Tre Davidssalmer, Op. 48 (1949)
(Three Psalms of David)

Three Psalms of David were written between April and September 1949 for a tenor soloist, boys' choir, mixed choir, and orchestra. Herman D. Koppel considered it one of, if not the most important work of his career, and on the front of the score, he dedicated it to his wife and said it was "written in the memory of humankind's suffering during the Second World War (1939-1945)."

Drawing inspiration from the grim realities of wartime existence, the composition evolves from profound despair in the first movement ("Hvor længe vil du evigt glemme mig" / "How long will you eternally forget me") to an exultant Hallelujah in the third movement, mourning the tragic loss of millions while also rejoicing in the liberation. The Three Psalms of David offers a resounding testament to hope amidst the darkest of times.

In a 1981 interview with the newspaper Politiken, Herman D. Koppel shared insights into his religious beliefs, revealing a complex relationship with his Jewish upbringing:

I am Jewish confirmed, attended a small Jewish religious school, and can still read Hebrew. When I turned 13, I recited my Bible passage in the synagogue, at my bar mitzvah. I am not a member of the congregation, and I do not consider myself religious in an orthodox church sense. On the other hand, I am still religious in a way deep down inside. Otherwise, I would probably never have written the religiously influenced works along with songs. I cannot explain it further than by saying that we humans cannot manage alone. There is more to existence than we immediately understand and can ever fully comprehend. I have no doubt about that. In that sense, I am religious - in the acknowledgment of our limitation.