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!