- published: 01 Nov 2012
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The Book of Psalms, Tehillim in Hebrew (תְּהִלִּים or תהילים meaning "Praises"), commonly referred to simply as Psalms or "the Psalms", is the first book of the Ketuvim ("Writings"), the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. The title is derived from the Greek translation, ψαλμοί psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music." The book is an anthology of individual psalms, with 150 in the Jewish and Western Christian tradition and more in the Eastern Christian churches. Many of the psalms are linked to the name of King David, although his authorship is not accepted by modern Bible scholars.
The Book of Psalms is divided into five sections, each closing with a doxology (i.e., a benediction) – these divisions were probably introduced by the final editors to imitate the five-fold division of the Torah:
The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose
Near restful waters he leads me to revive my dropping spirit
He guides me along the right path
He is true to his name
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear
You are there with your crook and your staff, with these you give me compfort
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes
My head you have anointed with oil, my cup is overflowing
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever and ever
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever