First Lines of Every Psalm - Book #1

 

This week (Mon-Thurs), I will be posting charts/lists with the first lines from each Psalm in the collection of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament. They will be posting by "book." The entire book of Psalms is separated into 5 books. Book One is Psalms 1-41, books 3 & 4 will be posted on the same day, and I am using the ESV translation.

Also included in the list are trends or unique things that stand out to me about the psalms. These trends are cumulative, so for example, Book 2's post will include trends in Psalms 1-72, and Friday's Book 5 post will include trends throughout the 150 Psalms.

Before the Psalms were numbered, they were identified by the first lines, and it is still helpful to use this method for a multitude of reasons. I am using it to aid in praying through and memorizing the Psalms. Please use this resource any way you desire. Blessings in Jesus Christ! -dan

Here's a PDF of this chart.

Book 1: Psalms 1-41 (ESV)

Ps. 1: “Blessed is the man…”

Ps. 2: “Why do the nations rage…”

Ps. 3: “O LORD, how many are my foes!”

Ps. 4: “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!”

Ps. 5: “Give ear to my words, O LORD”

Ps. 6: “O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger”

Ps. 7: “O LORD, my God, in You do I take refuge”

Ps. 8: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Ps. 9: “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart”

Ps. 10: “In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor”

Ps. 11: “In the LORD I take refuge”

Ps. 12: “Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone”

Ps. 13: “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?”

Ps. 14: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

Ps. 15: “O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent?”

Ps. 16: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge.”

Ps. 17: “Hear a just cause O LORD; attend to my cry!”

Ps. 18: “I love you, O LORD, my strength.”

Ps. 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God”

Ps. 20: “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!”

Ps. 21: “O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices”

Ps. 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Ps. 23: “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

Ps. 24: “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof”

Ps. 25: “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.”

Ps. 26: “Vindicate me, O LORD”

Ps. 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Ps. 28: “To you, O LORD, I call”

Ps. 29: “Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings”

Ps. 30: “I will extol You, O LORD, for You have drawn me up”

Ps. 31: “In You, O LORD, do I take refuge”

Ps. 32: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.”

Ps. 33: “Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!”

Ps. 34: “I will bless the LORD at all times”

Ps. 35: “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me”

Ps. 36: “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart”

Ps. 37: “Fret not yourself because of evildoers”

Ps. 38: “O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger”

Ps. 39: “I said, ‘I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue’”

Ps. 40: “I waited patiently for the LORD”

Ps. 41: “Blessed is the one who considers the poor!”

 

Interesting trends or standouts (thus far):

Psalms 7, 11, 16, & 31 extol God as a “refuge” in their first lines

Psalms 10 & 41 refer to the poor in their first lines

Psalms 6 & 38 have the same first line (and first verse)

Psalms 1, 32, & 41 refer to those who are “blessed” in their first lines

Psalms 2, 10, 14, 35, 36 & 37 referring to enemies/"no God"/contenders

               How is God worshipped? We give thanks to Him (9), we love Him (18), The heavens glorify Him (19), kings rejoice (21), we lift our souls to Him (25), we call to Him (4&28), we extol Him (30), we shout for joy to Him (33), we bless Him (34), we wait for Him (40).

               Attributes/Actions of God: He blesses (1,32,41), He answers (4), He hears (5,17), He does not rebuke in anger (6&38), He’s a refuge (7,11,16,31), He strengthens (18,21), He preserves (16), He provides (23), He vindicates (26), He drives out fear (27), He forgives (32), He contends (35), He guards (39)