Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises") is a book of the Hebrew Bible included in the collected works known as the "Writings" or Ketuvim. The Books of Chronicles ( Hebrew Divrei Hayyamim, דברי הימים Greek Paraleipomêna) are part of the Hebrew Bible (Jewish The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים "writings" is the third and final section of the Tanakh ( Hebrew Bible) after Torah and Nevi'im

An individually printed volume of Psalms for use in Christian religious rituals is called a Psalter. A Psalter is a volume containing the Book of Psalms and which often contains other devotional material

Etymology

The word psalms is derived from the Greek: Psalmoi, originally meaning "songs sung to a harp", from psallein "play on a stringed instrument", Ψαλμοί. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly

Composition and numbering

The Book of Psalms consists of 150 psalms, each of which constitutes a religious song, though one or two are atypically long and may constitute a set of related chants. The theme of the 23rd Psalm ( Greek numbering Psalm 22) in the Bible casts God in the role of protector and provider Psalm 30 ( Greek numbering Psalm 29) a Psalm of thanksgiving was written by King David upon the occasion of the dedication of his temple Psalm 51 ( Greek numbering Psalm 50) traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin Incipit, is one of the Penitential psalms Psalm 67 ( Greek numbering Psalm 66) is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. Psalm 74 ( Greek numbering 73) is part of the Biblical Book of Psalms. Psalm 83 is the last of the Psalms of Asaph, which include Psalms 50 and 73-83 Psalm 89 ( Greek numbering Psalm 88) is in the Book of Psalms, part of the Hebrew Bible. Psalm 91 ( Greek numbering Psalm 90) referred to by its Latin title Qui habitat (after its first line "Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Psalm 92 ( Greek numbering Psalm 91) known as Mizmor Shir L'yom HaShabbat, is a psalm ostensibly dedicated to the Shabbat day Psalm 95 ( Greek numbering Psalm 94) is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. Psalm 98 ( Greek numbering Psalm 97) is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. Psalm 100 ( Greek numbering Psalm 99) is part of the biblical Book of Psalms. Psalm 103 ( Greek numbering Psalm 102) is a Hebrew Poem recorded as having been written by King David. Psalm 104 ( Greek numbering Psalm 103) is a Poem from the Book of Psalms in the Bible. Psalm 109 ( Greek numbering Psalm 108) is a Psalm noted for containing some of the most frighteningly severe curses in the Bible such as Psalm 119 ( Greek numbering Psalm 118) is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 130 ( Greek numbering Psalm 129 traditionally referred to as De profundis, after its Latin incipit is one of the penitential psalms. Psalm 137 ( Greek numbering Psalm 136) is one of the best known of the Biblical psalms. Psalm 151 is the name given to a short psalm that is found in most copies of the Septuagint but not in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible Psalms 152 to 155 are additional Psalms found in the Syriac Peshitta, in Greek Septuagint manuscripts and in the Qumran scrolls When the Bible was divided into chapters, each Psalm was assigned its own chapter. The Bible comprises 24 books for Jews, 66 for Protestants, 73 for Catholics, and 78 for most Orthodox Psalms are sometimes referenced as chapters, despite that chapter assignments postdate the initial composition of the "canonical" Psalms by at least 1,500 years

Numbering

The organization and numbering of the Psalms differs slightly between the (Masoretic) Hebrew and the (Septuagint) Greek manuscripts:

Christian traditions vary:

• Protestant translations are based on the Hebrew numbering;
• Eastern Orthodox translations are based on the Greek numbering;
• Roman Catholic official liturgical texts follow the Greek numbering, but modern Catholic translations often use the Hebrew numbering, sometimes adding, in parenthesis, the Greek numbering as well. The Masoretic Text ( MT) is the Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible ( Tanakh) The Septuagint (ˈsɛptuədʒɪnt or simply " LXX " is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, translated in stages between the Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions

For the remainder of this article, the Hebrew Psalm numbers will be used unless otherwise noted.

Other psalms

Most manuscripts of the Septuagint also include a Psalm 151, present in Eastern Orthodox translations; a Hebrew version of this poem was found in the Psalms Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Psalm 151 is the name given to a short psalm that is found in most copies of the Septuagint but not in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of roughly 1000 documents including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1979 in eleven Caves The Psalms Scroll presents the Psalms in an order different from that found elsewhere, and also contains a number of non-canonical poems and hymns.

Authorship and ascriptions

Jewish and Muslim traditions maintains that the Psalms are the work of David (seventy-three Psalms are with David's name), basing himself on the writings of ten ancient psalmists (including Adam and Moses). David, Arabic: داوود or داود dawud, "beloved" was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible See also Adam and Eve Adam ( Hebrew: אָדָם was according to a literal interpretation of Genesis, the first man created by Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ Many modern scholars see them as the product of several authors or groups of authors, many unknown. Most Psalms are prefixed with introductory words—"superscriptions"—(which are frequently different in the Masoretic and Septuagint traditions, or missing in one while present in the other) ascribing them to a particular author or saying something, often in fairly cryptic language, about the circumstances of their composition or use; only 73 of these introductions claim David as author. The Masoretic Text ( MT) is the Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible ( Tanakh) The Septuagint (ˈsɛptuədʒɪnt or simply " LXX " is the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, translated in stages between the Since the Psalms were not written down in Hebrew before the 6th century BC, nearly half a millennium after David's reign (about 1000 BC), they doubtless depended on oral or hymnic tradition for transmission of any Davidic material.

Psalms 39, 62, and 77 are linked with Jeduthun, to be sung after his manner or in his choir. Jeduthun - lauder praising - the name of one or two men in the Bible. Psalms 50 and 73–83 are associated with Asaph, as the master of his choir, to be sung in the worship of God. God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. The ascriptions of Psalms 42, 44–49, 84, 85, 87, and 88 assert that the "sons of Korah" were entrusted with arranging and singing them; 2 Chronicles 20:19 suggests that this group formed a leading part of the Korathite singers. Korah or Kórach ( Hebrew: קֹרַח, Standard Qóraḥ Tiberian Qōraḥ "Baldness ice hail Hebraist Joel M. Hoffman suggests that Psalm 49 may be an anti-corruption Psalm, not "for Korah" but "against Korah. "^[1]

Psalm 18 is also found, with minor variations, at 2 Samuel 22, for which reason, in accordance with the naming convention used elsewhere in the historic parts of the Bible, it is known as the Song of David.

Sections of the book

In Jewish usage, the Psalter is divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books, each closing with a doxology or benediction (For the Orthodox Christian division into twenty kathismata, see Eastern Orthodox usage, below):

1. The first book comprises the first 41 Psalms. term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A Kathisma (Greek καθισμα Slavonic каѳисма kafisma) literally "seat" is a division of the Psalter, used by Eastern Orthodox All of these are ascribed to David except Psalms 1, 2, 10, and 33, which, though untitled in the Hebrew, were also traditionally ascribed to David. While Davidic authorship cannot be confirmed, this probably is the oldest section of the Psalms.
2. The second book consists of the next 31 Psalms (42–72). Eighteen of these are ascribed to David. Psalm 72 begins "For Solomon", but is traditionally understood as being written by David as a prayer for his son. King Solomon ( Ge'ez: ስለሞን Arabic: ar سليمان, Sulayman, all from the Triliteral root S-L-M, "peace" The rest are anonymous.
3. The third book contains seventeen Psalms (73–89), of which Psalm 86 is ascribed to David, Psalm 88 to Heman the Ezrahite, and Psalm 89 to Ethan the Ezrahite. Heman the Ezrahite is described as the author of Psalm 88 in the Bible.
4. The fourth book also contains seventeen Psalms (90–106), of which Psalm 90 is ascribed to Moses, and Psalms 101 and 103 to David. Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ
5. The fifth book contains the remaining 44 Psalms. Of these, 15 are ascribed to David, one (Psalm 127) as a charge to Solomon.

Psalm 136 is generally called "the great Hallel," but the Talmud also includes Psalms 120–135. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history Psalms 113–118 constitute the Hallel, which is recited on the three great feasts, (Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles); at the new moon; and on the eight days of Hanukkah. Hallel (הלל "Praise" is a Jewish prayer &mdasha verbatim recitation from Psalms 113-118 which is used for praise and thanksgiving that is recited Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish Shavuot (or Shavuos, in Ashkenazi usage Hebrew: שבועות, lit Sukkot ( also known as Succoth, Sukkos, Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical Pilgrimage Rosh Chodesh, (ראש חודש trans. Beginning of the Month; lit. Hanukkah (חנוכה alt Chanukah) also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the A version of Psalm 136 with slightly different wording appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls consist of roughly 1000 documents including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1979 in eleven Caves

Psalms 120–134 are referred to as Songs of Degrees, and are thought to have been used as hymns of approach by pilgrims to the Temple in Jerusalem. Song of Degrees, Song of Steps, Gradual Psalms, Song of Ascents ( Hebrew: שיר המעלות Shir Hama'aloth) or Hymn A pilgrim is one who undertakes a Pilgrimage, literally 'far afield' Etymology The Hebrew name given in Scripture for the building is Beit HaMikdash or "The Holy House" and only the Temple in Jerusalem is referred to by this name

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm. Psalm 119 ( Greek numbering Psalm 118) is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is composed of 176 verses, in sets of eight verses, each set beginning with one of the 22 Hebrew letters. The Bible comprises 24 books for Jews, 66 for Protestants, 73 for Catholics, and 78 for most Orthodox The Hebrew alphabet (אָלֶף-בֵּית עִבְרִי alephbet ’ivri) consists of 22 letters used for writing the Hebrew language. Several other Psalms also have alphabetical arrangements. An acrostic (from the late Greek akróstichon, from ákros, "top" and stíchos, "verse" is a Poem or other Writing These psalms are believed to be written (rather than oral) compositions from the first, and thus of a relatively late date.

Psalm 117 is the shortest Psalm, containing but two verses.

Psalm forms

Scholars have determined that there are groups of psalms that can be classified together because of similarities. The main forms are:

1. Hymns
2. Imprecatory Psalms
3. Individual Laments
4. Communal laments
5. Songs of Trust
6. Individual Thanksgiving Psalms
7. Royal Psalms
8. Wisdom Psalms
9. Pilgrimage Psalms
10. Liturgical Psalms

Psalm forms or types also include: Songs of Zion – Psalms 48, 76, 84, 87, 122, 134; Historical Litanies – Psalms 78, 105, 106, 135, 136; Pilgrim Liturgies – Psalms 81, 21; Entrance Liturgies – Psalms 15, 24; Judgment Liturgies – Psalms 50, 82; Mixed Types – 36, 40, 41, 68

Walter Brueggemann suggests another way of categorizing the Psalms: Orientation, Disorientation, Reorientation. A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities Imprecatory Psalms, contained within the Ketuvim (wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible (he תנ"ך are those which invoke judgement calamity or Curses A lament or lamentation is a Song, Poem or piece of music expressing Grief, Regret or Mourning. The psalms of communal lament are a group of Pslam Forms from the Hebrew Bible classified by their focus on Laments expressing deep sorrow for the travails of a nation Wisdom literature is the Genre of Literature common in the Ancient Near East. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions Walter Brueggemann (born 1933 is an American Old Testament scholar and author ^[2]

Use of the Psalms in Jewish ritual

Hebrew text of Psalm 1

A man reads Psalms at the Western Wall

In the Pentateuch (or Torah), Moses leads the Jews in two songs of praise: upon the splitting of the Red Sea (Exodus 15) and before his death (Deuteronomy 32). The Western Wall (הכותל המערבי translit: HaKotel HaMa'aravi) sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall or simply the Kotel (lit term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to The Red Sea is a Salt water Inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. Also, the Jews sing upon miracles done for them with the well (Numbers 21). Other Jewish figures would sing songs to celebrate miracles, including Joshua and Deborah. Joshua, Jehoshuah, or Yehoshua ( 'יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Tiberian: jə See also Biblical judges Book of Judges List of women warriors in folklore literature and popular culture It is David, though, who is known as the "sweet singer of Israel".

Some of the titles given to the Psalms in their ascriptions suggest their use in worship:

• Some bear the Hebrew designation shir (Greek ode, a song). Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Thirteen have this title. It means the flow of speech, as it were, in a straight line or in a regular strain. This title includes secular as well as sacred song.
• Fifty-eight Psalms bear the designation (Hebrew) mizmor (Greek psalmos, a Psalm), a lyric ode, or a song set to music; a sacred song accompanied with a musical instrument. Ode (from the Ancient Greek) is a form of stately and elaborate lyrical verse.
• Psalm 145, and many others, have the designation (Hebrew) tehillah (Greek hymnos, a hymn), meaning a song of praise; a song the prominent thought of which is the praise of God. Tehillah is also the singular of the name of the book in Hebrew, Tehillim.
• Six Psalms (16, 56–60) have the title (Hebrew) michtam.
• Psalm 7 and Habakkuk 3 bear the title (Hebrew) shiggaion. The Book of Habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 Minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible.

Psalms are used throughout traditional Jewish worship. Many complete Psalms and verses from Psalms appear in the morning services. Jewish services ( Hebrew: תפלה, tefillah; plural תפלות, tefillos or tefillot; Yinglish: davening Psalm 145 (commonly referred to as "Ashrei," which is really the first word of 2 verses appended to the beginning of the Psalm), is read during or before services, three times every day. Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included Psalms 95–99, 29, 92, and 93, along with some later readings, comprise the introduction ("Kabbalat Shabbat") to the Friday night service.

Traditionally, a different "Psalm for the Day" is read after the morning service each day of the week (starting Sunday, Psalms: 24, 48, 82, 94, 81, 93, 92). Jewish services ( Hebrew: תפלה, tefillah; plural תפלות, tefillos or tefillot; Yinglish: davening This is described in the Mishnah (the initial codification of the Jewish oral tradition) in the tractate "Tamid. The Mishnah or Mishna (he משנה "repetition" from the verb shanah he שנה or "to study and review" is a major work of Rabbinic Judaism An oral law is a Code of conduct in use in a given Culture, Religion or community application by which a body of rules of human behaviour is transmitted This page is about Kodashim a section of the mishnah See Kedoshim (parsha for the Torah portion by that name "

From Rosh Chodesh Elul until Hoshanah Rabbah, Psalm 27 is recited twice daily by traditional Jews. Rosh Chodesh, (ראש חודש trans. Beginning of the Month; lit. Elul (אֱלוּל Standard Elul Tiberian ʾĔlûl; from Akkadian elūlu) is the twelfth The seventh day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, 21st day of Tishrei, is known as Hoshana Rabbah ( Aramaic: הוֹשַׁעְנָא רַבָּא

When a Jew dies, a watch is kept over the body and Tehillim (Psalms) are recited constantly by sun or candlelight, until the burial service. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Historically, this watch would be carried out by the immediate family – usually in shifts – but in contemporary practice, this service is provided by an employ of the funeral home or Chevra kadisha. See also Bereavement in Judaism A chevra kadisha ( Aramaic: חברה קדישא "holy society" is a loosely structured but generally closed

Many Jews complete the Book of Psalms on a weekly or monthly basis. Some also say, each week, a Psalm connected to that week's events or the Torah portion read during that week. This article is about the divisions of the Torah into weekly readings In addition, many Jews (notably Lubavitch, and other Chasidim) read the entire Book of Psalms prior to the morning service, on the Sabbath preceding the calculated appearance of the new moon. Chabad-Lubavitch is one of the largest Hasidic movements in Orthodox Judaism, and is based in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn Special Sabbaths are fixed Jewish Shabbat days which precede or coincide with certain Jewish holidays during the year Molad (plural Moladot) is a Hebrew word meaning "birth" that also generically refers to the time at which the New Moon is "born"

The reading of psalms is viewed in Jewish tradition as a vehicle for gaining God's favor. They are thus often specially recited in times of trouble, such as poverty, disease, or physical danger. In many synagogues, Psalms are recited after services for the security of the State of Israel. (Note that Sefer ha-Chinuch ^[3] states that this practice is designed not to achieve favor, as such, but rather to inculcate belief in Divine Providence into one’s consciousness. Sefer ha-Chinuch ( ספר החינוך Hebrew: "Book of Education" often simply "the Chinuch " is a work which systematically discusses In Theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty superintendence or agency of God over events in people's lives and throughout This is consistent with Maimonides' general view on Providence; see further discussion there. Moses Maimonides ( March 30 1135 – December 13 1204) also known as the Rambam, was a Rabbi, Physician, and In Theology, Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is the sovereignty superintendence or agency of God over events in people's lives and throughout )

Psalms may also be read by a group of people who divide up the psalms between them to allow for a complete reading of the book.

The 116 direct quotations from the Psalms in the New Testament show that they were familiar to the Judean community in the first century of the Christian era.

The Psalms in Christian worship

St. Florian's psalter, XIV/XV c. , Old Polish Translation

Children singing and playing music, illustration of Psalm 150 (Laudate Dominum).

New Testament references show that the earliest Christians used the Psalms in worship, and the Psalms have remained an important part of worship in most Christian Churches. The Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches have always made systematic use of the Psalms, with a cycle for the recitation of all or most of them over the course of one or more weeks. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs In the early centuries of the Church, it was expected that any candidate for bishop would be able to recite the entire Psalter from memory, something they often learned automatically during their time as monks. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight

Several conservative denominations sing only the Psalms (some churches also sing the small number of hymns found elsewhere in the Bible) in worship, and do not accept the use of any non-Biblical hymns; examples are the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, the Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States and the Free Church of Scotland. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA a Christian church, is a small Presbyterian denomination with churches throughout the Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States (WPCUS is a small Presbyterian denomination which was constituted in January 2006 in Lansdowne Pennsylvania

Some Psalms are among the best-known and best-loved passages of Scripture, with a popularity extending well beyond regular church-goers.

• Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd, offers an immediately appealing message of comfort and is widely chosen for church funeral services, either as a reading or in one of several popular hymn settings;
• Psalm 51, Have mercy on me O God, called the Miserere from the first word in its Latin version, is by far the most sung Psalm of Orthodoxy, in both Divine Liturgy and Hours, in the sacrament of repentance or confession, and in other settings;
• Psalm 103, Bless the Lord, O my soul, is one of the best-known prayers of praise;
• Psalm 137, By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, is a moody meditation upon living in slavery, and has been used in at least one spiritual, as well as one well-known reggae song^[4]; the Orthodox church often uses this hymn during Lent. The theme of the 23rd Psalm ( Greek numbering Psalm 22) in the Bible casts God in the role of protector and provider A funeral is a Ceremony marking a person's Death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of Beliefs and practices used by a Culture to remember Psalm 51 ( Greek numbering Psalm 50) traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin Incipit, is one of the Penitential psalms The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. Psalm 103 ( Greek numbering Psalm 102) is a Hebrew Poem recorded as having been written by King David. Psalm 137 ( Greek numbering Psalm 136) is one of the best known of the Biblical psalms. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Spirituals (or Negro spirituals) are songs which were created by African slaves in America. Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter.

New translations and settings of the Psalms continue to be produced.

Byzantine usage

See also: Kathisma

Eastern Orthodox Christians and Greek-Catholics (Eastern Catholics who follow the Byzantine rite), have long made the Psalms an integral part of their corporate and private prayers. A Kathisma (Greek καθισμα Slavonic каѳисма kafisma) literally "seat" is a division of the Psalter, used by Eastern Orthodox The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgical rite used currently (in various languages To facilitate its reading, the 150 Psalms are divided into 20 kathismata (Greek: καθισματα; Slavonic: каѳисмы, kafismy; lit. "sittings"), and each kathisma (Greek: καθισμα; Slavonic: каѳисма, kafisma) is further subdivided into three stases (Greek: στασεις, staseis' lit. A Kathisma (Greek καθισμα Slavonic каѳисма kafisma) literally "seat" is a division of the Psalter, used by Eastern Orthodox "standings", sing. στασις, stasis).

At Vespers and Matins, different kathismata are read at different times of the liturgical year and on different days of the week, according to the Church's calendar, so that all 150 psalms (20 kathismata) are read in the course of a week. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the early morning or night Prayer service in the Roman Catholic The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when In the twentieth century, some lay Christians have adopted a continuous reading of the Psalms on weekdays, praying the whole book in four weeks.

Aside from kathisma readings, Psalms occupy a prominent place in every other Orthodox service including the services of the Hours and the Divine Liturgy. Canonical hours are divisions of time developed by the Christian Church, serving as increments between the prescribed Prayers of the daily round The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. In particular, the penitential Psalm 50 is very widely used. Psalm 51 ( Greek numbering Psalm 50) traditionally referred to as the Miserere, its Latin Incipit, is one of the Penitential psalms Fragments of Psalms and individual verses are used as Prokimena (introductions to Scriptural readings), and Stichera. In the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church, a Prokeimenon ( Greek Προκειμενον plural prokeimena; sometimes prokimenon / A sticheron (plural stichera) is a particular kind of Hymn used in the Divine Liturgy, Acolouthia ( Daily office) or other services The bulk of Vespers would still be composed of Psalms even if the kathisma were to be disregarded; Psalm 118, "The Psalm of the Law," is the centerpiece of Matins on Saturdays, some Sundays, and the Funeral service. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the Psalm 119 ( Greek numbering Psalm 118) is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the early morning or night Prayer service in the Roman Catholic A funeral is a Ceremony marking a person's Death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of Beliefs and practices used by a Culture to remember The entire book of Psalms is traditionally read out loud or chanted at the side of the deceased during the time leading up to the funeral, mirroring Jewish tradition.

Roman Catholic usage

The Psalms have always been an important part of Roman Catholic liturgy. A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions The Liturgy of the Hours is centered on chanting or recitation of the Psalms, using fixed melodic formulas known as psalm tones. This article refers to the Liturgy of the Hours as a specific manifestation of public prayer in the Roman Catholic Church. In Chant, a reciting tone (also called a recitation tone) is a repeated musical pitch around which the other pitches of the chant gravitate or by extension Early Catholics employed the Psalms widely in their individual prayers also; however, as knowledge of Latin (the language of the Latin rite) became uncommon, this practice ceased among the unlearned. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. However, until the end of the Middle Ages it was not unknown for the laity to join in the singing of the Little Office of Our Lady, which was a shortened version of the Liturgy of the Hours providing a fixed daily cycle of twenty-five psalms to be recited, and nine other psalms divided across Matins. The Little Office of Our Lady, or Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Hours of the Virgin is a liturgical devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, This article refers to the Liturgy of the Hours as a specific manifestation of public prayer in the Roman Catholic Church.

The work of Bishop Richard Challoner in providing devotional materials in English meant that many of the psalms were familiar to English-speaking Catholics from the eighteenth century onwards. Richard Challoner (1691-1781 was an English Roman Catholic Bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the eighteenth century Challoner translated the entire of the Lady Office into English, as well as Sunday Vespers and daily Compline. He also provided other individual Psalms such as 129/130 for prayer in his devotional books. Challoner is also noted for revising the Douay-Rheims Bible, and the translations he used in his devotional books are taken from this work. The Douay-Rheims Bible, also known as the Rheims-Douai Bible or Douai Bible and abbreviated as D-R, is a translation of the Bible from the

Until the Second Vatican Council the Psalms were either recited on a one week or less frequently (as in the case of Ambrosian rite) a two-week cycle. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. This article is about the history and the current form of Ambrosian Rite for an explanation of the form of this Rite used before the Vatican-II see Traditional Ambrosian Rite Different one-week schemata were employed: all secular clergy followed the Roman distribution, while Monastic Houses almost universally followed that of St Benedict, with only a few congregations (such as the Benedictines of St Maur) following individualistic arrangements. Benedictine refers to the Spirituality and Consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in The Breviary introduced in 1974 distributed the psalms over a four-week cycle. A breviary (from Latin brevis, 'short' or 'concise' is a Liturgical book of the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church Monastic usage varies widely. Some use the four week cycle of the secular clergy, many retain a one week cycle, either following St Benedict's scheme or another of their own devising, while others opt for some other arrangement.

Official approval was also given to other arrangements (see "Short" Breviaries in the 20th and early 21st century America for an in-progress study) by which the complete Psalter is recited in a one or two-week cycle. These arrangements are used principally by Catholic contemplative religious orders, such as that of the Trappists (see for example the Divine Office schedule at New Melleray Abbey). Trappist redirects here This article is about the Cistercian order

The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, 122 sanctions three modes of singing/recitation for the Psalms:

• directly (all sing or recite the entire psalm);
• antiphonally (two choirs or sections of the congregation sing or recite alternate verses or strophes); and
• responsorially (the cantor or choir sings or recites the verses while the congregation sings or recites a given response after each verse). An Antiphonary, Antiphonal, or Antiphoner (Latin antiphonarium antiphonarius antiphonarius liber antiphonale; Greek ’antíphonon antiphon antiphone A responsory or respond is a type of chant in western Christian Liturgies.

Of these three the antiphonal mode is the most widely followed.

Over the centuries, the use of complete Psalms in the liturgy declined. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Tridentine Mass preserved only isolated verses that, in some cases, were originally refrains sung during recitation of the whole Psalm from which they were taken. The Tridentine Mass (Missa Tridentina is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published After the Second Vatican Council (which also permitted the use of vernacular languages in the liturgy) longer psalm texts were reintroduced into the Mass, during the readings. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. The revision of the Roman Missal after the Second Vatican Council reintroduced the singing or recitation of a more substantial section of a Psalm, in some cases an entire Psalm, after the first Reading from Scripture. This article is about the post-Vatican-II changes to the Mass for an explanation of the current structure of the Mass see Mass (Catholic Church. The Roman Missal ((Missale Romanum is the liturgical book that contains the texts and rubrics for the celebration of the Mass in the Roman Rite The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. This Psalm, called the Responsorial Psalm, is usually sung or recited responsorially, although the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61 permits direct recitation.

Protestant usage

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

The psalms were extremely popular among those who followed the Reformed tradition.

Following the Protestant Reformation, verse paraphrases of many of the Psalms were set as hymns. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a Paraphrase of all or part of the Book of Psalms in Vernacular A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities These were particularly popular in the Calvinist tradition, where in the past they were typically sung to the exclusion of hymns. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Exclusive psalmody is the particular worship practice of several small Protestant denominations worldwide which use a metrical version of the Book of Psalms from the Calvin himself made some French translations of the Psalms for church usage. Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress is Our God is based on Psalm 46. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer " A Mighty Fortress Is Our God " (German Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther 's Hymns Luther wrote Among famous hymn settings of the Psalter were the Scottish Psalter and the settings by Isaac Watts. A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a Paraphrase of all or part of the Book of Psalms in Vernacular Isaac Watts ( July 17, 1674 – November 25, 1748) is recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody" as he was the first prolific and The first book printed in North America was a collection of Psalm settings, the Bay Psalm Book (1640). The Bay Psalm Book was the first Book printed in British North America.

But by the 20th century they were mostly replaced by hymns in church services. However, the Psalms are popular for private devotion among many Protestants and still used in many churches for traditional worship. For example, see A Psalm and A Prayer for Private and Public Devotions http://www.apsalmandaprayer.com . There exists in some circles a custom of reading one Psalm and one chapter of Proverbs a day, corresponding to the day of the month.

Anglican usage

The version of the Psalter in the American Book of Common Prayer prior to the 1979 edition is a sixteenth century Coverdale Psalter. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. Myles Coverdale (also Miles Coverdale) (c 1488 &ndash 20 January 1569) was a 16th-century Bible translator who produced the The Psalter in the American Book of Common Prayer of 1979 is a new translation, with some attempt to keep the rhythms of the Coverdale Psalter.

In Great Britain the Coverdale psalter still lies at the heart of daily worship in Cathedrals and many parish churches. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral A parish church, in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a Parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches The new Common Worship service book has a companion psalter in modern English. Common Worship is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent

Anglican chant is a method of singing prose versions of the Psalms. Anglican chant is a way to Sing un- Metrical texts such as Prose translations of the Psalms Canticles and other similar biblical

In the early 17th century, when the King James Bible was introduced, the metrical arrangements by Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins were also popular and were provided with printed tunes. This version and the version by Tate and Brady produced in the late seventeenth century (see article on Metrical Psalter) remained the normal congregational way of singing psalms in the Church of England until well into the nineteenth century. A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a Paraphrase of all or part of the Book of Psalms in Vernacular

Psalms in the Rastafari movement

The Psalms are one of the most popular parts of the Bible among followers of the Rastafari movement. The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament ^[5] Rasta singer Prince Far I released an atmospheric spoken version of the psalms, Psalms for I, set to a roots reggae backdrop from the Aggrovators. Prince Far I (b Michael James Williams, c1944 Spanish Town, Jamaica, d Psalms For I is a Reggae Album by Prince Far I. Track listing "Psalm 49" "Psalm 48" Roots reggae is a subgenre of Reggae that concerns itself with the life of the ghetto sufferer and the rural poor

Psalms set to music

Notable settings of multiple psalms as a single composition include:

• Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein
• Tehillim by Steve Reich
• Symphony of Psalms by Igor Stravinsky

The psalms also feature large in settings of Vespers, including by Claudio Monteverdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Antonio Vivaldi who wrote such settings as part of their responsibilities as church musicians. Chichester Psalms is a choral work by Leonard Bernstein for boy treble or Countertenor, solo quartet choir and orchestra (3 trumpets in B 3 WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes Tehillim is a piece of Music by American composer Steve Reich, written in 1981 WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Stephen Michael Reich (born October 3 The Symphony of Psalms by Igor Stravinsky was written in 1930 and was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский) ( &ndash 6 April 1971 was a Russian born Composer, considered by many to Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the

Most settings of individual psalms are indicated under the articles devoted to those particular psalms; settings for other psalms not in such articles include:

• Psalm 121, and Psalm 124 by Loys Bourgeois (c. Loys Bourgeois (Louis Bourgeois (c 1510 to 1515 &ndash 1559 or later was a French composer and music theorist of the Renaissance. 1500–1559)
• Levavi oculos meos (Psalm 121) by Orlando di Lasso (1532–1594)
• Psalm 1, Psalm 29, Psalm 121, and Psalm 150 by Heinrich Schutz (1585–1672)
• Beatus Vir (Psalm 112) by Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
• Psalm 121 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
• Psalm 148 by William Billings (1746–1800)
• Psalm 150 by Cesar Franck (1822–1890)
• Psalm 13 by Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
• Psalm 148 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
• Psalm 148 by Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
• Psalms 14, 24, 25, 42, 54, 90, 135, 150 by Charles Ives (1874–1954)
• Psalm 121 and Psalm 150 by Zoltan Kodaly (1882–1967)
• Psalm 121 by Darius Milhaud (1892–1974)
• Psalm 24 by Lili Boulanger (1893–1918)
• Psalm 121 and Psalm 150 by Howard Hanson (1896–1981)
• Praise Ye the Lord (Psalm 147, 148, and 150) by Roger Sessions (1896–1985)
• Psalm 121 by Henry Cowell (1897–1965)
• Psalm 150 by Roy Harris (1898–1979)
• Two Motets (including Psalm 121) by Gerald Finzi (1901–1956)
• Psalm 28 by Alan Hovhaness (1911–2000)
• Psalm 29 by Hugo Weisgall (1912–1997)
• Psalm 150 by George Rochberg (1918–2005)
• I Was Glad (Psalm 122) by Daniel Pinkham (1923–2006)
• A Psalm (13) and a Proverb by Ned Rorem (b. Orlande de Lassus (also Orlandus Lassus, Orlando di Lasso, Roland de Lassus, or Roland Delattre) (1532 (possibly 1530 &ndash June Heinrich Schütz (October 8 ( JC) 1585 Köstritz - November 6 1672 Dresden) was a German Composer and organist, generally regarded WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section.2 This article is written in British English including maximised use of "-ise" William Billings ( October 7, 1746 &ndash September 26, 1800) was an American choral Composer, and is widely César Franck (December 10 1822 – November 8 1890 a Composer, Organist and music teacher of Belgian and German origin who lived in France Johannes Brahms ( pronounced ˈbʁaːms (May 7 1833 &ndash April 3 1897 was a German Composer Ralph (reɪf Vaughan Williams OM (12 October 1872 &ndash 26 August 1958 was an English Composer of symphonies, Chamber music Gustav Theodore Holst (21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934was an English Composer and was a music teacher for nearly 20 years Charles Edward Ives (October 20 1874 – May 19 1954 was an American Composer of modernist Classical music. Zoltán Kodály ( Hungarian: Kodály Zoltán, ˈkodaːj ˈzoltaːn December 16 1882 &ndash March 6 1967 was a Hungarian Composer, Ethnomusicologist Darius Milhaud (darjys mijo (September 4 1892 &ndash June 22 1974 was a French Composer and teacher Lili Boulanger (Marie-Juliette Olga Lili Boulanger 21 August 1893 &ndash 15 March 1918) was a French Composer, the Howard Harold Hanson ( October 28, 1896 &ndash February 26, 1981) was an American Composer, conductor, educator Roger Huntington Sessions ( 28 December 1896 &ndash 16 March 1985) was an American Composer, critic and teacher of music Henry Cowell ( March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American Composer, musical theorist, Pianist Roy Ellsworth Harris ( February 12, 1898 in Chandler, Oklahoma, United States - October 1, 1979) was an Gerald Raphael Finzi ( July 14, 1901 &ndash September 27, 1956) was a British Composer, whose popularity has increased Alan Hovhaness (Ալան Հովհանես ( March 8, 1911 &ndash June 21, 2000) was an American Composer of Armenian Hugo David Weisgall ( October 13, 1912 – March 11, 1997) was an American Composer, known chiefly for Opera George Rochberg, ( July 5, 1918, Paterson New Jersey &ndash May 29, 2005, Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania) was an American Daniel Rogers Pinkham Jr (June 5 1923 - December 18 2006 was an American composer Organist, and Harpsichordist Pinkham was one of America's most active composers Ned Rorem (born October 23, 1923) is an American Composer and diarist. 1923)
• A Psalm of David (Psalm 13) by Robert Starer (1924–2001)
• Psalm 24, Psalm 40, Psalm 121, and Psalm 150 by Samuel Adler (b. Samuel Adler may refer to Samuel Adler (rabbi (1809-1891 Reform rabbi Samuel Adler (composer (b 1928)
• Three Settings of the 13th Psalm by Edwin London (b. 1929)
• Psalm 143 by Yehudi Wyner (b. Yehudi Wyner (born June 1, 1929 in Calgary Alberta) is an American Composer, pianist, conductor, and music 1929)
• Psalm 150 by William Mathias (1934–1992)
• Psalm 8 by John Corigliano (b. William Mathias CBE ( November 1 1934 &mdash July 29 1992) was a Welsh Composer. John Corigliano (b February 16, 1938, New York City New York) is an American Composer of Classical music and a teacher 1938)
• Psalm 6 and Psalm 92 by Mark Alburger (b. 1957)
• Psalm 73 by Barlow Girl
• Psalm 40 and Psalm 116 by U2

See also

• Biblical poetry
• Benefit of clergy (use of Psalm 51)
• Hallel (Psalms 113–118)
• Liturgy of the Hours
• Metrical Psalter
• Penitential Psalms
• Psalter
• Selah
• They have pierced my hands and my feet
• Zabur

References

External links

Translations

• Jewish translations:
  • Tehillim – Psalms (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org
  • Voweled Hebrew and 1917 JPS translation– includes MP3 files of chapters read in Hebrew at mechon-mamre. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut For the astrological concept see Rāshi (Jyotiṣa. Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, (רבי שלמה יצחקי better known by the acronym Rashi Chabadorg is the flagship Website of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a Digital audio encoding format using a form of Lossy data compression org
• Christian translations:
  • Book of Psalms – NIV

Classes in Psalms

• Jewish
  • Classes in Tehilim for Beginner and Advanced
• Christian
  • How to use the Psalms According to Alcuin of New York ( Introduction and translation by Micheael Treschow)
  • The Psalter (Translation by the Monks of New Skete)

Readings of Psalms

• Jewish
  • Audio Readings of Tehilim with the Traditional Cantilation Notes (in Hebrew)
• Christian
  • The Psalter (Scottish Metrical Version of the Psalms with links to MIDI audio files for suggested tunes)
  • Musicalization of Psalms 1–8, downloadable mp3 from http://www.reverdecer.com ("Save target as")

Commentary and other

• Jewish
  • Penetrating beneath the surface level of the Tehillim – Psalms
• Christian
  • Free audio recording of "Psalm 23" from Librivox (in Latin)
  • Audio recordings of Scottish metrical Psalms sung in Christian worship from Psalm Singing Online
  • The Treasury of David, by C.H. Spurgeon, with commentaries on each of the Psalms and hints for preachings
  • Psalms in the Roman Catholic Tradition, by Lalemant Polyphonic, English version set to Gregorian chant
  • Psalms at Old Testament Gateway, with several articles and analysis of the Psalms
  • Introduction to the Psalms by Wilbert R. Gawrisch
  • The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship, from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship]