A collection of 150 poems that express the full range of human emotions before God — from praise to lament, from supplication to moral instruction.
Updated on
The Book of Psalms is one of the wisdom books of the Bible and occupies a unique place in the Hebrew canon: it does not speak about God only, but speaks with God and from the human experience before Him. Joy, sadness, supplication, gratitude, fear and trust — all of this is recorded in the 150 psalms that make up the collection.
The name "Psalms" is linked to music. In the Jewish tradition, the book was associated with the musical instrument nebel (a kind of harp), and the poems were sung in worship. In Hebrew, the title is Tehillim — "praises" — but the content goes far beyond praise.
John Calvin described the Psalms as an "anatomy of the soul": in them, the human being finds words for what he feels, even when he cannot articulate it alone.
Predominantly attributed to David. Ends with a doxology in Psalm 41:13. Includes psalms of trust, personal lament and praise.
Includes psalms of the sons of Korah and of Asaph, as well as Davidic psalms. Ends with the note "Here end the prayers of David, the son of Jesse".
Strongly associated with Asaph and the sons of Korah. Reflects on the history of Israel, the suffering of the people and the faithfulness of God.
Opens with the only psalm attributed to Moses (Psalm 90). Celebrates the reign of God over all creation and the history of redemption.
Includes the Psalms of Ascent (120–134), the great Psalm 119 about God's law, and the Hallel Psalms (146–150), which close the book with increasing praise.
The authorship of the Psalms is multiple. David is the most cited author in the psalm inscriptions, but he is not the only one. Among the identified authors are:
This diversity of voices enriches the book: it is not the perspective of a single man, but of generations of people who sought God in very different circumstances.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16
The Psalms do not form a uniform block. Scholars identify different types, each with a specific function in spiritual and communal life.
Rich in moral, ethical, and religious advice, they served as spiritual instruction for the people. Psalm 1 contrasts the path of the righteous with that of the wicked; Psalm 119 is the greatest poem about God's law, celebrating its eternal and immutable justice.
They express unshakable faith even in the midst of threat. Psalm 23 describes the Lord as a shepherd who guides, supports, and protects. Psalm 27 declares: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" — and culminates in the desire to dwell in the presence of God.
They recount the deeds of God in the history of Israel so that future generations will not forget them. Psalm 78 calls the people to hear parables and riddles from ancient times, transmitting ancestral and divine wisdom. Psalm 85 celebrates the restoration and forgiveness granted by God.
Psalm 34 invites: "Come, my children, and listen" — positioning the psalmist as a teacher who instructs in the fear of the Lord, not as paralyzing fear, but as reverence and practical wisdom for a just life.
Psalm 19 declares that the heavens proclaim the glory of God without audible words — the entire creation is a universal testimony of the Creator. Psalm 49 confronts the vanity of wealth and affirms that only God can redeem the soul from the power of death.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers. Rather, his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
Psalms 1:1-2
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament announces the works of His hands.”
Psalms 19:1
“My people, listen to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter riddles from ancient times, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the coming generation the praises of the Lord, His power and the wonders He has done.”
Psalms 78:1-4
“The Psalms are an anatomy of the soul: in them we find all human emotions expressed before God — joy, sadness, supplication, gratitude, fear, and trust.”
The Psalms were not only private literature — they were the hymnbook of God's people. During the Second Temple period, they were part of Israel's official liturgy, sung by the Levites in temple ceremonies.
This tradition passed into Christian worship from the earliest times. Jesus Himself sang a psalm on the night He was betrayed — an act that connects the Last Supper to the Jewish Passover tradition. Throughout history, Christians of all traditions and eras have turned to the Psalms to express prayers and praises.
Colossians 3:16 instructs Christians to teach and admonish one another "with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" — showing that the Psalms have a pedagogical and communal function, not only a devotional one. They teach, warn, and build up the community of faith.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”
Psalms 34:8
Or start with one of these: