10 Psalms Every Kid Should Know

With 150 psalms in the Bible, it's easy to wonder where to begin. If you only teach your child a handful of psalms, start with these ten. They're short, they're beloved by kids all over the world, and each one plants something a child will carry for life.

Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous. Psalm 1 pictures a life that loves God's word as a tree planted by a river, always growing, never drying up. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2).

Psalm 8: God's Glory and Human Dignity. Under a wide night sky full of stars, this psalm asks the biggest question a kid can ask: how can God be so great, and still care about me? “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).

Psalm 19: God's Glory in Creation and the Law. The sky itself is singing, this psalm says. Every sunrise and starry night quietly tells the world about God. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14).

Psalm 23: The LORD Is My Shepherd. Almost every child who grows up in church learns this one, and for good reason. It's the most comforting picture of God in the whole Bible: a shepherd who leads, protects, and never leaves. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1).

Psalm 34: Taste and See That the LORD Is Good. This psalm invites kids to actually experience God's goodness for themselves, not just hear about it secondhand. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8).

Psalm 91: Under His Wings. For a child who's ever been afraid of the dark, this psalm is a favorite. God covers us the way a mother bird covers her chicks. “He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4).

Psalm 100: Shout for Joy to the LORD. Loud, happy, and impossible to read quietly, Psalm 100 is what praise sounds like when a kid means it with their whole chest. “For the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5).

Psalm 121: My Help Comes From the LORD. A short, steady psalm about looking up when things feel hard, and remembering exactly who's watching over you. “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).

Psalm 139: You Know Me Completely. Every child needs to hear this one: they are seen, known, and made on purpose. “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.” (Psalm 139:14).

Psalm 150: Let Everything Praise the LORD. The grand finale of the whole book of Psalms: trumpets, harps, dancing, and a command for absolutely everything that breathes to praise God. “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Hallelujah!” (Psalm 150:6).

Want to make these stick? Try the Adventure Map. It turns several of these very psalms into a read-along, memory-verse, and quiz journey with Kim as your guide, complete with treasures to collect along the way.