Antonin Dvorak: Biblical Songs

1. Oblak a mrákota jest v?kol N?ho: Clouds and Darkness (Psalm 97:2-6)?

Clouds and darkness are round about Him; ?righteousness and judgment, these are His habitation.? From His presence goeth fire and consumeth ?all His enemies. ?For His lightnings have lighten’d the world, ?the earth beheld and trembled. ?Mountains shall melt as wax at His presence, ?when the Mighty One ?cometh to judgement.? The heavens declare His truth and righteousness, ?and all earth rejoiceth in His greatness.

2. Skrýše má a paveza má Ty jsí: Lord, Thou art my refuge (Psalm 119:114-119)

?Lord, Thou art my refuge and my shield, ?and in Thy word put I my trust. ?Out of my sight, ye that do evil, ?for my heart is fixed, I will hold fast to God’s commandments.? Strengthen me, that I may keep Thy law, ?and that Thy statutes may be my delight. ?I am afraid of Thee and of Thy greatness, ?trembling do I come before Thy judgment seat.

3. Slyš, ó Bože, slyš modlitbu mou: Hear my prayer (Psalm 55:1-8)

Hear my pray’r, O Lord, my God! ?Hide not Thy face from my petition.? Bow Thine ear to me, ?and hearken unto the voice of my mourning, ?to the voice of my mourning.? Pained sore is my heart within, ?and trembling hath fallen upon me, ?the fear of death overwhelms me. ?Hear my sighing.? Oh, had I but eagle’s pinions, ?had I wings like the silver dove!? Far away would I wander, ?I would hide me in the wilderness.? On wings I would hasten ?to hide from the storm, ?the storm and fearful tempest.

4. Hospodin jest m?j pastý?: God is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4)

?God is my shepherd, I want for nothing. ?My rest is in the pleasant meadows. ?He leadeth me where quiet waters flow.? My fainting soul doth He restore ?and guideth me in the ways of peace, ?to glorify His name. ?And though in death’s dark valley ?my steps must wander, ?my spirit shall not fear ?for Thou are by me still.? Thy rod and staff are with me, ?and they shall comfort me.

5. Bože! Bože! Píse? novou: I will sing new songs (Psalm 145:1-7 & 144:9)?

I will sing new songs of gladness, ?I will sing Jehovah’s praises ?upon a ten-string psaltery. ?Ev’ry day will I extol Thee ?and will bless Thy Holy Name, ?I will bless Thy Holy Name. ?Great is God and great His mercy.? Who shall tell of all His greatness? ?Who shall His pow’r declare?? My song shall be of praise and honor, ?and of Thy glorious acts.? Thy works are wonderful, ?past our knowing. ?Yea, men shall tell of Thy great kindness ?and of Thy wond’rous might, ?and my voice shall proclaim aloud Thy Glory.

6. Slyš, ó Bože, volání mé: Hear my prayer, O Lord (Psalm 63:1-8)?

Hear my pray’r, O Lord ?give ear unto my cry.? Thou art my refuge and my hope, ?Thou shalt tread down my enemies. ?I will dwell forever in They tents ?and hide me in the shadow of Thy wings. ?Lord! Thou art indeed my God, ?yea, I will seek Thee early.? My soul is faint, my body longeth, ?longeth after Thee ?in a barren desert where there is no water. ?Now I will bless Thee daily and lift my hands in pray’r and adoration; ?yea, my lips will praise Thee all my life long.

7. P?i ?ekách babylonských: By the waters of Babylon (Psalm 137:1-6)?

By the waters of Babylon, ?there we sat us down and wept ?when we remember’d thee, O Zion.? As for our harps, ?we hung them upon the willow trees.? For they that had brought us to misery ?asked us for a joyful song.? Yea, they did speak to us with mocking words: ?”Sing us now, sing us one of the songs of Zion!”? Then we did answer: ?”How can we sing to you,? how can we sing our glad songs ?in a strange land?”? Jerusalem, if I should forget thee, ?O, Jerusalem, then, ?then let my right hand forget her cunning.

8. Popat?iž na mne a smiluj se nade mnou: Turn Thee to me (Psalm 25:16-21)

?Turn Thee to me and have mercy, ?for I am desolate and sore distressed.? Great, great are the sorrows of my heart; ?bring me out of my distress, ?bring me out of my distress.? Oh be merciful, ?look on my sorrow, ?see mine affliction and forgive me all my wickedness. ?Oh, keep my soul in safety and deliver me. ?Let me never be confounded ?for my hope is in Thee, ?for my hope is in Thee, in Thee.

9. Pozdvihuji o?í svých k horám: I will lift mine eyes (Psalm 121:1-8)

?I will lift mine eyes upon the mountains ?whence cometh my help.? My help cometh from God ?Who hath made the earth and the heavens. ?He will not suffer thy feet to be moved nor thy steps to stumble. ?He that keepeth thee will not slumber. ?Behold, the keeper of Israel is He that slumbers not ?nor sleeps.

10. Zpívejte Hospodinu píse? novou: Sing ye a joyful song. (Psalm 98:1-8)?

Sing ye a joyful song unto the Lord, ?Who hath done marvelous, marvelous things.? Praise the Lord all the earth! ?Sing praises, shout and be joyful.? Let the sea roar and all that is therein. ?The round world and all they that dwell there.? Lift your voices, floods and tempests. ?Mountains, clap your hands for joy. ?Let the fields laugh and sing with waving corn, ?and let all the trees of the forest be joyful!