Psalms - Prayerbook

At a Glance
The Big Picture
What Do You Need Today?
By Theme
The Five Books
Reading Progress

At a Glance


Authors	David (73), Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), others
Audience	Israel’s worshiping community
Theme	Honest conversation with God in every season
Key Phrase	”O Lord” / “How long?” / “Praise the Lord”
Psalms	150 (5 books mirroring Torah)
Longest	Psalm 119 (176 verses)
Shortest	Psalm 117 (2 verses)

The Big Picture

PSALMS' QUESTION
    │
    └─► "How do I talk to God when...?"
        │
        ├─ I'm HURTING        → Lament (42 psalms)
        ├─ I'm GRATEFUL       → Thanksgiving (15 psalms)
        ├─ I'm WORSHIPING     → Praise (25 psalms)
        ├─ I'm TRUSTING       → Confidence (12 psalms)
        ├─ I'm LEARNING       → Wisdom (15 psalms)
        ├─ I'm SEEKING CHRIST → Royal/Messianic (10 psalms)
        ├─ I'm JOURNEYING     → Pilgrimage (15 psalms)
        ├─ I want JUSTICE     → Imprecatory (10 psalms)
        └─ I want to EXALT    → Hallel (6 psalms)

What Do You Need Today?

START: How are you feeling?
  │
  ├─ Struggling / Hurting
  │   ├─ Crying out → Lament
  │   ├─ Confessing → 32, 51, 130
  │   └─ Feeling alone → 22, 42, 88
  │
  ├─ Grateful / Delivered
  │   └─ → Thanksgiving
  │
  ├─ Wanting to Worship
  │   ├─ Alone → 63, 84, 139
  │   └─ With others → 95, 100, 150
  │
  ├─ Needing Strength
  │   └─ → Trust (23, 46, 91, 121)
  │
  ├─ Seeking Wisdom
  │   └─ → Wisdom (1, 37, 73, 119)
  │
  └─ Angry at Injustice
      └─ → Imprecatory (honest anger before God)

Table of Contents by Theme

1. Lament — Crying Out

Psalms of distress, complaint, and petition. The largest category because life is hard.

Ps	Title	One-Line
3	Morning Cry	Surrounded by enemies, God sustains
4	Evening Rest	Peace in the midst of trouble
5	Morning Prayer	Lead me in righteousness
6	Tears	Groaning, but God hears
7	Vindication	Judge me according to my integrity
10	Why So Far	Where is God when the wicked prosper?
13	How Long	Four “how longs” - but I will sing
17	Shelter	Hide me in the shadow of your wings
22	Forsaken	”My God, why?” - yet praise will come
25	Teach Me	Remember your mercy, forget my sins
26	Integrity	Vindicate me, I walk in faithfulness
27	Seek His Face	One thing I ask - dwell in His house
28	Hear Me	Don’t drag me away with the wicked
31	Into Your Hands	You are my refuge and fortress
38	Sin’s Weight	Crushed by guilt, waiting for God
39	Fleeting Life	Show me my end, my days numbered
41	Betrayal	Even my close friend turned against me
42	Thirsting	As the deer pants, my soul pants for God
43	Send Light	Why so downcast? Hope in God
44	National Lament	We’re defeated, but we haven’t forgotten you
51	Broken Spirit	Create in me a clean heart
54	Save Me	Strangers attack, but God is my help
55	Betrayed Friend	My companion stretched out his hand
56	Tears Collected	You keep track of my wanderings
57	Cave	In the shadow of your wings until disaster passes
60	Defeat	You rejected us, restore us
61	Lead Me	Lead me to the rock higher than I
64	Hidden Attack	Protect me from conspiracy
69	Sinking	Save me from the floodwaters
70	Urgent Cry	Come quickly, Lord
71	Old Age	Don’t cast me off when strength fails
74	Ruins	Why have you rejected us forever?
77	Sleepless	I remembered God and groaned
79	Jerusalem Destroyed	They defiled your temple
80	Restore Us	Shine your face, we’ll be saved
83	Enemies Conspire	Don’t be silent, O God
86	Daily Prayer	Teach me your way
88	Darkest Psalm	No resolution, only darkness
102	Afflicted	My days vanish like smoke
130	Depths	Out of the depths I cry to you
141	Evening Prayer	Set a guard over my mouth
142	Prison	No one cares for my soul
143	Crushed	Teach me to do your will

2. Praise — Hymns of Worship

Celebrating God’s character, power, and works.

Ps	Title	One-Line
8	Majesty	What is man that you care for him?
19	Two Books	Heavens declare, law revives
29	Thunderstorm	The voice of the Lord is powerful
33	New Song	By the word of the Lord the heavens were made
46	Refuge	Be still and know I am God
47	Clap Your Hands	God is King over all the earth
48	Zion	Beautiful in elevation, joy of earth
65	Harvest	You crown the year with bounty
66	Come See	What awesome works God has done
67	Blessing	Let the peoples praise you
68	Procession	God arises, enemies scatter
76	Awesome	In Judah God is known
84	Lovely Dwelling	Better one day in your courts
87	Born in Zion	This one and that one were born there
93	The Lord Reigns	Mightier than the waves of the sea
95	Come Worship	Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
96	Sing New Song	Declare his glory among nations
97	Fire Goes Before	Clouds and thick darkness surround him
98	Joyful Noise	All the earth breaks forth in song
99	Holy	He is holy, exalt him
100	Enter Gates	We are his people, sheep of his pasture
104	Creation	You wrap yourself in light
111	Great Works	The works of the Lord are great
113	From Dust	He raises the poor from the ash heap
117	Shortest Psalm	Praise him all nations (2 verses)
135	His Name	Praise the name of the Lord
136	Steadfast Love	His love endures forever (26x refrain)

3. Thanksgiving — Gratitude for Deliverance

Looking back at what God has done.

Ps	Title	One-Line
9	Enemies Fall	I will tell of your wonders
18	Victory Song	He rescued me from my powerful enemy
21	King’s Joy	The king rejoices in your strength
30	Mourning to Dancing	You turned my wailing into dancing
32	Forgiven	Blessed is the one whose sin is covered
34	Taste and See	I sought the Lord, he answered me
40	New Song	He lifted me from the pit
75	God Judges	We give thanks, your Name is near
92	Good to Praise	Flourishing like a palm tree
103	Bless the Lord	Who forgives all your iniquities
107	Steadfast Love	Give thanks, his love endures
114	Exodus	The sea looked and fled
116	Cup of Salvation	I love the Lord because he heard
118	Gate of Righteousness	The stone the builders rejected
138	Wholehearted	You answered me, you made me bold

4. Trust — Confidence in God

Unwavering confidence despite circumstances.

Ps	Title	One-Line
11	Refuge	In the Lord I take refuge
16	My Portion	You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good
23	Shepherd	The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing
62	Rock Alone	My soul waits in silence for God alone
63	Thirst	My soul thirsts in a dry land
91	Shadow	He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
115	Not to Us	To your name give glory
121	Hills	My help comes from the Lord
125	Unmoved	Those who trust are like Mount Zion
131	Quieted Soul	Like a weaned child with its mother
139	Known	You have searched me and known me
144	My Rock	Blessed be my Rock who trains my hands

5. Royal & Messianic — The Coming King

Concerning Israel’s king, prophetically pointing to Christ.

Ps	Title	One-Line
2	Anointed	Why do nations rage? Kiss the Son
20	King’s Battle	May the Lord answer in distress
24	King of Glory	Lift up your heads, ancient doors
45	Royal Wedding	Your throne, O God, is forever
72	Solomon’s Prayer	May he reign from sea to sea
89	Covenant	I will sing of your steadfast love forever
101	Royal Ethic	I will walk with blameless heart
110	Priest-King	Sit at my right hand (most quoted in NT)
132	David’s Oath	I will not enter my house until…
145	Greatness	I will extol you, my God and King

6. Wisdom & Torah — Learning to Live

Instruction on righteous living and meditation on God’s law.

Ps	Title	One-Line
1	Two Paths	Blessed is the one who delights in the law
14	The Fool	The fool says “no God”
15	Who May Dwell	He who walks blamelessly
36	Wickedness vs Love	In your light we see light
37	Don’t Fret	Trust in the Lord and do good
49	Wealth’s Limit	No one can redeem another’s life
50	True Sacrifice	I don’t need your bulls
53	Fool Repeated	God looks down from heaven
73	Almost Slipped	Until I entered the sanctuary
78	History Lesson	Tell the next generation
81	If Only	I am the Lord who brought you up
82	Divine Council	God stands in the divine assembly
90	Teach to Number	Teach us to number our days
94	God of Vengeance	Does he who made the ear not hear?
105	Remember His Works	He remembered his covenant
106	Confess History	We have sinned like our fathers
112	Blessed Man	Wealth and riches in his house
119	Torah Marathon	176 verses celebrating God’s word

7. Pilgrimage — Songs of Ascent

Sung traveling up to Jerusalem for festivals (Psalms 120-134).

Ps	Title	One-Line
120	Distant Land	I dwell among those who hate peace
121	Hills	My help comes from the Lord
122	Jerusalem	Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
123	Eyes Upward	Our eyes look to the Lord
124	Snare Broken	Blessed be the Lord who did not give us up
125	Unmoved	Those who trust are like Mount Zion
126	Restored	Those who sow in tears reap with joy
127	Unless	Unless the Lord builds the house
128	Blessed Home	Your wife like a fruitful vine
129	Afflicted Youth	Many times they afflicted me
130	Depths	Out of the depths I cry to you
131	Quieted	I have calmed and quieted my soul
132	David’s Oath	For the sake of David your servant
133	Unity	How good when brothers dwell together
134	Night Watch	Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

8. Imprecatory — Prayers for Justice

Honest anger brought to God, not acted on by self.

Ps	Title	One-Line
12	Lying Lips	The Lord will cut off flattering lips
35	Contend	Shame those who seek my harm
52	Deceitful Tongue	God will break you down forever
58	Unjust Judges	Break their teeth, O God
59	Enemies Circle	Consume them in wrath
69	Zeal	Let their eyes be darkened
109	Accused	May his days be few
129	Afflicted	May they be put to shame
137	Babylon	By the rivers we wept
140	Violence	Let burning coals fall on them

Final: Hallel — The Grand Finale

The closing crescendo. Five consecutive “Hallelujah” psalms.

Ps	Title	One-Line
146	Don’t Trust Princes	Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob
147	He Heals	He heals the brokenhearted
148	All Creation	Praise him sun and moon
149	New Song	Sing to the Lord a new song
150	Everything Praise	Let everything that breathes praise the Lord

The Five Books

PSALMS MIRROR THE TORAH
    │
    ├─ Book I   (1-41)    ↔ Genesis     → Personal relationship with God
    ├─ Book II  (42-72)   ↔ Exodus      → National deliverance
    ├─ Book III (73-89)   ↔ Leviticus   → Sanctuary and worship
    ├─ Book IV  (90-106)  ↔ Numbers     → Wilderness and God's reign
    └─ Book V   (107-150) ↔ Deuteronomy → Word of God and praise

Each book ends with a doxology. Book V ends with five consecutive Hallelujah psalms (146-150).

Reading Progress

Psalms Completed: 0/150
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Why This Book

“The Psalms are a little Bible… a summary of the Old Testament arranged for prayer.” — Martin Luther

The Psalms give you words when you have none. They teach you how to be honest with God—in grief, in joy, in anger, in awe.

Matthew shows you the King. Proverbs teaches you to walk wisely. Psalms teaches you to pray.

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