History · authors · structure
About the Psalms
Learn where the Psalms come from, who wrote them, how they're organised — and start your own 31-day reading journey.
The Psalms in Numbers
What is a Psalm?
The word Psalm comes from a Greek word meaning "a song sung to the harp." In Hebrew, the book is called Tehillim, which means "praises."
The Psalms are poems and songs written to God. They cover every emotion you can imagine — joy, sadness, fear, wonder, gratitude, and anger. If you've ever felt something deeply, there's probably a psalm that says it!
The Psalms were the songbook of ancient Israel — they were sung in the temple and memorized by every Jewish child. Jesus Himself quoted the Psalms many times.
Who Wrote the Psalms?
- David — King of Israel and a shepherd boy. He wrote at least 73 psalms and was called "a man after God's own heart."
- Moses — The great leader who led Israel out of Egypt. He wrote Psalm 90, the oldest psalm.
- Solomon — David's son and the wisest king. He wrote Psalms 72 and 127.
- Asaph — A worship leader in the temple who wrote 12 psalms.
- The Sons of Korah — A family of temple musicians who wrote 11 psalms.
- Heman — Wrote Psalm 88, one of the darkest and most honest psalms.
- Ethan — Wrote Psalm 89, a sweeping song of God's faithfulness.
- Anonymous — Some psalms have no named author. Only God knows who wrote them!
The Five Books of Psalms
Just like the Torah (the first 5 books of Moses), the Psalms are divided into five books. Each book ends with a doxology — a special praise to God.
- Book 1 — Psalms 1–41 — Mostly by David. Personal and deeply honest psalms of praise and lament.
- Book 2 — Psalms 42–72 — David and the Sons of Korah. Longing, rescue, and royal songs.
- Book 3 — Psalms 73–89 — Mostly by Asaph. History, worship, and cries for help.
- Book 4 — Psalms 90–106 — Includes Moses' psalm. God as King over all creation.
- Book 5 — Psalms 107–150 — The great praise psalms. Ends in a thundering "Hallelujah!"
What Types of Psalms Are There?
- Praise Psalms — Songs of joy and worship (e.g., Psalms 100, 148, 150)
- Lament Psalms — Honest prayers during hard times (e.g., Psalms 22, 42, 88)
- ️ Trust Psalms — Finding safety in God (e.g., Psalms 23, 46, 91)
- Wisdom Psalms — Lessons about how to live (e.g., Psalms 1, 37, 119)
- Thanksgiving Psalms — Gratitude for what God has done (e.g., Psalms 34, 103, 107)
- Royal / Messianic Psalms — About the king, pointing to Jesus (e.g., Psalms 2, 22, 110)
- ️ Songs of Ascent — Psalms 120–134, sung on the way to Jerusalem
- History Psalms — Retelling God's great acts (e.g., Psalms 78, 105, 106)
Jesus and the Psalms
The New Testament quotes the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book. Jesus quoted Psalms throughout His ministry:
- On the cross, He cried out Psalm 22:1 — "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"
- He declared that Psalm 118:22 referred to Himself: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
- Psalm 110:1 — "The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand" — is quoted more in the New Testament than any other verse.
- Many details of Jesus' crucifixion are described in Psalm 22, written 1,000 years before Jesus was born!
31-Day Reading Plan
Read the Psalms in 31 Days
One powerful way to read through the Psalms is to read five psalms each day for 31 days — and you'll cover all 150! Here's how it works: start with the psalm of the day, then add 30, 60, 90, and 120. For example, on Day 1 read Psalms 1, 31, 61, 91, and 121.
This plan is called the "Spurgeon Method", used by the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. It means you'll read the entire book of Psalms every month!
Read the Psalms Online
This website uses the Berean Standard Bible (BSB) — a free, accurate, and readable translation.
Read all 150 Psalms in the BSB right here — click any psalm on the Psalms grid — or visit the BSB website for the full Bible.
Read the Full BSB Bible ↗Why Read the Psalms Every Day?
Martin Luther said: "The Psalms speak of me." C.S. Lewis called them "a school of prayer." Charles Spurgeon read five psalms every morning. Whatever you're going through — joy, fear, doubt, or wonder — there's a psalm that meets you exactly there.