay psalm book, the by.
This psalm focuses our attention on the difficulty and the brevity of life. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. The bay psalm books historical significance is keenly felt at the old south church, where founding father benjamin franklin was baptised and meetings that led to the boston tea party were hosted. The bay psalm book had been compiled by a group of new england divines and was employed in nearly every puritan church of the massachusetts bay colony. It tracks along israels history as gods nation, from the united monarchy, through the exile, to the restoration. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal.
Americas hesitation over hymns christian history magazine. Indeed i found a story circulating that tells of a brigade commander in wwi who gave a little card with psalm 91 on it to his men who were in the brigade of the same number 91st brigade. You who dwell in the shelter of the most high, who abide in the shadow of the almighty, say to the lord, my refuge and fortress, my god in whom i trust. A prayer book for soldiers and sailors 1941 psalms. This too is a song of praise acknowledging the lord as the rescuer of the psalmist from a desperate situation. Printed on both sides, you can laminate and distribute it to 8 soldiers or prayer warriors. The bay psalm book, cambridge, printed for hezekiah usher of boston, circa 164865. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung.
This psalter was a new translation begun in 1636 by a group of puritan divines richard mather. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The distinctive feature of this psalm, appearing outside the book of psalms. A place of total protection in times of danger protecting our country is a dangerous job. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers landed at plymouth rock. Soldiers wrote their own lyrics, and occasionally even the songs themselves, which. Neither of them could have known that the book would save franks life.
During world war i, the 91st infantry brigade of the u. God will rescue you from the fowlers snare, from the destroying plague. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my god. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Book five psalms 107150 succinctly presents many of the major themes of the previous psalms. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. Nov 12, 2012 at the 300th anniversary of our congregation i was asked to put together some of the music that would have been sung at that time in boston area churches. It is imperative that we believe what the truth god reveals to us through his written word.
The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. Billings published six major collections, containing over 250 original psalm and hymn tunes. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength publication in the north american colonies. Jun 11, 2018 the communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old 100th. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. This break down of the verse is a mix of theology, application, and incredible stories. Popular title of the first book produced by englishspeaking american authors on a britishnorth american press. The enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, 1956. In psalm 91 military edition, peggy joyce ruth has written this book to convey the safety and the power of reading and speaking out the word of god.
Even though this book is an uplifting analysis of psalm 91, i do have a few minor comments. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The volume was the bay psalm booka literary monument of the cultural and religious aspirations of the early settlers of the country. Surely he will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence. The two psalters most widely used were the bay psalm book 1640 and sternhold and hopkinss whole book of psalms the old version, 1562. Dec 01, 1984 the message of the psalms by walter brueggemann is not an easy read it is in the retrospect section of the book, brueggemann says there can be no doubt that the psalms are an important resource for spirituality and have been so for countless generations.
Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The christian soldiers psalm true safety comes only through the mercies of yahweh god. Compare and contrast the righteous and the wicked in this psalm. His first tunebook, the newengland psalmsinger boston, 1770, was the earliest to contain only music by an american composer. The word selah is found in 39 psalms, all but two of which ps 140. Significantly, not one of these tunes used a text from the bay psalm book. Soldiers prayer a psalm 91 prayer for soldiers lamp. The work, entitled the whole booke of palsmes faithfully translated into english metre, was published in seventeen hundred copies, of which only eleven survivefive complete and the others lacking a varying. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. A committee of thirty learned elders, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot, set about the task of creating a new translation of the 150 hebrew psalms into english and casting the text into verse for singing. Expeditionary army was preparing to enter combat in europe. Notice the three actions walking, standing, and sitting. Psalm 107 is a song of thanksgiving composed by those who survived exile and made their way home.
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