In the Modern Hebrew Bible, the Psalter or Book of Psalms stands first of the hagiographa or sacred writings. It is not really a single book, but a collection of sacred songs, composed at widely different times and for different purposes. The Hebrew Psalter is divided into five groups or separate collections of songs, each group closing with a doxology. These groups terminate with Psalms 41, 72, 89, 106 and 150.
Usually the entire book is spoken of as the Psalms of David; because, of the 150 songs which make up the present book, 73 are ascribed by their own introductory notes to David. The Psalter was indeed the hymn book of the post-exilic Jewish Church. The many songs which David originally composed must, however, have been long treasured among his people, and the substance of many of them may have been preserved in the present collection. We seem to feel throughout the well-known chants the constant echo of the "sweet singing" of the poet king.
Of the 28 psalms ascribed by their introductions to other authors than David, twelve are referred to Asaph, the chief musician of the temple under him, eleven are referred to "the sons of Korah," two to Solomon, and one, the ninetieth, to Moses.
As a whole, the psalms reach a very high level of poetic beauty and religious faith and aspiration. They have often been spoken of as forming a connecting link between the teaching of the Old Testament and that of the New. Some of the sadder ones have been called the "penitential psalms." but an undercurrent of joy and thanksgiving runs through most, which are rightly called hymns of praise. This indeed is the Hebrew name for the collection. They are known as Tehillim or "the Praises." 
Psalm 147
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Praise and Worship by Laura Sotka, 2008
Click on images for high resolution | "Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."
Psalm 150 |
Book One: Psalms 1-41
Psalm 1
The righteous way - wisdom (1-6)
Psalm 2
God establishes his anointed - royal (1-11)
Psalm 3
Trust when surrounded by enemies - individual lament (1-8)
Psalm 4
Confidence in need - individual lament (1-8)
Psalm 5
God will deal with enemies - individual lament (1-12)
Psalm 6
Prayer for healing - individual lament (1-10)
Psalm 7
Plea for deliverance from persecutors - individual lament (1-17)
Psalm 8
Praise of God's majesty and human worth - hymn (1-9)
Psalm 9
Prayer for oppressed
Psalm 10
Individual lament (1-18)
Psalm 11
Refuge in God - song of trust (11:1-7)
Psalm 12
People's plea for protection - community lament (12:1-8)
Psalm 13
How long? - individual lament (13:1-6)
Psalm 14
No one seeks God - individual lament (14:1-7)
Psalm 15
Who can live before God? - liturgy (15:1-5)
Psalm 16
Trust in God - song of trust (16:1-11)
Psalm 17
May God deal with enemies - individual lament (17:1-15)
Psalm 18
God, our Rock - individual song of thanksgiving (18:1-50)
Psalm 19
Creation witnesses to God - hymn (19:1-6),
God's perfect law - wisdom (19:7-14)
Psalm 20
Prayer for the king - royal (20:1-9)
Psalm 21
A king's praise to God - royal (21:1-13)
Psalm 22
Why has God forsaken? - individual lament (22:1-31)
Psalm 23
The Lord as shepherd - song of trust (23:1-6)
Psalm 24
Who can stand before God? - liturgy (24:1-10)
Psalm 25
Teach and forgive - individual lament (25:1-22)
Psalm 26
Vindicate me - individual lament (26:1-12) | 
Psalm 24
St Alban's Psalter |
Psalm 27
No need to fear - song of trust (27:1-6)
Do not turn aside, God - lament (27:7-14)
Psalm 28
God is my strength - individual lament (28:1-9)
Psalm 29
God's voice - hymn (29:1-11)
Psalm 30
Praise for deliverance from enemies - individual song of thanksgiving (30:1-12)
Psalm 31
Prayer for help in great distress - individual lament (31:1-24)
Psalm 32
Joy of confession and forgiveness - individual song of thanksgiving (32:1-11)
Psalm 33
Faithful God - hymn (33:1-22)
Psalm 34
Praise for rescue from trouble - individual song of thanksgiving (34:1-22)
Psalm 35
Prayer for deliverance from enemies - individual lament (35:1-28)
Psalm 36
Human evil - wisdom (36:1-4) Divine good - hymn (36:5-9) Request for deliverance - individual lament (36:10-12)
Psalm 37
Be patient and trust God - wisdom (37:1-40)
Psalm 38
Prayer for healing from terrible illness - individual lament (38:1-22)
Psalm 39
Prayer for wisdom and forgiveness - individual lament (39:1-13)
Psalm 40
Praise for rescue - individual song of thanksgiving (40:1-10) Prayer for rescue - individual lament (40:11-17)
Psalm 41
Prayer for healing - individual lament (41:1-13)Book Two: Psalms 42-72
Psalm 42
Thirsting for God - individual lament (42:1-43:5)
Psalm 43
Prayer for national deliverance
Psalm 44
Prayer for national deliverance - community lament (44:1-26)
Psalm 45
For the king's wedding - royal (45:1-17)
Psalm 46
God, our refuge and strength - song of Zion (1-11)
Psalm 47
God rules the nations - hymn (47:1-9)
Psalm 48
Praise for Zion - song of Zion (48:1-14)
Psalm 49
Do not trust in wealth - wisdom (49:1-20)
Psalm 50
Correct sacrifice - liturgy (50:1-23)
Psalm 51
Create a clean heart - individual lament (51:1-19)
Psalm 52
Deceit cannot win - individual lament (52:1-9)
Psalm 53
No one seeks God - individual lament (53:1-6)
Psalm 54
Seeking vindication - individual lament (54:1-7)
Psalm 55
Betrayed by a friend - individual lament (55:1-23)
Psalm 56
Trust in God - individual lament (56:1-13)
Psalm 57
Be merciful - individual lament (57:1-11)
Psalm 58
Let the nation be avenged - community lament (58:1-11)
Psalm 59
Deliver from enemies - individual lament (1-17)
Psalm 60
Prayer after military defeat - community lament (60:1-12)
Psalm 61
Request for God's protection - individual lament (61:1-8)
Psalm 62
God, my rock and salvation - song of trust (1-12)
Psalm 63
Praise for God's presence - song of trust (1-11)
Psalm 64
Prayer for protection from enemies - individual lament (64:1-10)
Psalm 65
Praise for the productive earth - community song of thanksgiving (65:1-13)
Psalm 66
God's goodness - hymn (66:1-12) Praise for God's intercession - individual song of thanksgiving (66:13-20)
Psalm 67
Praise for harvest - community song of thanksgiving (67:1-7)
Psalm 68
Triumphant God - hymn (68:1-35)
Psalm 69
Prayer for rescue from enemies - individual lament (69:1-36)
Psalm 70
Prayer for rescue from enemies - individual lament (70:1-5)
Psalm 71
Prayer for protection - individual lament (71:1-24)
Psalm 72
Prayer for king - royal (72:1-20)
| Book Three: Psalms 73-89
Psalm 73
Trust despite appearances - wisdom (73:1-28)
Psalm 74
Prayer for a humiliated nation - community lament (74:1-23)
Psalm 75
Praise for God's vindication - community song of thanksgiving (75:1-10)
Psalm 76
God's glory - song of Zion (76:1-12)
Psalm 77
God's past acts - individual lament (77:1-20)
Psalm 78
God's care and Israel's sin - historical (78:1-72)
Psalm 79
Prayer for conquered Jerusalem - community lament (79:1-13)
Psalm 80
Prayer for forsaken Israel - community lament (80:1-19)
Psalm 81
Appeal for faithfulness - liturgy (81:1-16)
Psalm 82
Judge the earth - individual lament (82:1-8)
Psalm 83
Punish our enemies - community lament (1-18)
Psalm 84
God's lovely dwelling place - song of Zion (1-12)
Psalm 85
Prayer for restoration - community lament (1-13)
Psalm 86
Prayer for rescue from enemies - individual lament (86:1-17)
Psalm 87
City of God - song of Zion (87:1-7)
Psalm 88
Complaint - individual lament (88:1-18)
Psalm 89
Blessing of God and king - royal (89:1-37)
Prayer for rescue of king and nation - royal lament (89:38-52)
Book Four: Psalms 90-106
Psalm 90
Plea for God to remove His anger - community lament (90:1-17)
Psalm 91
God's protection - song of trust (91:1-16)
Psalm 92
Praise for God's actions - individual song of thanksgiving (92:1-15)
Psalm 93
God is king - hymn (93:1-5)
Psalm 94
Prayer for God's vengeance on wicked - community lament (94:1-23)
Psalm 95
Enthronement songs (95:1-99:9)
Let us worship - hymn (95:1-11)
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord - hymn (96:1-13)
Psalm 97
The Lord is king - hymn (97:1-12)
Psalm 98
Victorious Lord - hymn (98:1-9)
Psalm 99
God is enthroned - hymn (99:1-9)
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise - hymn (100:1-5)
Psalm 101
King's pledge - royal (101:1-8)
Psalm 102
Prayer for help in affliction - individual lament (102:1-28)
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord - hymn (103:1-22)
Psalm 104
God, Creator and Provider - hymn (104:1-35)
Psalm 105
God's love toward Israel - hymn (105:1-45)
Psalm 106
Confession of sins - hymn (106:1-48) Book Five: Psalms 107-150
Psalm 107
Deliverance from many difficulties - community song of thanksgiving (107:1-43)
Psalm 108
Steadfast heart - hymn (108:1-9) Prayer for victory over enemy - community lament (108:10-13)
Psalm 109
Prayer for help - individual lament (109:1-31)
Psalm 110
Sit at my right hand - royal (110:1-7)
Psalm 111
God's great works - hymn (111:1-10)
Psalm 112
Blessed are those who fear God - wisdom (1-10)
Psalm 113
God helps the needy - hymn (113:1-9)
Psalm 114
God's deeds in the exodus - hymn (114:1-9)
Psalm 115
God vs. worthless idols - liturgy (115:1-18)
Psalm 116
Praise for deliverance - individual song of thanksgiving (116:1-19)
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord - hymn (117:1-2)
Psalm 118
Trust in God was not disappointed - individual song of thanksgiving (118:1-29)
Psalm 119
God's good law - wisdom (119:1-176)
Psalm 120
Songs of Ascent (120:1-134:3)
Psalm 121
I lift my eyes to the hills - song of trust (121:1-8)
Psalm 122
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - song of Zion (122:1-9)
Psalm 123
Have mercy on us - community lament (123:1-4)
Psalm 124
Our help is God - community song of thanksgiving (124:1-8)
Psalm 125
God's protection - song of trust (125:1-5)
Psalm 126
Restore our fortunes - community lament (126:1-6)
Psalm 127
God's blessings in a family - wisdom (127:1-5)
Psalm 128
The blessed home - wisdom (128:1-6)
Psalm 129
God destroyed enemies - community song of thanksgiving (129:1-8)
Psalm 130
Out of the depths - individual lament (130:1-8)
Psalm 131
Humble trust - song of trust (131:1-3)
Psalm 132
God's promises - royal (132:1-18)
Psalm 133
Harmony - wisdom (133:1-3)
Psalm 134
Bless the Lord - liturgy (134:1-3)
Psalm 135
God above all gods - hymn (135:1-21)
Psalm 136
For his steadfast love endures forever - liturgical hymn (136:1-26)
Psalm 137
By the rivers of Babylon - community lament (137:1-9)
Psalm 138
Praise for deliverance - individual song of thanksgiving (138:1-8)
Psalm 139
God, you have searched me - individual lament (139:1-24)
Psalm 140
Prayer for deliverance from slandering enemies - individual lament (140:1-13)
Psalm 141
Keep me from evil - individual lament (141:1-10)
Psalm 142
Prayer for deliverance from persecutors - individual lament (142:1-7)
Psalm 143
Prayer for rescue from enemies - individual lament (143:1-12)
Psalm 144
Blessed be the Rock - royal lament (144:1-11)
Prayer for God's blessing - blessing/hymn (12-15)
Psalm 145
Great is the Lord - hymn (145:1-21)
Psalm 146
Happy are those who serve God - hymn (146:1-10)
Psalm 147
Good acts of God - hymn (147:1-20)
Psalm 148
Let creation praise God - hymn (148:1-14)
Psalm 149
Praise God for His salvation - hymn (149:1-9)
Psalm 150
All creation and instruments should praise God - hymn (150:1-6)
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