Pelham Humfrey
Haste thee, O God

The text for the Introit for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity is from Psalm 70. The text we typically chant is translated from the traditional Latin text of the proper; in the Coverdale Psalter used in our Prayerbook, the text begins: “Haste thee, O God, to deliver me.”

This Psalm is relatively short — only 6 verses — and since it remains well-focused, it lends itself to musical settings that include the entire text. One English-language setting is by Pelham Humfry (1647–1674), who came of age and musical prominence during the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy. He was about a decade older than one of the most brilliant of English composers, Henry Purcell (1659–1695, also relatively short-lived), and if Humfry hadn’t died at the age of 27, he may have rivalled Purcell in achievement.

Here is his setting of Psalm 70, Haste thee, O God, performed by the Consort of Voices and the Instruments of Time and Truth, conducted by Edward Higginbottom.

Exaltabo te Domine, quoniam suscepisti me
I will magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set me up:
nec delectasti inimicos meos super me.
and not made my foes to triumph over me.
Domine clamavi ad te et sanasti me.
O Lord my God, I cried unto thee: and thou hast healed me.