Poetry and Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms

A verse expressing longing for Jerusalem and a psalm describing the return to Zion together capture the emotional and spiritual range of the Psalter.

The final psalm speaks more of instruments than of verbal song. There is a striking symbolism to be found therein.

Why do the songs of the Psalms draw to a close by speaking of a "new song?"

Psalm 148 describes all existence praising God—and the manner in which it does so is very interesting.

An exquisite verse about the stars reveals the story of Abraham.

Many themes come together in one psalm as we come close to concluding this biblical book.

Psalm 145 is very well known to traditional Jews. Why?

David gives gratitude to God for his victory in battle and for the prosperity of his kingdom.

A word central to biblical ethics is at the heart of this psalm.

Psalm 142 inspires us to contrast two very different texts about caves.

A comparison between prayer and a rite in the Temple illuminates both.

A verb in Psalm 140 has a parallel and a very different context in the sh’ma.

In Psalm 139, David ponders the omniscience and omnipresence of the Almighty.

David speaks of praising God with a "whole heart." What does that mean?

Psalm 136 may play a special role in the Passover Seder.

Psalm 135 references the different groups of people who will come to the Temple, joined in praise of God.

A Hebrew phrase has opened the last 15 psalms.  What does it mean?

How is the famous verse that opens Psalm 133 linked with the other verses contained in it?

Psalm 132 describes David’s search for the site of the future Temple.

Psalm 131’s themes of humility and trust reflect the essence of David's spiritual life.

A famous phrase opens Psalm 130. What does it mean?

An allusion to part of the plot from the Book of Ruth may be found in our psalm.

A wedding tradition allows us to more deeply understand Psalm 128.

Psalm 127 joins the themes of the Temple and spiritual posterity.

The topography of the land around Jerusalem is transformed into a sublime symbol in this psalm.

The miraculous endurance of the Jewish people is the subject of Psalm 124.

Psalm 123 is a striking contrast to Psalm 122, teaching us about the different emotions reflected in the psalms in their entirety.

Psalm 122 gives us David’s vision of Jerusalem.

Some modern commentators persuasively argue that this famous psalm is originally about a journey.

Psalm 120 introduces the "Songs of Ascent" and has a seemingly jarring conclusion.