Psalm 24
King James Version
A psalm of David celebrating the earth as the LORD's and asking who may ascend His holy hill.
Download the handwriting worksheet (PDF)Printable, ruled for handwriting: copy it by hand, then type it here.
About this text
Psalm 24 is attributed to David and is traditionally associated with the procession of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, which would explain its structure as something like a liturgy for two voices — a question asked at the gates ("Who is this King of glory?") and an answer given in response, repeated twice near the end.
The repeated call-and-response in verses 7-10 ("Lift up your heads, O ye gates... Who is this King of glory?") is one of the clearest examples of antiphonal structure in the Psalms — text written to be spoken or sung by two different groups. Copying it with that structure in mind makes the repetition feel like a script rather than just the same line said twice.
What to watch for
- 6 semicolons: a semicolon joins two complete thoughts that belong together, a pause longer than a comma but shorter than a period.
- 4 exclamation and question marks: ask the child how the sentence should sound when read aloud, and why the writer chose that mark.
- 1 apostrophe: sort each one into possession (the shepherd's staff) or a missing letter (don't = do not).
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: LORD's, LORD, God, Jacob, King. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: hath, unto, thy, ye. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "righteousness" (13 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 10 lines averaging about 18 words each. A comfortable line length for a single sitting.
Full text (reference)
1The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.