Psalm 103: A Choral Reading for 8 adults and 1 child
This is a drama script for 8 adults and 1 child based on Psalm 103 from NRSV.
The chorus stands in the front. For the first half line, speakers begin speaking alone, as if speaking to themselves. Individuals join until a loud cacophony is heard. Then, the reading resumes.
ONE, adding until ALL are speaking [disorganized, repeating]: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
TWO: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
TWO and THREE: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
THREE: and do not forget all his benefits—
FOUR; who forgives all your iniquity,
FIVE: who heals all your diseases,
SIX: who redeems your life from the Pit,
SEVEN: who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
EIGHT: who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
FOUR and THREE: The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
TWO, FIVE, SEVEN: He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
SIX: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger
SIX and ONE: and abounding in steadfast love.
ONE: He will not always accuse,
TWO: nor will he keep his anger forever.
THREE: He does not deal with us according to our sins,
FOUR: nor repay us according to our iniquities.
FIVE and SIX: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
FOUR and THREE: as far as the east is from the west,
ONE, TWO, FIVE, SEVEN: so far he removes our transgressions from us.
NINE and EIGHT: As a father has compassion for his children,
EIGHT: so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
FIVE: For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
NINE (child voice): As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it,
NINE and EIGHT: and it is gone,
NINE, EIGHT, FIVE: and its place knows it no more.
ONE: But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting
ONE and FIVE: to everlasting on those who fear him,
FIVE and NINE: and his righteousness to children’s
NINE: children,
TWO and THREE: to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
FOUR and SIX: The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his
TWO, THREE, FOUR, SIX: kingdom rules over all.
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT: Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.
ONE, TWO, FIVE, SEVEN: Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN: Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
ALL: Bless the Lord, O my soul.