Have
you ever longed to sing the Psalms, to join with the Psalmist in expressing the
awe, majesty, grace and forgiveness of God?
The 16th century Reformer John Calvin once wrote of the Psalms:
"… that which St. Augustine has said is true, that no one is able to
sing things worthy of God except that which he has received from him.
Therefore, when we have looked thoroughly, and search here and there, we shall
not find better songs nor more fitting for the purpose, than the Psalms of
David, which the Holy Spirit spoke and made through him. And moreover, when we
sing them, we are certain that God puts in our mouths these, as if himself were
singing in us to exalt his glory."
"This book I am wont to style an anatomy of all parts of the soul; for
no one will discover in himself a single feeling whereof the image is not
reflected in this mirror. Nay, all griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes,
cares, anxieties – in short, all those tumultuous agitations wherewith the
minds of men are wont to be tossed – the Holy Ghost hath here represented to
the life."
The lyrics of this psalter was first prepared by Mr. Francis
Rouse. This was presented to the Westminster Assembly and, after careful study
and amendments by the three committees over a period of two months, was
approved by the Assembly for use in public worship on 14 November 1645 (see
Minutes, pp. 131, 163).
After this, it was subjected to six years of
scrutiny and revision by two different groups of highly learned and devout
leaders of the Scottish Presbyterian Church. Literally, every word and phrase
was carefully weighed for faithfulness to the original Hebrew texts.
Click HERE to the Psalms recording sung a cappela.
Click HERE to PDF file (Scottish Psalter 1650 & KJV Psalms ~ Side by Side)
1650 Split Leaf Psalter App (with tune) : iOS & Android
Scottish Psalter 1650 (without tune) : Android
Below links are the Scottish Psalter with brief explanatory notes by Pastor Jeff O' Neil.