Psalm 101 is the 101st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will sing of mercy and judgment". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 102. In Latin, it is known as "Misericordiam et iudicium cantabo". It is attributed to David, and provides warnings for the wicked, while explaining the benefits the righteous will reap. The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

King James Version

Commentary

According to Matthew Henry, "David was certainly the penman of this psalm", and he here "cuts out to himself and others a pattern both of a good magistrate and a good master of a family; and, if these were careful to discharge the duty of their place, it would contribute very much to a universal reformation.

Verses

Uses

Catholic Church

Since the Middle Ages, this psalm was traditionally performed at the office of matins the Friday, according to the Rule of St. Benedict established in 530. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 101 is sung or recited at Lauds on Tuesday of the fourth week of the four weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.

Anglican Communion

In the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, and in liturgies derived from them, Psalm 101 is traditionally said or sung at Evensong on the 19th day of each month.

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 101 in a metred paraphrase in German, "Von Gnad und Recht soll singen", SWV 199, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.