What is a psalm?
A psalm is an inspired Hebrew song or prayer — there are 150 in the book of Psalms, covering praise, lament, thanksgiving, wisdom, and hope. They are the prayer book the Bible itself supplies.
The psalms cover the whole emotional range — from "the Lord is my shepherd" to "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" They are honest songs from real lives.
They were sung in temple worship, prayed in synagogues, and prayed by Jesus and the early church. The psalms have shaped Christian worship in every generation.
Reading and praying the psalms gives words for moments when our own dry up. They teach us how to talk to God — joyful, angry, grieving, trusting — without pretending.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.