Frequently Occurring
Biblical Quotations
In Reggae Songs

Book of Psalms

The Psalms, originally written in the form of Hebrew poetry, are in themselves sacred songs, and so often lend themselves very well to being incorporated into Reggae lyrics. Encompassing a vast spectrum of human emotions, the Psalms include resounding hymns of praise, reassuring statements of faith, heartfelt cries of grief and despair, quiet prayerful meditations, and historical narratives.



Psalm 1:1 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1 is aptly placed as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms. It contrasts the ways of the righteous and the wicked, comparing their different fates. See, for example, 'Zion Hut' by IJahman.


Psalm 2:1 - Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Here we witness the futile hostility and rebellion of mankind towards God and his anointed. Prince Far I set the entire words of Psalm 2 to one of his compelling rhythms, but the first verse as quoted above also appears in many other songs. See, for example, 'Love Is The Light' by Horace Andy and Big Youth.


Psalm 19:1-2 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
God's glory is displayed for all to see in the harmonious patterns of the universe. Give thanks and praises! See, for example, 'Signs And Wonders', by IJahman.



Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Only God's divine grace allows the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts to be acceptable in God's sight. ... See, for example, 'Rivers Of Babylon', by The Melodians.


Psalm 23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23 is surely the best known and loved of all the Psalms. King David, its writer, began his career as a humble shepherd boy, and therefore took this theme as his inspiration, likening God to a Shepherd who "maketh me to lie down in green pastures" and "leadeth me beside the still waters". Under God's watchful protection, the sheep of his pasture need "fear no evil". For an amusing parody of this Psalm, see 'Drunkard Psalm' by Prince Buster. For the more conventional rendition, look at songs such as 'Jah Guide' by Peter Tosh, 'Dreadlocks In Moonlight' by Lee 'Scratch' Perry, 'My Thoughts' by The Gladiators, or 'Cry To Me' by Bob Marley. See also the rhyming version of this Psalm, as featured in 23rd Psalm by Buju Banton and Morgan Heritage.

Psalm 24:3-4 - Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Hence, 'Let hands and heart be pure and clean, to rally round the Red, Gold and Green!' (that is, the Ethiopian flag). See, for example, 'Clean Hands' by The Gladiators, or 'King Of Kings' by Max Romeo and Dennis Alcapone, which features the whole of the 24th Psalm, including the beautiful words, 'Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in'. Peter Tosh also adapts these words to encourage Black people to be proud of their heritage and lay aside the slave mentality:
Lift up thine head, O ye Black Dignity
And be ye lifted up, ye ever-loving Black Dignity
And let the King of kings enter thine heart
See his songs 'Black Dignity' and 'Arise Blackman'.



Psalm 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
This pair of rhetorical questions says it all. See, for example, 'Dreadlocks In Moonlight', by Lee 'Scratch' Perry, and 'Creation' by Peter Tosh.


Psalm 37:1 - Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
No need to be bitter or envious at the prosperity of the wicked, for it is but transient. See, for example, 'Fly Away' by The Gladiators.



Psalm 55:6 - And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
In times of oppression and anxiety, the psalmist prays for relief. Quoted in Reggae lyrics, this verse inevitably carries the added connotation of longing to escape to a better world, of flying away home to Zion. See, for example, 'Wings Of A Dove' by Bob Marley, or 'Fly Away' by The Gladiators.



Psalm 68:1 - Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
The arresting opening of this Psalm sounds like a defiant war-cry. It echoes Moses' words in Numbers 10:35. In Rasta Reggae lyrics, it usually becomes, "Let JAH arise...!". In fact, in the King James Bible, the fourth verse of this same Psalm contains the only example of the name 'JAH' being retained in translation: "...extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH". The name 'Jah' is a shortened form of 'Jahweh' or 'Yahweh', used, as here, in poetry. ... For examples of songs, see 'Message From The King' by Prince Far I, 'Igziabeher' by Peter Tosh, and 'Jah Live' by Bob Marley.


Psalm 87:1-2 - His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
A song of triumph, rejoicing in Zion's sure foundation. See, for example, 'Message From The King', by Prince Far I.


Psalm 92:1 - IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:
Give thanks and praises unto God for his care and devotion to his people, and for his righteous judgement of the wicked. See, for example, 'Give Thanks And Praise' by Bob Marley.


Psalm 104:14 - He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
This verse and others that also mention the word 'herb' have sometimes been used to justify the medicinal, curative and meditative uses of the so-called 'Holy Herb', also known as marijuana. The word translated 'herb' in the King James Version might equally be translated as 'vegetation'. Smoking marijuana is not a biblical concept. ...See, for example, the song called 'Igziabeher', by Peter Tosh.


Psalm 118:22 - The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
The oppressed and downtrodden will win through in the end. See, for example, the song 'Corner Stone', by Bob Marley. This scripture is quoted in several places in the New Testament, since Jesus and his followers referred to it in their teaching - Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7.


Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
This beautiful verse links strongly to the Rasta concept of the Inity (unity) of Imanity (humanity). See, for example, 'Africa Unite' by Bob Marley.



Psalm 137:1 - By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
These poignant words of grief, sung by the Israelites held in captivity in Babylon, speak strongly to anyone, but especially to a people who have themselves suffered the misery of enslavement and exile. See, for example, 'Rivers Of Babylon' by The Melodians, or 'Jah Is No Secret' by IJahman.
...For a very detailed analysis of the adaptation of Psalm 137 in Reggae lyrics, see the following article
TUNING HEBREW PSALMS TO REGGAE RHYTHMS:
 RASTAS' REVOLUTIONARY LAMENTATIONS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE by Nathaniel Samuel Murrel


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