Psalm 87

P S A L M S — 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97

General information

Besides an antiphon based on verse 1b, the Roman Gradual contains a Tract for Marian feasts after Septuagesima based on vv 1b-5.

Settings by composers

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• John Cole — Mount Zion
• Jacob French — Jerusalem
• Valentin Haussmann — Man wird zu Zion sagen
• Nobuaki Izawa — Gloriosa
• Brian Marble — Psalm 87
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina — Fundamenta ejus
• Heinrich Schütz — Fest ist gegründet Gottes Stadt, SWV 184

Text and translations

Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 86) Latin text 1  Filiis Core. Psalmus cantici. Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis; 2  diligit Dominus portas Sion super omnia tabernacula Jacob. 3  Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei! 4  Memor ero Rahab et Babylonis, scientium me;   ecce alienigenae, et Tyrus, et populus Aethiopum, hi fuerunt illic. 5  Numquid Sion dicet: Homo et homo natus est in ea, et ipse fundavit eam Altissimus? 6  Dominus narrabit in scripturis populorum et principum, horum qui fuerunt in ea. 7  Sicut laetantium omnium habitatio est in te.

Douay Bible 1610 English translation 1 For the sons of Core, a psalm of a canticle. The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains: 2 The Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God. 4 I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon knowing me. Behold the foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, these were there. 5 Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? and the Highest himself hath founded her. 6 The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, of them that have been in her. 7 The dwelling in thee is as it were of all rejoicing.

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer English text 1  Her foundations are upon the holy hills:   the Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 2  Very excellent things are spoken of thee: thou city of God. 3  I will think upon Rahab and Babylon: with them that know me. 4  Behold ye the Philistines also: and they of Tyre, with the Morians; lo, there was he born. 5  And of Sion it shall be reported that he was born in her: and the most High shall stablish her. 6  The Lord shall rehearse it when he writeth up the people: that he was born there. 7  The singers also and trumpeters shall he rehearse: All my fresh springs shall be in thee.

Káldi fordítás (86. zsoltár) Hungarian text Kóre fiainak, ének-zsoltár. Az ő alapjai a szent hegyeken vannak; szereti az Úr Sion kapuit Jákob minden hajléka fölött. Dicsőséges dolgok mondatnak felőled, Isten városa! Megemlékezem Ráhabról és Babilonról, hogy megismerjenek engem. Ime az idegenek, és Tírus és a szerecsenek népe, ezek is oda valók. Nemde Sionról fog mondatni: Ember és ember született benne; és maga alapította azt a Fölséges? Az Úr fogja ezt elbeszélni a népek és fejedelmek irásaiban, azokéban, kik benne vannak. Mindnyájan vigadni fognak, kiknek lakásuk vagyon benned.

Old Version paraphrase by John Hopkins, 1562 English text 1. That city shall full well endure, Her groundwork still doth stay Upon the holy hills full sure, It can no time decay. 2. God loves the gates of Zion best, His grace doth there abide: God loves them more than all the rest, Of Jacob's tents beside. 3. Full glorious things reported be In Zion, and abroad: Great things, l say, are said of thee, Thou city of our God. 4. On Rahab I will cast an eye, And bear in mind the same: - To Babylon shall eke apply, And learn to know thy name. 5. Lo, Palestine, and Tyre also, With Ethiopia likewise: A people old full long ago, Were born and there did rise. 6. Of Zion they shall say abroad, That diverse men of fame Have there sprung up, and the high God Hath founded fast the same. 7. In their records to them it shall Through God's desire appear, Of Zion, that the chief of all Had his beginning there. 8. The trumpeters with such as sing, Therein great plenty be: Thy fountains and my pleasant springs Are compassed all in thee. (from 1574 edition)

Metrical Paraphrase by Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, New Version, 1698 English text God's temple crowns the holy mount, The Lord there condescends to dwell. His Zion's Gates, in His account, our Israel's fairest tents excel. Fame glorious things of thee shall sing, O city of th' Almighty King! I'll mention Rahab with due praise, In Babylon applauses join. The frame of Ethiopia raise, With that of Tyre and Palestine; And grant that some, amongst them born, their age and country did adorn. But still of Zion I'll aver That many such from her proceed; Th' Almighty shall establish her, His general list shall show, when read, That such a person there was born, Their age and country did adorn. He'll Zion find with numbers filled Of such as merit high renown, For hand and voice musicians skilled, and (her transcending fame to crown) Of such she shall successions bring Like waters from a living spring.

Metrical paraphrase by Isaac Watts, 1719 English text The church the birth-place of the saints. 1, God in his earthly temple lays Foundations for his heavenly praise: He likes the tents of Jacob well, But still in Zion loves to dwell. 2. His mercy visits every house That pay their night and morning vows; But makes a more delightful stay Where churches meet to praise and pray. 3. What glories were described of old! What wonders are of Zion told! Thou city of our God below, Thy fame shall Tyre and Egypt know. 4. Egypt and Tyre, and Greek and Jew, Shall there begin their lives anew; Angels and men shall join to sing The hill where living waters spring. 5. When God makes up his last account Of natives in his holy mount, 'Twill be an honor to appear As one new-born or nourished there!

Psalm 87, Luther, Ausgabe 1912

German text

1  Sie ist fest gegründet auf den heiligen Bergen.
2  Der HERR liebt die Tore Zions über alle Wohnungen Jakobs.
3  Herrliche Dinge werden in dir gepredigt, du Stadt Gottes. (Sela.)
4  Ich will predigen lassen Rahab und Babel, daß sie mich kennen sollen. Siehe, die Philister und Tyrer samt den Mohren werden daselbst geboren.
5  Man wird zu Zion sagen, daß allerlei Leute darin geboren werden und daß er, der Höchste, sie baue.
6  Der HERR wird zählen, wenn er aufschreibt die Völker: "Diese sind daselbst geboren." (Sela.)
7  Und die Sänger wie die im Reigen werden alle in dir singen, eins ums andere.