Bay Psalm Book

The translations are not particularly polished, and none have remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived (for instance, "Old 100th"); however, its production, just 20 years after the Pilgrims' arrival at Plymouth, Massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement.

They hired "thirty pious and learned Ministers", including Richard Mather, Thomas Mayhew, and John Eliot,[9] to undertake a new translation, which they presented here.

The book consisted of a 148 small quarto leaves, including a 12-page preface, "The Psalmes in Metre", "An Admonition to the Reader", and an extensive list of errata headed "Faults escaped in printing".

In the early part of the 18th century, several updated psalms, notably those written by Tate and Brady and by Isaac Watts, were published.

However, Prince's version was not accepted outside of his membership and in 1789, the Old South Church reverted to the earlier edition published by Isaac Watts.

Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullness, but also the necessity of the heavenly Ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the Churches of God.

Yea, though in valley of death’s shade I walk, none ill I’ll fear: Because thou art with me, thy rod, and staff my comfort are.