This book is named according to the title given it in the Greek Septuagint Bible, where fifty-seven of the songs are described as "Psalms" in the inscriptions which introduce them. In the Hebrew it is called "Sepher Tehillim": "Book of Praises." The principal author was King David.
The psalms are a collection of five books: 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106 and 107-150. At the end of each section the break is marked by a ‘doxology’ (a formal praise to God). Psalm 150 is a doxology to the whole book.
For the purposes of this work the Psalms are categorised by the name of the Author, where known, and by the theme which the psalm evokes.
The Psalm numbers are those of the Hebrew system. The Greek Septuagint system is shown in brackets.
1 Theme: The lot of the just and the wicked.
2 Theme: Rebel man - Soverign God.
3 Author: David. When he fled from his son Absalom. Theme: A cry to God in time of danger
4 Author: David. Theme: Joy and peace in the Lord. A night prayer.
5 Author: David. Theme: A prayer for divine guidance. A morning prayer.
6 Author: David. Theme: A cry of anguish from a penitent sinner.
7 Author: David. A song which he sang to the Lord concerning the Benjamite, Cush. Theme: A
prayer for protection and God’s just judgement.
8 Author: David. Theme: Prayer about the marvels of God’s creation.
9A Author: David. Theme: Prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
9B (10) Theme: A prayer for help against persecutors.
10 (11) Author: David. Theme: A declaration of Faith. A just man’s confidence in God.
11 (12) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for God’s help. Protection against the wicked.
12 (13) Author: David. Theme:- A prayer in tribulation. From despair to hope.
13 (14) Author: David. Theme: The folly of godless man. Our corruption before redemption.
14 (15) Author: David. Theme: What God requires of us. Who shall dwell with God.
15 (16) Author: David. Theme: Christ’s triumph over the world and death.
16 (17) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of appeal to God from a clear conscience.
17 (18) Author: David. Sung by him when the Lord delivered him from all his enemies and
from Saul. Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving.
18 (19) Author: David. Theme: God’s wonderful creation; his perfect law.
19 (20) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for help in war.
20 (21) Author: David. Theme: A thanksgiving prayer for the king.
21 (22) Author: David. Theme: The sufferings and salvation of Christ. (This is the psalm
quoted by Christ during his suffering on the Cross.)
22 (23) Author: David. Theme: The good shepherd. (The best known and loved of all the
psalms.)
23 (24) Author: David. Theme: A psalm of Worship. (This is a processional hymn possibly
written for the great occasion when the Ark of the Covenant was carried to Jerusalem.)
24 (25) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for grace, mercy and protection. The prayer of a
troubled man.
25 (26) Author: David. Theme: The prayer of a good man.
26 (27) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of trust and Commitment to God.
27 (28) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for help in tribulation.
28 (29) Author: David Theme: The tempest proclaims the majesty of God.
29 (30) Author: David. Theme: A prayer thanksgiving.
30 (31) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of hope.
31 (32) Author: David. Theme: A prayer confessing our guilt; the joy of God’s
forgiveness.
32 (33) Theme: God’s providence watches over all.
33 (34) Author: David when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech who sent him away.
Theme: A prayer of God’s care for his people.
34 (35) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for help.
35 (36) Author: David. Theme: Man’s wickedness: God’s goodness. The unfailing
love of God.
36 (37) Author: David. Theme: A prayer depicting Good and Evil. Earthly happiness is short
lived.
37 (38) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for remission of sins.
38 (39) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of peace and patience in suffering.
39 (40) Author: David. Theme: Praise and prayer from a full heart at the coming of Christ
and the redemption of mankind.
40 (41) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of mercy and charity to all.
41 (42) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: Prayer of a fervent desire for
God.
42 (43) (In many Hebrew manuscripts psalms 41 & 42 constitute one psalm.) Theme: A
prayer for strength; light.
43 (44) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: A prayer of lamentation. (This prayer was prompted
by a disastrous defeat.)
44 (45) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: A wedding song of Christ and his Bride, the Church.
45 (46) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: God is our refuge and our strength.
46 (47 ) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: The universal kingdom of God.
47 (48) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: God’s glory is manifested in the liberation of
Jerusalem.
48 (49) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: A prayer of meditation on life and death. The
paradox of the wealth of the wicked.
49 (50) Author: Asaph. Theme: The true worship of God. God calls man to account.
50 (51) Author: David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after his adultery with
Bathsheba. Theme: A prayer of plea for forgivness.
51 (52) Author: David. Doeg’s betrayal of David. (1 Samuel 22.) Theme: Punishment for
sins of the tongue.
52 (53) Author: David. Theme: The depravity of men and their punishment. (This is a
revised version of psalm 13.)
53 (54) Author: David. Theme: David’s appeal to God after the Ziphites betrayed his
position to Saul. (2 Samuel 15-17.)
54 (55) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of a man in trouble.
55 (56) Author: David. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. Theme: A prayer in
danger or distress.
56 (57) Author: David. When he fled from Saul into a cave. Theme: Prayer from enemies.
57 (58) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of reproach for unscrupulous judges.
58 (59) Author: David. When Saul sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill
him. Theme: Prayer for protection and punishment.
59 (60) Author: David. His battles and when Joab defeated Edom. Theme: Prayer of
confidence after defeat.
60 (61) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of a burdened king.
61 (62) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of longing and trust. God is our sole refuge.
62 (63) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of a firm desire for salvation.
63 (64) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for protection against persecutors.
64 (65) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving. Praise and gratitude for spiritual
grace.
65 (66) Theme: A prayer of praise and worship. An invitation to praise God.
66 (67) Theme: Prayer at a successful harvest.
67 (68) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of battle/march/triumph cum procession at the Ark of
the Covenant’s journey from Egypt to Mount Sion.
68 (69) Author: David. Theme: Prayer of a man overwhelmed by suffering. Christ in his
passion.
69 (70) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for divine aid. Urgent call for help.
70 (71) Theme: A prayer for perseverance in old age.
71 (72) Author: Solomon. Theme: Prayer for the king and for the kingdom of Christ.
72 (73) Author: Asaph. Theme: Temporal happiness of the wicked. This
unjust world.
73 (74) Author: Asaph. Theme: Lament at the destruction of the temple.
74 (75) Author: Asaph. Theme: Prayer of confidence in the providence of God.
75 (76) Author: Asaph. Theme: A prayer of victory.
76 (77) Author: Asaph. Theme: A prayer of confidence in God’s mercy.
77 (78) Author: Asaph. Theme: Psalm of Israel’s history. From God’s great
benefit; to ingratitude of the people; to the Lord destroying his people.
78 (79) Author: Asaph. Theme: A prayer of lamentation for Jerusalem.
79 (80) Author: Asaph. Theme: A prayer for conversion, for the restoration of Israel.
80 (81) Author: Asaph. Theme: A solemn prayer in harvest time.
81 (82) Author: Asaph. Theme: Prayer of the justice of God. The lot of unjust rulers.
82 (83) Author: Asaph. Theme: A prayer for help against the enemies of the church.
83 (84) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: Prayer of a soul longing for God.
84 (85) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving.
85 (86) Author: David. Theme: Prayer for God’s grace from a troubled man.
86 (87) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: The glory of Zion, city of God, mother of nations.
87 (88) Author: Sons of Korah. Theme: A prayer of one greviously afflicted.
88 (89) Theme: A prayer of God’s faithful love of Israel, his covenant and promise to
David’s line. But, now, God is angry with his people; his covenant is broken.
89 (90) Theme: A prayer of the eternity of God and the shortness of
man’s life.
90 (91) Theme: A prayer of trust in God.
91 (92) Theme: A prayer of joyous thanksgiving for all that God has done. A song for the
Sabbath.
92 (93) Theme: The Lord, the mighty, King of the universe.
93 (94) Theme: A prayer of judgement and punishment of the wicked.
Psalms 94 to 99 are a group of psalms written in exultant praise of the God who reigns over all his creation.
94 (95) Theme: Prayer of praise and worship to God our maker.
95 (96) Theme: A prayer of God’s salvation, his greatness and his glory.
96 (97) Theme: A prayer to the glorious coming and reign of Christ.
97 (98) Theme: A prayer to our Lord, victor, King, just judge.
98 (99) Theme: Prayer to the Lord, holy king. 99 (100) Theme: Prayer to God, creator of
all.
100 (101) Author: David. Theme: Resolutions of a model ruler.
101 (102) Theme: A prayer for one in affliction.
102 (103) Author: David. Theme: Prayer in praise of God’s mercy.
103 (104) Theme: A prayer to God the great creator.
104 (105) Theme: Prayer of praise to God for his covenant with Israel.
105 (106) Theme: Confession of sins and the punishment of an ungrateful people.
106 (107) Theme: Thanksgiving for delivery from danger and prayer in
praise of God the redeemer.
107 (108) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of praise and petition.
108 (109) Author: David. Theme: A cry for vengeance. (The brutality conveyed in this psalm
reminds us of the Old Testament justice of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth." Even so, the tirade would seem to go too farsince these psalms are poetry
these metaphors must not be understood too literally.)
109 (110) Author: David. Theme: The dignities of the Messiah.
110 (111) Theme: Prayer in praise of the Lord.
111 (112) Theme: The happiness of the just man.
Psalms 112 to 117 are a group of psalms linked traditionally with the Jewish feasts of Tabernacles and Passover.
112 (113) Theme: God is to be praised.
113A (114) Theme: The wonders wrought by God in the Exodus.
113B (115) Theme: Pleas and expectations of the people.
114/5 (116) Theme: Confidence in God. Prayer of thanks.
116 (117) Theme: Praise to the God of all nations.
117 (118) Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving. A hymn for the Feast of Tabernacles.
Psalm 118 is the longest psalm of all - and the most elaborate. There are twenty- two eight-verse sections. Each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
118 (119) Theme: In praise of the law of God.
Psalms 119 to 133 are a collection of songs thought to have been sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the three great annual feasts.
119 (120) Theme: Against evil tongues.
120 (121) Theme: The Lord protects his people.
121 (122) Author: David. Theme: The pilgrims greet the holy city.
122 (123) Theme: A plea for mercy. Faith in God’s help.
123 (124) Author: David. Theme: The Lord, the rescuer, the saviour.
124 (125) Theme: Help against the wicked enemy. Secure in God.
125 (126) Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving. Laughter and tears.
126 (127) Author: Solomon. Theme: The futility of human effort without God.
127 (128) Theme: Blessings of the man who respects and obeys God.
128 (129) Theme: A prayer for the downfall of all who have crushed God’s people.
129 (130) Theme: The prayer of a sinner. (The De Profundis.)
130 (131) Author: David. Theme: The virtue of humility. A psalm of simple trust.
131 (132) Theme: David’s promise to the Lord and the Lord’s promise to David.
132 (133) Author: David. Theme: The family-unity of God’s people.
133 (134) Theme: A psalm for those on nightwatch in the temple.
134 (135) Theme: A hymn of praise and public worship.
135 (136) Theme: Thanksgiving to God for his wondrous works.
136 (137) Theme: The prayer of the exile.
137 (138) Author: David. Theme: A prayer of thanksgiving.
138 (139) Author: David. Theme: God is everywhere.
139 (140) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for deliverance.
140 (141) Author: David. Theme: A prayer against temptation.
141 (142) Author: David. Theme: A prayer in extremity of danger.
142 (143) Author: David. Theme: A penitent’s prayers.
143 (144) Author: David. Theme: A prayer for the God of victory.
144 (145) Author: David. Theme: The infinite majesty of God.
145 (146) Theme: Trust only in God.
146/7 (147) Theme: Prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
148 Theme: Universal praise of God.
149 Theme: The prayer of God’s faithful people.
150 Theme: A choral symphony of praise. (The final doxology.)
(These can only be arbitary categories as many of the Psalms contain several themes.)
Abandonment: 21; 87.
Appeal for justice & protection: 7; 16; 34; 58; 139.
Bodily Sickness: 6; 87; 101.
Confidence in God: 22; 30; 45; 61; 120.
Death: 68.
God’s faithfulness to His people: 135.
God’s goodness, compassion & love: 33; 91; 102; 110; 144; 145.
General Distress: 3; 6; 12; 21; 68; 141.
General Sorrow: 43; 73; 78; 79.
Grateful: 32; 65; 97; 115.
Humility: 130.
In Praise of the Word of God: 118.
In times of trouble: 5; 6; 7; 56; 57.
Joy/Happiness: 95; 148; 149; 150.
Longing for God: 41; 42; 62.
Needing God’s Forgivness: 31; 50.
Needing God’s Help: 3.
Peace and Joy: 4.
Penitential: 6; 31; 37; 50; 101; 129; 142.
Petitions for Protection and Strength: 24; 60.
Petitions in Time of Trouble: 12; 60; 90; 123.
Praise to God: 8; 47; 95; 96; 99; 102; 103; 116; 148; 150.
Prayers of the Falsely Accused: 7; 34; 56; 68.
Sick or Suffering: 21; 37; 85; 87; 108; 122.
Sin: 50. Thanksgiving: 29; 106; 115; 117; 125; 137.
Thanksgiving & Gratitude to God: 64; 91; 144; 145.
The Lord Shepherd of His Flock: 22.
The Marvels of God’s Creation: 8.
Trust: 10; 15; 22; 61; 90; 120; 124; 130.
Unjust Treatment: 34.
Worried: 12; 55.