Bible - Psalms

Psalms

The Book of Psalms (Hebrew: תְּהִלִּים or תהילים Tehillim meaning "Praises"), commonly referred to simply as Psalms or "the Psalms", is the first book of the Ketuvim ("Writings"), the third section of the Hebrew Bible. The English title is from the Greek translation, ψαλμοί psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music." There are 150 psalms in the Jewish and Western Christian tradition (more in the Eastern Christian churches), many of them linked to the name of King David, but his authorship is not accepted by most modern Bible scholars.

Benedictions and superscriptions

The Book of Psalms is divided into five sections, each closing with a doxology (i.e., a benediction) – these divisions were probably introduced by the final editors to imitate the five-fold division of the Torah:

Book 1 (Psalms 1–41)

Book 2 (Psalms 42–72)

Book 3 (Psalms 73–89)

Book 4 (Psalms 90–106)

Book 5 (Psalms 107–150)

Many psalms (116 of the 150) have individual superscriptions (titles), ranging from lengthy comments to a single word. Over a third appear to be musical directions, addressed to the "leader" or "choirmaster," including such statements as "with stringed instruments" and "according to lilies." Others appear to be references to types of musical composition, such as "A psalm" and "Song," or directions regarding the occasion for using the psalm ("On the dedication of the temple," "For the memorial offering," etc.). Some carry the names of individuals, the most common being David, and thirteen of these relate explicitly to incidents in the king's life.

Overview

Individual psalms were originally hymns, to be used on various occasions and at various sacred sites; later, some were anthologised, and might have been understood within the various anthologies (e.g., ps.123 as one of the Psalms of Ascent); finally, individual psalms might be understood within the Psalter as a whole, either narrating the life of David or providing instruction like the Torah. In later Jewish and Christian tradition, the psalms have come to be used as prayers, either individual or communal, as traditional expressions of religious feeling.

Mazmur

Kitab Mazmur (Ibrani: תְּהִלִּים atau תהילים Tehillim bermaksud "mengucap"), biasanya dirujuk hanya sebagai Mazmur atau "Mazmur", adalah buku pertama yang Ketuvim ("Tulisan"), bahagian ketiga dalam Alkitab Ibrani. Tajuk Bahasa Inggeris adalah dari terjemahan Yunani, psalmoi ψαλμοί, yang bermaksud "muzik instrumental", dan melanjutkan, "perkataan yang mengiringi muzik." Terdapat 150 mazmur dalam tradisi Kristian Yahudi dan Barat (lebih dalam gereja-gereja Kristian Timur), ramai daripada mereka dikaitkan dengan nama Raja Daud, tetapi pengarang tidak diterima oleh kebanyakan ulama Bible moden.

Benedictions dan superscriptions

Kitab Mazmur dibahagikan kepada lima bahagian, setiap menutup dengan lagu pujian (iaitu, pembacaan doa) - bahagian ini telah mungkin diperkenalkan oleh editor akhir untuk meniru bahagian lima kali ganda daripada Taurat:

    Buku 1 (Mazmur 1-41)

    Buku 2 (Mazmur 42-72)

    Buku 3 (Mazmur 73-89)

    Buku 4 (Mazmur 90-106)

    Buku 5 (Mazmur 107-150)

Banyak mazmur (116 daripada 150) mempunyai superscriptions individu (tajuk), daripada komen panjang untuk satu perkataan. Lebih satu pertiga kelihatan arah muzik, yang dialamatkan kepada "pemimpin" atau "pemimpin paduan suara gereja," termasuk kenyataan-kenyataan seperti "dengan alat muzik bertali" dan "menurut teratai." Lain muncul sebagai rujukan kepada jenis gubahan muzik, seperti "A Mazmur" dan "Song," atau arahan mengenai majlis itu untuk menggunakan mazmur ini ("Pada dedikasi kuil," "Untuk menawarkan peringatan," dan lain-lain ). Sesetengah membawa nama-nama individu, yang paling umum ialah Daud, dan tiga belas ini berkaitan dengan jelas kepada kejadian dalam kehidupan raja.

Gambaran keseluruhan

Mazmur individu pada asalnya pujian, yang akan digunakan beberapa kali dan di pelbagai tempat suci; kemudian, ada yang anthologised, dan mungkin telah difahami dalam pelbagai antologi (contohnya, ps.123 sebagai salah satu Mazmur Ascent); akhirnya, mazmur individu mungkin difahami dalam Mazmur secara keseluruhan, sama ada menceritakan kehidupan Daud atau menyediakan arahan seperti Taurat. Di kemudian tradisi Yahudi dan Kristian, mazmur telah untuk digunakan sebagai solat, sama ada individu atau kaum, sebagai ungkapan tradisional perasaan agama.