Psalm 5, vs. 9-12

Psalm 5, vs. 9-12, the twelfth track of the Pastoral Psalms album, was recorded by the David/Asaph Project during the years 2007-2013. This song features the text of the KJV translation set to new music with all acoustic instrumentation. Song duration is 4:40. This song is the third of three movements for the entire 5th Psalm, spanning the concluding verses 9-12.

The song opens with dark chords on the piano and acoustic bass. Wood block percussion enters, and then recurs throughout the song sounding like a clock ticking and tocking a countdown towards final judgment. The vocal opens with verse 9 as a stinging indictment, “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” Dobro answers, complementing the ominous tones. The tension is punctuated and then released at verse 10 with the imprecatory “Destroy thou them, O God…” The woodblock clock continues ticking and tocking.

The song then later turns to the subject of joy, blessing, and the favor of God towards His people, although the dark tones continue in the background throughout the song. The last word of the psalm speaks of the shield of God compassing the righteous. Piano, acoustic bass, dobro, and percussion then proceed into an extended outro, conversing with each other in a heavy jazz blues mix.