This edition was prepared by Jonathan Goodliffe — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Be thou my judge, O Lord
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems, Verse anthems
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Be thou my judge, O Lord by William Boyce — Lyrics
In finem. Psalmus David. Judica me, Domine, quoniam ego in innocentia mea ingressus sum,
et in Domino sperans non infirmabor.
Proba me, Domine, et tenta me; ure renes meos et cor meum.
Quoniam misericordia tua ante oculos meos est, et complacui in veritate tua.
Non sedi cum concilio vanitatis, et cum iniqua gerentibus non introibo.
Odivi ecclesiam malignantium, et cum impiis non sedebo.
Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas, et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine:
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About Be thou my judge, O Lord
This anthem by William Boyce opens with a prayer for divine judgment, the singer appealing to God as judge, trusting in their own innocence and faith. The text, a setting of Psalm 26, moves through pleas for God to test and purify the soul, to an affirmation of righteousness and a rejection of the wicked. The composer’s setting for SATB choir, with its English translation of the Latin, would suit a sacred occasion where themes of seeking justice and spiritual integrity are paramount. The music captures the earnest and supplicatory nature of the text, offering a moving reflection for the choir and congregation alike.
