Without exaggeration, we can say that for a Christian the Psalter is the most precious book of the Old Testament. The Psalter is a book of prayers for all occasions: in sorrow, in a feeling of hopelessness, in fear, in disasters, in tears of repentance and in joy after receiving consolation, in the need of thanksgiving and for offering pure praise to the Creator. St. Ambrose of Milan writes: “In all Scripture the grace of God breathes, but in the sweet song of the psalms it breathes primarily.”

The Psalter got its name from the Greek word “psalo,” which means to rattle on the strings, to play. King David was the first to accompany the singing of the divinely inspired prayers he composed by playing a musical instrument called the “psaltyrion,” similar to a harp. The Jews call the book of Psalms “Tehillim,” which means “praise.”

The Psalter was composed over 8 centuries - from Moses (1500 BC). to Ezra-Nehemiah (400 BC), contains 150 psalms. King David laid the foundation for this book by composing the largest number of psalms (more than 80). In addition to David's, the Psalter includes psalms: Moses - one (89th Psalm), Solomon - three (71st, 126th and 131st), Asaph the seer and his Asaphite descendants - twelve; Heman - one (87th), Etham - one (88th), the sons of Korah - eleven. The remaining psalms belong to unknown writers. The psalms are composed according to the rules of Jewish poetry and often achieve amazing beauty and power.

Often at the beginning of psalms there are inscriptions that indicate their content: for example, “prayer” (petitionary psalm), “praise” (praiseful psalm), “teaching” (edifying psalm), or the method of writing: “pillar writing,” i.e. e. epigrammatic. Other inscriptions indicate the method of performance, for example: “psalm” - i.e. with accompaniment on a musical instrument-psalter; “song” - i.e. voice performance, vocal; “on string instruments;” “on the eight-string;” “otochilekh” or in the Russian Bible “on a Gathian weapon” - i.e. on a zither; “about changeable” - i.e. with a change of instruments. Above some psalms are inscribed the words of a song, according to the model of which the given psalm should be sung, something like “similar” ones at evening and morning services.

The Psalter was for the most part the final book in ancient Russian education, necessary not only for church ministers, but also for secular people. The works of Theodosius of Pechersk, Metropolitan Hilarion, Cyril of Turov, Serapion of Vladimir, Vladimir Monomakh are full of references to psalms and sayings from them. Its influence is very noticeable in popular proverbs. The Psalms were transcribed by almost all our 18th century poets; from the poets of the 19th century - Khomyakov, Yazykov and others.

In almost every verse of the Psalter, the Church finds a reflection of the New Testament, one or another event or thought.

King David - chief author of the Psalter

The content of the psalms is closely related to the life of the righteous King David. David, born a thousand years before the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem, was the youngest son of the poor and large shepherd Jesse. Even in his early youth, as a shepherd, David began to compose inspired prayers to the Creator. When the prophet Samuel, sent by God, entered the house of Jesse to anoint a king for Israel, the prophet thought about anointing one of the eldest sons. But the Lord revealed to the prophet that the youngest son, still a very young man, David, was chosen by Him for this high service. Then, obeying God, Samuel pours sacred oil on the head of his youngest son, thereby anointing the kingdom. From that time on, David became God’s anointed one - the messiah (the Hebrew word “messiah,” in Greek “Christ,” means anointed one). But David does not immediately begin his actual reign. He still faces a long path of trials and unjust persecution from the then reigning king Saul, who hated David. The reason for this hatred was envy, since the youth David defeated the previously invincible Philistine giant Goliath with a small stone and thereby gave victory to the Jewish army. After this incident, the people said: “Saul defeated thousands, and David - tens of thousands.” Only strong faith in God the intercessor helped David endure all the numerous persecutions and dangers to which he was exposed from Saul and his servants for almost fifteen years. Wandering for months in the wild and impassable desert, King David poured out his grief to God in inspired psalms (see Psalms 7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 39, 51, 53, 56, 58). The victory over Goliath is depicted by David in Psalm 43.

Having reigned in Jerusalem after the death of Saul, King David became the most prominent king to ever rule Israel. He combined many valuable qualities of a good king: love for the people, justice, wisdom, courage and, most importantly, strong faith in God. Before deciding any state issue, King David cried out to God with all his heart, asking for admonition. The Lord helped David in everything and blessed his 40-year reign with many successes. While ruling the kingdom, David made sure that the worship in the tabernacle was splendid, and for him he composed psalms, which were often sung by the choir, accompanied by musical instruments. Often David himself led religious holidays, offering sacrifices to God for the Jewish people and singing psalms (See his psalms about the transfer of the Ark: 14 and 23).

But David did not escape difficult trials. One day he was seduced by the beauty of a married woman, Bathsheba. King David mourned his sin in the famous 50th psalm of repentance. The most difficult sorrow for David was the military uprising led against him by his own son Absalom, who dreamed of becoming king prematurely. In this case, David experienced all the bitterness of the black ingratitude and betrayal of many of his subjects. But, as before under Saul, faith and trust in God helped David. Absalom died ingloriously, although David tried his best to save him. He pardoned the other rebels. David captured his emotional experiences in connection with the uprising of Absalom in the psalms: 4, 5, 6, 10, 24, 40-42, 54, 57, 60-63, 83, 140, 142.

With their poetic beauty and depth of religious feeling, David's psalms inspired the imitation of many subsequent psalmists. Therefore, although not all psalms were written by David, the name that is often given to the book of psalms is still correct: “The Psalter of King David.”

The Prophetic Side of the Psalms

Being a king and a prophet, and also to a certain extent a priest, King David prefigured the greatest King, Prophet and High Priest - Christ the Savior, a descendant of David in the flesh. The personal experience of King David, as well as the poetic gift that he possessed, gave him the opportunity, in a whole series of psalms, with hitherto unprecedented brightness and vividness to prophetically outline the personality and feat of the coming Messiah.

Here is a list of the most important prophetic psalms: about the coming of the Messiah: 17, 49, 67, 95-97. About the Kingdom of the Messiah: 2, 17, 19, 20, 44, 65, 71, 109, 131. About the priesthood of the Messiah: 109. About the suffering, death and resurrection of the Messiah: 15, 21, 30, 39, 40, 65, 68, 98:5 (40, 54 and 108 - about Judas the traitor). About the ascension of Christ into heaven: 23, 67. Christ - the foundation of the Church: 117. About the glory of the Messiah: 8. About the Last Judgment: 96. About the inheritance of eternal rest by the righteous: 94.

To understand the prophetic psalms, we must remember that David, like other great righteous men of the Old Testament, prefigured Christ. Therefore, what he says, for example, about his suffering or about his glory, is not an exaggeration, but relates to him only partially. In full measure it refers to Christ. We see such an understanding of the psalms among the Apostles of Christ and the holy fathers.

The significance of the Psalter for Divine services

The Psalter contains many reflections, appeals to your soul, many instructions and words of consolation. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Psalter is used extremely widely in prayer. Not a single divine service, since Old Testament times, is complete without psalms. Psalms began to be used when making daily sacrifices, on Saturdays and holidays. David introduced the use of musical instruments during psalmody: strings, winds and percussion - harp, tympanum, psalter, cymbals, trumpets and others. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed with the words of the psalms, for example: after the Last Supper, He, “having sung, went to the Mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:30). Following the example of Jesus Christ and the apostles in the Church of the first centuries of Christianity, the Psalter was often used for prayer (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Cor. 14:26). In the 4th century, for ease of reading during services, the Psalter was divided into 20 parts - “kathisma” (the word “kathiso” in Greek means “to sit”).

Some of the psalms are read several times during one liturgical day. All Orthodox worship is permeated with individual verses of psalms, in the form of prokeimenons, alleluaries, verses on “God is the Lord,” choruses to stichera and other short appeals, petitionary, repentant, laudatory. Christian prayers composed in the New Testament very often borrow expressions from the psalms. The Psalter, in the full sense of the word, is Christianized. This means that the Church puts a Christian meaning into all expressions, and the Old Testament element present in it recedes into the background. The words in the psalms: “Arise,” “Rise, O Lord” lead our thoughts to the resurrection of Christ; words about captivity are understood in the sense of sinful captivity; the name of the peoples hostile to Israel - in the sense of spiritual enemies, and the name of Israel - in the sense of the church people; a call to beat enemies - as a call to fight passions; salvation from Egypt and from Babylon is like salvation in Christ.

In this booklet we have included mainly those psalms that are used most often in our services (see the index at the end of the book).

About translations of the Psalter

The original language of the Psalter, like other books of the Old Testament, is Hebrew. In the 3rd century BC, the Old Testament books were translated from Hebrew into Greek. This translation was called the translation of 70 interpreters and served as the main source for the dissemination of the Old Testament Scriptures in apostolic times. Over the centuries, due to transcription errors, some variations have crept into both the Hebrew and Greek biblical texts. This difference in reading, although small and insignificant, is still in some places quite noticeable to the ear. The difference in expressions is especially felt in the psalms because they are known to the praying person more than other Old Testament books. Comparing the differences in the psalms of the Hebrew text with the Greek of 70 commentators, many biblical scholars give preference to the latter. The apostles, who preached primarily among pagans who understood Greek, widely used the translation of 70 interpreters in their epistles. Thus, thanks to the holy Apostles and Church Fathers of the first centuries of Christianity, the Bible of the Greek translation of 70 interpreters became the book of the Church.

According to Nestor the Chronicler, the Psalter was translated from the Greek translation of 70 interpreters into the Slavic language by St. brothers Cyril and Methodius (in the 9th century). The translation of the psalms into Russian was made in the 19th century by the “Orthodox Bible Society.” The translation was based on the Hebrew text, which, with the blessing of the Holy Governing Synod, was included in the Russian Bible.

However, it should be said that for a Russian church person, accustomed to praying in Church Slavonic, the Synodal translation of the psalms of the Russian Bible sounds discordant due to frequent discrepancies in expressions with the psalms read in church. Therefore, here are selected psalms in Russian, translated from Greek by 70 interpreters. This excellent, scientifically based translation was made by prof. Kazan Theological Academy by P. A. Yungerov in 1915. This Russian translation is closer in spirit to the psalms read at our services than the psalms in the Russian Bible.

Selected Psalms Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who did not go to the meeting of the wicked, and did not stand in the way of sinners, and did not sit in the company of the destroyers, but his will is in the law of the Lord, and he will learn His law day and night. And he will be like a tree planted by the sources of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not fall. And whatever he does will be successful.

Not so wicked, not so: but they are like dust that is swept away by the wind from the face of the earth! Therefore the wicked will not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 2 (Prophetic about Christ)

Why are peoples and tribes worried and plotting in vain? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against His Anointed. “Let us break Their bonds and throw off Their yoke.” He who dwells in heaven will laugh at them and the Lord will humiliate them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and will confuse them with His wrath. I was appointed by Him as king over Zion, His holy mountain, to proclaim the commandment of the Lord. The Lord said to me: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thy inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Thy possession. You will rule them with a rod of iron, like a potter’s vessels, and you will crush them.” And now, O kings, understand, learn, all you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice before Him with trembling. Take advantage of the instruction so that the Lord does not become angry, and you will perish from the right path when His wrath is soon kindled. Blessed are all who trust in Him.

Psalm 3

God! How my persecutors have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me. Many say to my soul: “There is no salvation for him in his God.” But You, Lord, are my intercessor, my glory, and You lift up my head. I cried out to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy mountain. I fell asleep, slept and got up, for the Lord will protect me. I will not be afraid of the multitude of people attacking me all around. Arise, Lord! Save me, my God! For Thou hast struck down all those who were in vain at enmity against me, and hast broken the teeth of sinners. The Lord is salvation and Your blessing is upon Your people.

Psalm 4

When I called, the God of my righteousness heard me. In sorrow You gave me space. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer! Sons of men! How long will you persist? Why do you love vanity and look for lies? Know that the Lord made His venerable one wondrous. The Lord will hear me when I cry to Him. When you are angry, do not sin. Whatever you speak about in your hearts, lament about it on your beds. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness and trust in the Lord. Many say: who will show us good? The light of Your face has been imprinted on us, O Lord. You have given joy to my heart, and they have become rich from the fruit of wheat, wine and oil. In peace I will at the same time fall asleep and calm down, for You, Lord, have filled me alone with hope.

Psalm 5

God! Hear my words, understand my appeal. Hear the voice of my prayer, my King and my God, for I will pray to You, O Lord. In the morning hear my voice, in the morning I will appear before You, and You will see me. For You are God, Who does not like iniquity, and the evil one will not dwell with You. And the wicked shall not abide in Your sight; You have hated all those who commit iniquity. You will destroy all who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and the flattering. And I, according to the abundance of Your mercy, will enter Your house, I will worship Your holy temple in fear of You. God! Guide me with Your righteousness, for the sake of my enemies, straighten my path before You. For there is no truth in their mouth, their heart is vain, their throat is an open grave, with their tongue they flatter. Judge them, O God! May they give up their plans. For the multitude of their wickedness, overthrow them, for they have upset You, O Lord. And may all those who trust in You rejoice, may they rejoice forever, and may You dwell in them, and may those who love Your name boast in You. For You will bless the righteous, O Lord: You have protected us with favor like a weapon.

Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord! How wonderful is Your name throughout all the earth! Your greatness reaches beyond the skies. Through the lips of babes and sucklings You have proclaimed praise for the sake of Your enemies, in order to destroy the enemy and the avenger. When I look at the heavens, the work of Your fingers, at the moon and the stars that You founded, then (I think) what is man, that You remember him? Or son of man, why do you visit him? You have made him a little lower than the angels, You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands, You have laid everything at his feet: the sheep and the oxen of all, as well as the cattle of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the sea. Lord, our Lord! How wonderful is Your name throughout all the earth!

Psalm 12

How long, Lord, will you forget me completely? How long will you turn Your face away from me? How long will I form thoughts in my soul, sorrows in my heart day and night? How long will my enemy rise above me? Look, hear me, O Lord My God, enlighten my eyes, so that I may not sleep into death. Let not my enemy say: “I have overcome him!” Those who oppress me will rejoice if I hesitate. I trusted in Your mercy. My heart will rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, who has blessed me, and I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 16

Hear, O Lord, my truth, listen to my prayer, listen to my prayer not from flattering lips. Let judgment come to me from Your presence; let my eyes see what is right. You searched my heart, you visited me by night, you tested me (with fire), and no unrighteousness was found in me, so that my mouth did not speak about the deeds of men. According to Your lips, I have guarded myself from cruel ways. Establish my feet on Your paths, so that my feet do not waver. I cried because You heard me, O God, incline Your ear to me and hear my words. Show Your mercies wondrously, saving those who trust in You from those who resist Your right hand. Save me, O Lord, like the apple of your eye; under the shelter of Your wings, shelter me from the wicked who offend me: my enemies have oppressed my soul. They shut themselves up in their fat; their lips spoke arrogant things. My persecutors have now surrounded me, their eyes fixed on me to throw me to the ground. They lay in wait for me, like a lion rushing at its prey, and like a lion cub living in secret places. Arise, O Lord, warn them and stop them, deliver my soul from the wicked, with Your weapon from the enemies of Your hand. God! While still alive, separate them from the little ones on earth. Their bellies are filled with Thy treasures: their sons are satisfied and leave the remainder for their descendants. But I appear before Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied when Thy glory appears to me.

Psalm 22

The Lord shepherds (leads) me and does not deprive me of anything. There, in a green place, He settled me and raised me by the still water. He converted my soul, directed me on the path of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even if I walk in the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff - they have comforted me. You have prepared a table for me in view of my oppressors, You have anointed my head with oil, and Your cup gives me drink as if it were excellent! And Your mercy follows me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord many days!

Psalm 23

The Lord's earth and everything that fills it, the universe and all who live in it. He founded it on the seas and built it on the rivers. Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Or who will stand in His holy place? The one who has blameless hands and a pure heart, who in his soul is not carried away by vanity and does not swear deceitfully to his neighbor. This one will receive a blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob! Princes, lift up your gates and rise up, everlasting gates! And the King of Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord is mighty and strong, the Lord is mighty in battle. Princes, lift up your gates and stand up, everlasting gates! And the King of Glory will enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Psalm 24

To You, Lord, I have ascended with my soul. My God! I have trusted in You, may I never be ashamed, and may my enemies not laugh at me. For all those who trust in You will not be put to shame. Let all who vainly commit lawlessness be put to shame. Show me Your ways, O Lord, and teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God, my Savior, and I have trusted in You every day. Remember Thy compassions, O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they have been from everlasting. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my ignorance, by Your mercy You remember me, by Your goodness, Lord. The Lord is good and righteous, therefore He will show those who sin the path of the law. He will guide the meek in judgment, He will teach the meek His ways. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth for those who seek His covenant and His revelations. For the sake of Your name, Lord, cleanse my sin, for it is great. What kind of person fears the Lord? He will give Him a law for the way that pleases Him. His soul will settle among blessings and his seed will inherit the earth. The Lord is the support of those who fear Him, and His covenant will be revealed to them. My eyes are always (turned) to the Lord, for He will pluck my feet from the snare. Look upon me and have mercy on me, for I am lonely and wretched. The sorrows of my heart have multiplied; deliver me from my troubles. Look at my humility and my exhaustion and forgive all my sins. Look at my enemies: how they have multiplied and (with what) unrighteous hatred they have hated me! Preserve my soul and deliver me, so that I will not be ashamed that I trusted in You. The gentle and righteous have united with me, for I have trusted in You, Lord. Deliver, O God, Israel from all their sorrows.

Psalm 32

Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord. Praise befits the righteous. Praise the Lord on the harp, sing to Him on the ten-stringed psalter. Sing to Him a new song, sing to Him harmoniously, with an exclamation! For the word of the Lord is right and all His works are true. The Lord loves mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the Lord’s mercy. By the Word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the Spirit of His mouth all their power. He gathers up the waters of the sea like fur, and encloses the deep into treasuries. May the whole earth fear the Lord, may all who live in the universe tremble before Him! For He spoke and it was, He commanded and it was created. The Lord destroys the counsels of nations, annuls the plans of men, and rejects the counsels of princes.

The counsel of the Lord endures forever, the thoughts of His heart endures forever. Blessed is the people whose Lord is their God, the people whom He has chosen to be His inheritance. The Lord looked from heaven and saw all the sons of men. From His prepared dwelling, He looked at all those living on earth, He who created their hearts specially and delves into all their affairs. A king is not saved by great strength, and a giant is not saved by the multitude of his strength. The horse is a deceiver for salvation; by its great strength it will not be saved. Behold the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him, who trust in His mercy: to deliver their souls from death and to feed them in times of famine. Our soul trusts in the Lord, for He is our helper and protector. In Him our hearts will rejoice, and in His holy name we have trusted. May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have trusted in You.

Psalm 33

I will glorify the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips. In the Lord my soul shall glory, that the meek may hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me and let us all exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my sorrows. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces will not be ashamed. This beggar cried out, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his sorrows. The Angel of the Lord will encamp around those who fear Him and deliver them. Taste and see how good the Lord is: blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Fear the Lord, all His saints, for there is no shortage of those who fear Him. The rich have become poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not be deprived of any good.

Come, children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who loves life and wants to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful words. Avoid evil and do good, seek peace and strive for it. The eyes of the Lord (turned) to the righteous and His ears to their prayer. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to destroy the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them, and delivered them from all their sorrows. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and will save the humble in spirit. The righteous have many sorrows, but the Lord will deliver them from all of them. The Lord guards all their bones; not one of them will be broken. The death of sinners is disastrous; those who hate the righteous sin. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, and all who trust in Him will not sin.

Psalm 37

God! Do not rebuke me in Your wrath, and do not punish me in Your anger. For Your arrows have pierced me, and You have established Your hand on me. There is no healing in my flesh from Your wrath, no peace in my bones from my sins. For my iniquities have gone beyond my head, like a heavy burden, weighing me down. My wounds stank and festered from my madness. I suffered and bent to the end, I walked around in sadness all day. My insides are full of inflammation, and there is no healing for my flesh. I suffered a lot and was excessively humiliated, I cried out from the torment of my heart.

God! Before You, all my desire and my sighing are not hidden from You. My heart is troubled, my strength has left me, and the light of my eyes is no longer with me. My friends and my neighbors approached me and stood opposite me, and my closest ones stood far away from me; Those who sought my soul pressed in, and those who sought my harm spoke vain things and thought about deceit all day long.

But I, like a deaf man, did not hear, and like a dumb man, I did not open my mouth. And he was like a man who does not hear and has no answer in his mouth. For in You, O Lord, have I trusted: You will hear, O Lord my God. For I said: “Let not my enemies triumph over me.” For when my feet faltered, they magnified themselves over me.

I am close to defeat, and my illness is always before me. For I will proclaim my iniquity and take care of my sin. But my enemies live and are stronger than I, and those who hate me unjustly have multiplied. Those who repay me evil for good slandered me, because I followed good. Do not leave me, Lord my God, do not depart from me! Hasten to help me, Lord of my salvation!

Psalm 40

Blessed is he who thinks about the poor and wretched! On the day of trouble the Lord will deliver him. May the Lord preserve him, and spare his life, and grant him bliss on earth, and may he not deliver him into the hands of his enemies. May the Lord have mercy on him on his sick bed! You changed his bed during his illness.

I said: Lord! Have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned before You. My enemies said evil things about me: “When he dies, his name will perish!” And if (someone) came to see (me), he spoke a lie, his heart contained iniquity. And when he went out, he conspired with his enemies: they whispered against me, they plotted evil against me. They made a criminal word against me (saying:) “Shall he who lies down rise again?” Even a man friendly to me, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, lifted up his heel against me. But You, Lord, have mercy on me and strengthen me, and I will repay them. From this I know of Your favor towards me, that my enemy will not triumph over me. And out of my kindness, You accepted me and established me before You forever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!

Psalm 45

God is our refuge and strength, our helper in the grave sorrows that befall us. Therefore we will not be afraid when the earth shakes and the mountains move into the midst of the seas. Their waters roared and rose, and the mountains shook with His strength. The currents of the river make glad the city of God: the Most High has sanctified His city. God is in his midst, and he will not be shaken: God will help him from the early morning. The nations were in confusion, the kingdoms bowed down, the Most High gave His voice: the earth shook. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our protector. Come and see the works of God, the miracles that He performed on earth: He will stop warfare to the ends of the earth, He will crush the bow and break the weapon, and burn the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our protector.

Psalm 50 (repentance)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Wash me often from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I am aware of my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. You alone have I sinned and done evil before You, so that You will be righteous in Your judgment and will be victorious when You judge. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. You loved the truth: You showed me the unknown and secret of Your wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop (an herb used in worship) and I will be cleansed, wash me and I will become whiter than snow.

Bring joy and gladness to my hearing, and humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Sovereign Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from (shedding) blood, O God, God of my salvation! And my tongue will joyfully praise Your righteousness. God! Open my mouth, and they will declare Your praise. If You wanted a sacrifice, I would give it, (but) You do not favor a burnt offering. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a contrite and humble heart.

Bless Zion, O Lord, according to Your good pleasure, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay bulls on Your altar.

Psalm 53

God! Save me in Your name and judge me in Your power. God, hear my prayer, listen to the words of my mouth

mine! For strangers rose up against me, and the mighty sought my soul, and did not set God before them. But God helps me, and the Lord is the protector of my soul. He will turn evil upon my enemies: according to Thy truth destroy them. I will willingly offer a sacrifice to You, I will glorify Your name, Lord, for it is good. For You have delivered me from all sorrow, and my eye has looked upon my enemies.

Psalm 54

Hear my prayer, O God, and do not despise my prayer. Listen to me and hear me: I was grieved in my sorrow and troubled by the voice of the enemy and by the oppression of the sinner, for they brought iniquity against me and were at enmity with me in anger. My heart began to tremble within me and the fear of death attacked me. Fear and trembling came over me, and darkness covered me. And I said: who will give me wings like a dove, and I can fly and be at peace? So I, running away, went away and settled in the desert. I expected God to save me from cowardice and storm. Flood (them), O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen iniquity and strife in the city. Day and night they walk around its walls, lawlessness and malice are among it and untruth. And his wealth and deceit do not become scarce in the squares.

If an enemy reviled me, I would tolerate it, and if someone who hated me exalted himself over me, I would hide from him. But you are a man of one mind, my adviser and my close one; you, who enjoyed food with me, (with whom) we went together to the house of God. Let death befall them, and let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings, in the midst of them. I cried out to God, and the Lord heard me. Evening and morning and at noon I will tell and proclaim, and He will hear my voice. He will peacefully deliver my soul from those approaching me, for many of them were with me. God will hear and He who existed before the ages will humble them, because there is no change in them and they did not fear God. He stretched out His hand to repay (them): they broke His covenant. They were divided at His angry face. (Although) they drew near with their hearts, their words are softer than oil, but they are arrows. Cast your sorrow on the Lord, and He will nourish you: He will not give you trouble to the righteous in the age of trouble. But you, O God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloodthirsty and flattering men will not live to see half their days; and I trust in You, Lord.

Psalm 62

God, my God! I turn to You in the morning, my soul thirsted for You and how much my flesh (strived) for You in an empty, impenetrable and waterless land! So would I appear to You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory! For Your mercy is more precious than life. My lips will praise You. So I will bless You in my life; in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and oil, and my lips will praise You with a voice of joy. I remembered You on my bed, in the morning hours I thought about You. For You have been my helper, and under the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul clung to You, and Your right hand received me. But they sought (the destruction) of my soul in vain; they will go down to the underworld of the earth, they will be put to the sword, they will be prey for foxes. The king will rejoice in God, and everyone who swears by Him will be glorified, for the lips of those who speak lies are stopped.

Psalm 66

God! Show mercy to us and bless us, show us Your bright face and have mercy on us, so that we may know Your way on earth, and Your salvation among all nations! May the nations praise You, O God! Let the nations be glad and rejoice, for You will judge the nations with righteousness and guide the families of the earth. Let the nations praise You, O God! May all nations praise You! The earth has given its fruit. Bless us, O our God, bless us, O God, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him!

Psalm 69

God! Hurry to my aid. God! Don't hesitate to help me. May those who seek my soul be ashamed and disgraced, may those who wish me harm turn back and be ashamed! Soon may those who say to me, “Good, good” come back with shame! May all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You, O God, and may those who love Your salvation continually say: “May the Lord be magnified!” And I am poor and wretched. God, help me: You are my helper and my deliverer. Lord, don't be slow!

Psalm 83

How desirable are Your dwellings, O Lord of hosts! My soul desires with all its might (to enter) the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. For a bird finds a home for itself, and a turtledove a nest in which to lay its young: (such are) Thy altars for me, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God! Blessed are those who dwell in Your house: forever and ever they will praise You. Blessed is the man for whom You have protection, who in his heart has determined to ascend to the appointed place, through the valley of tears. For the Lawgiver will give blessing. They will ascend from strength to strength, and the God of gods will appear (to them) in Zion. Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer, give ear, O God of Jacob! Our Defender, behold, O God, and look upon Thy anointed! For one day in Thy courts is better than thousands: I preferred rather to prostrate myself at the house of my God than to live in the houses of sinners. For the Lord loves mercy and truth, God will give grace and glory. The Lord will not deprive those who walk kindly of blessings. Lord God of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Psalm 84

God! You have shown favor to Your land and brought back the captives of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquities of Your people and covered all their sins. I have ceased all Your wrath, I have restrained myself from Your wrathful wrath. Restore us, O God of our salvation, and turn away Your wrath from us. Will you be angry with us forever? Or will You spread Your wrath from generation to generation? God! You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You. Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy and grant us Thy salvation. I will hear what the Lord God will say in me: how He will speak peace on His people, and on His saints, and on those who turn their hearts to Him. Thus, His salvation is near to those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met, truth and peace have kissed each other! Truth has shone from the earth, and truth has descended from heaven. For the Lord gives good, and our land will give its fruit. Truth will go before Him and set its steps in the way.

Psalm 85

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and needy. Save my soul, for I am pleasing (to You). Save Your servant, O my God, who trusts in You. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I cry to You every day. Make glad the soul of Your servant, for I have ascended to You with my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and meek, and merciful to all who call on You. Hear, O Lord, my prayer and listen to the voice of my prayer. In the day of my tribulation I cried out to You, for You listened to me. There is none like You, O Lord, among the gods, and there is none (like) according to Your works. All the nations that You have created will come and worship You, O Lord, and glorify Your name. For You are great and performer of miracles, You are One God. Guide me, O Lord, on Your path, and I will walk in Your truth. Let my heart rejoice, fearing Your name. I confess to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart and I will glorify Your name forever. For Your mercy is great towards me, and You have delivered my soul from the underworld. God, the lawbreakers rose up against me, and the assembly of the mighty sought my soul and did not present You before them. But You, O Lord my God, are generous and merciful, long-suffering, and abounding in mercy, and true. Look upon me and have mercy on me, grant Your strength to Your servant and save the son of Your servant. Do a sign for good with me: let those who hate me see and be ashamed (seeing) that You, Lord, helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 87

Lord, God of my salvation! Day and night I cried before You. May my prayer come before Your face; incline Your ear to my prayer. For my soul is filled with adversity, and my life draws near to the grave. I became like a helpless man, numbered among the dead, like the dead lying in the tomb, whom You no longer remember and who were rejected from Your hand. They laid me in the pit of hell, in darkness and the shadow of death. Your wrath is heavy upon me, and You brought all Your waves upon me. You removed my acquaintances from me: they considered me disgusting to themselves. I am imprisoned and cannot leave. My eyes were exhausted from suffering. I cried out to You, Lord, all day long, I lifted up my hands to You. Do you really perform miracles for the dead? Or will the doctors resurrect them and they will confess to You? Will anyone in the grave proclaim Your mercy and Your truth in the (place of) destruction? Will Your miracles be recognized in darkness and Your truth in a forgotten land? But I cried to You, Lord, and in the morning my prayer will precede You. Why, Lord, do you reject my soul, do you turn your face away from me? I have been poor and in labor since my youth: having risen, I humbled myself and became exhausted. Thy anger swept over me, Thy terrors shook me: they surrounded me like water all day long, they embraced me all together. You removed my friend and neighbor and acquaintances from me because of my suffering.

Psalm 89

Lord, You are our refuge from generation to generation. Before the mountains appeared and the earth and the universe were created, from everlasting to everlasting You are. Don't humiliate a person. You said: “Return, sons of men!” A thousand years are before Your eyes, O Lord, as yesterday, which has passed away, and as the watch of the night. Their years will be insignificant: like grass disappears, which in the morning will bloom and turn green, but by the evening it will fall, wither and dry up. We disappeared in Thy wrath and were shaken by Thy wrath. You have set our iniquities before You and our age before the light of Your face. All our days are past, and we have disappeared in Thy wrath. Our summers are like a spider's web. Our term is seventy years, and if we can, eighty years, and then most of them are labor and illness, for humiliation befell us, and we (by this) were taught. Who can know the power of Your anger and comprehend Your wrath in fear? Therefore show Thy right hand to me and to those whose hearts have been taught wisdom.

Turn, Lord! How long? Have mercy on Your servants. May we soon be satisfied with Your mercy, O Lord, may we rejoice and be glad all our days, (as a reward) for the days in which You humbled us, for the years in which we saw evil. And look upon Thy servants, Thy creatures, and instruct their sons. And may the light of the Lord our God be in us, help us in the work of our hands, help us in the work of our hands.

Psalm 90

He who lives with the help of the Most High will settle under the roof of the heavenly God. He will say to the Lord: “You are my intercessor and my refuge, my God, I trust in You.” He will deliver you from the snare of fishers and from rebellious words. He will protect you with His shoulders, and you will be safe under His wings. His truth will protect you with a shield. You will not be afraid of the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that walks in the darkness, the plague that devastates at noon. A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand to your right, but they will not come close to you. Just look with your eyes and you will see the reward for sinners. For you said: The Lord is my hope. You have chosen the Most High as your refuge. No evil will come to you, and no plague will come near your dwelling. For He commanded His angels to guard you in all your ways. They will take you in their arms so that you do not stumble with your foot on a stone. You will step on the asp and the basilisk (the asp and the basilisk are poisonous snakes) and trample upon the lion and the serpent (the devil).

“Because he trusted in Me, I will deliver him, I will hide him, for he has known My name. I am with him in sorrow: if he calls on Me, I will hear him, I will deliver him and glorify him, I will satisfy him with long days and show him My salvation.”

Psalm 91

It is good to confess the Lord and sing to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your mercy in the morning and Your truth every night, on a ten-stringed psalter, with singing, on the harp. For You, Lord, have made me glad with Your creation, and I will admire the works of Your hands. How majestic are Your works, O Lord! Wonderfully deep are Your thoughts! A foolish man will not know, and a foolish man will not understand this. While sinners have grown like grass, and all the workers of iniquity have appeared to disappear forever, You are exalted forever, O Lord! For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies will perish, and all the workers of iniquity will be scattered. And my horn will be exalted like a unicorn, and my old age will be anointed with fat oil. And my eye will look at my enemies, and my ear will hear about the wicked people who rise up against me. The righteous will flourish like a date and multiply like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still succeed in an honest old age and will be blessed to proclaim how righteous the Lord our God is, and there is no unrighteousness in Him!

Psalm 92

The Lord reigned, He clothed Himself in splendor, The Lord clothed Himself with strength and girded Himself, for He established the world, which shall not be shaken. From time immemorial Your throne has been prepared: You have existed from eternity. The rivers have lifted up, O Lord, the rivers have lifted up their voices. The rivers will raise their waves high from the noisy movement of many waters. Marvelous are the high waves of the sea, marvelous is the Lord in the highest. Your revelations are very true. Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for many days to come.

Psalm 95

Sing a new song to the Lord, sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His name, preach His salvation daily. Proclaim His glory among the nations, His wonders among all nations. For the Lord is great and very glorious, terrible to all gods. For all the gods of the pagans are demons, but the Lord created the heavens. Praise and beauty are before Him, holiness and splendor are in His sanctuary. Bring to the Lord, the fatherland of the nations, give glory and honor to the Lord! Give glory to the Lord to His name, take sacrifices and enter into His courts. Worship the Lord in His holy court. May the whole earth move at His presence! Tell the nations that the Lord reigns, for He has established the world, which cannot be moved; He will judge the nations with righteousness. Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth rejoice, let the sea and the things that fill it move! The fields and everything in them will rejoice. Then all the trees of the forest will rejoice at the presence of the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the nations in His truth.

Psalm 96

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice, let the many islands rejoice! Cloud and darkness are around Him, righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. Fire will pass before Him and consume His enemies around. His lightning illuminated the universe, and the earth saw and trembled. The mountains melted like wax from the presence of the Lord, from the presence of the Lord of all the earth. The heavens declared His righteousness, and all nations saw His glory. Let all those who worship idols, who boast in their idols, be put to shame. Worship Him, all His Angels! Zion heard and rejoiced, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Your judgments, O Lord. For You are the Lord who is high above all the earth, highly exalted above all gods. Lovers of the Lord, hate evil! The Lord protects the souls of His saints and will deliver them from the hand of the sinner. Light has dawned on the righteous, and joy has come to those who are upright in heart. Rejoice, O righteous ones, in the Lord, and remembrance of His holiness.

Psalm 100

I will sing to You about mercy and judgment, O Lord! I will sing a meditation on the blameless path: when will You come to me? I walked in the midst of my house with a gentle heart, I did not put anything unlawful before my eyes, I hated those who committed crime. No corrupt thing clung to my heart, I did not know the fickle evil one (man) towards me. He who secretly slandered his neighbor - this I drove out; with a proud look and an insatiable heart - with this I did not eat. “My eyes (are turned) to the faithful of the earth, so that they sit with me; he who walks in the blameless way has served me. No one who acts proudly lived inside my house; he who speaks a lie was not right in my sight. In the morning I slew all the sinners of the earth, to destroy from the city of the Lord all those who commit iniquity.”

Psalm 102

Bless, my soul, the Lord and all my inner being - His holy name! Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget all His benefits: He forgives all your iniquities, heals all your ailments, delivers your life from the grave, surrounds you with mercy and bounty, fulfills your good desires, renews your youth like an eagle’s.

The Lord shows mercy and truth to all those who are offended. He showed His ways to Moses, and to the children of Israel His desires (laws). The Lord is generous and merciful, long-suffering and abounding in mercy. He will not be completely angry and will not be indignant forever. He did not deal with us according to our iniquities, nor did He repay us according to our sins. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is the mercy of the Lord towards those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, He has removed our iniquities from us. As a father has mercy on his sons, so the Lord has mercy on those who fear Him. For He knows our nature, remembers that we are dust. Man's days are like grass; like a wildflower, so it fades. The wind will pass over him, and he will be no more, and he will not find his place. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness is on the sons of sons, who keep His covenant and remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over everything. Bless the Lord, all His angels, mighty in strength, who do His word, who hear His voice. Bless the Lord, all His armies, all His servants who do His will. Bless the Lord, all His works, in every place of His dominion. Bless the Lord, my soul!

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, my soul! Oh my God! You are wonderfully great, You have clothed yourself with glory and splendor. You dress yourself in light like a garment, you stretch out the sky like a leather tent. You cover Your heights with water, You make the clouds Your chariot, You walk on the wings of the wind. You create Angels as Your spirits and Your servants as a fiery flame. He founded the earth on its firmament; it will never tilt forever. The abyss is like a garment, its covering. There will be waters on the mountains; they will flee from Your rebuke; they will be afraid of the sound of Your thunder. They ascend (like) mountains and descend (like) plains to the place that You have appointed for them. You have set a limit, which they will not cross, and they will not return to cover the earth.

You direct springs into the valleys: waters flow among the mountains, giving water to all the animals of the field; wild donkeys (among them) quench their thirst. The birds of the air live with them, and from the middle of the rocks they make their voices. You water the mountains from Your heights: the earth is satisfied with the fruits of Your works. You grow grass for livestock and greenery for the benefit of people, to bring (to them) food from the earth: wine makes glad the heart of a man, oil softens his face, and bread strengthens the heart of a man.

The trees of the field are fed, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted. Birds make nests there, and the stork’s home rises above them. High mountains are for deer, rocky cliffs are a refuge for hares. You created the moon to (indicate) the times, the sun knows its west. You spread the darkness, and night comes, during which all the animals of the forest walk, young lions roaring for prey, in order to beg God for food for themselves. The sun rose and they gathered and lay down in their lairs. The man (then) goes out to his business and to his work until evening.

How majestic are Your works, O Lord! You have created everything with wisdom. The earth is full of Your creation. This is a great and vast sea: there are reptiles there, of which there is no number, animals small and great. There are ships floating there, and this serpent (whale) that You created to play in it. Everyone is waiting for food from You, so that You will give them in time. When You give to them, they accept; when You open your hand, everyone will be satisfied with good. When You turn away your face, they become confused; take their spirit and they will disappear and return to their land. You will send Your Spirit, and they will be created, and you will renew the face of the earth. May there be glory to the Lord forever! The Lord will rejoice in His works. He will look at the earth and it will shake, he will touch the mountains and they will smoke.

I will sing to the Lord in my life, I will sing to my God as long as I exist. May my conversation be pleasing to Him, and may I rejoice in the Lord. May sinners and lawless people disappear from the earth so that they will not exist! Bless the Lord, my soul!

Psalm 109 (Prophetic about Christ)

The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool. The Lord will send you a rod of strength from Zion, and rule among your enemies. With You is the power in the day of Your power in the splendor of Your saints. “From the womb before the morning star I gave birth to you.” The Lord has sworn and will not repent: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. The Lord is at Your right hand, He will defeat kings in the day of His wrath, He will execute judgment on the nations, He will fill (the earth) with corpses, He will crush the heads of many on the earth. He will drink from the stream along the way and therefore lift up his head.

Psalm 111

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord: he will greatly love His commandments. His descendants will be powerful on earth, the race of the righteous will be blessed. Glory and wealth are in his house, and righteousness endures forever. A light has shone in the darkness for the righteous: he is merciful and generous and righteous. A good man who gives generously will arrange his affairs in judgment, so that he will not be shaken forever. The righteous will be in eternal memory; he will not be afraid of evil rumors. His heart is ready to trust in the Lord, his heart is unshakable, it will not fear until it sees (the destruction of) its enemies. He lavished, he gave to the poor, his righteousness endures forever, his power will be exalted in glory. The sinner will see (this) and become angry, gnashing his teeth and exhausting himself. The desire of the sinner will perish.

Psalm 114

I rejoice that the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. Since He has inclined His ear to me, I will call upon (Him) all my days. Mortal diseases have seized me, hellish disasters have befallen me. I faced sorrow and torment and called on the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul! The Lord is merciful and righteous, and our God has mercy. The Lord protects the babies. I humbled myself and He saved me. Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has blessed you. For He has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I will please the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 115

I believed and therefore said: I am very broken. I said in my frenzy: every man is a liar. What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will accept the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people. The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord. God! I am Your servant. I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid. You have broken my bonds. I will offer you a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, among you, O Jerusalem!

Psalm 116

Praise the Lord, all you nations, praise Him, all you people, for His mercy toward us is unshakable, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Psalm 117

Confess to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Let all who fear the Lord say, For He is good, for His mercy endures forever. In sorrow I called on the Lord, and He heard me (leading me) out into the open. The Lord is my helper and I will not be afraid: what will man do to me? The Lord is my helper, and I will look upon my enemies. It is better to trust in the Lord than to rely on man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes. All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I resisted them. They surrounded me like bees on a honeycomb and burned like fire among thorns, but in the name of the Lord I resisted them. Cast down, I was ready to fall, but the Lord supported me. The Lord is my strength and my song, and He was my salvation. The voice of joy and salvation in the villages of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord has shown strength. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me, the right hand of the Lord has shown strength. I will not die, but I will live and tell the works of the Lord. While teaching me, the Lord punished me, but did not put me to death. Open the gates of righteousness for me: having entered them, I will confess to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord: the righteous will enter into it. I confess to You, for You heard me and were my salvation.

The stone that the builders neglected became the cornerstone: This was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad on it. Oh, Lord, save me! Oh, Lord, hurry up! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. God the Lord appeared to us. Gather for the festival in large crowds (reaching) to the horns of the altar. You are my God and I will praise You. You are my God and I will exalt You. I will confess to You, for You heard me and You were my salvation. Confess to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 120

I lifted up my eyes on high, from where my help will come. My help comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to stumble, your Guardian will not slumber. Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord protects you, the Lord protects you from your right hand. During the day the sun will not burn you and the moon at night (will not harm you). The Lord will protect you from all evil, the Lord will protect your soul. The Lord will guard your entrance and your exit from now on and forever.

Psalm 129

From the depths (of my heart) I cried to You, Lord: Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer. If you see iniquity, Lord, Lord, who can stand? For with You is purification. For the sake of Your name, I have waited for You, O Lord, my soul has trusted in Your word, my soul has trusted in the Lord. From the morning watch until the night, from the morning watch let Israel trust in the Lord. For with the Lord is mercy and great is his deliverance, and he will deliver Israel from all their iniquities.

Psalm 140

Lord, I called to You, hear me, listen to the voice of my prayer when I cry to You. Let my prayer be directed like incense before You, the raising of my hands is the evening sacrifice. Set, O Lord, a guard over my lips and a door to guard my lips. Do not turn my heart to evil words, to invent excuses for sins together with people who commit iniquity, and let me not be counted among the chosen ones among them. The righteous will mercifully instruct me and reprove me, but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head, but my prayer is against their favor. Their judges were swallowed up like a stone; My words were heard, for they prevailed. Just as a block of earth disintegrates on earth, so their bones were scattered in hell. But to You, Lord, Lord, my eyes (are turned), I have trusted in You: take not away my soul. Save me from the snare that they have laid for me and from the obstacles (from outside) of those who commit iniquity. Sinners will fall into their net, but I alone will remain until I cross it.

Psalm 141

I cried out to the Lord with my voice, I prayed to the Lord with my voice. I will pour out my prayer before Him, I will tell Him my sorrow. When my spirit disappeared from me, You (then) knew my paths. On this path along which I walked, (they) spread a net for me. I looked to the right and saw: there was no one who knew me, there was no place where I could run, and no one cared about my soul. I cried to You, Lord, and said: You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living. Heed my prayer, for I am greatly humbled; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than me. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may confess Your name. The righteous are waiting for me until you reward me.

Psalm 142

God! Hear my prayer, heed my prayer according to Your truth. Hear me according to Your righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living will be justified before You. For the enemy persecuted my soul, he humbled my life to the ground, he made me sit in darkness, as if I had been dead from eternity. And my spirit was sad within me, my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all Your works, I was edified by the works of Your hands. I stretched out my hands to You (in prayer): my soul (strives) for You like waterless land. Hear me soon, Lord: my spirit has disappeared. Do not turn Your face away from me, (otherwise) I will become like those who go down to the grave. Tell me Your mercy in the morning, for I have trusted in You. Show me, Lord, the path along which I should go, for I have ascended to You with my soul. Remove me from my enemies, for I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your good Spirit will lead me to the land of righteousness. For the sake of Your name, Lord, give me life; According to Your righteousness You will bring my soul out of sorrow. And by Your mercy You will destroy my enemies and destroy all who oppress me, for I am Your servant.

Psalm 145

Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord in my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist. Do not trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit will depart, and he will return to his land; on that day all his plans will perish. Blessed is he to whom the God of Jacob is a helper, and whose trust is in the Lord his God, who created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. He preserves the truth forever, carries out (right) justice for the offended, gives food to the hungry. The Lord loosens the bound, the Lord makes the blind wise, the Lord raises up the downtrodden, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects strangers, accepts the orphan and the widow, and destroys the path of sinners. The Lord will reign forever. Thy God, O Zion, from generation to generation!

Psalm 149

Sing a new song to the Lord: praise be to Him in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Creator, and let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise His name with their faces, and sing to Him with the tympanum and psalter. For the Lord delights in His people and lifts up the meek to salvation. The saints will be praised in glory and will rejoice on their beds. The magnificence of God is in their mouth, and two-edged swords are in their hands, to bring vengeance on the nations, punishment on the nations. Bind the kings with their bonds and their nobles with hand-made iron shackles. Carry out the prescribed judgment on them. This glory will belong to all His saints.

Psalm 150

Praise God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him according to His power, praise Him according to His exceeding greatness. Praise Him with the voice of the trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him on the tympanum and choir, praise Him on the strings and the organ. Praise Him with harmonious cymbals, praise Him with loud cymbals. Let every breath praise the Lord!

Pointer

Psalms used in worship services

Matins: Beginning: 19, 20. Six Psalms: 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, 142. Before the canon: 50. Psalms of praise: 148, 149, 150.

Watch: First: 5, 89, 100. Third: 16, 24, 50.

Sixth: 53, 54, 90. Ninth: 83, 84, 85.

Vespers: Opening Psalm: 103, “Blessed is the man:” 1. On “Lord I cried:” 140, 141, 129, 116. At the end of Vespers: 33 (only during Great Lent).

Compline: 4, 6, 12, 69, 90, 142.

Before communion: 22, 23, 115.

Liturgy: 102, 145.

Burial: 118.

About the sick person: 70, thanksgiving: 117, new year: 64, traveling: 120, prayer service: 142.

Psalms by content

Thanks and praise: 33, 65, 66, 91, 95, 96, 102, 103, 116, 145, 149, 150.

Glorifying God: 8, 17, 92, 102, 103.

Edifying: 1, 40, 32, 45, 84, 89, 100, 111, 126.

Pouring out sorrow: 3, 12, 16, 37, 54, 87, 141, 142.

Expressing hope in God: 53, 85, 90, 111, 120

Asking for protection and help: 3, 4, 24, 40, 54, 69, 142.

Repentant: 38, 50.

Expressing joy: 32, 83, 114.

Psalms of David

The beginning of the prophecy about Christ. Two Paths: The Bliss of the Righteous. Death of the wicked.

Prophecy of the Kingdom of the Messiah: Rejection of the Messiah. Yahweh's Wrath. Triumph of the Messiah. Yahweh's advice to the kings and judges of the earth.

Written by David when he was fleeing from Absalom his son. David in Distress: His Lamentation. His trust is in God. His confidence. His prayer.

David's Evening Prayer: Prayer for Help. In reproach to enemies. As a warning to enemies. Hope in God.

David's Morning Prayer: God hears prayer. God hates lawlessness. God blesses the righteous.

Penitential. Prayer of a repentant sinner: Prayer for mercy. Confidence in hearing.

The song of lament that David sang to the Lord in the case of Hus, of the tribe of Benjamin. Prayer in Grief: David turns to God. He defends his innocence. He cries out for truth. The fate of the wicked. Words to the Lord according to His righteousness.

The Greatness and Dignity of Man: The Glory of God. Man is the crown of creation.

Praise God for deliverance: Thanks be to God for victory. Faith in God's truth. Prayer for help. Confidence in the triumph of truth. Prayer when God's judgments are delayed. The iniquities of the wicked. Trust in God's help.

Trust in the Lord: Temptation to Dejection During Trial. Strengthening in faith.

Meditation for times of distress: Prayer for help among the treacherous and the proud. Confidence of deliverance from above.

Prayerful. David calls on the Lord and preaches the good news of salvation.

He denounces the wickedness and lawlessness of people in all their endeavors.

David asks about who can dwell in the dwelling of the Lord and gives the answer to this question.

Prophecy of the Messiah: A Proof of Faith. Prophecy of Golgotha. Confidence in the resurrection.

David's prayer for deliverance from enemies. He protects his integrity. Prayer for preservation from the wicked. Description of enemies. Trust in the Lord.

Describes the uprising of enemies, the calling of God to help, the descent and ascension of the Only Begotten, the rejection of the Israelites and the calling of the pagans.

Praising the Lord. The Creation of God and the Word of God. God's revelation in creation. The revelation of God in the Word of God.

Prayer for the king. Prayer for victory. Confidence in God's help.

Praise for the king's deliverance. Thanksgiving for victories in the past. Confidence in victory in the future.

Prophecy of the sufferings and glory of the Messiah: Forsaken by God. Reproach among people. Surrounded by animals. Pierced arms and legs. Dividing vestments and casting lots for clothing. His prayer is for deliverance. His glory and kingdom. Turning all the ends of the earth to the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd: He gives rest and guides His sheep. His goodness and mercy endure forever.

Hymn of praise to the King of glory: The Lord is the Creator. People of God. Entrance of the King of Glory. This psalm preaches about the ascension of the Lord, about teaching the pagans, and about how they will be made worthy of heavenly villages.

Prayer for guidance and protection: Seeking God's ways. The Lord clearly shows His path. Prayer for deliverance.

Prayer for protection: Prayer for God's help. David's vindication. His final plea for help.

Undaunted Trust in God: The Trust of David. David's prayer for help.

Prayer against the wicked: A cry for help. Confidence in hearing. David sings a real psalm on behalf of those who believed in Christ, calling on God for help with his petition. And also in the psalm there is a curse on the recklessness of the Jews, and a prayer for excommunication from their evil part.

The Greatness of God in the Storm: A Call to Give Glory to God. The power of God is in a thunderstorm. Prayer for blessing.

Song of Deliverance: Praise for Deliverance. An exhortation to praise God.

Prayer of the Grieving Righteous One: Trust in God and Prayer for Deliverance. A lament crying out for deliverance. Praise be to God the Deliverer. David sings this psalm, as if still in repentance for sin and wanting to be freed from it; however, and as if he had already heard, he sends thanks and describes what happened to him during his repentance.

Penitential Psalm: The Joy of Forgiveness. Confessed and forgiven sin. An exhortation to the sinner to repent.

Praise to Almighty God: An exhortation to praise God. Reasons to Praise God. The Lord is the Creator. The Lord is the Provider.

Psalm of Praise and Hope: Praise for the goodness of God. An exhortation to trust in the Lord. Warning against sin. Deliverance of the righteous and condemnation of the wicked. This Psalm was written by David when he feigned madness before Abimelech and was driven away from him and withdrew.

Prayer for help: From persecutors. From slanderers. From those at war. It is spoken from the perspective of one who has put his trust in God and is being fought by invisible forces.

The goodness and mercy of God: The wickedness of the wicked. Praise be to God's mercy. This psalm contains an accusation of pride and a denunciation of the wickedness of the Jewish people.

Wisdom of the Elder: Prosperity of the righteous and punishment of the wicked. Comparison between the wicked and the righteous. Certain deliverance and safety for the righteous. This psalm contains a teaching to the new people, inspiring them to refrain from evil deeds and practice good deeds, and convincing them of both with the hope prepared for the good and the punishment awaiting the evil ones.

Penitential Psalm about Mercy: The Sinner's Extreme Need. Thirst for deliverance. Trust in God.

Prayer in troubled times: Silence in sorrow. Desire for enlightenment. Prayer for deliverance. David, confessing his sin, prays to the Lord for deliverance from his iniquities.

The Obedience and Patience of the Messiah: Recognizing the Goodness of God. Obedience to the Messiah. His prayer for bounties and mercy.

Psalm about the merciful: The blessedness of the merciful. The anger of enemies. A celebration of purity.

Psalms of the Sons of Korah

The Sorrow and Comfort of the Pious: The Soul's Thirst for God. The consolation and hope of the godly.

Prayer for protection.

Prayer for Victory with God: Remembering Favors in the Past. The current lament. Appeal to God for deliverance. The singers describe the ancient benefits of God and ask God to have mercy on them, because they acknowledge Him as their trust and confess His name.

The Tsar's Marriage: The Tsar and His Dominion. Bride of the King and marriage. Conclusion.

God is our refuge and strength: God is our refuge. God is our strength. God is our victory.

God is king of all the earth: The conquest of all nations. God is King over all the earth.

A song of the descendants of Korah, expressing reverence for the Lord. Song of Zion: Zion is the city of our God. Zion's Claim. Zion praises God.

A sermon on the folly of trusting in wealth. A call to listen. The fragility of wealth. The end of those who hope for wealth. Final admonition. This psalm preaches about the Divine judgment of all people, and about the day in which God will bring every creature to judgment.

Psalm of Asaph

written by the psalmist Asaph, a contemporary of David. Contents of the psalm: The Judgment of God. True and false piety: God is a righteous Judge. God judges intention, not outward piety. Exposing hypocrisy. Conclusion.

Psalms of David

penitent: David's prayer for forgiveness and confession of sin. David's Prayer and Vow. A contrite and humble heart. Prayer for Zion.

David's reproachful speech addressed to Doik the Edomite, who informed Saul that David, who had escaped, was in the house of Ahimelech.

David's teachings expressing deep sorrow at the corruption of the world. The madness and wickedness of people. Depravity of people. God's punishment. Prayer for salvation and deliverance.

David, fleeing from Saul, took refuge in the desert of Ziph. After this, the Ziphitites came to Saul, announced to what place David had fled, and asked him to come and capture him. David turns to God with a prayer for salvation and deliverance from all troubles. Prayer of the sufferer. Lamentation and prayer for help. Confidence in God's mercy and deliverance.

Prayer in fear and trembling. David's troubles. Betrayal from a friend. David's trust in God. David turns to the Lord with indignation at the wicked and a prayer for their punishment.

Scripture of David when the Philistines captured him at Gath. Prayer for deliverance. A plea for help. The anger of enemies. Undaunted trust in God. Gratitude for deliverance.

Scripture of David when he ran away from Saul into the cave. David, fleeing from the pursuing Saul, entered the cave with four hundred men, and after cutting off Saul’s robe, he sang this psalm. Prayer and lamentation. Praise and thanksgiving

The teaching of David, in which he condemns and curses the wicked and gives hope to the righteous.

The Scripture of David, when Saul sent to keep his house to kill him. Saul, jealous of David, who was his benefactor, sought to kill David, now throwing a spear at him, now surrounding him with guards in the house. Deliverance of David from Saul. David's prayer for deliverance. David's trust in God. Prayer for the defeat of the enemy. Song of praise of David.

Scripture of David for study when he fought with Syria of Mesopotamia and with Syria of Zovan, and when Joab, returning, defeated twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Prayerfully turning to God, David laments that the Lord has rejected the people of Israel and asks the Lord for help.

David brings thanks to God for himself and for the people saved by faith, and makes a vow to continually send praise in the eternal abodes.

David prophesies about the future deliverance of the entire human race, about the overthrow of mental enemies, and also offers people advice to turn away from vice, reminding them of God’s judgment.

Psalm of David when he was in the desert of Judea. Thirst for communication with God. The soul thirsts for God. The thirst of the soul is quenched by God.

Prayerful, asking for the preservation of life and protection from enemies.

The power and goodness of God. Praise be to God in Zion. The manifestation of the power of God. Manifestation of God's goodness.

Psalms by various authors

A song of thanksgiving for the deliverance of the chosen people, for personal help.

Prayer for all nations.

Psalms of David

The Lord is the God of the whole earth. God at the time of the exodus. God in the desert. God in the conquest of Canaan. God is in Zion. God of salvation. God is in the sanctuary. Procession in the Temple. Turning peoples to God. Praise be to the God of all the earth.

The Messianic Psalm is a prayer for deliverance. The Psalmist's Prayer and Trials. A deep prayer for deliverance. Retribution to those at war. Closing doxology and assurance.

Appeal for deliverance from persecutors.

Trust in the Lord and glorify Him.

Psalm of Solomon

Messianic, written by King Solomon upon his accession to the throne after the Gibeon prayer. The King is the Messiah in His glory. Prayer for truth. Kingdom in childbirth. Dominion to the ends of the earth. Mercy. His name will be blessed forever. Blessing.

Psalms of Asaph

written by the psalmist Asaph, a contemporary of David. Temporary prosperity of the wicked. The temptation to envy the wicked. The secret of the prosperity of the wicked. The lament of the righteous. Resolving the mystery. Confidence in God's deliverance.

Compiled after the attack and destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, when the whole earth was devastated, the temple was burned, and the Chaldeans reigned everywhere. Lamentation about the devastated land. Prayer for help against the enemy. Confidence in the omnipotence of God. Closing prayer.

Prophecy of Divine Judgment. God's righteous judgment. Calling on the name of God. Confidence in a court of truth. God is the Judge. Praise be to the God of Jacob.

Describes Divine judgment. Victory of God.

Prayer of Asaph calling on God on the day of trouble. Consolation in remembering the great deeds of God. Prayer for help. Great works of God in ancient times.

Messianic; written by Asaph. The faithfulness of God and the disobedience of the people. A call for listening and attention. Sins of Israel. Disobedience of the sons of Ephraim. Murmuring in the desert. Israel's obstinacy. Forgetting God's mercies in the past. Idolatry of Israel in Canaan. The election of Judah and David.

Lament for the destruction of Jerusalem. Description of the disaster. Crying out for God's help. The prophet sings this psalm over those destroyed by bitter death during the time of Antioch, and in his prayer asks God to answer the massacre of the people and turn the disasters on those who inflicted them on the Israelites.

Israel's prayer for deliverance from disasters. Calling for help. Israel's confusion. Israel is a devastated vineyard. Repeated cry for help.

Calls the nations to faith in the Lord, teaching them not to depart from Him, and pointing out the rejection of the people of Israel for their wickedness. The goodness of God and the obstinacy of Israel. Praise and song to God. God's goodness to Israel. God's warning to an unfaithful people.

God's judgment is for unjust judges. Here the reasons why God rejected the Israelites are stated more clearly than in the previous psalm.

Prayer to God for the shame of enemies. Prayer for judgment against the enemies of Israel. A curse on enemy hordes.

Psalms of the sons of Korah

Longing for the Temple. Aspiration to the courts of the Lord. Bliss in the house of the Lord. The bliss of the one who goes to Zion. Prayer and hope.

Written after returning from Babylonian captivity. Prayer for mercy towards Israel. The mercies of the Lord are in the past. Prayer for restoration. The love and faithfulness of the Lord.

David's Prayer

Prayer for deliverance on the day of trouble. Prayer for help. Worship of the Lord. Petition and thanksgiving. Confidence in God's mercy.

Psalms of the sons of Korah

Glory to the Holy City of God.

Teachings of Heman Ezrahite. Prayer for deliverance from death. The Psalmist's Prayer. The psalmist's troubles. The psalmist's bewilderment.

Teachings of Etham Ezrahite. God's covenant with David and the tribulations of Israel. Covenant with David. Praise be to the faithful and almighty God. Promises to David and his seed. Prayer for the renewal of the Covenant. Punishment of the Lord. Prayer for renewal.

Moses' Prayer

is a prayer of Moses, written by him at the end of a forty-year wandering in the desert and in view of the promised land, into which only a new generation of people born in the desert could now enter, and of those who left Egypt only those who were not 20 years old when leaving. The content of the psalm is imbued with a feeling of gratitude to God for giving the Jews a blessed and fertile land, sorrow for a person whose behavior provokes the wrath of God, and a prayer to Him for the condescension and intercession of a person.

Psalms by various authors

used as a prayer in a dangerous situation. The safety of the one who trusts in the Lord. The promise of safety. Testimony of the psalmist. Testimony of the Lord.

Represents the prayer of thanksgiving of the righteous. Praise be to the goodness of the Lord. Thanksgiving. The destruction of the wicked. The joy of the righteous.

Greatness of the Lord.

Appeal to the God of Vengeance. A cry for vengeance on the wicked. The Lord will not reject his people. The psalmist calls on the Lord.

Praise be to God, the Creator and Savior. Song of praise. Important warning.

Worship of the Lord. Call to praise. Let all the earth praise the Lord. The Lord is a righteous judge.

The power and sovereignty of the Lord. Kingdom of the Lord. Exalting the Lord. Deliverance of the righteous.

Song to God, the righteous Judge of the entire universe. Song of salvation. Let all people praise the Lord. Let all nature praise the Lord.

Praise be to the all-holy God. Call to repentance. Reasons for glorifying the Lord.

Praiseworthy. Let all people praise God.

Written by King David. The king's prayer for purity. David's desire for personal integrity. David's desire for the integrity of others. In this psalm, David describes one who has achieved perfection, living according to God.

Penitential. The prayer of a sufferer when he becomes discouraged and pours out his sorrow before the Lord. A cry for mercy and for Zion. The sufferings of the psalmist. The Eternal God is the refuge of Zion. Confidence of deliverance.

A psalm of praise and thanksgiving by David, which is a hymn to God as the patron of believers. Praise be to God's mercy. The psalmist's admonition to himself. God's mercy. Eternal love of God. Let all creation bless the Lord.

Glorification of God, Creator and Provider of the universe. The beginning of creation. Fundamentals of the earth. Springs in the valleys. Fertility of the earth. Moon and sun. Sea creatures. God is the Provider of life. Praise be to almighty God.

Glorifying and praising the Lord. Praise be to God who keeps the Covenant: A Call to Thanksgiving. Covenant with Abraham. God sends Joseph to Egypt. Israel in Egypt. Moses and the Plagues of Egypt. Exodus and wanderings in the desert. Entry into the Promised Land.

It is a continuation of the historical review begun in the previous psalm. Praise to God's mercy towards sinful people: Prayer for mercy. Israel's sin at the Red Sea. The sins of Israel in the desert. The sin of Dathan and Aviron. Golden calf at Horeb. Contempt for the land of Canaan. Vaalfegor. Israel's sin at the waters of Meribah. Idolatry of Israel in Canaan. Punishment of Israel. God's mercy. Closing prayer and doxology.

It is a song of thanksgiving to the Lord for bringing the Jews out of dispersion among all nations. Thanks be to God the Deliverer: A call to praise. Getting rid of the desert. Getting rid of the dungeon. Getting rid of the disease. Getting rid of the sea. The Lord blesses the earth. The unwavering mercy of the Lord.

Psalms of David

Consists of repetitions of the contents of Psalms 56 and 59, belonging to David. A song of trust in God. Thanks be to the Lord. Trust in the promises of God. Calling for help.

Prayer to curse enemies. Calling for help. Against deceitful and treacherous enemies. Continuation of the cry for help The entire psalm represents David's depiction of the gravity of his situation, as an unjustly and cruelly persecuted righteous man, and a prayer to God both for retribution on Doik, for his betrayal and premeditated cruelty towards innocent sufferers, and for his salvation.

Prophetic, depicting the future worldwide dominion of the Son of God. The Lordship of the Messiah: The Messiah is the King. Messiah - Priest. The Messiah is the winner.

Psalms by various authors

Praise to the Lord. A call to praise. Reason for praise. Spirit of Praise.

Bliss and reward for the faithful.

Praise be to the God of the humble.

About the superiority of the Lord over the idols of the pagans. In remembrance of God's deliverance of Israel. The greatness and glory of the true God. Glory to God alone. The insignificance of idols. Let Israel trust in the Lord. The Lord will bless Israel.

Thank God for deliverance.

The decision to pay vows to the Lord for His benefits.

Let the whole universe praise the Lord. This psalm of praise is the shortest of all the psalms, consisting of only two verses.

Thanks be to the Lord. Grace of the Lord. The Lord answers prayer. The Lord's deliverance. Right Hand of the Lord. Wisdom of the Lord. Doxology.

Consists of 176 verses; this is the largest psalm and the largest chapter in the Bible. The Law of the Lord: Bliss of those who keep His Law. Holiness is the fruit of keeping the Law of the Lord. Eyes to see the miracles of the Lord. Prayer for understanding the ways of the Lord. Faithfulness based on the promises of God. Salvation according to the word of the Lord. The Word of the Lord is a source of hope and comfort. My destiny is to keep Your words. Learning the words of the Lord through suffering. The Law of the Lord is the basis for the fellowship of the faithful. Thirst for peace and consolation. The Immutability of the Law of the Lord. Love for God's law. The word of the Lord is my covering and my shield. The Psalmist kept the Law of the Lord. Prayer to keep the Law of the Lord. The Lord and His Law are righteous. A cry for salvation. Keeping the Law of the Lord in Trouble. Prayer for deliverance from persecution. Closing prayer. In this psalm, the prophet describes the life of the saints, their exploits, sorrows, labors, also the uprisings of demons, thousands of inspired thoughts, snares and other means of entrapment, and at the same time what the saints use to win: the Law, the words of God, patience, help from above, and finally, what follows the work, rewards, crowns, rewards.

Prayer for Deliverance: From Lying Lips. From those who hate the world.

The Lord is my keeper.

Dedicated to Jerusalem, which under King David became the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel and the new religious center of the people. About the world of Jerusalem: The House of the Lord. Prayer for peace and prosperity.

Song of Trust in God: Eyes fixed on the Lord. Prayer for mercy. The content of the psalm is an image of the intense, prayerful anticipation that the Jews were filled with before the end of captivity and before returning to their homeland.

Song of Ascension. David. Thanks to God for victory over enemies. penitential. Appeal to God's mercy: Prayer for help. Patience and hope. An exhortation to trust in the Lord.

Song of the Ascension of David. Hope in the Lord. This psalm teaches not to be arrogant in trusting in one’s own perfection, but to be humble.

Contains a prayer for David. David and the Ark of the Covenant: David's Vow. Fulfillment of David's vow. The Lord's promise to David and Zion.

Song of the Ascension of David. The bliss of brotherly fellowship.

An exhortation to stay awake at night. This psalm completes the group of psalms with the inscription “song of ascent.” In Orthodoxy, psalms 119 - 133 constitute the 18th kathisma.

Praise the Lord: An Exhortation to Doxology. Greatness of the Lord. Deliverances of the Lord. The Lord's Judgment. Idolatry of pagan peoples. Final exhortation to the doxology.

Glory to the Lord for His eternal mercy: An exhortation to praise. Praise be to God the Creator. Praise be to God, the Deliverer of Israel. Praise be to God for His unceasing love. Final thanksgiving.

Song by the Rivers of Babylon: The Cry of the Captives. Memories of Zion. A cry for vengeance.

Psalms of David

The Lord is a faithful God: Recognition of God's faithfulness by David. All the kings of the earth will glorify the Lord. David's trust in God's faithfulness. This psalm contains a prophecy about the calling of all nations, for which David gives thanks; because he was not the only one of the kings to be vouchsafed the Divine Theophany, but many pagan kings will also be vouchsafed the same grace, which will be upon the coming of the Lord alone.

Prayer of a believing soul: Omniscient God. Omnipresent God. God the Creator. Closing prayer. In this psalm, David describes how God provides not only for the whole universe, but also for every part of it, so that our movements and thoughts are not left without His Providence.

Prayer for help against enemies. About deliverance from the wicked. Crying out to be heard. Prayer for curse. Trust in the Lord.

Prayer of the faithful in times of trouble: Invocation to the Lord. Prayer for an immaculate heart. The end of the wicked. The eyes of the faithful are towards the Lord.

Prayer for help in a trial: Calling on the Lord. Difficulty and danger. Prayer for deliverance.

Penitential. Prayer of the faithful in distress: Dejection and repentance. Prayer for deliverance.

Written after David's victory over Goliath. Warrior's Psalm: Praise be to Almighty God. Prayer for help and deliverance. Prayer for the welfare of God's people.

Praiseful, glorifying God. The Goodness of the Lord: The Greatness of the Lord. Grace of the Lord. The power of the Lord.

Psalms by various authors

An Exhortation to Trust in God: The Vanity of Hope in Men. The wisdom of trusting in God.

Praise be to the Lord for the restoration of Jerusalem: the Lord Almighty. Lord Provider.

An exhortation to Israel to praise the Lord.

Let the whole universe praise the Lord: Let the heavens praise the Lord. Let the earth praise the Lord.

The Lord's Love for Israel: An Exhortation to Sing a New Song. Judgment of nations.

A song of praise to God. Let all living things praise the Lord.

Non-canonical, found only in the Orthodox Bible; tells about the youth of the shepherd David, his anointing to the kingdom by the prophet Samuel and the single combat between David and Goliath.

Psalm of David. Not inscribed among the Jews, 1

1 Blessed is the man who did not follow the counsel of the wicked, and did not enter into the path of sinners, and did not sit in the congregation of the destroyers;

2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and he will learn His law day and night.

3 And he will be like a tree planted by springs of water, which brings forth its fruit in its season; and his leaves will not fall, and he will prosper in everything that he does.

4 It will not be so with the wicked, not so! But they are like dust swept away by the wind from the face of the earth.

5 Therefore the wicked will not rise for judgment, nor sinners for the council of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm of David, 2

1 Why were the peoples and nations indignant, thinking vain things?

2 The kings of the earth rose up, and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against His Anointed. They say:

3 “Let us break the bonds They have imposed and throw off Their yoke!”

4 But He who dwells in heaven will laugh at them; the Lord will put them to shame;

5 Then He will speak His will to them in anger and throw them into confusion with His wrath.

6 And I have been made king over Zion, His holy mountain,

7 Proclaim the commandment of the Lord. The Lord said to me: “You are My son, you are now born of Me.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and for your possession the ends of the earth.

9 You will rule them with a rod of iron, like a potter’s vessels; you will break them in pieces!”

10 And now, kings, understand, learn, judges of the earth!

11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling!

12 Receive instruction, so that the Lord will not be angry and you will not perish, leaving the path of the righteous, for His wrath will soon kindle! Blessed are all who trust in Him!

Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son, 3

2 Lord, why have my persecutors multiplied so much? Many are rebelling against me;

3 Many say to my soul: “He has no salvation in his God!”

4 But You, O Lord, are my Advocate, my glory, and You lift up my head.

5 I called to my Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain.

6 I fell asleep and slept, but I arose, for the Lord is my Protector.

7 I will not be afraid of the thousands of people who attack me from everywhere.

8 Arise, O Lord, save me, my God! For You have struck down all those who are at enmity with me unrighteously, You have crushed the teeth of sinners.

9 You, O Lord, give salvation, and your blessing is upon your people.

At the end, song, psalm of David, 4

2 When I called, God heard me, and God, who knows my righteousness, gave me room in the straits of affliction. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer!

3 Sons of men, how long will you be hard-hearted? Why do you love vanity and why do you seek lies?

4 Know this: the Lord has made His righteous one wondrous. The Lord will hear me when I call on Him.

5 When you are angry, do not sin; what you said during the day in your heart, on your bed, regret!

6 Sacrifice by works of righteousness and trust in the Lord! Many people say:

7 “Who will show us good?” The radiance of Your face has been imprinted on us, O Lord.

8 You have given joy to my heart; And they were made rich by the fruit of the wheat, and by their wine and oil.

9 I will sleep and rest in peace, for You, O Lord, have instilled in me only one hope.

About the inheritor, Psalm of David, 5

2 Hear my words, O Lord, accept my call!

3 Heed my prayer, my King and my God; I will pray to you, Lord!

5 For You, O God, do not like iniquity; the wicked man will not dwell with You,

6 And the wicked shall not stand in Thy sight; You have hated all the workers of iniquity,

7 You will destroy all who speak lies; The Lord abhors a wicked man who sheds blood.

8 And I, according to Your great mercy, will enter Your house, I will worship Your holy temple in the fear of You.

9 Lord, guide me with Your righteousness; in the face of my enemies, direct the path of my life to You!

10 For there is no truth in their mouth, their heart is vain, their throat is an open tomb, they deceive with their tongue. Judge them, O God!

11 Let them fall away from their plans! For their great wickedness, cast them down, for they have angered You, O Lord!

12 And let all who trust in You rejoice! They will rejoice forever, and You will dwell in them; and those who love Your name will boast in You.

13 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; With favor, like a weapon, You protected us.

Finally, the song of the eighth day, Psalm of David, 6

2 Lord, do not reprove me in Your wrath and do not punish me in Your anger!

3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are shaken,

4 And my soul is in great confusion... Oh, Lord, how long?...

5 Turn, O Lord, deliver my soul, save me according to Your mercy!

6 For none of the dead remember You, and in hell who will confess Your greatness?

7 I am faint with my groanings, I wash my bed with tears every night, I water my bed with my tears.

8 My eyes were dimmed with grief, I became weak among my enemies.

9 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, for the Lord has heard my cry!

10 The Lord heard my prayer, the Lord accepted my prayer.

11 May my enemies be ashamed and dismayed, may they turn back and be put to shame quickly!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen

A psalm of David, sung by him to the Lord after the words of Hushai the son of Jemeniah, 7

2 Lord my God, I trust in You, save me from my persecutors, deliver me!

3 Let not the enemy, like a lion, snatch away my soul when there is no deliverer and intercessor!

4 Lord my God, if I have done evil, if I have defiled my hands with unrighteousness,

5 If I have taken revenge on him who has done evil to me, may I be defeated by my enemies!

6 May the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake me, and trample my life into the ground, and reduce my glory to dust!

7 Arise, O Lord, in Thy wrath, rise above the borders of Thy enemies; Be exalted, O Lord my God, that what You have commanded may be accomplished!

8 And a multitude of people will surround You, and be magnified above them!

9 The Lord judges the nations. Judge me, Lord, according to my righteousness and my kindness!

10 Let the wickedness of sinners cease! Instruct the righteous, O God, You who search hearts and souls with righteousness!

11 God, who saves all who keep righteousness in their hearts, will help me!

12 God is a righteous Judge, and mighty, and slow to anger; He does not show His wrath every day.

13 If you do not turn to Him, He will sharpen His weapon; He has strained His bow and keeps it ready.

14 And He put the instruments of death into the bowstring, He made His arrows fiery.

15 Behold, a sinner fell ill with unrighteousness, conceived malice and gave birth to iniquity.

16 He dug a ditch and deepened it, but he himself fell into the hole he had dug.

17 His anger will turn on his head, and his iniquity will fall on his crown.

18 I will glorify the Lord for His righteous judgment and sing the name of the Lord Most High!

At the end, about the winepress, Psalm of David, 8

2 O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Your name in all the earth! For Your greatness has risen above the heavens!

3 Through the lips of babes and sucklings, praise is made to You in the face of Your enemies, in order to crush the enemy and the avenger.

4 Behold, I look at the heavens, the work of Your hands, at the moon and stars that You created!

5 Who is the man that you remember him? Or son of man, why do you visit him?

6 You have made him a little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor;

7 And He made him over the works of Your hands; You put all things in subjection under His feet:

8 Sheep, and oxen, and every beast of the field,

9 Birds of the air and fish of the sea, passing through the paths of the sea.

10 O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Your name in all the earth!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.

The Psalter rightfully occupies its own special niche, at least in Orthodoxy. After all, this book is fully presented in the liturgical charter. This article addresses the issue of reading the Psalter at home, as well as a number of other important issues on this topic.

Sample Prayer

The special significance of the Psalter lies in the diversity of human feelings, spiritual aspirations, and praises of the Creator. One of the theologians once said that there is no feeling in a person that would not be reflected in the psalms. Reading this holy book is a beneficial activity for a Christian, as it gives him many examples of true spirituality. In the texts of the psalms one can find a huge number of examples of repentant prayer.

Psalter in Orthodox worship and traditions

This book is a collection of several hundred psalms - a kind of spiritual hymns, a significant number of which were written by the Old Testament king David.

These texts were used in church services even before the birth of Christ. The rules for reading psalms during Orthodox services, namely the calendar plan for their singing, are stipulated in a special book called “Typikon”.

In addition to church reading, there is also a long-standing Orthodox tradition of reading the Psalter outside church walls, with family or close friends. This kind of reading is called cell reading. How to read the Psalter correctly at home? This question has been considered more than once by various Orthodox theologians, and saints have repeatedly mentioned reading the holy book in their written works. There is a strong opinion that before you begin such reading, you need to get the blessing of a confessor or simply a priest who has been confessing for a long time to the person who wants to start reading.

Psalter in Russian

In worship, only the Church Slavonic version of this sacred text is used. Despite this, there are translations into modern Russian. To the question: “Is it possible to read the Psalter in Russian?” - priests usually answer something like this: “During a church service, such reading is unacceptable, since, according to Orthodox tradition, church services should be conducted only in Church Slavonic. However, during private readings, the use of Russian-language text is not prohibited.”

There is no specific charter that would regulate how to correctly read the psalter at home. Nevertheless, over the long history of this tradition, certain stable rules have developed that are purely advisory in nature. That is, it is desirable to observe them, but some of them may not be fulfilled due to certain life circumstances.

Unwritten rules

For example, it is recommended to read the Psalter with a lit lamp. But what if a person is traveling and does not have this lighting device at hand? Then this rule can be safely ignored. Because the only rule in this godly work that must always be followed, or at least try to adhere to it, is thoughtful, attentive reading, similar to reading prayers.

Another rule states that it is necessary to try to avoid mistakes in stress when reading Church Slavonic words. It can also be interpreted in two ways. Of course, the clergyman, being a professional, must read the Psalter with minimal distortion of pronunciation norms. But for the common man, the main thing here, again, is not how you read, but whether you read at all. This means that living, sincere prayer is the main purpose of reading.

In liturgical publications, the Psalter consists of special parts called kathismas. Each of which, in turn, is divided by Glories: parts during which prayer takes place for the deceased, and prayer for the health of living people.

Before the reading of the Psalter begins and after its completion, special prayers are said, which, like troparia, are also required to be said after the completion of each kathisma.

Another important question on this topic is as follows: “How to read the Psalter correctly at home: out loud or silently?” Priest Vladimir Shlykov answers this question as follows. He says that reading this sacred text can also be done silently. However, many holy fathers recommended, if possible, to try to do this out loud. For example, St. Ignatius speaks of the benefits of saying psalms.

He writes that reading aloud accustoms a person to attentive prayer and increases understanding of the text.

Church reading of the holy book

Read for the dead and the living, the Psalter is often heard in monasteries and other churches. You can order such a church reading, thereby helping the soul of a loved one. This care can be provided to both living and dead people, about whose future fate the person ordering this reading is concerned. In addition, such prayers can be useful not only to the one for whom they are praying, but also to the one who performed this benefactor - ordered the reading. You just need to firmly remember the words of Christ: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Reading the Psalter for deceased relatives and friends

First of all, you need to remember that reading cannot always be done: during Easter week, reading stops. However, this prohibition is not strict, since the “Handbook for a Clergyman” says that if a person died on these days, then reading can be done on it.

When reading the Psalter for the deceased, it is most convenient to use the liturgical version of the holy book, where kathismas are indicated. During the Glory, during such a reading, a prayer for repose should be said.

Priests say they are often asked questions like these:

1. How to read the Psalter of Repose at home?
2. Is it possible to read the Glory in turn: for the dead and for the living?

Most often you can hear a positive answer to these questions from the priest.

How to read the Psalter about health correctly?

Accordingly, if the psalms are read for healthy people, then at Slava you need to say a prayer for health.

One more rule regarding Slava. If a person wants to learn how to correctly read the Psalter about the living at home, then he must accustom himself to stand up while reading the Slavs. While reading the rest of the text of this holy book, the reader is allowed to sit in a sitting position. Only seriously ill people can not stand up during Glory, as, indeed, during church services. This standing up during the reading of the Glories is necessary, because during it the worshipers demonstrate their love and respect that they show to the Lord God.

Quite often the following question arises: how to correctly read the Psalter for children? There are no special rules here. The Psalter is read for children in the same way as for adults.

If we are talking about teaching children to read the Psalter, then it is important to teach children to understand this sacred book from early childhood, explaining to them the meaning of individual incomprehensible fragments. The mindless reading of sacred texts by children must be prevented. This also applies to adults. Therefore, many priests and theologians recommend taking on the reading of feasible parts of the Psalter. You should not continue reading when your attention has already wandered. Such reading can only “anger” God. That is, reading in such a manner leads to the fact that a person begins to treat this tradition in a pagan way, attaching importance not to prayer, but only to the fact of performing the ritual.

As for the various practices of home reading of the Psalter, there are a huge variety of them. You can read either alone with yourself or together with other people. In Orthodox literature, there are also reading techniques in which the kathismas of the Psalter are divided among a group of people into an equal or unequal number of texts.

Finally

Despite the fact that many holy fathers recommend reading the Psalter thoughtfully, some of them also say that one should not be embarrassed if the meaning of what is being read is not always accessible to the reader. There is also an opinion that even if the reader does not understand the meaning, then his very intention to glorify the Lord by reading the psalms is good. Therefore, you should not be discouraged if you are not always able to read the sacred text flawlessly and with deep understanding.

Prophet David left behind a great legacy - psalms. In the book Psalter, which was formed gradually and replenished with sacred hymns throughout almost the entire Old Testament history, seventy-three psalms are attributed to David, according to the inscriptions in the Hebrew text. However, based on clear New Testament evidence, as well as the content of the psalms, researchers believe that more than half of the Psalter belongs to the great king. Among the Jews, the collection of psalms was called “Sefer Tehilim” (Book of Praises). There was another name - “Sefer Tefillot” (Book of Prayers). The now generally accepted name - Psalter - comes from a Greek stringed musical instrument, the playing of which accompanied the performance of most psalms among the ancient Jews. The inspired book of Psalms contains, as it were, an abbreviated expression of the entire Holy Scripture in the form of prayerful and reverent chants. According to St. Ambrose of Milan, “the law commands, history teaches, prophecies foretell the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, moral teaching edifies and convinces, and book of psalms combines all this and is a kind of complete treasury of human salvation.” St. Athanasius the Great also writes about the spiritual wealth of the Psalter: “In it, as in paradise, is planted everything that is contained in parts in other sacred books, and everyone who reads it can find in it everything that is necessary and useful for him. It clearly and in detail depicts all human life, all states of spirit, all movements of the mind, and there is nothing in a person that it does not contain. Do you want to repent and confess, have you been overcome by sorrow and temptation, are you being persecuted, are you overcome by despondency and anxiety, or are you enduring something similar? Do you strive for virtue and success in it and see that the enemy is hindering you? Do you want to praise and give thanks? , praise the Lord? In the Divine Psalms you will find instruction for all this” (“Epistle to Marcellus”).

Saint Basil the Great calls the psalms spiritual incense: “A psalm is the silence of souls, the dispenser of peace; he calms rebellious and agitated thoughts; it softens the irritability of the soul and disciplines intemperance. The psalm is a mediator of friendship, unity between distant people, reconciliation of those at war. For who can still consider as an enemy the one with whom he raised one voice to God? Therefore, psalmody gives us one of the greatest benefits - love - by inventing corporate singing instead of a knot to unity and bringing people into one consonant face. Psalm is a refuge from demons, entry under the protection of Angels, weapons in night insurance, repose from daytime labors, safety for babies, decoration in a blooming age, comfort for the elderly, the most decent decoration for wives. The psalm inhabits the deserts, makes the marketplaces healthy. For newcomers this is the beginning of learning, for those who are successful - an increase in knowledge, for those who are perfect - confirmation; this is the voice of the Church" (Conversation on the first part of the 1st Psalm).

These sayings of the holy fathers explain why the Psalter from the first days life of Christ's Church occupies a special place in it. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, by His example, sanctified the liturgical use of the Psalter, concluding the last supper with the disciples by singing the psalms: And having sung, they went to the Mount of Olives(Mt 26:30).

The most important feature of the celebration of the Old Testament Easter was the singing: “Praise God!” It consisted of psalms of praise from 112 to 117. At the end they sang Psalm 135.

Following their Divine Teacher, the holy apostles also glorified God by singing psalms. This is what they commanded us: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom; teach and admonish one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord(Col 3:16). Thanks to the New Testament revelation, the deep prophetic meaning of the psalms was revealed in its entirety. Therefore, the psalms occupy a special place in the prayer and liturgical life of the Church.