This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Bethesda
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Bethesda by James P. Carrell — Lyrics
In finem. Psalmus David,
cum venit ad eum Nathan propheta, quando intravit ad Bethsabee.
Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam; et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco, et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci; ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti; incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
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About Bethesda
This setting of Psalm 51, known as Miserere mei, Deus, opens with David’s plea for mercy after his sin with Bathsheba. The text reflects a profound sense of personal guilt and a deep yearning for divine forgiveness and purification. Carrell’s SATB arrangement captures the penitential spirit of the Latin original, while also offering an English translation for broader accessibility. The music likely explores the emotional depths of the psalm, from confession to the hope of cleansing and renewal. This sacred work is suitable for services focusing on themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the restorative power of faith, allowing the choir to convey a message of profound spiritual introspection.
