The Psalms

By Sylvia Penny
Chart1
 The Psalms are split into five books
 Repetitions in the Psalms

Chart 2
 The Psalms are a ‘collection of collections’.
 Further analysis of the five books of Psalms
 The Elohistic Psalter

Chart 3
 Superscriptions or Titles for the Psalms

Chart 4
 There are 5 main categories of Psalms (per Hermann Gunkel)

Chart 5
 Historical Psalms

Chart 6
 7 Seven Penitential Psalms (per Matthew Henry)

Chart 7
 The Songs of Ascent (or steps or degrees)

By Michael Penny

 Acrostics
 Acrostics in the Bible
 Psalm 34
 Psalm 119
The charts and information given here were produced for the
people on an Open Bible Trust Fellowship Weekend when 14
studies were given on the Psalms. These studies were recorded
and are available on CDs: details can be seen on

[Link]

Click on CDs, then on ‘The Wisdom Literature’.

The Open Bible Trust

Fordland Mount, Upper Basildon,
Reading, RG8 8LU, UK.
Chart 1
The Psalms are split into five books

Each book ends with a doxology apart from Book 5 where

Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the entire collection.

Book Psalms Number Doxology

of Psalms
1 1-41 41 41:13; “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel”
2 42-72 31 72:18-19; “Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel”
(N.B. Verse 20 is an editorial note)
3 73-89 17 89:52; “Praise be to the Lord for ever!”
4 90-106 17 106:48; “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel”
5 107-150 44 (No doxology, or Psalm 150 is a doxology itself for the
entire collection.) “Praise the Lord”

Repetitions in the Psalms

Book Psalm Book Psalm Notes

1 14:1-7 2 53:1-6 These two Psalms are identical
1 40:13-17 2 70:1-5 Psalm 70 is a repeat of the last 5 verses of
Psalm 40
2 57:7-11 3 108:1-5 Last 5 verses of Psalm 57 are identical to the
first five verses of Psalm 108.
2 60:5-12 3 108:6-13 Last 8 verses of Psalm 60 are identical to
last 8 verses of Psalm 108
Chart 2
The Psalms are a “collection of collections”

Further analysis of the five books of Psalms

David’s Moses’ 5 Per The Per Jewish Study Psalm Number of times
5 Books books of Companion Bible: Bible numbers word used for
of the the (note 2) Comprise: Lord:
Psalms Torah Yahweh Elohim
1 Genesis Man Most are David’s 1-41 272 15
psalms
2 Exodus Israel as a Nation Some are the psalms 42-72
of Korah & Asaph 46 204
(note 1)
3 Leviticus The Sanctuary All psalms of Korah _73-83_ _______________
& Asaph 84-99
4 Numbers Israel and the Mostly untitled 90-106
other nations of 262 13
the Earth
5 Deuter- God & his word Mostly liturgical 107-150
onomy (Psalm 119 is an psalms for
excellent pilgrimages to the
example) Temple

Note 1: Psalms 42-83 are known as the “Elohistic Psalter”

Note 2: E W Bullinger gives a large amount of detail on his analysis of the 5 books of Psalms in The
Companion Bible
Chart 3
Superscriptions or Titles for the Psalms

Number of Psalms Title says: Psalm number

73 Of David
11 Sons of Korah
12 Asaph
2 Of Solomon Psalms 72 & 127
1 Heman Psalm 88
1 Ethan Psalm 89
1 Of Moses Psalm 90
15 Songs of Ascent Psalms 120-134
34 No titles

Chart 4
There are 5 main categories of Psalms (per ‘Gunkel’)

Category Used for Examples

1 Hymns Used to praise the greatness and 8,29,33,104
the attributes of God
2 Communal laments Used by assembly at times of 12,44,74,79
national threat
3 Royal Psalms Used by Kings of Judah as part 2,18,20,35
of their royal ritual in public
worship at the temple
4 Individual laments Individual grief, but in setting of 6,13,31,39
an assembled congregation
5 Individual songs of Thanksgiving 30,66,116,138
thanksgiving

N.B. Psalm 45 is unique. It is a wedding song.

Chart 5
Historical Psalms

1 Psalm 3 When David fled from his son Absalom

2 18 When David was delivered from Saul and his enemies
(repeated almost word for word from 2 Samuel 22)
3 34 When David pretended to be insane before Abimelech
4 51 When Nathan came to David after his adultery with Bathsheba
5 52 When Doeg the Edomite told Saul David had gone to Ahimelech
6 54 When Ziphites told Saul where David was hiding
7 56 When the Philistines had seized David in Gath
8 59 When Saul sent men to David’s house to kill him
9 60 When Joab struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt
10 63 When David was in the desert of Judah
11 74 Destruction of the Temple
12 78 History of Israel
13 79 Destruction of Jerusalem
14 105 History of Israel (part also in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22)
15 106 History of Israel (part also in 1 Chronicles 16:34-36)
16 135 History of Israel
17 136 History of Israel
18 142 When David was hiding in a cave
Chart 6
Matthew Henry lists 7 Penitential Psalms

1 Psalm 6 David – Depressed. He asks for the Lord’s mercy as he is in

anguish
2 32 David – Confession and forgiveness of sins
3 38 David – Asks the Lord not to forsake him. He is troubled by his
sin, and his guilt overwhelms him.
4 51 David – Asks the Lord’s mercy after committing adultery with
Bathsheba. Asks to be cleansed from sin. He has a broken and
contrite heart.
5 102 The prayer of an afflicted man in distress. Off his food, no sleep,
in tears.
6 130 A sinful man asks for forgiveness. He puts his hope in the Lord’s
word.
7 143 David – Cries for help from his enemies.
Chart 7

The Songs of Ascent

(or steps, or degrees)
E W Bullinger links these with Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-8)

Psalm Author Subject First verse of each psalm

1 120 *Hezekiah 1 Calling on the Lord in times of I call on the Lord in my distress, and he
disaster answers me.
2 121 *Hezekiah 2 The Lord watches over us and I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does
helps us my help come from?
3 122 David Prayer for peace in Jerusalem I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let
us go to the house of the Lord”.
4 123 *Hezekiah 3 Looking to God for mercy I life up my eyes to you, to you whose
throne is in heaven.
5 124 David The Lord protected Israel If the Lord had not been on our side – let
1 Israel say –
6 25 *Hezekiah 4 The Lord protects those who trust Those who trust in the Lord are like
him Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but
endures for ever
7 126 *Hezekiah 5 The Lord gave victory to Israel When the Lord brought back captives to
Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
8 127 Solomon The Lord is in control Unless the Lord builds the house, its
(central psalm) builders labour in vain.
9 128 *Hezekiah 6 Blessed are those who fear the Bless are all who fear the Lord, who walk
Lord in his ways.
10 129 *Hezekiah 7 Israel’s oppressors They have greatly oppressed me from my
youth – let Israel say –
11 130 *Hezekiah 8 Forgiveness, hope & redemption Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
for Israel
12 131 David Humility and quietness of soul My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes
are not haughty; I do not concern myself
with great matters, or things too
wonderful for me.
13 132 * Hezekiah 9 Zion is the dwelling place for the O Lord, remember David and all the
Lord hardships he endured.
14 133 David Living in unity How good and please it is when brothers
live in unity!
15 134 *Hezekiah 10 Praise the Lord Praise the Lord, all you servants of the
Lord who minister by night in the house
of the Lord

* Authorship as suggested by E W Bullinger in The Companion Bible.

Notes: (1) 15 songs – one for each year added to Hezekiah’s life
(2) 10 by Hezekiah – one for each of the 10 steps
` (3) 5 groups of 3 psalms – each group has 2 by Hezekiah and 1 by David or Solomon
Acrostics
What is an acrostic?

An acrostic is a poem (or other form of writing) in which the first letter (or syllable, or word) of each line
(or paragraph, or other recurring feature in the text) spells out a word, message or the alphabet.

A popular and well-known acrostic is:

G – God’s
R – Riches
A – At
C – Christ’s
E – Expense

An alphabet acrostic from many years ago was the song …

A, you're adorable
B, you're so beautiful
C, you're a cutie, full of charms
D, you're a darling
And E, you're exciting
And F, you're a feather in my arms

G, you look good to me

And H, you're so heavenly
I, you're the one I idolize
J, we're like Jack and Jill
K, you're so kissable
L, as the love-light in your eyes

M, n, o, p
I could go on all day
Q, r, s, t
Alphabetically speaking you're okay
And U , made my life complete
V , means you're very sweet
W, x, y, z

It's fun to wonder through

The alphabet with you
To tell you what you mean to me

Question: Can you think of any other acrostics?

Acrostics in the Bible
Note: Acrostic passages in the Bible follow the Hebrew Alphabet, which has but 22 letters.
Those who make acrostic translation into the English generally omit the letter Q, X, Y and Z.

Acrostics occur in all the five chapters that make up the Book of Lamentations, in the praise of the good
wife in Proverbs 31:10-31, and in Psalms 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145 of the Hebrew Bible.

The following translations are taken from

Psalms for the Common Era
Hebrew Psalms in Modern Metrical English for Individuals, Choirs and Congregations
by Rev Dr. Adam Carlill
[Link]
adamcarlill@[Link]

Psalm 34 (An Alphabetic Psalm) LM Morning Hymn translation

At every time I bless the Lord; his praise will ever be outpoured.
Because I glorify his name, the humble hear and sing his fame.
Come, let us magnify the Lord; as one let us exalt his word.
Down in my fears I sought his face, and he delivered me by grace.
Emboldened by his holy name, your faces will be clear from shame.
For, as I cried in lowly fear, he answered, when distress was near.
God’s angels camp around the just; the Lord delivers those who trust.
How good the Lord is; taste, and see how blessed the one that is set free.
Implore the Lord, his humble saints; fear him, and there are no complaints.
Jejune and hungry lions fast, but faithful folk have food to last.
Know this, you children; know the Lord; I recommend the fear of God.
Love life and goodness every day? - Pay heed to me, and hold his way.
Make sure your tongue does not revile, and keep your lip from speaking guile.
Neglect the wrong, be doing good; seek peace in every likelihood.
Observing when the righteous cry, the Lord regards and hears on high.
Perceiving sinners and their kind, he sees and sets them out of mind.
Responding to their contrite hearts, he will console and take their part.
So when they cry, the Lord will hear, to save them from distress and fear.
The righteous face tremendous pain; the Lord will save them and sustain.
Unbroken bones he keeps secure, for those whose faith is strong and pure.
Vexatious ones, with unjust eyes, in hatred face an ill demise.
With spirits ransomed by the Lord, his guiltless servants seek his word.
Psalm 119.1-8 CM St. Peter
Aleph

All those whose way is sound are blessed, who guard the Lord’s decrees,
and seek his charge with all their heart, yes, they will walk with ease.

All those who do no wicked deed will follow in his ways,

and you command that we should keep your precepts all our days.

Ah now, if only all my ways were firm in your demands,

and then I would not be ashamed, when viewing your commands.

As I have learned with upright heart to praise you for your laws;
accept me, Lord, for I will keep your statutes, every clause.

Psalm 119.9-16 CM Song 67

Beth

But how shall youthful ones be clean, to heed your word and way?
Because I truly seek your law, O never let me stray.

Because my heart has stored your words, I keep myself from sin.
Before my eyes, Lord, you are blessed; implant your rules within.

Bar none, my lips have told of each commandment in your law.

Before me all your charges are a glorious wealth and store.

By musing on your precepts, I will look for you today.

By savouring all your statutes, I recall your words and way.

Psalm 119.17-24 CM Metzler’s Redhead

Gimel

Completely care for me, that I may keep your words in store;
correct my eyes that I may live, to see your awesome law.

Conceal no longer your commands from me, a stranger here.

Continual longing for your law consumes my soul in fear.

Contempt and cursing follow those, who stray from your commands.
Command that they be rolled away; I keep your law’s demands.

Conniving princes sit and smear; I muse on your demand,

content that all your charges are my counsel and command.

From Psalms for the Common Era © Adam Carlill 2017-2018