This is the Psalter (less Brown's notes, which were added later) mandated, approved and used (for public and private worship) by the Westminster Assembly and all those who covenanted to uphold the Biblical Reformation that these Divines proclaimed.

The text of the Scottish Metrical Psalms was authorized by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1650. The notes added by Brown are suitable for explaining the Psalm before singing and are a great aid to understanding and worship (whether public, family or private).

Every song leader (especially fathers for family worship) should have a copy of this edition of the Scottish Psalter with Brown's notes. If money is a factor, the inexpensive photocopy edition should suffice for other members of the family -- or the father (or other song leaders) can simply line out the Psalms (as Moses, David, the Apostles, etc. did) eliminating the need for multiple Psalters.

Another big plus with this Psalter is that the Psalms, excepting one, are rendered into common metre (with some alternate versions added) and thus can be sung by even those with almost no knowledge of music. For example, the tune to "Amazing Grace" is one of the many tunes that fits with all common metre renderings. And even Psalm 136, the one Psalm not in common metre, can be sung to any common metre tune, as it adds only one extra syllable to the end of every second line.

Maybe not the delight of the accomplished musician, but certainly calculated to make the Psalms easily accessible to young and old alike (an attainment surely pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ) -- as this Psalter was purposely produced to foster international (and covenanted) Reformation.

The Scottish Metrical Psalter is a faithful translation and without a doubt remains the best Psalter in existence today. We have added (at no extra cost to our customers) a copy of the Westminster Shorter Catechism to this printing. This has been done to assist parents in catechizing their children during family worship. Also included in this edition (from the original publisher) is "A Table of the Psalms Classed Under Several Subject Heads" and an "Alphabetical Index of the First Line of Each Stanza." These sections comprise 48 pages of small print alone, while the complete book (not including the Shorter Catechism we've added) is made up of 507 pages.

This is a primary source document of Reformation; not to be missed by those serious about the Reformed faith -- and worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

There are few things in life as pleasing and enjoyable as communing with Christ through the singing of His Psalms!