The Davidic Psalter
(Note that this
page uses the Greek -- LXX, Vulgate, Douay-Rheims -- Psalm numbering system,
as does the entire "Being Catholic" section of this site)
The Book of Psalms
-- otherwise known as Psalterium Davidicum ("The Davidic Psalter"), Liber
Psalmorum (Vulgate), Tehillim (Hebrew, "The Book of Praises"), Psalterion
(Greek), Mazmore (Syriac Bible), etc. -- is a Book of poems -- lyrics, really
-- of set structure meant to be chanted (the word "psalterion" implies that
they may once have been accompanied by a stringed instrument). As music is
designed to appeal to the heart, so are the Psalms, and their words are full
of emotional content and sensitive imagery. From wrenching contrition to
unshakable trust in His mercy, from sorrow to elation, the Davidic Psalter
leaves no heartstring unplucked. St. Athanasius (A.D. 296-373), writing to
Marcellinus, described them like this:
And, among all
the books, the Psalter has certainly a very special grace, a choiceness of
quality well worthy to be pondered; for, besides the characteristics which
it shares with others, it has this peculiar marvel of its own, that within
it are represented and portrayed in all their great variety the movements
of the human soul. It is like a picture, in which you see yourself portrayed,
and seeing, may understand and consequently form yourself upon the pattern
given. Elsewhere in the Bible you read only that the Law commands this or
that to be done, you listen to the Prophets to learn about the Saviour's
coming, or you turn to the historical books to learn the doings of the kings
and holy men; but in the Psalter, besides all these things, you learn about
yourself. You find depicted in it all the movements of your soul, all its
changes, its ups and downs, its failures and recoveries.
What did these
soulful songs sound like when they were sung at Temple and in synagogues
-- even by Jesus and His Apostles? Like the mother to Gregorian and Byzantine
chant, which spring from Old Testament chant that is at least 3,000 years
old. Consider: when our Lord recounted the Hallel as He instituted the Eucharist,
He most likely would have sounded much like our priests do today. Our Hebrew
forebears chanted the Psalms, even as we do now, both responsively (groups
chanting alternating verses) and antiphonally (with repetition of the first
verse).
Organizing the Psalms
The 150 Psalms
that make up the Psalter are often grouped into 5 Books, like and related
to the 5 Books of Torah, each of which may be described as having an historical
relevance:
Book I |
1-40. Doxology:
Psalm 40:14 |
Genesis
David's conflict with Saul |
Book II |
41-71. Doxology
Psalm 71:18-20 |
Exodus
David's Kingship |
Book III |
72-88. Doxology:
Psalm 88:53 |
Leviticus
The Assyrian Crisis |
Book IV |
89-105. Doxology:
Psalm 105:48 |
Numbers
Destruction of the Temple and Exile |
Book V |
106-150. No doxology
|
Deuteronomy
Praise and the New Era |
Aquinas rejected
the idea of their being grouped into 5 Books, mentioning in his "Commentary
on the Psalms" that others see the Psalms grouped into perfect thirds:
The third distinction
is that the Psalms are distinguished into three groups of fifty: and this
distinction takes in the three fold state of the faithful people: namely
the state of penitence; and to this the first fifty are ordered, which conclude
in Have mercy on me, O God, which is the Psalm of penitence. The second concerns
justice, and this consists in judgement, and concludes in Psalm 100, "Mercy,
and justice." The third concludes the praise of eternal glory, and so it
ends with "Let every spirit praise the Lord."
The point is that
they can be grouped in many different ways, by theme or poetic style. For
example:
Wisdom Psalms |
35, 36, 48,
72, 111, 126, 127, 132 |
Royal Psalms |
2, 18, 20,
21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 144 |
Laments |
Individual:
3, 21, 30, 38, 41, 56, 70, 119, 138, 141 |
| Corporate:
2, 44, 80, 94, 137 2, 43, 79, 93, 136 |
Thanksgiving |
Individual:
17, 29, 31, 33, 39, 65, 91, 114, 115, 117, 137 |
| Corporate:
64, 66, 74, 106, 123, 135 |
Enthronement |
23, 28, 46,
92, 94-98 |
Praise |
8, 18, 32,
66, 99, 102, 103 , 110, 113, 116, 144-148 |
Acrostics |
9, 24, 33,
36, 110, 111, 118, 144 |
Grouping by Liturgical Use
The Psalms are
grouped by their liturgical use, too. The ancient Hebrews chanted Psalms
119 to 133 (known as the "Gradual Psalms," "Songs of Ascent," "Songs of Degrees,"
or "Pilgrim Songs") when travelling to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and
the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Spring; Pentecost in Summer; and the
Atonement and Tabernacles in Fall. Psalms 112 to 117 are known as "Hallel"
(also the "Common Hallel" or "Egyptian Hallel") and are chanted on Passover
night, Pentecost, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Booths.
According to the Jewish Encyclopedia's view, the Talmud states that:
...psalms were
sung by the Levites immediately after the daily libation of wine; and every
liturgical psalm was sung in three parts (Suk. iv. 5). During the intervals
between the parts the sons of Aaron blew three different blasts on the trumpet
(Tamid vii. 3). The daily psalms are named in the order in which they were
recited: on Sunday, xxiv.; Monday, xlviii.; Tuesday, lxxxii.; Wednesday,
xciv.; Thursday, lxxxi.; Friday, xciii.; and Sabbath, xcii. (Tamid l.c.).
This is precisely
how the Church groups Psalms for the Divine Office (see table below) -- based
on the day of the week, but with the Psalms spread out throughout the week
such that, in a week's time, the entire Psalter is prayed (Psalm 94 -- the
Invitatorium -- is prayed each day as the opening prayer of the Office).
Another Christian grouping of Psalms are those seven called "Penitential"
-- Psalms 6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, 142. These Psalms -- among them are the
"Miserére" (Ps. 50) and the "De Profundis" (Ps. 129) -- are recited
during Lent by order of Innocent III (A.D. 1198-1216). St. Augustine (d.
A.D. 430) was so taken by these beautiful Psalms that he asked that a monk
write them in large letters near his bed so he could read them as he lay
dying.
And, of course, the Psalms fill the Mass, both in its Ordinary and Propers.
The Júdica Me (Ps. 42) opens the Mass, the Aspérges consists
of parts of Ps. 50, at the Lavabo we hear Psalm 25:6-12, the Introit and
Gradual (and sometimes the Offertory and Communion prayers) are Psalms, etc.
For a plan to read
the entire Psalter, you can read them according to the schedule used in the
Divine Office, starting each day's readings with Psalm 94. For inspiration,
read the rest of St. Athanasius's letter
here, in which he tells his friend, Marcellinus, of the beauty and usefulness
of the Davidic Psalter. |
| |
Greek
Septuagint |
Masoretic
Text |
Human
Author 1 |
OT Liturgy |
Church
Groupings |
When to read,
according to St. Athansius |
Mass and
Paraliturgical |
Divine Office |
B
O
O
K
I
|
1 |
1 |
? |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
to declare someone
blessed |
2 |
2 |
David (Acts
4:25) |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
to rebuke the
conspiracy of the Jews against the Savior |
3 |
3 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
to help bear one's
afflictions, when you are persecuted by your family and opposed by many;
to sing especially about the Savior, particularly His betrayal by Judas and
the malice of the Jews |
4 |
4 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Compline |
to thank God for
ending your affliction |
5 |
5 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Lauds |
when the wicked
want to ensnare you; for prayer and supplication |
6 |
6 |
David |
|
Penitential |
Mon |
Compline |
when you feel beneath
the cloud of His displeasure |
7 |
7 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Compline |
when you hear of
a plot against you |
8 |
8 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
to contemplate
redemption and grace; to thank Him for the vintage |
9 |
9 & 10 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
for victory over
the enemy |
10 |
11 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Matins |
to express faith
and prayer; when someone wishes to alarm you |
11 |
12 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Compline |
to express faith
and prayer; when you see the boundless pride of many, and evil passing great,
so that it seems that among men no holy thing remains |
12 |
13 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Compline |
|
13 |
14 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
when someone blasphemes
the providence of God |
14 |
15 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
to learn what sort
of person is citizen of heaven's kingdom |
15 |
16 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Compline |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Resurrection |
16 |
17 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
to pray against
your enemies |
17 |
18 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
when you've been
delivered from enemies |
18 |
19 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Prime |
to thank Him for
the vintage; when you marvel at creation |
19 |
20 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
to comfort and
pray with others in distress |
20 |
21 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Second Coming and Christ as Judge |
21 |
22 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Prime |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Holy Cross |
22 |
23 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Prime |
when you are fed
and guided by the Lord |
23 |
24 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Prime |
when you marvel
at creation; to give thanks on a Sunday; to sing especially of the Savior,
particularly His Ascension |
24 |
25 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Prime |
when enemies surround
you |
25 |
26 |
David |
|
v. 6-12 Mass:
Lavabo |
Wed |
Prime |
to pray that God
judges according to right |
26 |
27 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Terce |
when evil seems
to have no end, and your foes press harder and scorn you |
27 |
28 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Terce |
to rely on God
instead of your own weakness or the brazenness of enemies' attacks |
28 |
29 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Lauds |
when you want the
right way of approach to God in thankfulness, with spiritual
understanding |
29 |
30 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Matins |
when you dedicate
your body and soul |
30 |
31 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
Sext |
when you find yourself
hated and persecuted by all your friends and kinsfolk because of your faith
in Christ |
31 |
32 |
David |
|
Penitential |
Mon |
None |
to declare someone
blessed; in thanskgiving when you see people baptized and ransomed from this
evil world |
32 |
33 |
David |
|
|
Mon |
None |
when you want to
sing together with "good and upright men" |
33 |
34 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Compline |
when you have fallen
among enemies but have escaped by wise refusal of their evil counsel |
34 |
35 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Matins |
to pray that God
judges according to right |
35 |
36 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Lauds |
when you see how
zealous are the lawless in their evil-doing |
36 |
37 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Matins |
to warn victims
of evil and remind yourself that the wicked will be brought to nought |
37 |
38 |
David |
|
Penitential |
Tue |
Matins |
when you feel beneath
the cloud of His displeasure |
38 |
39 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Matins |
to bestir yourself
against the enemy |
39 |
40 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Terce |
to learn the value
of endurance when attacked |
40 |
41 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Sext |
to declare someone
blessed; to incite others to works of mercy |
B
O
O
K
II
|
41 |
42 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Tue |
Sext |
to ease your pain
with hope in God |
42 |
43 |
David |
|
Mass: "Judica Me"
|
Tue |
Lauds |
to pray that God
judges according to right |
43 |
44 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Tue |
None |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are |
44 |
45 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Wed |
Matins |
to sing especially
about the Savior, particularly His divine begetting from the Father and His
Coming in the Flesh |
45 |
46 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Wed |
Matins |
to supply your
need when after deliverance from afflictions you flee to God, and want to
give Him thanks and tell of all His loving mercy |
46 |
47 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Mon |
Lauds |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Ascension |
47 |
48 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Wed |
Matins |
|
48 |
49 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Wed |
Matins |
|
49 |
50 |
Asaph |
|
|
Wed |
Matins |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Second Coming and Christ as Judge |
50 |
51 |
David |
|
Penitential. Mass:
Aspérges. |
Wed |
Matins |
to stir one's
conscience; to repent and beg forgiveness |
51 |
52 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Prime |
when you've been
slandered, and the slanderer boasts |
52 |
53 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Prime |
when someone blasphemes
the providence of God |
53 |
54 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Terce |
in times of
persecution; when you've been slandered |
54 |
55 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Terce |
when not only your
enemies cast you in the teeth but those also whom you thought to be your
friends reproach and slander you and hurt you sorely for a time |
55 |
56 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Sext |
in times of
persecution; when you've been slandered |
56 |
57 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Sext |
in times of
persecution; when one who persecutes you enters, knowingly or not, into the
cave in which you hide |
57 |
58 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Sext |
against hypocrites
and those who glory in appearance |
58 |
59 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
None |
when you escape
a plotter's plan |
59 |
60 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
None |
|
60 |
61 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Compline |
|
61 |
62 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Matins |
against those whose
enmity is such that they would even take away your life |
62 |
63 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Lauds |
should persecution
drive you to the desert |
63 |
64 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
Lauds |
|
64 |
65 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Lauds |
whenever you desire
to sing praise to God |
65 |
66 |
? |
|
|
Thu |
Matins |
when you want to
teach any one about the Resurrection |
66 |
67 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Lauds |
when asking mercy
from the Lord |
67 |
68 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Matins |
|
68 |
69 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Matins |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Holy Cross |
69 |
70 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Compline |
|
70 |
71 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Compline |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God |
71 |
72 |
Solomon |
|
|
Thu |
Prime |
to sing especially
of the Savior, particularly His Second Coming and Christ as Judge |
B
O
O
K
III
|
72 |
73 |
Asaph |
|
|
Thu |
Terce |
when you see wicked
men enjoying prosperity and peace and good men in sore trouble |
73 |
74 |
Asaph |
|
|
Thu |
Sext |
when God is angry
with His people |
74 |
75 |
Asaph |
|
|
Thu |
None |
to thank God for
ending your affliction; when you have occasion to testify concerning God |
75 |
76 |
Asaph |
|
|
Thu |
None |
when you need an
answer for the heathen and the heretics, showing that the knowledge of God
is not with them at all, but only in the Church |
76 |
77 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Compline |
|
77 |
78 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Matins |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are |
78 |
79 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Matins |
when they have
profaned the house of God and slain the saints |
79 |
80 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Terce |
|
80 |
81 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Matins |
when you want to
sing on a festival, together with other servants of the Lord |
81 |
82 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Terce |
|
82 |
83 |
Asaph |
|
|
Fri |
Matins |
when the enemy
muster around you |
83 |
84 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Fri |
Sext |
when you behold
the House of God and His eternal dwelling, and have a longing for them |
84 |
85 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Fri |
Lauds |
when the anger
of the enemy is abated and you are free to voice your thanksgiving |
85 |
86 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Compline |
to pray against
your enemies |
86 |
87 |
Sons of Korah |
|
|
Fri |
Sext |
to see the difference
between the Church and schism and to confound schismatics |
87 |
88 |
Heman
the Ezrahite, Sons of Korah |
|
|
Sat |
Compline |
to pray against
your enemies |
88 |
89 |
Ethan |
|
|
Fri |
None |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are |
B
O
O
K
IV
|
89 |
90 |
Moses |
|
|
Thu |
Lauds |
to learn how Moses
prayed |
90 |
91 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Compline |
to encourage yourself
and others in the fear of God and to show how fearless is the soul that hopes
in Him |
91 |
92 |
? |
|
|
Sat |
Lauds |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God |
92 |
93 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Lauds |
to praise God on
a Friday; to sing of the benefits deriving to us from the Saviour's Passion
|
93 |
94 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
Prime |
to sing on a Wednesday,
because it is a memorial of the beginning of the betrayal that began His
Passion |
94 |
95 |
David |
|
|
Invitatorium
(Matins) |
when you want to
sing on a festival, together with other servants of the Lord; to give thanks
on a Monday |
95 |
96 |
David |
|
|
Tue |
Lauds |
when God's House
has been captured and destroyed and then re-built; to sing to God; to sing
of the benefits deriving to us from the Saviour's Passion |
96 |
97 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Lauds |
when the land has
rest from war and peace returns |
97 |
98 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Lauds |
to sing to God;
to sing of the benefits deriving to us from the Saviour's Passion |
98 |
99 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Lauds |
to sing of the
benefits deriving to us from the Saviour's Passion |
99 |
100 |
? |
|
|
Sun |
Lauds |
when you see the
providence and power of God in all things and want to instruct others in
His faith |
100 |
101 |
David |
|
|
Wed |
Lauds |
when experienced
His power in judgement (for always His justice is tempered by His mercy |
101 |
102 |
? |
|
Penitential |
Sat |
Terce |
when you are downcast
and poor and need consolation |
102 |
103 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
Compline |
to lift your heart
in thankful praise |
103 |
104 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
Sext |
to lift your heart
in thankful praise |
104 |
105 |
? |
|
|
Sat |
Matins |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are; when you have occasion to testify
concerning God; to learn the reasons to praise God and how to do it |
105 |
106 |
? |
|
|
Sat |
Matins |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are; when you have occasion to testify
concerning God |
B
O
O
K
V
|
106 |
107 |
? |
|
|
Sat |
Matins |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are; when you have occasion to testify
concerning God; to learn the reasons to praise God and how to do it |
107 |
108 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
Prime |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God |
108 |
109 |
David |
|
|
Sat |
None |
to sing especially
about the Savior, particularly His betrayal by Judas and the malice of the
Jews |
109 |
110 |
David |
|
|
Sun |
Vespers |
to sing especially
about the Savior, particularly His divine begetting from the Father and His
Coming in the Flesh |
110 |
111 |
? |
|
|
Sun |
Vespers |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God; to praise God |
111 |
112 |
? |
|
|
Sun |
Vespers |
to declare someone
blessed; to praise God |
112 |
113 |
? |
H
A
L
L
E
L |
|
Sun |
Vespers |
to learn the reasons
to praise God and how to do it; to praise God |
113 |
114 & 115 |
? |
|
Sun |
Vespers |
to reflect how
good God is and how ungrateful men are; to praise God |
114 |
116:1-9 |
? |
|
Mon |
Vespers |
to thank God for
ending your affliction; when the anger of the enemy is abated and you are
free to voice your thanksgiving; to praise God |
115 |
116:10-19 |
? |
|
Mon |
Vespers |
to thank God for
ending your affliction; when the anger of the enemy is abated and you are
free to voice your thanksgiving; to praise God |
116 |
117 |
? |
|
Mon |
Lauds |
to learn the reasons
to praise God and how to do it |
117 |
118 |
? |
|
Sun |
Prime |
to praise God |
118 |
119 |
? |
Great
Alphabet |
|
Sun |
Prime, Terce, Sext,
None |
to declare someone
blessed |
119 |
120 |
? |
G
R
A
D
U
A
L |
|
Mon |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
120 |
121 |
? |
|
Mon |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
121 |
122 |
? |
|
Mon |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
122 |
123 |
? |
|
Tue |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
123 |
124 |
? |
|
Tue |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
124 |
125 |
? |
|
Tue |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
125 |
126 |
? |
|
Tue |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind; when you have occasion to testify
concerning God |
126 |
127 |
Solomon |
|
Tue |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind; when you dedicate your body and
soul |
127 |
128 |
? |
|
Wed |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind; to declare someone blessed |
128 |
129 |
? |
|
Wed |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
129 |
130 |
? |
Penitential |
Wed |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
130 |
131 |
David |
|
Wed |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
131 |
132 |
? |
|
Wed |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
132 |
133 |
David |
|
Thu |
Vespers |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
133 |
134 |
? |
|
Sun |
Compline |
when pressing forward,
forgetting the things you've left behind |
134 |
135 |
? |
|
|
Tue |
Lauds |
to learn the reasons
to praise God and how to do it |
135 |
136 |
? |
Great
Hallel |
|
Thu |
Vespers |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God; to praise God |
136 |
137 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Vespers |
when you've been
led astray be others' arguments |
137 |
138 |
David |
|
|
Thu |
Vespers |
when you have occasion
to testify concerning God |
138 |
139 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Vespers |
to thank God for
help in passing the test of temptations |
139 |
140 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Vespers |
to pray against
your enemies |
140 |
141 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Vespers |
to be free of the
enemy; for prayer and supplication |
141 |
142 |
David |
|
|
Fri |
Vespers |
in times of
persecution; for prayer and supplication |
142 |
143 |
David |
|
| | |
