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How Can I Keep from Singing?

Psalm 30 · Psalm 40:1–3 · with How Can I Keep from Singing?

How Can I Keep from Singing? — attr. Robert Lowry, 1869. Its roots: Psalm 30, and Psalm 40:3 — “and he hath put a new song in my mouth.”

3 minutes

Two psalms of a man lifted out of the pit — mourning turned into dancing, a new song put in his mouth — scrolled under the hymn they gave us.

— or tap any verse to hear it from there.

Psalm 30

I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalm 40:1–3

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Music: “How Can I Keep From Singing?” performed by Admiral Bob via ccMixter, licensed CC BY-NC 3.0. The hymn is traditional (attr. Robert Lowry, 1869), public domain.

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