The Psalter is arranged into five books, each closing with a doxology and benediction. Hebrew tradition says these five books correspond to the five books of Moses. The Psalms were probably put into their current arrangement by Ezra after Israel's return from exile in Babylon.
Book I
Psalm 2
Psalm 3
Psalm 4
Psalm 5
Psalm 6
Psalm 7
Psalm 8
Psalm 9
Psalm 10
Psalm 11
Psalm 12
Psalm 13
Psalm 14
Psalm 15
Psalm 16
Psalm 17
Psalm 18
Psalm 19
Psalm 20
Psalm 21
Psalm 22
Psalm 23
Psalm 24
Psalm 25
Psalm 26
Psalm 27
Psalm 28
Psalm 29
Psalm 30
Psalm 31
Psalm 32
Psalm 33
Psalm 34
Psalm 35
Psalm 36
Psalm 37
Psalm 38
Psalm 39
Psalm 40
Psalm 41
Book V
Psalm 108
Psalm 109
Psalm 110
Psalm 111
Psalm 112
Psalm 113
Psalm 114
Psalm 115
Psalm 116
Psalm 117
Psalm 118
Psalm 119
Psalm 120
Psalm 121
Psalm 122
Psalm 123
Psalm 124
Psalm 125
Psalm 126
Psalm 127
Psalm 128
Psalm 129
Psalm 130
Psalm 131
Psalm 132
Psalm 133
Psalm 134
Psalm 135
Psalm 136
Psalm 137
Psalm 138
Psalm 139
Psalm 140
Psalm 141
Psalm 142
Psalm 143
Psalm 144
Psalm 145
Psalm 146
Psalm 147
Psalm 148
Psalm 149
Psalm 150
Psalm Categories
The Psalms can be arranged into various types based on their subject matter, both generally and more specifically. Additionally, several psalms that share a common theme or purpose are laid out sequentially in the Psalter.
7 General Categories
Psalms that are full of joy to the Lord from beginning to end.
Psalms that express the language of suffering and are full of questions to God.
Psalms that praise God for a specific action of God on behalf of the psalmist or celebrate a deliverance that has already occurred.
Psalms that show attitudes of trust and hope while being intimately aware of God's presence.
Psalms that allow God’s people to confess their faith in God and to teach others the meaning of their history.
Psalms that contrast the way of believers and unbelievers and give practical guidance about our conduct and the fear of the Lord.
Psalms that consider the activities of the King of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises with David.
5 Special Classes
Psalms that are explicitly tied to events in David’s life.
Psalms where each verse or section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalms that contain prayers for God’s judgment upon the enemies destroying God’s people.
Psalms that particularly express sorrow for sin, and seek the forgiveness of the Lord.
Psalms directly applied to Christ by the apostles in the New Testament.
7 Special Sequences
Psalms 3-10 present the voice of a believer in the midst of trials and distress.
Psalms 52-60 were written by David during the years when Saul and his associates pursued David in order to kill him.
Psalms 65-68 were sung by faithful pilgrims after they had entered into the Temple in Jerusalem.
Psalms 93-99 celebrate the universal Lordship of Christ and the kingdom of God.
Psalms 113-118 were sung especially at Passover to remember God’s liberating acts and His mighty power in Israel’s exodus.
Psalms 120-134 were sung by pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem to worship God, longing to be near to God’s house and His people.
Psalms 146-150 conclude the Psalter with pure praise in the presence of God.
Devotionals and Commentaries
Featured Series
RP Witness' Psalm of the Month
Featured on every Psalm's page, this series of devotionals was originally published in a monthly column in The Reformed Presbyterian Witness Magazine and focuses on applying the Psalms practically in our everyday lives.
More Series
Matthew Henry's Commentaries
A 17th-Century Welsh minister known for his commentaries on the entirety of Scripture, both his full and abridged commentaries on the Book of Psalms have been reprinted here.
More Resources
Want to dive even deeper into the Psalms? Check out some of these study resources available for purchase from our partners:
150 Questions About the Psalter
A catechism-style book for understanding the Psalter as a whole.
Christ’s Psalms, Our Psalms
A daily devotional of meditations from the Psalter.
Worthy: The Worship of God
An introduction to Biblical worship.
