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Psalter

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Editions
{{OldTestament}}
The '''Psalter''' (also known as the ''Psalms of David'') is the [[Old Testament]] book that contains hymns and poems traditionally ascribed to the [[David|Holy Prophet and King David]], ancestor of our [[Jesus Christ|Lord Jesus Christ]]. Virtually every aspect of worship—praise, thanksgiving, penitence, intercession—is covered in the Psalter.
== The Psalter in Orthodox worship ==
One modern commentator , Bp. [[Demetri (Khoury) of Jableh|Demetri]], in his foreword to ''Christ in the Psalms'', has described the Psalter as a "golden thread running [which runs] through the beautiful garment that is the divine services of the [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]]worship. " Indeed, the Psalter forms the core of each of the services of the [[Daily Cycle]], the [[Divine Liturgy]], and the other sacramental offices of the Church.
The Psalter is so prevalent in Orthodox worship that St. [[John Chrysostom]] said that wherever one looks in the Church, he finds the Psalter "first, last, and central."
== Structure of the Psalter ==
=== Chapter Divisions—Septuagint vs. Masoretic Text ===
The [[Septuagint]] (LXX) is the version of the Old Testament used by the Orthodox Church. The LXX Psalter differs in several respects from [[Masoretic Texttext]] (MT), which forms the basis for the King James Version and most modern English translations of the Bible.
In addition to substantive, textual differences, the LXX and MT versions of the Psalter differ most obviously in their chapter divisions. This can cause confusion to readers who do not understand the differences between the two versions.
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The [[deuterocanon ]] of the LXX contains an additional Psalm ascribed to David. This [http://www.anova.org/sev/htm/ap/13_psalm151.htm 151st Psalm] is not numbered with the other 150 and is not included in the Psalter proper.
=== Kathismata ===
The Psalter is divided into 20 '''kathismata'''. Each '''kathisma''' is further divided into three ''stases''. Each ''stasis'' contains between one and three chapters. The exception to this is Psalm 118. Due to its great length, this chapter constitutes the entire XVIIth Kathisma.
Each of the divine services contain contains fixed portions of the Psalter that are read or chanted each time the service is celebrated. In addition, certain services of the Daily Cycle contain prescribed kathisma readings. These prescribed readings rotate daily so that outside of Great Lent the Psalter is read through once in its entirety in a single week.
During the lenten fast, the kathisma readings are accelerated so that the Psalter is read through in its entirety twice each week.
=== Order of Kathisma Readings (based on ''The Typicon'', Chapter 17) ===
*'''''Outside of Great Lent'''''
:Outside Great Lent the kathismata are appointed to be read according to the following cycle:<br><br>
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==See also==
* [[Psalm 137|Psalm 137 (136)]]
==External links==
*[http://www.bombaxo.com/kathismata.html Eastern Orthodox Psalm Reading Plan]
*[http://www.saintjonah.org/rub/kathisma_abbrev.htm Suggested Abbreviations of the Kathismata]
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/pdf/kjvsept.pdf The Psalter of the Prophet and King David According to the Septuagint] translated by Michael Asser, subsequently revised/edited and published by the [http://www.ctosonline.org/ Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies]
==Editions==
*''A Comparative Psalter'', John Kohlenberger, ed., Oxford, 2006. (ISBN 978-0195297607). This contains the Masoretic Text with translation in the Revised Standard Version, and the Septuagint with translation in the New English Translation of the Septuagint.
*''The Psalter According to the Seventy'', Holy Transfiguration Monastery (ISBN 0943405009)
*''A Psalter for Prayer'', Holy Trinity Publications, Jordanville, NY, 2011, (ISBN 978-0884651888). A Psalter for Prayer is the first major English edition to include all the prayers needed to read the Psalter at home according to an Orthodox tradition that reaches back to the time of the desert fathers, known popularly as the 'cell rule'. In addition, the contents include many texts, traditionally printed in Orthodox Psalters, that are not easily found in English, such as the Rite for Singing the Twelve Psalms, directions for reading the Psalter for the Departed and much more. Approved for use by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
*''The Psalter of the Prophet and King David with the Nine Biblical Odes'', compiled by Michael Asser, ed. by St. Gregory Palamas Monastery, Center For Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, Etna, CA, 2008 (ISBN 978-0-911165-68-5). Septuagint translation using the King James Version as a template.
*''The Orthodox Psalter: The Psalterion According to the Seventy, With the Nine Odes, and Patristic Commentary'', translated by Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, CO, 2011 (ISBN 978-0-944359-35-8). Available as a pocket edition and a full-size edition with patristic commentary.
==Sources==
[[ro:Psaltirea]]
[[el:Ψαλμοί]]
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