Literary Genres of Psalms

Individual Psalms of Supplication

Communal Psalms of Supplication

Psalms of Supplication

Structure of Supplication Psalms

• Introduction– a) invocation of YHWH in first words– b) cry for help (imperative)– c) invocation repeated with illustrations and

comparisons– d) self-description of petitioner

• Body– a) declaration to pour out one’s nefesh– b) narrative of distress: sickness, indictment,

persecution by enemies, being abandoned to forces of destruction, being forsaken by God, guilt

– c) questions: “Why?”, “How long?”

– d) plea made in immediate connection to the description of distress

– e) when the plea involves turning back or overcoming enemies, it may take the form of maledictions or curses

– f) inducements presented for YHWH’s intervention: YHWH’s honor, the righteousness of the petitioner (declarations of innocence)

• Closing Section– Vow– Looking forward to YHWH’s intervention

Themes of Supplication Psalms

• Prayer Songs of a Sick Person (Pss 38, 41, 88; 30, 39, 69, 102, 103; 6, 13, [31], 32, [35], [71], 77, 91)

• Prayer Songs of the Accused and Persecuted (Pss 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 17, 26, 27, 57, 63)

• Prayer Songs of a Sinner (Pss 51, 130)

• Psalm of Confidence or Trust (todah)

• Acrostic Summary of Conventional Supplications (Ps 25)

Example of an Individual Supplication Psalm (Ps 130)

• A pilgrimage song.

• 1. From the depth I cry to you, YHWH!

• 2. Lord, hear my voice!

• Let your ears be inclined

• to my loud pleading!

• 3. If you impute sin, YH,

• Lord, who could stand?

• 4. Indeed, with you there is forgiveness

• that you may be feared.

• 5. I hope, YHWH,

• my soul hopes;

• for his word I wait!

• 6. My soul is turned to the Lord

• more than the watchman to the morning,

• more than the watchman to the morning!

• 7. Let Israel wait for YHWH,

• for only with YHWH is there goodness

• and much redemption from him!

• 8. Indeed, he will redeem Israel

• from all its sins.

Example of a Communal Supplication Psalm (Ps 137)

• 1. At the streams of Babylon

• we sat and wept

• when we thought of Zion.

• 2. On the poplar trees there

• we hung up our lyres.

• 3. Yes, there we were asked

• for songs by our guards

• and for shouts of joy

• by our oppressors [saying:]

• “Sing for us

• one of the songs of Zion.”

• 4. How could we sing a YHWH song

• on foreign soil?

• 5. If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

• let my right hand wither away!

• 6. Let my tongue stick to my gums

• if I do not remember you!

• If I do not exalt Jerusalem

• above the best of my joys!

• 7. Keep in mind, O YHWH,

• for the sons of Edom

• the day of Jerusalem!

• Who said: “Tear down! Tear down

• all the way to the ground!”

• 8. O daughter of Babylon, destroyer,

• blessings to him who pays you back!

• 9. Blessings to him who seizes your children

• and dashes them against a rock!