NAME:

From the Greek word psalmos meaning performance on

a stringed instrument
A sacred song or poem
sealm or psealm in Old English
Tehellim meaning praise, adoration, thanksgiving in
Hebrew bible which is offered to Yahweh.
Mizmor, the Hebrew translation of psalmos which means
the melody music for God with musical
accompaniment

BOOK:
Psalms is the most popular book in the Old
testament
In Hebrew bible, it is the first of the Writings ,
third part of the canon
Contains psalms for public worship, also
called Psalter
Greek psalter counts 151 psalms
Ancient Syriac counts 155 psalms

AUTHOR:
Composed by different authors in different
places and time in honor of King David
Yahwist and Elohist are the obvious
contributors of Psalms
LANGUAGE:
Originally composed in Hebrew language

DATE:
Some psalms that were composed even
before the time of David were called
stock compositions
PLACE:
Palestine before exile and Babylonia during
exile

CONTENT/PURPOSE:
Some psalms were intended to be recited
by communal choirs as part of the
community service or in times of joy and
distress
Many were composed for liturgical
celebration intended to be sung with
accompaniment
Varies in emotion

1. Psalms of Praise
- the hymn
- Expressions of wonderment and joy in knowing that they
know love and that they are loved
- Collective: 67,124,129, 136
-.Individual: 30, 32, 34, 40:2-12, 66:13-20, 107, 116, 138
2. Psalms of Lament
- 40 individual laments including Pss 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 16,
22, etc.
- 12 collective laments including Pss 44, 60, 74, 79, 80,
115, etc.

3. Royal Psalms
- Can either be psalms of praise and thanksgiving or
psalms of lament and sorrow
- the king is the speaker or the focus of attention
(Pss 18, 101)
4. Wisdom Psalms
- Reflections on some practical problems of daily life
- Evident sample of wisdom discourse
- Wisdom psalms: 1, 14, 19:8-15, 32, 34, 37, 49, 53,
73, 111, 112, 119, 127, 128

5. Liturgical Psalms
- Considered liturgical psalms because they
are used in liturgy (Pss 15, 24, 47, 134)
6. Historical Psalms
- J. L. Mckenzie named these psalms as
historical meditations
- Recount Gods great work throughout the
history of Israel to wit (Pss 78, 105-106,
135-136)

CANONICITY:
- The book of psalms is protocanonical, being accepted
by all Canons.
- Some scholars do not include psalms among Sapiential
literature but Lawrence Boadt and others include them
because they contain wisdom
NUMBER OF PSALMS:
- Hebrew Psalter - 150 psalms
- Greek Psalter -

151 psalms

- Syriac Psalter -

155 psalms

NAME:
From the Latin proverbium for a
speaking speech
Pro means forth and verbium for word
AUTHOR AND BOOK:
Oldest biblical book of the wisdom
literature
9 collection of sayings

 Wisdom origin from:

-Israelite clan
-Wise men at the Jerusalem court
Two collection are put in literary
dependence upon Solomon
Other collections are from other wise
teachers and kings
UNIVERSALISM: Some collections are
attributed to foreign wise men

LANGUAGE:
Written originally in Hebrew
DATE:
Believed to be written after the Exile, around
late 6th century
PLACE:
most probably in Judah

RECIPIENT:
Written for Israel's youth by wise men
interested in guiding them to happiness and
success
CONTENT/PURPOSE
Collection of moral and religious teachings of
wise men in Israel, in the form of sayings and
proverbs
Reveal insights on what a wise person would
do in certain situations
BASIC MESSAGE: The fear of the Lord is the

 Intends to teach the youth how to cope with life

through:
a) Observation c) Self-control
b) Docility d) Fear of the Lord
)PERSPECTIVE: optimistic
-)Wisdom brings life
-)Folly leads to destruction