English Psalms
  • AdteBeateJoseph3
    Posts: 74
    Pax! In light of the recent developments regarding the USCCB and the use of the psalter in new compositions, can anyone recommend public domain English translations of the Psalms that I can use in my works? I plan on writing a short refrain-type piece with psalm verses in between. Thank you and Happy Epiphany!
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,250
    Coverdale Traditional English is in the public domain.
    Thanked by 2irishtenor IanW
  • GambaGamba
    Posts: 658
    The psalms from the 1979 BCP. It is from the RSV (which is approved for Catholics to read and study),literal, and sings very well. It is modern-language, but has not been tinkered with to eliminate gendered words in the original text.

    https://www.bcponline.org/Psalter/the_psalter.html

    Being somewhat more enlightened and charitable about liturgical texts, the Episcopal Church has put the whole BCP online for our use.

    Be warned that use may cause future personal discontent and aggravation when encountering the disfigured and obscurantist English of past, present, and future revisions of Grail/Abbey Psalms, and also the NAB.

    (Thank you, Deacon.)
    Thanked by 3a_f_hawkins ServiamScores BGP
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 392
    The 1979 BCP Psalms are not from the RSV but are a bespoke updating of Coverdale.

    FWIW, I've been using the Abbey Psalms for a couple of years now for the Office and don't find them particularly obscurantist or disfigured, thought there are, of course, bits I don't like.
    Thanked by 3Roborgelmeister Gamba Liam
  • AndrewP
    Posts: 1
    https://chantpsalter.com/

    This is a very nice website, complete with pointing and suggested tones. Shown is the Coverdale language you'll find in most recordings, that is, without the 1928 revisions (which can be seen here http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1928/Psalms1.htm).
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