Portal:Psalms
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Introduction
The Book of Psalms (/sɑːmz/ or /sɔː(l)mz/ SAW(L)MZ; Hebrew: תְּהִלִּים, Tehillim, "praises"), commonly referred to simply as Psalms or "the Psalms", is the first book of the Ketuvim ("Writings"), the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and thus a book of the Christian Old Testament. The title is derived from the Greek translation, ψαλμοί, psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music". The book is an anthology of individual psalms, with 150 in the Jewish and Western Christian tradition and more in the Eastern Christian churches. Many of the psalms are linked to the name of David, but this is not accepted as historical fact by modern scholars.
Selected general articles
- Psalm 37 is the 37th psalm of the Book of Psalms. It has the form of an acrostic Hebrew poem, and is thought to have been written by David in his old age. Read more...
- One of the apocryphal books, the Psalms of Solomon is a group of eighteen psalms (religious songs or poems) written in the first and/or second centuries BC that are not part of any current scriptural canon (they are, however, found in copies of the Peshitta and the Septuagint). Read more...
Psalm 16 in the shape of the menorah
Psalm 67 (Greek numbering: Psalm 66) is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. Read more...- Psalm 32 is the 32nd psalm of the Book of Psalms.
In Psalm 32 the Psalmist (traditionally, King David) expresses the joy of being released from great suffering. It is divided into two parts: verses 1-5, the psalmist proclaims the joy of seeing his fault remitted by God and in verse 6 to verse 11, he shows his confidence in the fact that God is the guide on the right path. Read more... - Psalm 31 is the 31st psalm of the Book of Psalms.
Charles and Emilie Briggs summarized the contents of Psalm 31 in the International Critical Commentary series: "Ps. 31 is a prayer: (1) importunate plea for deliverance of the people from national enemies (v.2-5); (2) confidence in the deliverance already accomplished (v.6-9); (3) petition based on complain of abandonment (v.10-13); (4) confidence, with prayer for salvation (v.14-17); (5) praise of Yahweh for the salvation (v.20-21, 22-24a). There are liturgical glosses (v.22, 24b-25) and a gloss of imprecation (v.18-19)." Read more...
Psalm 47 in a Luther Bible, 1544
Psalm 47 is the 47th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "O clap your hands". The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 46 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Omnes gentes plaudite manibus". The psalm is a hymn psalm. It is one of twelve psalms attributed to the sons of Korah, and one of fifty-five psalms addressed to the "Chief Musician" or "Conductor".
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often, notably by Heinrich Schütz, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Rutter and Oskar Gottlieb Blarr. Read more...- Psalm 83 is the last of the Psalms of Asaph, which include Psalms 50 and 73 to 83. It is also the last of the "Elohist" collection, Psalm 42-83, in which the one of God's titles, Elohim, is mainly used. It is generally seen as a national lament provoked by the threat of an invasion of Israel by its neighbors. The psalm has been seen by some commentators as being purely cultic in nature. Others have indicated that the specific naming of particular nations indicates that it does refer to a specific historical period, even though the prayer itself would be offered in the Temple in Jerusalem. The dating of the composition of the Psalm is debated, but the reference in verse 9 to Assyria is by many sources seen as an indication that the Psalm was written during the time of Assyrian ascendancy, the 9th to 7th centuries BC. Others have placed the composition of the psalm between the time of Saul to the age of the Maccabees, suggested by Theodore of Mopsuestia. Read more...
Psalm 107:30-31 quoted in the window of St. Margaret's Church, Barking Abbey
Psalm 107 (Greek numbering: 106) is a psalm in the biblical book of Psalms. The Composition and Theology of the Fifth Book of Psalms, Psalms 107-145"></ref> this psalm is a song of thanksgiving to God, who has been merciful to his people and gathered all who were lost. It is beloved of mariners due to its reference to ships and the sea (v. 23). Read more...
Psalm 145 is the 145th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever". The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 144 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Exaltabo te Deus meus rex". The psalm is a hymn psalm.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often, notably by Antonín Dvořák who set several verses in Czech in his Biblical Songs. Read more...
Illumination from the Hours of Étienne Chevalier, created by the artist Jean Fouquet in the 1450s. David, in armour, kneels in penitence before God encircled by cherubim, while in the foreground lies a corpse, with devils torturing souls. Below, in gold capitals on a blue ground, are the opening words of Psalm 6: Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me neque in ira tua corripias me - "Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath."
Psalm 6 is the 6th psalm from the Book of Psalms. The Psalm gives its author as King David. David's supposed intention in writing the psalm was that it would be for anyone suffering from sickness or distress or for the state of the Kingdom of Israel while suffering through oppression.
The Geneva Bible (1599) gives the following summary:
:When David by his sins had provoked God’s wrath, and now felt not only his hand against him, but also conceived the horrors of death everlasting, he desireth forgiveness. 6 Bewailing that if God took him away in his indignation, he should lack occasion to praise him as he was wont to do while he was among men. 9 Then suddenly feeling God’s mercy, he sharply rebuketh his enemies which rejoiced in his affliction. Read more...
Verse 2 of the psalm, written above a sink used for ritual hand washing at the Beit El yeshiva, Old City, Jerusalem
Psalm 134 is the 134th psalm from the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse in the King James Version, "Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD". The Book of Psalms is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It is Psalm 133 in the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions of the Bible. Its Latin title is "Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum". It is the last of the fifteen Songs of Ascents (Shir Hama'alot), and one of the three Songs of Ascents consisting of only three verses.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often and paraphrased in hymns. The short psalm is part of the daily Catholic service Compline, for which settings in Latin were composed by composers such as Tomás Luis de Victoria and Orlande de Lassus. It is frequently used in Anglican Evening Prayer, with settings by John Dowland and Benjamin Rogers, among others. Read more...
Psalm 139 is the 139th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me." The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 138 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Domine probasti me et cognovisti me". The psalm is a hymn psalm. Attributed to David, it is known for its affirmation of God's omnipresence.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often. Read more...- Psalm 123 is the 123rd psalm from the Book of Psalms. It is one of 15 psalms that begins with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'a lot). Read more...
Beginning of the Cantate Domino (Ps 96), Hours of Mary of Burgundy, 1477
Psalm 96 (Greek numbering: Psalm 95) is one of the psalms in the biblical Book of Psalms. One of the Royal Psalms, Psalm 93-99, praising God as the King of His people. Read more...- Psalm 86 is the 86th psalm of the Book of Psalms, subtitled "a prayer of David".
This psalm is entitled "a prayer of David;' probably it was not penned upon any particular occasion, but was a prayer he often used himself, and recommended to others for their use, especially in a day of affliction. Many think that David penned this prayer as a type of Christ, "who in the days of his flesh offered up strong cries,' Heb. 5:7. David, in this prayer (according to the nature of that duty), Read more...
Psalm 1 is the first of the Psalms in the Hebrew Bible.
Like many of the psalms, it contrasts the "righteous" person (tzadik צדיק) with the "wicked" or "ungodly" (rasha` רשע) or the "sinner" (chatta' חטא). The righteous person is one who takes care to know the laws of God and so has good judgment and avoids bad company. The result is the ability to withstand difficult times in life supported by God's protection. On the other hand, the wicked person's behavior makes them vulnerable to disaster, like chaff blowing away in the wind. The point that the wicked and the righteous will not mingle at the judgment is clearly stated by the writer. The path the wicked have chosen leads to destruction, and at the judgment they receive the natural consequences of that choice.
Beatus vir, "Blessed is the man ..." in Latin, are the first words in the Vulgate Bible of both Psalm 1 and Psalm 112 (111). In illuminated manuscript psalters the start of the main psalms text was traditionally marked by a large Beatus initial for the "B" of "Beatus", and the two opening words are often much larger than the rest of the text. Between them these often take up a whole page. Beatus initials have been significant in the development of manuscript painting, as the location of several developments in the use of initials as the focus of painting. Read more...- Psalm 151 is a short psalm found in most copies of the Septuagint but not in the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible. The title given to this psalm in the Septuagint indicates that it is supernumerary, and no number is affixed to it: "This Psalm is ascribed to David and is outside the number. When he slew Goliath in single combat". It is also included in some manuscripts of the Peshitta. The psalm concerns the story of David and Goliath.
The Eastern Orthodox Church as well as the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Catholic Church accept Psalm 151 as canonical. Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Jews consider it apocryphal. However, it is found in an appendix in some Catholic Bibles, such as certain editions of the Latin Vulgate, as well as in some ecumenical translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version.
Psalm 151 is cited once in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Breviary, as a responsory of the series from the books of Kings, the second in the Roman Breviary, together with 1 Kings 17:37 in a slightly different text from the Vulgate. Read more... - Psalm 120 is the 120th psalm from the Book of Psalms. It is one of 15 psalms that begins with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot). Read more...
- Psalm 136 is the 136th psalm (135th in Septuagint) from the Book of Psalms. It is sometimes referred to as "The Great Hallel". Read more...
- Late 8th century ivory plaque with Christ treading on the beasts, illustrating verse 13
Psalm 91 is the 91st psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse in the King James Version: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." In the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 90 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as 'Qui habitat". As a psalm of protection, it is commonly invoked in times of hardship. Though no author is mentioned in the Hebrew text of this psalm, Jewish tradition ascribes it to Moses, with David compiling it in his Book of Psalms. The Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament attributes it to David.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. The complete psalm and selected verses have been set to music often, notably by Heinrich Schütz and Felix Mendelssohn, who used verses in his oratorio Elijah. The psalm has been paraphrased in hymns. Read more... - Psalm 28 is the 28th psalm from the Book of Psalms.
This psalm "is a prayer: (1) expostulating with Yahweh for abandoning His people in peril of death, and crying aloud for help, with hands uplifted towards the holy shrine (v.1-2); (2) urging that He discriminate between them and their enemies, visiting the latter with retribution for their deeds (v.3-4); (3) blessing Yahweh, the strength and shield, and rejoicing in Him as the refuge for king and people (v.6-8). Glosses give a reason for the imprecation upon enemies (v.5) and a liturgical petition for salvation (v.9)." Read more... - Psalm 88 is the 88th psalm from the Book of Psalms. According to the title, it is a "psalm of the sons of Korah" as well as a "maskil of Heman the Ezrahite".
It is described Psalm for the sons of Korah, a prayer for mercy and deliverance and a Maschil. Read more...
The beginning of Psalm 138, Hymne d'action de grâce, folio 84 of Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, musée Condé, ms.65. The miniature represents a religious spraying holy water on a dignitary who had just entered his church.
Psalm 138 is the 138th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, "I will praise thee with my whole heart" (King James Version). The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 137 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo". The psalm is a hymn psalm.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often, by composers such as Claudio Monteverdi, Heinrich Schütz, Michel Richard Delalande, Josef Rheinberger and Stefans Grové. Read more...
Psalm 98 is the 98th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things". The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 97 in a slightly different numbering system. In Latin, it is known as "Cantate Domino". The psalm is a hymn psalm, one of the Royal Psalms, Psalm 93–99, praising God as the King of His people.
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican and Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music often. Read more...
Psalm 150 is a psalm in the Hebrew Bible. In it, the writer urges the congregation to praise God with music and dancing. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, has often been set to music. The basic concept of this psalm is that there are a variety of ways one can praise God. Read more...- Psalm 33 is the 33rd psalm from the Book of Psalms.
In the International Critical Commentary series, Charles and Emilie Briggs described it as follows: "Ps. 33 is a song of praise. (1) A call to worship in the temple with song, music, and shouting (v.1-3), because of the righteousness and kindness of Yahweh (v.4-5). (2) All mankind are called to fear Yahweh, the creator of all things, and disposer of all nations (v.6-10). (3) Yahweh from His heavenly throne inspects all mankind (v.13-15); and victory is not due to armies or warriors (v.16-17). (4) He delivereth those who fear Him (v.18-19); therefore his people long for Him, are glad in him, and trust in His name for victory (v.20-22). A gloss praises the plans of Yahweh as everlastingly secure, and also the happiness of His people (v.11-12)." Read more... - "They have pierced my hands and my feet" is a phrase that occurs in some English translations of Psalm 22:16 (Psalm 21:17 in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate). The text of the Hebrew Bible is obscure at this point, and Jewish and some Christian commentators translate this line differently, although there is no evidence of a deliberate mistranslation. Read more...
Inscription on a house in Großbottwar (Württemberg), dated 1618: Nisi Dominus ædificaverit Domum, in fanum laborarunt qui ædificant eam, with a house mark.
Psalm 127 (Vulgate Psalm 126) is one of 15 "Songs of Ascents" in the Book of Psalms, the only one among these attributed to Solomon (rather than David). In Jewish liturgy it is recited following Mincha between Sukkot and Shabbat Hagadol.
The text is divided into five verses. The first two express the notion that "without God, all is in vain", popularly summarized in Latin in the motto Nisi Dominus Frustra. The remaining three verses describe progeny as God's blessing. The Vulgate text, known from its incipit as Nisi Dominus, was set to music numerous times during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Read more...- Psalm 129 is the 129th psalm from the Book of Psalms. It is one of 15 psalms that begins with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot). It is numbered as Psalm 128 in the Vulgate. In the Jerusalem Bible it is sub-titled "Against the enemies of Zion". Read more...
- Psalm 144 is the 144th psalm from the Book of Psalms in the Masoretic and modern numbering, corresponding to psalm 143 in the Vulgata Clementina. Read more...
- Psalm 132 (psalm 131 in the Vulgate) is the 132nd psalm from the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible. It is the longest of 15 psalms which begin with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot). Read more...
Did you know...
- ... that the complete Psalm 131 and the first verse of Psalm 133 in Hebrew comprise the text of the last movement of Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein?
- ... that Beatus vir ("Blessed is the man") begins the Latin text of two psalms, one notable in art and the other in music?
- ... that in Laetatus sum for choir and organ, Jules Van Nuffel set a Psalm of Ascent that expresses prayer for the peace of Jerusalem?
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Selected images
A Jewish man reads Psalm 119 at the Western Wall.
St. Florian's psalter, 14th or 15th century, Polish translation
An 1880 Baxter process illustration of Psalm 23, from the Religious Tract Society's magazine The Sunday at Home
Psalm 1 in a form of the Sternhold and Hopkins version widespread in Anglican usage before the English Civil War (1628 printing). It was from this version that the armies sang before going into battle.
Hebrew text of Psalm 1:1-2
David Playing the Harp by Jan de Bray, 1670
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