Psalms

Illuminated Book of Hours from late 15th century

Penitential Psalms Scenes from David's life in chronological order: David slays Goliath; David parades with Goliath's head; David crowned as King; David gazes at Bathsheba

The psalms have always occupied a very special place in the life of the Christian.  Whether it is a song of praise, supplication, sorrow, contrition or pure joy and thirst for God, there is a psalm to express it.  They truly represent the full diversity of emotions and aspirations of mankind.  In this sense it becomes clear that they are a special gift of God to man, to allow us to praise (or complain) to God in every circumstance of the complex turning of the human heart.

From the apostles onward devout souls have read in the psalms prophecies about Christ.  Indeed, the earliest Christian writers suggested they are about nothing else.

 

 
1 39 77 115 6
2 40 78 116, 12-15, 16
3 41 79 117
4 42 80 118  1
5 43  II 81 119 I, II, 9-16, 18, 37, 145-152
6 44 82 120
7 45 10-11 (I), 10-11 (II) 83 121
8 46 4-5 84 122
9 47 85 11-12 123
10 48 86 124
11 49 87 125
12 50 88 126
13 51 89 127
14 52 90 128
15 53 91 129
16 4 54 92 130
17 55 93 131
18 56 94 132
19 57 95 133
20 58 96 134
21 59 97 135
22 60 1-3 98 136
23 61 99 137
24 62 100 138 1-2
25 63 2, 5 101 1, 8 139 23-24
26 64 102 140
27 6 65 103 141
28 66 104 142
29 67 105 143
30 9 68 106 144 1, 7-8
31 21 69 107 145
32 70 108 146
33 71 109 147 4
34 10 72 110 148
35 73 111 149
36 4 74 112 150
37 75 113  
38 76 114