Table of Contents
How many Psalms are there in The Bible?
If we do a thorough count we will find that there are 150 psalms in the Bible.
Quick Facts on The Number of Psalms in Holy Scripture
- There are 150 Psalms or 150 Chapters in the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible.
- The Psalms have different authors but, their authorship is mostly ascribed to the Prophet, King David.
- King David is mentioned as the writer of seventy-three (73) Psalms.
- The Psalms are divided into five books or collections.
- The Book of Psalms is the third largest book in the entire bible, comprising150 chapters or Psalms.
- The Book of Psalms was also heavily quoted by The Lord Jesus Himself
Thematic Breakdown of The Book of Psalms:
| Book | Psalm Range | Theme / Characteristic | Notes / Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book I | Psalms 1–41 | God’s law, trust in God, personal lament and righteousness | Emphasis on individual piety and trust in God; Psalms of David dominate (e.g., Psalm 3, 23) |
| Book II | Psalms 42–72 | Communal lament, hope in God, kingship | Focus on Israel’s community and royal prayers; includes longing for God (Psalms 42–43) |
| Book III | Psalms 73–89 | National lament, covenant faithfulness, exile | Themes of God’s justice and Israel’s struggle; includes reflections on temple and king (e.g., Psalm 74, 89) |
| Book IV | Psalms 90–106 | God’s sovereignty, praise of His reign | Focus on God as eternal and mighty ruler; calls to praise and remember His deeds (e.g., Psalm 90, 103) |
| Book V | Psalms 107–150 | Universal praise, thanksgiving, Hallelujah psalms | Culmination in praise and worship; many psalms conclude with “Hallelujah” (e.g., Psalm 150) |
Praise & Worship: Psalms 8, 19, 29, 33, 145
Lament / Petition: Psalms 6, 13, 22, 51
Thanksgiving: Psalms 30, 34, 100, 118
Wisdom / Instruction: Psalms 1, 37, 49, 112
Royal / Messianic: Psalms 2, 45, 72, 110
Here's The Thematic Focus of Each of The Psalms:
| Psalm | Primary Theme / Focus | Notes / Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blessedness of the righteous | Contrast between the righteous and the wicked; delight in the law of the Lord |
| 2 | Messianic kingship | God’s anointed king; trust in God against opposition |
| 3 | Personal lament / trust | David fleeing Absalom; confidence in God’s protection |
| 4 | Evening prayer / trust | Seeking God’s help; exhortation to righteousness |
| 5 | Prayer for guidance | Morning prayer for protection from enemies |
| 6 | Penitential lament | Cry for mercy in distress; themes of sickness and fear |
| 7 | Justice / vindication | Prayer for deliverance from enemies; confidence in God’s judgment |
| 8 | Praise of God’s creation | Wonder at God’s care for humanity in creation |
| 9 | Thanksgiving / justice | Praise for God’s justice; remembering His deeds |
| 10 | Lament over the wicked | Cry for God’s justice against oppressors |
| 11 | Trust in God | Confidence in God amid danger and injustice |
| 12 | Prayer for protection | Lament over deceitful people; trust in God’s preservation |
| 13 | Lament / hope | “How long, O Lord?”; ends in hope and praise |
| 14 | Foolishness of the ungodly | God’s judgment on the corrupt; call to trust Him |
| 15 | Righteousness / character | Traits of those who may dwell with God |
| 16 | Trust and refuge | Confidence in God; theme of joy and security |
| 17 | Prayer for protection | David appeals for God’s safeguarding in distress |
| 18 | Deliverance / thanksgiving | Song of victory and deliverance; attributed to David |
| 19 | God’s law / creation | Twofold praise: creation reveals God, His law instructs |
| 20 | Royal prayer | Blessing for the king in battle; trust in God’s aid |
| 21 | Thanksgiving for the king | Gratitude for victory; recognition of God’s power |
| 22 | Lament / Messianic prophecy | Begins with despair, ends in praise; referenced in crucifixion |
| 23 | God as shepherd | Trust in God’s guidance and provision |
| 24 | God’s kingship | Entrance of the Lord into Zion; call to holiness |
| 25 | Prayer / guidance | Seeking forgiveness, teaching, and deliverance |
| 26 | Integrity / vindication | Declaration of innocence and devotion to God |
| 27 | Confidence in God | Trust in God’s protection and desire to dwell with Him |
| 28 | Prayer for help / thanksgiving | Appeal for God’s help and blessing |
| 29 | God’s glory and power | Praise of God’s majesty through natural imagery |
| 30 | Thanksgiving for deliverance | Joyful gratitude for healing and rescue from danger |
| 31 | Refuge and trust | Deliverance from enemies; confidence in God |
| 32 | Forgiveness / joy | Joy of reconciliation and confession of sin |
| 33 | Praise of God’s providence | God’s plan and sovereignty over all creation |
| 34 | Thanksgiving / guidance | Praise for God’s care; “taste and see that the Lord is good” |
| 35 | Petition for deliverance | Prayer for protection from adversaries |
| 36 | God’s mercy vs human wickedness | Praise for God’s steadfast love and justice |
| 37 | Patience and trust | Wisdom psalm: the fate of the righteous vs the wicked |
| 38 | Penitential lament | Confession of sin and physical suffering |
| 39 | Reflection on life | Human mortality; dependence on God |
| 40 | Thanksgiving and petition | Praise for deliverance; plea for continued help |
| 41 | Compassion and blessing | Care for the weak; hope in God’s mercy |
| 42 | Longing for God | Spiritual thirst in times of distress |
| 43 | Prayer for vindication | Continuation of 42; plea for deliverance and guidance |
| 44 | National lament | Cry for God’s help despite past victories |
| 45 | Royal praise / wedding | Celebrates kingly marriage; messianic undertones |
| 46 | God’s refuge / power | Assurance of God’s protection in trouble |
| 47 | God’s kingship / praise | Universal recognition of God’s reign |
| 48 | Praise of Zion | God’s glory manifest in Jerusalem |
| 49 | Wisdom on death / wealth | Mortality of the rich vs trust in God |
| 50 | God’s judgment / sacrifice | God calls for true thanksgiving and obedience |
| 51 | Penitential / confession | David’s repentance after sin with Bathsheba |
| 52 | Judgment of the wicked | God exposes the deceitful and violent |
| 53 | Foolishness of the ungodly | Similar to Psalm 14; corruption and God’s deliverance |
| 54 | Prayer for protection | David seeks God’s aid against enemies |
| 55 | Lament over betrayal | Personal anguish over treachery and oppression |
| 56 | Trust in God | Confidence during fear and captivity |
| 57 | Prayer for mercy | Seeking refuge; praise amid danger |
| 58 | Justice / wicked rulers | God’s judgment on unjust leaders |
| 59 | Deliverance from enemies | Plea for God’s defense against foes |
| 60 | National lament / plea | Prayer for restoration and victory |
| 61 | Refuge and trust | Longing for God’s protection; enduring faith |
| 62 | Trust and patience | Rest in God alone; silence before Him |
| 63 | Thirst for God | Desire for God in solitude; spiritual longing |
| 64 | Protection from enemies | God’s justice against plots and conspiracies |
| 65 | Praise / thanksgiving | God’s provision and blessings in nature |
| 66 | Thanksgiving / praise | National rejoicing; God’s deliverance celebrated |
| 67 | Prayer for blessing | Blessing for nations; God’s salvation recognized |
| 68 | God’s triumph / kingship | Celebration of God’s victories and presence |
| 69 | Lament / plea for help | Suffering and humiliation; hope in God’s deliverance |
| 70 | Prayer for quick help | Short plea for rescue from enemies |
| 71 | Trust in God through life | Lifelong dependence on God; praise in old age |
| 72 | Royal / messianic | Ideal king; justice and righteousness for the nations |
| 73 | Wisdom / envy of the wicked | Understanding God’s justice; trust in Him |
| 74 | National lament | Destruction of temple; plea for God’s intervention |
| 75 | God’s judgment | God as the righteous judge of the nations |
| 76 | God’s power | God’s majesty; fear of Him among nations |
| 77 | Distress and remembrance | Crisis of faith; recalling God’s deeds |
| 78 | Historical instruction | Wisdom psalm; God’s works and Israel’s failures |
| 79 | National lament | Foreign oppression; plea for God’s vengeance |
| 80 | Prayer for restoration | Israel depicted as vine; longing for God’s help |
| 81 | Call to obedience | God’s covenant faithfulness; warning against disobedience |
| 82 | God’s justice / judgment | God rebukes unjust rulers; defense of the weak |
| 83 | Prayer against enemies | National enemies plotted; plea for divine intervention |
| 84 | Desire for God’s house | Joy and longing for the temple |
| 85 | Prayer for restoration | Repentance and hope for revival |
| 86 | Prayer of trust | Personal appeal for mercy and guidance |
| 87 | Praise of Zion | Zion as the birthplace of the nations |
| 88 | Lament / despair | Deepest anguish; feeling abandoned by God |
| 89 | Covenant / kingship | God’s promises to David; lament over apparent failure |
| 90 | Eternity of God / human frailty | Moses’ psalm; human life is brief, God eternal |
| 91 | Refuge and protection | Assurance of God’s shelter and care |
| 92 | Thanksgiving / praise | Joy in God’s works; flourishing of the righteous |
| 93 | God’s kingship | God reigns in majesty and power |
| 94 | Justice / vengeance | Call for God’s judgment against the wicked |
| 95 | Call to worship | Exhortation to praise and obedience |
| 96 | Universal praise | Proclamation of God’s reign to the nations |
| 97 | God’s majesty | Triumph over evil; light and righteousness |
| 98 | Praise for salvation | Joyful song of God’s victory and justice |
| 99 | God’s holiness / kingship | Exaltation of God’s reign and justice |
| 100 | Thanksgiving / praise | Joyful entry into God’s presence; all nations called |
| 101 | Integrity / righteous leadership | David’s personal vow of upright living |
| 102 | Lament / prayer | Suffering, affliction, and hope in God’s eternity |
| 103 | Praise / thanksgiving | Blessings of God; mercy and forgiveness |
| 104 | Praise of creation | God’s providence and creativity in the natural world |
| 105 | Historical thanksgiving | God’s faithfulness to Israel’s history |
| 106 | Confession / remembrance | Israel’s sin; God’s mercy remembered |
| 107 | Thanksgiving for deliverance | Various crises; praise for God’s saving acts |
| 108 | Prayer for help | Confidence in God’s power; plea for victory |
| 109 | Lament / imprecation | Plea against enemies; call for justice |
| 110 | Messianic / royal | Prophecy of priest-king; referenced in the New Testament |
| 111 | Praise of God’s works | Celebration of God’s deeds and righteousness |
| 112 | Wisdom / righteous life | Blessings on the upright; contrast with the wicked |
| 113 | Praise / exaltation | God’s greatness; concern for the humble |
| 114 | God’s acts in history | Deliverance of Israel; power over nature |
| 115 | Praise / trust in God | Contrast of idols vs God’s faithfulness |
| 116 | Thanksgiving / personal | Gratitude for deliverance and life |
| 117 | Universal praise | Shortest psalm; call to all nations to praise God |
| 118 | Thanksgiving / deliverance | God’s steadfast love; “The stone the builders rejected” |
| 119 | God’s law / meditation | Longest psalm; focus on Torah, obedience, and delight in God’s Word |
| 120 | Prayer for peace | Pilgrim psalm; cry for deliverance from deceit |
| 121 | Trust / divine protection | Assurance of God’s help; journeying pilgrims |
| 122 | Joy of Jerusalem | Pilgrim psalm; desire for the peace of the city |
| 123 | Prayer for mercy | Trust in God’s help amidst contempt |
| 124 | Thanksgiving for deliverance | Israel’s deliverance from enemies |
| 125 | Trust in God’s protection | Assurance of God’s care for the faithful |
| 126 | Joy after restoration | Return from exile; praise and hope |
| 127 | God’s blessing on labor | Success comes from God; family as blessing |
| 128 | Blessings of the righteous | Prosperity and joy for those fearing the Lord |
| 129 | Perseverance under oppression | Israel’s suffering and hope for justice |
| 130 | Lament / hope | From the depths, plea for forgiveness |
| 131 | Humility / trust | Childlike trust in God; simplicity of heart |
| 132 | Davidic covenant / temple | God’s promises to David; desire for His dwelling |
| 133 | Unity / blessing | The blessing of harmonious fellowship |
| 134 | Praise / temple service | Call to bless God in His house at night |
| 135 | Praise / God’s deeds | Recognition of God’s power and creation |
| 136 | Thanksgiving / mercy | Refrain: “His mercy endureth forever”; God’s acts in history |
| 137 | Lament over exile | Longing for Jerusalem; sorrow in Babylon |
| 138 | Thanksgiving / praise | Personal thanksgiving; God’s faithfulness |
| 139 | God’s omniscience | Reflection on God’s knowledge, presence, and creation |
| 140 | Prayer for protection | Deliverance from the wicked |
| 141 | Prayer / guidance | Appeal for righteousness; warning against sin |
| 142 | Cry for help | Lament of a desperate person; trust in God |
| 143 | Prayer for mercy | Plea for guidance, deliverance, and forgiveness |
| 144 | Praise / victory | God as deliverer; blessings for the nation |
| 145 | Praise of God’s greatness | God’s compassion, justice, and provision |
| 146 | Trust in God | Encouragement to rely on God, not princes |
| 147 | Praise / God’s care | God’s power in creation and for Israel |
| 148 | Universal praise | All creation called to praise God |
| 149 | Praise / victory | Israel’s praise and triumph over enemies |
| 150 | Culminating praise | Final call: everything that has breath, praise the Lord! |
A Psalm 1 Excerpt
- Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the [a]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 - But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he [b]meditates day and night.
3 - He shall be like a tree
Planted by the [c]rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
