Psalm 100 does not need a new metrical version. “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” says it all.
But I only recently realized that the Hebrew structure to Psalm 100 is odd. Its verses each have three lines. (This is a little obscured by the fact that our English translations often split the first stanza into two verses; but they are really one whole unit of three lines.) This odd structure breaks the normal convention of having only two lines per verse.
A normal verse of Hebrew poetry looks like this:
“The Lord is my shepherd:
I shall not want.”
Note: two lines. The second line echoes or reframes the first. In some Hebrew verses, the second line contrasts with the first:
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth:
but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
In almost every case, Hebrew poetry has two lines per verse. So why does Psalm 100 have three lines each?
I don’t know, but I decided it was worth trying to capture in English.
Every heart be glad and sing:
Come with praises echoing.
God is here, and He is king.
Kneel before the lordly throne.
Who is God, but He alone?
Serve Him: for we are His own.
God has made us, and not we.
We are sheep; the Shepherd He,
Sparing us so tenderly.
Bless Him ever and again,
Sing a psalm, a thankful hymn;
Answer with a sweet Amen.
For the Lord our God is true;
What He promised, He will do,
Til all years and times are through.
The Middle Room 