Editing Psalms (section)

==Structure==
{{for|the [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox Christian]] division into ''[[kathismata]]''|#Eastern Orthodox Christianity{{!}}below}}
[[File:The Sunday at Home 1880 - Psalm 23.jpg|thumb|An 1880 [[Baxter process]] illustration of [[Psalm 23]], from the [[Religious Tract Society]]'s magazine ''[[The Sunday at Home]]'']]

===Sections===
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]]:{{sfn|Bullock|2004|p=58}}
* 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)

===Superscriptions===
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 regarding the occasion of the psalm ("On the dedication of the temple", "For the memorial offering", etc.). Many carry the names of individuals, the most common (73 psalms) being 'of David', and thirteen of these relate explicitly to incidents in the king's life.{{sfn|Hayes|1998|pp=154–55}} Others named include [[Asaph (biblical figure)|Asaph]] (12), the [[Korahites|sons of Korah]] (11), [[Solomon]] (2), [[Moses]] (1), [[Ethan (biblical figure)|Ethan the Ezrahite]] (1), and [[Heman the Ezrahite]] (1). The [[Septuagint]], the [[Peshitta|Peshitta (the Syriac Vulgate)]], and the [[Latin Vulgate]] each associate several Psalms (such as [[Psalm 111|111]] and [[Psalm 145|145]]) with [[Haggai]] and [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zechariah]]. The Septuagint also attributes several Psalms (like [[Psalm 112|112]] and [[Psalm 135|135]]) to [[Ezekiel]] and [[Jeremiah]].

===Numbering===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:right;margin-left:1.0em;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
!style="line-height:1.25em;padding:0.25em 1.0em;"| Hebrew numbering{{pb}}([[Masoretic]])
!style="line-height:1.25em;padding:0.25em 1.0em;"| Greek numbering{{pb}}([[Septuagint]])
|-
| 1–8     || 1–8
|-
| 9–10    || 9
|-
| 11–113  || 10–112
|-
| 114–115 || 113
|-
| 116     || 114–115
|-
| 117–146 || 116–145
|-
| 147     || 146–147
|-
| 148–150 || 148–150
|}

Psalms are usually identified by a sequence number, often preceded by the abbreviation "Ps." Numbering of the Psalms differs{{snd}}mostly by one{{snd}}between the Hebrew ([[Masoretic Text|Masoretic]]) and Greek (Septuagint) manuscripts. [[Protestantism|Protestant]] translations use the Hebrew numbering, but other Christian traditions vary:
* [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] official [[Catholic liturgy|liturgical]] texts, such as the [[Roman Missal]], use the Greek numbering<ref>For example [https://media.musicasacra.com/books/latin_missal2002.pdf "Psalmus 117" in ''Vigilia Paschalis in Nocte Sancta'', 66]</ref>
* Modern Catholic translations often use the Hebrew numbering (noting the Greek number)
* [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic]] translations use the Greek numbering (noting the Hebrew number)

The variance between [[Masoretic Text|Masorah]] and Septuagint texts in this numeration is likely enough due to a gradual neglect of the original poetic form of the Psalms; such neglect was occasioned by liturgical uses and carelessness of copyists. It is generally admitted that Psalms 9 and 10 (Hebrew numbering) were originally a single acrostic poem, wrongly separated by Massorah and rightly united by the Septuagint and the Vulgate.{{sfn|Clifford|2010|p=773}} Psalms 42 and 43 (Hebrew numbering) are shown by identity of subject (yearning for the house of Yahweh), of metrical structure and of refrain (comparing Psalms 42:6, 12; 43:5, Hebrew numbering), to be three [[strophe]]s of one and the same poem. The Hebrew text is correct in counting as one Psalm 146 and Psalm 147. Later liturgical usage would seem to have split up these and several other psalms. Zenner combines into what he deems were the original choral odes: Psalms 1, 2, 3, 4; 6 + 13; 9 + 10; 19, 20, 21; 56 + 57; 69 + 70; 114 + 115; 148, 149, 150.{{sfn|Zenner|1896}} A choral ode would seem to have been the original form of Psalms 14 and 70. The two strophes and the [[epode]] are Psalm 14; the two antistrophes are Psalm 70.<ref>Zenner, J.K., and Wiesmann, H., ''Die Psalmen nach dem Urtext'', Munster, 1906, 305</ref> It is noteworthy that, on the breaking up of the original ode, each portion crept twice into the Psalter: Psalm 14 = 53, Psalm 70 = 40:14–18. Other such duplicated portions of psalms are Psalm 108:2–6 = Psalm 57:8–12; Psalm 108:7–14 = Psalm 60:7–14; Psalm 71:1–3 = Psalm 31:2–4. This loss of the original form of some of the psalms is considered by the Catholic Church's [[Pontifical Biblical Commission]] (1 May 1910) to have been due to liturgical practices, neglect by copyists, or other causes.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia, [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02557a.htm The Biblical Commission], published by New Advent, accessed 19 November 2021</ref>

Verse numbers were first printed in 1509.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyBbE2tCyCIC&q=figures+%22le+fevre%22+verse+1509|title=A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature,... Illustrated by Numerous Engravings|date=1845|publisher=Mark H. Newman|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Erste Versnummerierungen (Verszählungen in gedruckten Bibelausgaben des 16. Jahrhunderts|url=https://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/referate/theologie/versnummerierung/versnum_text.htm|access-date=8 July 2020|website=www.wlb-stuttgart.de|language=de}}</ref> Different traditions exist whether to include the original heading into the counting or not. This leads to inconsistent numbering in 62 psalms, with an offset of 1, sometimes even 2 verses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Psalm 12 in 5 languages|url=https://www.bibleserver.com/ESV.LUT.BTX.BDS.RSZ/Psalm12|access-date=8 July 2020|website=BibleServer}}</ref>

===Additional psalms===
The Septuagint, present in Eastern Orthodox churches, includes a [[Psalm 151]]; a Hebrew version of this was found in the ''Psalms Scroll'' of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]]. Some versions of the [[Peshitta]] (the Bible used in [[Syriac Churches|Syriac churches]] mainly in the Middle East) include [[Psalms 152–155]]. There are also the [[Psalms of Solomon]], which are a further 18 psalms of Jewish origin, likely originally written in Hebrew, but surviving only in Greek and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] translation. These and other indications suggest that the current Western Christian and Jewish collection of 150 psalms were selected from a wider set.