Poetry and Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms

Psalm 78 describes the story of the Israelites from the Exodus to the Davidic monarchy.

A psalm expresses anguish over exile and then exultantly describes the Exodus. What is the link between the psalm's two parts?

Purim’s date reveals what we are truly celebrating—and why a remarkable event seemingly described in this psalm never became a holiday.

The themes of exile and salvation are bound together in a tradition regarding the reading of the Megillah—and in these two psalms of Asaf.

A story about Rome and Jerusalem helps us ponder this psalm of Asaf.

In Psalm 72, we find a father preparing for his son to be his heir.

Psalm 71 seems to feature an aging David, reflecting on God’s salvation throughout his life.

Translations of Psalm 70 give us an interesting rendering of an exclamation.

The conclusion of Psalm 69 reminds us of a relatively unknown and inspiring blessing that has been pronounced in our time.

Psalms 68 and 69 come together to reveal two themes in Jewish history.

The conclusion of Psalm 68 has one fascinating plural word that may point to the unique nature of Jerusalem.

An obvious reference to Moses' description of the Ark begins the psalm. How are we to understand what follows?

Psalm 67 builds on the priestly blessings in a striking way.

Psalm 66 can be read as reflecting on the wonder of being part of the Jewish story.

In this psalm, David tells us how we can hear nature praising God, inspiring us to praise the Almighty.

Psalm 64 highlights the potential of words to do great good and great harm.

Winston Churchill's essay on Moses helps us appreciate a psalm that David composed in the desert.

In this psalm, David reflects on the role of both silence and song in our lives.

David's psalm has a famous verse that might be about the preciousness of time.

Psalm 60 asks us to ponder how a leader like David responds when his army is momentarily defeated.

Psalm 59 takes us into a very precise moment of David's life. Why, then, does he also lend a universal theme to the psalm?

Psalm 58 reminds us that anger has a role in the moral life when channeled properly.

Psalm 57, which takes place in a cave, offers a mirror image of Plato's famous allegory.

Psalm 56 speaks of a dove—a dove that does not desire war, but recognizes that at times it is necessary.

David's trusted adviser who betrayed him may be the inspiration for this psalm.

A psalm speaks of David's loneliness, and his inner strength.

Psalm 53 is almost exactly identical to Psalm 14. Why then are its words repeated?

A character from The Lord of the Rings illustrates the destructive power of wicked speech, a theme mirrored by a biblical figure who used words for evil ends.

An etching by Rembrandt van Rijn captures the essence of Psalm 51.

Judaism binds gratitude and repentance together, creating a path for a life well lived.