I Will Extol You, Lord, For You Have Raised Me Up

"I Will Extol You, Lord, For You Have Raised Me Up" is a joyful responsorial psalm setting for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Drawn from Psalm 30, the text is a profound prayer of thanksgiving from someone who has experienced God's saving help. In the choir loft, this piece offers a bright, uplifting moment during the Liturgy of the Word, inviting the entire congregation to echo the psalmist's gratitude for being lifted from the depths.

Saidua S. Peter's arrangement captures the transition from sorrow to joy that defines this scripture. The verses move through memories of hardship—acknowledging that "at night there are tears"—before breaking into the confident declaration that "at dawn comes joy." When the cantor sings of God turning sorrow into dancing, the melody naturally lifts, encouraging the assembly to respond with genuine faith. It is a highly accessible setting that grounds the Sunday readings in a shared song of praise.