Psalm 3

Psalm 3

Translation by Robert Alter

A David psalm, when he fled from Absalom his.

Lord, how many are my foes,

            many, who rise up against me.

Many, who say of my life:

            “No rescue for him through God.”                              selah

And You, Lord, a shield are for me,

            my glory, Who lifts up my head.

With my voice I cry out to the Lord,

            and He answers me from His holy mountain.            selah

I lie down and I sleep.

            I awake, for the Lord has sustained me.

I fear not from myriads of troops

            that round about set against me.

Rise, Lord! Rescue me, my God,

            for You strike all my foes on the cheek,

                        the teeth of the wicked You smash.

Rescue is the Lord’s!

            On Your people Your blessing.                                    Selah

Alter, R The Book of Psalms, A Translation with commentary, W.W. NORTON 2007 p. 8

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PROGRAM NOTE

PSALM 3 (2019)

This Psalm is a psalm that evokes the protection of God against the enemy. It is a statement that all people are God’s people and all life is sustained by God, for those who reach out for salvation. No person, neither enemy, national group or country has the power to declare whether another person, nation or country is worthy of the protection of God. In the light of God who is all powerful, all seeing, all protecting and all loving, all people, nations and countries are worthy of salvation.

In setting the psalm, I found the music within the text, where the cantillation of the melody, sprang from the emotionality and deep resonance of the Psalm. Based upon the key of C minor, a dark key associated with suffering, the voices in canon grow from a solo mezzo voice, like branches of a tree riddled with knots. Distant portamenti between the voices, moving at different speeds, allude to the sirens of far-away emergency vehicles.

Psalm 3 is a harrowing and evocative plea from a place of despair where a broken leader prays for protection against his enemies. He knows that justice will be brought upon those named, whose evil ways cloud their higher judgement, because The Lord, creator, and protector of all can see all and will expose it. By calling out to The Lord, he upholds the faith that justice will be done, retribution against his enemies will be achieved and balance will once again be restored. In this, the divine king finds solace and comfort, finding peace within the storm.