Psalms

1. Psalms 1 to 41

Psalm 1

TNK

attributed to:	n/a
date composed:	Second Temple?
date of events:	n/a
genres:	wisdom, torah
comments:	Deliberately composed as a preface to the Psalter?

Psalm 2

TNK

attributed to:	A king of Israel: "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD; he said to me, 'You are my son; today I have begotten you.'"
date composed:	United Kingdom of Israel?
date of events:	On the day of the anointing of a King? Future: when the King of Israel reigns over all kings.
genres:	royal, Messianic
comments:	NAB: "Anointed: in Hebrew mashiah, “anointed”; in Greek christos, whence English Messiah and Christ. In Israel kings (Jgs 9:8; 1 Sm 9:16; 16:12–13) and high priests (Lv 8:12; Nm 3:3) received the power of their office through anointing."

Psalm 3

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	war with Absalom
genres:	lament
comments:	"A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom" (2 Samuel 15:14–16).

Psalm 4

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:
genres:	individual lament emphasizing trust in God.
comments:	"A psalm of David." "In peace I will lie down and fall asleep, for you alone, LORD, make me secure" (9).

Psalm 5

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:
genres:	lament
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 6

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:
genres:	penitential lament
comments:	"A psalm of David." "For in death there is no remembrance of you. Who praises you in Sheol?" (6). NAB: "A motive for God to preserve the psalmist from death: in the shadowy world of the dead no one offers you praise. Sheol is the biblical term for the underworld where the insubstantial souls of dead human beings dwelt. It was similar to the Hades of Greek and Latin literature. In the second century B.C., biblical books begin to speak positively of life with God after death (Dn 12:1–3; Wis 3)." NAB: "The psalmist does not, as in many laments, claim to be innocent but appeals to God’s mercy (Ps 6:5)."

Psalm 7

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during war with Saul?
genres:	individual lament
comments:	"A plaintive song of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, the Benjaminite." Wikipedia: This Cush is mentioned only in this psalm and "is believed to be a follower of Saul." "God is a just judge, powerful and patient, not exercising anger every day" (12).

Psalm 8

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	David's reign
genres:	creation meditation
comments:	"A psalm of David." "What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor" (5-6).

Psalm 9

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	NAB: "Ps 9 and Ps 10 in the Hebrew text have been transmitted as separate poems but they actually form a single acrostic poem and are so transmitted in the Greek and Latin tradition. Each verse of the two Psalms begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though several letters have no corresponding stanza)."
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 10

TNK

attributed to:	Should be counted as part of Psalm 9, therefore would be attributed to David.
date composed:
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genres:	NAB fn to Psalm 9: Ps 9 and Ps 10 in the Hebrew text have been transmitted as separate poems but they actually form a single acrostic poem and are so transmitted in the Greek and Latin tradition. Each verse of the two Psalms begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though several letters have no corresponding stanza).
comments:

Psalm 11

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	song of trust
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 12

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 13

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	NAB: A typical lament, in which the psalmist feels forgotten by God (Ps 13:2-3). ... The heartfelt prayer (Ps 13:4–5) passes on a statement of trust (Ps 13:6a), intended to reinforce the prayer, and a vow to thank God when deliverance has come (Ps 13:6b).
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 14

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament; wisdom literature?
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 15

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	NAB: "A liturgical scrutiny at the entrance to the Temple court."
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 16

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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comments:	"A miktam of David."

Psalm 17

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	individual lament
comments:	"A prayer of David." "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

Psalm 18

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	at the end of the war with Saul?
genres:	A royal thanksgiving for a military victory, duplicated in 2 Sm 22.
comments:	"Of David, the servant of the LORD, who sang to the LORD the words of this song after the LORD had rescued him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul" (1 Samuel 24:11–12). I believe the opening statement, "I love you," is rare in the Scriptures. I heard this in one of my Hebrew classes, but have no other source for the claim at the moment.

Psalm 19

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	creation, torah, wisdom (?)
comments:	"A psalm of David." He has pitched in them a tent for the sun; it comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy, and like a hero joyfully runs its course" (5-6).

Psalm 20

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	for the king
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 21

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	royal, thanksgiving, confidence
comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 22

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament, confidence, praise
comments:	"A psalm of David." Applied to Jesus' suffering on the Cross (Mk 15:34, Mt 27:46): "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

Psalm 23

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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comments:	"A psalm of David."

Psalm 24

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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comments:	"A psalm of David." NAB: The Psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the Temple. The Temple commemorated the creation of the world (Ps 24:1–2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Ps 24:3–6; cf. Ps 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very Temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Ps 24:7–10).

Psalm 25

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	NAB: A lament. Each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Such acrostic Psalms are often a series of statements only loosely connected. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas (Ps 25:1–2, 16–22) with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides. A final verse beginning with the Hebrew letter pe is added to the normal 22-letter alphabet. Thus the letters aleph, lamed, and pe open the first, middle (Ps 25:11), and last lines of the Psalm. Together, they spell aleph, the first letter of the alphabet, from a Hebrew root that means “to learn.”
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 26

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	liturgical--washing before entering the Temple: "I will wash my hands* in innocence so that I may process around your altar, Lord" (6).
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 27

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comments:	"Of David." "One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD’s beauty, to visit his temple" (4). NAB: Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself. Asserting boundless hope that God will bring rescue (Ps 27:1–3), the psalmist longs for the presence of God in the Temple, protection from all enemies (Ps 27:4–6). In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3).

Psalm 28

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament, thanksgiving
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 29

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:
comments:	"A psalm of David." "Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and might" (1). Thunder: "voice of the LORD." "The LORD sis enthroned above the flood!" (10).

Psalm 30

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:	First or Second Temple period?
date of events:	164 BC: purification of the Temple by the Maccabees.
genres:	individual thanksgiving, adapted for the cleansing of the Second Temple
comments:	"A psalm. A song for the dedication of the Temple. Of David." "What gain is there from my lifeblood, from my going down to the grave? Does dust give you thanks or declare your faithfulness?" (10). "At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing" (6).

Psalm 31

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament, declaration of trust, thanksgiving
comments:	"A psalm of David." "Into your hands I commend my spirit" (6).

Psalm 32

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during David's reign
genres:	penitential lament; thanksgiving
comments:	Some associate this with David being forgiven for his sins against Uriah (2 Samuel 12:13–14). Nothing in the text confirms or denies that association.

Psalm 33

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attributed to:
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genres:	creation (heavens, waters, earth--verses 6-9)
comments:	"By the LORD’s word the heavens were made; by the breath of his mouth all their host" (6). "For he spoke, and it came to be, commanded, and it stood in place" (9). "A vain hope for safety is the horse" (17).

Psalm 34

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during war with Saul
genres:	NAB: A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order.
comments:	"When he feigned madness before Abimelech [Achish]], who drove him out and he went away" (1 Samuel 21:13).

Psalm 35

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	lament of a person betrayed by friends
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 36

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	post-exilic?
genres:	wisdom, hymn, lament
comments:	"Of David, the servant of the LORD."

Psalm 37

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	post-exilic?
genres:	acrostic, theodicy
comments:	"Of David."

Psalm 38

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
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genres:	penitential lament
comments:	"A psalm of David. For remembrance."

Psalm 39

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Psalm 40

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Psalm 41

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2. Psalms 42 to 72

Psalm 42

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Psalm 43

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Psalm 44

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Psalm 45

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Psalm 46

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Psalm 47

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Psalm 48

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Psalm 49

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Psalm 50

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Psalm 51

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during David's reign
genres:	penitential lament
comments:	"A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba" (2 Samuel 12:13–14).

Psalm 52

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during the war with Saul
genres:	NAB: A condemnation of the powerful and arrogant (Ps 52:3–6), who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment (Ps 52:7).
comments:	"A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite entered and reported to Saul, saying to him: 'David has entered the house of Ahimelech'"(1 Samuel 22:9).

Psalm 53

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Psalm 54

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during the war with Saul
genres:	lament
comments:	"A maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, 'David is hiding among us.'" (1 Samuel 23:19).

Psalm 55

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Psalm 56

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during war with Saul
genres:
comments:	"A miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him at Gath" (1 Samuel 21:10). NAB: "Are my tears not stored in your flask?" is a unique saying in the Old Testament. The context suggests that the tears are saved because they are precious; God puts a high value on each of the psalmist’s troubles.

Psalm 57

TNK

attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during the war with Saul
genres:
comments:	"A miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into a cave" (1 Samuel 24:1).

Psalm 58

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Psalm 59

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attributed to:	David
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date of events:	during Saul's reign
genres:	lament
comments:	"A miktam of David, when Saul sent people to watch his house and kill him" (1 Sm 19:11).

Psalm 60

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Psalm 61

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Psalm 62

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Psalm 63

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attributed to:	David
date composed:
date of events:	during war with Absalom
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comments:	"A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah" (2 Samuel 16:2).

Psalm 64

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Psalm 65

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Psalm 66

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Psalm 67

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Psalm 68

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Psalm 69

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Psalm 70

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Psalm 71

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Psalm 72

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3. Psalms 73 to 89

Psalm 73

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Psalm 74

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Psalm 75

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Psalm 76

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Psalm 77

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Psalm 78

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Psalm 79

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Psalm 80

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Psalm 81

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Psalm 82

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Psalm 83

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Psalm 84

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Psalm 85

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Psalm 86

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Psalm 87

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Psalm 88

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Psalm 89

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4. Psalms 90 to 106

Psalm 90

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attributed to:	Moses
date composed:	during or after Exile?
date of events:	Exodus
genres:	communal lament: Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone. (10)
comments:	"A prayer of Moses, the man of God."

Psalm 91

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Psalm 92

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Psalm 93

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Psalm 94

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Psalm 95

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Psalm 96

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Psalm 97

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Psalm 98

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Psalm 99

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Psalm 100

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Psalm 101

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Psalm 102

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date of events:	After loss of Northern Kingdom? During or after Exile? "The nations shall fear your name, LORD, all the kings of the earth, your glory, Once the LORD has rebuilt Zion" (16-17).
genres:	penitential lament
comments:	"The prayer of one afflicted and wasting away whose anguish is poured out before the LORD."

Psalm 103

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Psalm 104

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Psalm 105

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Psalm 106

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5. Psalms 107 to 150

Psalm 107

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Psalm 108

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Psalm 109

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Psalm 110

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Psalm 111

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Psalm 112

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Psalm 113

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Psalm 114

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Psalm 115

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Psalm 116

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Psalm 117

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Psalm 118

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Psalm 119

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Psalm 120

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Psalm 121

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Psalm 122

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Psalm 123

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Psalm 124

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Psalm 125

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Psalm 126

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Psalm 127

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Psalm 128

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Psalm 129

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Psalm 130

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genres:	penitential lament
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Psalm 131

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Psalm 132

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Psalm 133

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Psalm 134

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Psalm 135

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Psalm 136

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Psalm 137

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Psalm 138

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Psalm 139

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Psalm 140

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Psalm 141

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Psalm 142

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attributed to:	David
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date of events:	during war with Saul
genres:	lament
comments:	"A maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer" (1 Samuel 22:1).

Psalm 143

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genres:	penitential lament
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Psalm 144

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Psalm 145

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Psalm 146

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Psalm 147

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Psalm 148

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Psalm 149

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Psalm 150

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Genres

Penitential Psalms

These seven psalms were identified during the seventh century AD as "suitable to express repentance" (NAB, Ps 6).

• Psalm 6
• Psalm 32
• Psalm 38
• Psalm 51
• Psalm 102
• Psalm 130
• Psalm 143