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 five Books, like and
related to the five Books of Torah (the first five books of the Bible,
also known as the Pentateuch), 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 "Miser�re" (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 J�dica Me (Ps. 42) opens the Mass, the Asp�rges 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.
For even more reading about the Psalms, see St. Robert Bellarmine's
"Commentary on the Psalms," St. Augustine's "Exposition on the Book of
Psalms," and other such works in pdf format in this site's Catholic Library.
|
| |
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: Asp�rges.
|
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
|
|
Penitential
|
Fri
|
Lauds
|
when one who
persecutes you enters, knowingly or not, into the cave in which you
hide; for prayer and supplication
|
|
143
|
144
|
David
|
|
|
Sat
|
Vespers
|
when up against
a Goliath
|
|
144
|
145
|
?
|
|
|
Sat
|
Vespers
|
|
|
145
|
146
|
Aggeus
& Zacharias
|
|
|
Wed
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it; for prayer and supplication
|
|
146
|
147:1-11
|
?
|
|
|
Thu
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it
|
|
147
|
147:12-20
|
?
|
|
|
Fri
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it
|
|
148
|
148
|
?
|
|
|
Sun
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it
|
|
149
|
149
|
?
|
|
|
Sat
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it
|
|
150
|
150
|
?
|
|
|
Sat
|
Lauds
|
to learn the
reasons to praise God and how to do it; when chosen for a position of
authority
|
|
1
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, a Decree of the Biblical
Commission of 1 May, 1910 "affirms that aside from those Psalms
explicitly attributed to David elsewhere in the Bible, the authorship
[of unattributed Psalms] by David cannot be magisterially affirmed or
denied." Note that the old Biblical Commission was considered
magisterial; the present Commission is not, as is admitted to by
Cardinal Ratzinger, who clearly states in a preface to the 1994
document "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church" that the
"Pontifical Biblical Commission, in its new form after the Second
Vatican Council, is not an organ of the teaching office..."
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