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The Ancient Faith Psalter
Translation © 2016 Ancient Faith Publishing
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Published by: Ancient Faith Publishing A Division of Ancient Faith Ministries
P.O. Box 748 Chesterton, IN 46304
Large print edition ISBN: 978-1-955890-46-5
Printed in the United States of America
Copyright ©2016 by Ancient Faith Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing.
INTRODUCTION
The Psalter is the prayer book of the Church. It has been so since before there was a Christian Church. There is an ancient saying, attributed to St. Athanasius the Great, that “the Psalms are different from the rest of Scripture in that while the rest of Scripture speaks to us, the Psalms speak for us.” When we pray the Psalms, we are praying the words God has given us to pray. It has also been said that the story of God’s dealings with Israel is an allegory of each person’s spiritual journey, the story of God’s dealings with every human soul. Therefore, inasmuch as the Psalms sum up and interpret the story of Israel, the Psalms also sum up and interpret the spiritual journey of every human being.
The Psalms touch every experience of human life in our fallen world. Every joy and
every terror, every fear and every hope are found expressed in the Psalms. Some psalms are beautiful, to the point of seeming sentimental; others are bloody and apparently vindictive. Such a range of emotion and experience is offered to us in prayer because in some inner or outer way, at some time in our life, we will all experience this full range of thoughts and feelings. In fact, because some of these thoughts and feelings are so extreme, so evidently horrible, it is only through praying the Psalms that we come to realize and then confess to ourselves and to God in prayer that yes, even such terrible things as these have at one time or another passed through our minds and perhaps even our hands.
This literal reading of the Psalms, however, is only the beginning. As one prays the Psalms, one soon begins to realize that the enemy, the Amalekite or Philistine, the nations that rage against God, are not people or situations outside myself but are most poignantly referring to the wicked impulses and evil thoughts I must battle within myself. The Psalmist’s cry for deliverance becomes
my own as I see within my own heart and mind the struggle between good and evil, the betraying thought, the accusing word, or the mocking laugh. The Psalms give us words, images, and metaphors by which we can cry out to God for help in the midst of our inner struggles. What the Psalmist describes as external speaks to our inner struggles because all outer conflict is a reflection of inner struggle. Is this not what Jesus told us—it is out of the heart that murders and adultery flow (Matt. 15:19)?
The Psalter is a prophetic book. It speaks prophetically of Christ, but it also speaks prophetically of all who are in Christ. Just as “strong bulls surround” Christ on the Cross, so too all who pick up their cross and follow Christ experience, in one form or another, this attack of the strong and come to know their own weakness in resisting it, their own need to be delivered from “the power of the dog . . . the mouth of the lion . . . [and] the horns of the wild bulls.” Similarly, the prophetic declaration of the Resurrection of Christ, “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered,” is also our declaration as we
experience moments of deliverance and help over our inner enemies. The Psalms speak of God and man, Christ and Christian, inner and outer conflict, victory and defeat, heaven and earth, wisdom and foolishness. With few words and much meaning, the Psalms provide the images and words for every prayer, every need, every celebration on our journey through this world.
About t his Edition
The Psalter is the most quoted biblical book in the liturgical prayers of the Orthodox Church. This edition of the Psalter is intended for prayer (either at home or in church) rather than for reference.* In keeping with this purpose, the Psalms are not presented in regular numerical order. Psalms 120 through 134 follow Psalm 150, and then Psalms 110 through 119 follow Psalm 134. This is because this Psalter is organized according to the cycle of daily readings according to the monastic practice in the Orthodox Church.
The Psalter is divided into twenty sections
*For reference purposes, we recommend the Book of Psalms found in The Orthodox Study Bible.
called kathismata. Each kathisma is then divided into three smaller sections called stases. In typical monastic practice, two kathismata are read every morning as part of Matins, and one kathisma is read each evening as part of Vespers. In this way the entire Psalter is prayed each week. However, if you are just beginning to pray the Psalter, we recommended that you start by praying out loud (perhaps with a slight chant intonation) only one stasis a day. Regularity is much more important than volume in praying the Psalter. As you pray through the Psalter year after year, you will discover that the words of the Psalms become an ongoing conversation between you and your God.
A word about the text. The text is based on an English translation of the Masoretic Hebrew text corrected to the Septuagint and other ancient witnesses (Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.). Consequently, the numbering of the Psalms is according to the Hebrew, which we consider easier for most English readers to use. (The Septuagint numbering is included in parentheses for those who prefer
it.) The text was also corrected to conform to the liturgical use of the Orthodox Church. Finally, the text was corrected for readability. The goal is a text that is faithful, majestic, and easy to understand when read or chanted aloud.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands on the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers of the people have assembled, against the Lord and His Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder and cast their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His fury.
But I have been made King by Him on Zion, His holy hill, telling the decree of the Lord:
“The Lord said to Me, ‘You are My Son, this day have I begotten You.’ ”
Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your dominion.
You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling.
Accept correction, lest He be angry and you perish from the righteous way; for His wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
psalm 3O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of me, “There is no help for him in God.”
But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head.
I cry aloud to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy hill.
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.
Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God!
For You strike all my enemies on the cheek; You break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people!
The Lord hears me when I call to Him!
You have given me room when I was in distress; have compassion on me and hear my prayer.
O sons of men, how long will you be slow of heart? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
But know that the Lord has done wonderful things for His Holy One: the Lord hears when I call to Him.
Be angry, but sin not; feel compunction on your beds for what you say in your hearts.
Offer a sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say, “Oh, that we might see some good!”
The light of Your countenance has left its imprint on us, O Lord!
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace and confidence I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, cause me to dwell in hope.
psalm 5Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my groaning.
Hearken to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch.
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not sojourn with You.
The boastful may not stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men.
But I, through the abundance of Your mercy, will enter Your house; I will
worship toward Your holy temple in the fear of You.
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is destruction, their throat is an open sepulcher, they flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against You.
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, let them ever sing for joy; and defend them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.
For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield.
OLord, rebuke me not in Your anger nor chasten me in Your wrath.
psalm 6
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is sorely troubled. But You, O Lord—how long?
Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of Your mercy.
For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol who can give You praise?
I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all you workers of evil; for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.