Friday, April 7, 2023

Watchful’s song

Andrew Sokol

Watchful's Song, Ralph Vaughan Williams. Featuring Andrew Sokol, tenor; Jennifer McPherson, piano Recorded live at St. John's Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, NH, on March 26, 2023, during the service of Holy Eucharist, Rite II.

Watchful's Song

Into thy hands, O lord, into thy hands, O Lord,

I commend my spirit, into thy hands, O Lord.

Except the Lord keep the house the watchman waketh but in vain.

The Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep peace:

the whole earth is at rest and is quiet.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit,

into thy hands, O Lord.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh even from the Lord

who hath made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.

He that keepeth thee shall not sleep.

Behold, he that keepeth thee shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself is my keeper, he shall preserve thee from all evil:

yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul from this time forth

forevermore:

from this time forth forevermore.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit, into thy hands, O Lord.