The Voice of God (Tune: TOULON)

The voice of God goes out to all the world;
God's glory speaks across the universe.
The great King's herald cries from star to star:
With power, with justice, he will walk his way.

The Lord has said: 'Receive my messenger,
My promise to the world, my pledge made flesh,
A lamp to every nation, light from light':
With power, with justice, he will walk his way.

The broken reed he will not trample down,
Nor set his heel upon the dying flame.
He binds the wounds, and health is in his hand:
With power, with justice, he will walk his way.

Anointed with the Spirit and with power,
He comes to crown with comfort all the weak,
To show the face of justice to the poor:
With power, with justice, he will walk his way.

His touch will bless the eyes that darkness held,
The lame shall run, the halting tongue shall sing,
And prisoners laugh in light and liberty:
With power, with justice, he will walk his way.

Text: Luke Connaughton (1970)
Tune: TOULON 10.10.10.10 (Genevan Psalter, 1551)

公義、權能正進行 (Tune: TOULON)

See the English Original: The Voice of God

[1] 神發出呼聲廣佈遍全球，
祂神聖光榮充溢滿宇宙。
至高者信息傳揚遍眾星：
公義和權能祂作道路行。

[2] 祂曾說：接待我差傳訊人，
世人得應許，聖道化肉身，
真光照萬民，仰瞻光之光：
公義和權能祂作道路行。

[3] 壓傷的蘆葦祂不會折斷，
將殘的燈光不會吹滅。
祂包裹傷處，祂親手醫治：
公義和權能祂作道路行。

[4] 蒙聖靈膏抹，天父賜大能，
祂普施安慰，勉勵軟弱人，
福音濟貧窮，十架彰正義：
公義和權能祂作道路行。

[5] 瞎子祂撫摸，得重見光明，
跛子再走動，啞巴要唱頌，
囚者獲釋放，歡然得自由：
公義和權能祂作道路行。

See the English Original: The Voice of God


Text: Luke Connaughton (1970)
Tune: TOULON 10.10.10.10 (Genevan Psalter, 1551)

Joshua fit de battle (African American Spiritual)

Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
An’ de walls come tumblin’down.

You may talk about yo’ king ob Gideon
You may talk about yo’ man ob Saul
Dere’s none like good ole Joshua
At de battle ob Jerico

Up to de walls ob Jericho
He marched with spear in han’
“Go blow dem ram horns”, Joshua cried,
“Kase de battle am in my han’.”

Den de lam’ ram sheep begin to blow,
Trumpets begin to soun’
Joshua commanded de children to shout
An’ de walls come tumblin’ down
Dat mornin’

Joshua fit the battle ob Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fit de battle ob Jericho
An’ de walls come tumblin’down.

Historical Information

Traditional African American Spiritual
 

His eye is on the sparrow

1. Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shaddows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

Refrain:

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.

2. "Let not your heart be troubled,"
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (Refrain)

3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (Refrain)

Historical Background 

Text: Civilia D. Martin (1866-1948)
Tune: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

All That I Am / Magnificat (David Haas)

Refrain:

All that I am sings of the God who brings new life to birth in me.
My spirit soars on the wings of my Lord.

1. My soul gives glory to the Lord, rejoicing in my saving God,
who looks upon me in my state, and all the world will call me blest;
For God works marvels in my sight, and holy, holy is God's name.

2. God's mercy is from age to age, on those who follow in fear;
Whose arm is power and strength, and scatters all the proud of heart;
Who casts the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly ones!

3. God fills the starving with good things, the rich are left with empty hands;
Protecting all the faithful ones, remembering Israel with mercy,
the promise known to those before and to their children for ever!

Composer: David Haas

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Holy is your name / Magnificat (David Haas)

1. My soul is filled with joy
as I sing to God my savior:
you have looked upon your servant,
you have visited your people.

Refrain

And holy is your name
through all generations!
Everlasting is your mercy
to the people you have chosen,
and holy is your name.

2. I am lowly as a child,
but I know from this day forward
that my name will be remembered,
for all will call me blessed.

3. I proclaim the pow’r of God,
you do marvels for your servants;
though you scatter the proud-hearted
and destroy the might of princes.

4. To the hungry you give food,
send the rich away empty.
In your mercy you are mindful
of the people you have chosen.

5. In your love you now fulfill
what you promised to your people.
I will praise you, Lord, my savior,
everlasting is your mercy.

Paraphrase of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)

Tune: WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
Composer: David Haas (b. 1957)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Go Down Moses / When Israel Was In Egypt's Land (USA)

When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
Let my people go,
Opressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

Chorus

Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharoah,
Let my people go.

Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go,
If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go,
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

The Lord told Moses what to do,
Let my people go,
To lead the Hebrew children through,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

O come along Moses, you'll not get lost,
Let my people go,
Stretch out your rod and come across,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

As Israel stood by the waterside,
Let my people go,
At God's command it did divide,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

When they reached the other shore,
Let my people go,
They sang a song of triumph o'er,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

Pharaoh said he'd go across,
Let my people go,
But Pharaoh and his host were lost,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

Jordan shall stand up like a wall,
Let my people go,
And the walls of Jericho shall fall,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go,
And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go,
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

We need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go,
And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go. (Chorus)

Traditional African American Spiritual

Historical Information (Wikipedia)