The first motet is a setting of verse 4 from Psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd): "Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Thal" (Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death).

[9][16] The second motet sets the first and last verses from Psalm 133, "Siehe, wie fein und lieblich ist es" (Behold, how good and how pleasant it is [for brethren to dwell together in unity]).

[10] For the third motet, Kiel chose the beginning of Psalm 84, "Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen" (How amiable are thy tabernacles),[11][12] which Johannes Brahms had used for the central movement of Ein deutsches Requiem.

[11] In the fourth motet, Kiel set the beginning of Psalm 130, "Aus der Tiefe rufe ich" (Out of the depths have I cried),[19][20] in C minor,[2] common time, and marked Moderato.

[19] For the fifth motet, Kiel chose two verses from Psalm 126, "Die mit Tränen säen" (They that sow in tears),[14][21] words that Brahms had set in the first movement of his Requiem.

[14] The text of the sixth motet is taken from Psalm 13, "Herr, wie lange willst du meiner so gar vergessen" (How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?).