O You Righteous, Come and Sing (Psalm 33)

Words and Music: Jillian McNeely and Laramie Minga, 2020

Sheet Music: Hymn | Lead Sheet | Piano
Recordings: Demo | Piano Accompaniment | Organ

This hymn of adoration seeks to display the emphases and structure of Psalm 33. The first two verses of each stanza form the call to praise found in 1–3, while each of the four stanzas echos the four causes for praise: the Lord’s Word (4–9); the Lord’s counsel and plans (10–12); the Lord’s righteousness and justice (13–15); and the Lord’s steadfast love (16–19). The refrain, with themes of hope and trust from the conclusion of the psalm (20–22), serves as a response to the call to praise at the beginning of the psalm. Think of each stanza and refrain like this: a call to praise, a cause for praise, and a response of praise.

STANZA 1
O you righteous, come and sing
to God a fitting song.
With gladness let us praise our King
anew with choral tongues.
For He who with a word, or less,
wills all things to comply,
and goodness toward creation is
His habit and delight.

REFRAIN
O God, anew we sing
in hopes fulfilled, in waiting.
O God, Your praise we bring
with joyful hearts, an offering.

STANZA 2
O you righteous, come and sing
to God a fitting song.
Our voices laud in common theme;
we praise His loyal love.
Once chosen, ever kept, His saints
are blessed for endless time.
Enduring is God’s plan for us;
in this our peace relies.

STANZA 3
O you righteous, come and sing
to God a fitting song,
a tune of sparrows and of men
known by the ear of God.
His throne is lofty, yet He still
is mindful of the earth.
This reigning Lord proves tenderness
by tending human hearts.

STANZA 4
O you righteous, come and sing
to God a fitting song,
an anthem for the war against
our souls, which have been won.
From death the care and might of God
availed our victory.
We hope in the salvation that
He graciously decreed.