The Psalter — the prayer book of the Church — contains, in the Orthodox edition (after the Septuagint), 151 psalms, divided into 20 kathismata. The numbering is that of the Septuagint: in Western Bibles, most psalms bear a number higher by one. Here you will find all the psalms, in full text, each with its own page: the complete text, its place in the kathisma, and when it is read. The Psalter is read at every service of the Church and remains the most powerful prayer book for the Christian at home.
How the Psalter is read
- The psalms are read aloud (not only in the mind), in the rhythm of prayer, not of reading;
- After each psalm (or at the «Glories») is said "Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit...";
- A kathisma may be read in one single session, or divided over several days;
- The Psalter is read for the living and for them that are fallen asleep — it is the oldest «service» entrusted to the laity.
The most sought psalms
- Psalm 50 — repentance
- Psalm 90 — protection
- Psalm 1 — the beginning of every rule of prayer
- Psalm 118 — the longest, the whole of the 17th Kathisma
- Psalm 120 — protection in journeys
All the psalms, by kathisma
The 1st Kathisma (Psalms 1–8)
- Psalm 1 — Blessed are they that walk in the law of the Lord
- Psalm 2 — Why have the heathen raged...
- Psalm 3 — O Lord, how are they multiplied that afflict me
- Psalm 4 — When I called upon Thee, Thou heardest me
- Psalm 5 — Give ear unto my words, O Lord; understand...
- Psalm 6 — O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger
- Psalm 7 — O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my trust...
- Psalm 8 — O Lord our God, how marvellous is Thy name
The 2nd Kathisma (Psalms 9–16)
- Psalm 9 — I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart...
- Psalm 10 — In the Lord have I put my trust. How...
- Psalm 11 — Save me, O Lord, for holiness hath failed...
- Psalm 12 — How long, O Lord?
- Psalm 13 — The fool hath said in his heart...
- Psalm 14 — O Lord, who shall dwell in...
- Psalm 15 — O Lord, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle?
- Psalm 16 — Hear, O Lord, my righteousness; attend...
The 3rd Kathisma (Psalms 17–23)
- Psalm 17 — I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord...
- Psalm 18 — The heavens declare the glory of God...
- Psalm 19 — The Lord hear thee in...
- Psalm 20 — O Lord, in Thy strength shall...
- Psalm 21 — O God, my God, attend to me
- Psalm 22 — The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall want nothing
- Psalm 23 — Lift up your gates, O ye princes
The 4th Kathisma (Psalms 24–30)
- Psalm 24 — Show me, O Lord, Thy ways
- Psalm 25 — Judge me, O Lord, for I have...
- Psalm 26 — The Lord is my illumination and my saviour
- Psalm 27 — Unto Thee, O Lord, have I cried;...
- Psalm 28 — Bring unto the Lord, O ye sons of...
- Psalm 29 — I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast drawn me up
- Psalm 30 — In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust;...
The 5th Kathisma (Psalms 31–36)
- Psalm 31 — Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven...
- Psalm 32 — Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; to the upright...
- Psalm 33 — O taste and see that the Lord is good
- Psalm 34 — Judge, O Lord, them that...
- Psalm 35 — The ungodly, through the transgression of the law, saith...
- Psalm 36 — Fret not thyself because of...
The 6th Kathisma (Psalms 37–45)
- Psalm 37 — O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger (neither in Thy wrath)
- Psalm 38 — O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine indignation
- Psalm 39 — With expectation I have waited for the Lord...
- Psalm 40 — Blessed is he that hath regard unto...
- Psalm 41 — As the hart panteth after the springs of water
- Psalm 42 — Judge me, O God, and defend my cause...
- Psalm 43 — O God, with our ears have we...
- Psalm 44 — My heart hath uttered a good word
- Psalm 45 — God is our refuge and strength
The 7th Kathisma (Psalms 46–54)
- Psalm 46 — O clap your hands, all ye nations;...
- Psalm 47 — Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised...
- Psalm 48 — Hear these things, all ye nations; give ear...
- Psalm 49 — The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken...
- Psalm 50 — Have mercy upon me, O God
- Psalm 51 — Why boastest thou thyself in mischief;...
- Psalm 52 — The fool hath said in his heart...
- Psalm 53 — O God, save me by Thy name;...
- Psalm 54 — O God, in Thy name save me
The 8th Kathisma (Psalms 55–63)
- Psalm 55 — Let mine enemies be put to shame
- Psalm 56 — Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me, for in...
- Psalm 57 — If ye indeed speak righteousness, speak...
- Psalm 58 — Deliver me from mine enemies;...
- Psalm 59 — O God, Thou hast cast us off and...
- Psalm 60 — Hear, O God, my supplication; attend...
- Psalm 61 — Is it not unto God that...
- Psalm 62 — O God, my God, unto Thee...
- Psalm 63 — Hear, O God, my voice, when...
The 9th Kathisma (Psalms 64–69)
- Psalm 64 — Unto Thee belongeth a song of praise,...
- Psalm 65 — Shout with jubilation unto God, all the earth....
- Psalm 66 — O God, be merciful unto us and...
- Psalm 67 — Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered
- Psalm 68 — Save me, O God
- Psalm 69 — O God, come to mine assistance
The 10th Kathisma (Psalms 70–76)
- Psalm 70 — In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust;...
- Psalm 71 — O God, give Thy judgment to the king...
- Psalm 72 — How good is God unto Israel
- Psalm 73 — Why hast Thou cast me off, O God;...
- Psalm 74 — We will praise Thee, O God; we will praise Thee...
- Psalm 75 — God is known in Judah;...
- Psalm 76 — With my voice unto the Lord...
The 11th Kathisma (Psalms 77–84)
- Psalm 77 — With our ears have we heard, our fathers have told us
- Psalm 78 — O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance...
- Psalm 79 — O God of hosts, turn Thee again
- Psalm 80 — Rejoice in God our helper;...
- Psalm 81 — God standeth in the congregation of gods
- Psalm 82 — O God, who shall be compared...
- Psalm 83 — How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts
- Psalm 84 — Thou hast showed favour, O Lord, unto Thy land
The 12th Kathisma (Psalms 85–90)
- Psalm 85 — Bow down, O Lord, Thine ear and hear me
- Psalm 86 — The foundation of Sion is upon the holy mountains...
- Psalm 87 — Unto Thee have I cried, O Lord
- Psalm 88 — I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, for ever
- Psalm 89 — O Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation
- Psalm 90 — He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High
The 13th Kathisma (Psalms 91–100)
- Psalm 91 — It is a good thing to praise the Lord
- Psalm 92 — The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty...
- Psalm 93 — O God of vengeance, the Lord, the God of vengeance...
- Psalm 94 — Come, let us rejoice in the Lord
- Psalm 95 — O sing unto the Lord a new song; sing...
- Psalm 96 — The Lord reigneth! Let the earth rejoice...
- Psalm 97 — O sing unto the Lord a new song
- Psalm 98 — The Lord reigneth: let the people tremble;...
- Psalm 99 — Shout unto the Lord, all the earth; serve...
- Psalm 100 — Mercy and judgment will I sing unto Thee
The 14th Kathisma (Psalms 101–104)
- Psalm 101 — O Lord, my prayer hath been heard
- Psalm 102 — Bless the Lord, O my soul
- Psalm 103 — Blessed art Thou, O Lord
- Psalm 104 — Praise ye the Lord, and call upon...
The 15th Kathisma (Psalms 105–108)
- Psalm 105 — Praise ye the Lord, for He is...
- Psalm 106 — Praise ye the Lord, for He is good
- Psalm 107 — My heart is ready, O God,...
- Psalm 108 — O God, hold not Thy peace at my praise
The 16th Kathisma (Psalms 109–117)
- Psalm 109 — The Lord said unto my Lord
- Psalm 110 — I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart
- Psalm 111 — Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord
- Psalm 112 — Praise the Lord, ye children
- Psalm 113 — At the going out of Israel from...
- Psalm 114 — I have loved the Lord, because...
- Psalm 115 — I believed, and therefore have I spoken,...
- Psalm 116 — Praise the Lord, all ye nations;...
- Psalm 117 — It is good to worship the Lord
The 17th Kathisma (Psalm 118)
The 18th Kathisma (Psalms 119–133)
- Psalm 119 — Unto the Lord, when I was in affliction, I cried
- Psalm 120 — I have lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains
- Psalm 121 — I was glad at them that said...
- Psalm 122 — Unto Thee, that dwellest...
- Psalm 123 — If it had not been the Lord...
- Psalm 124 — They that trust in...
- Psalm 125 — When the Lord turned again the captivity...
- Psalm 126 — Except the Lord build the house
- Psalm 127 — Blessed are all they that...
- Psalm 128 — Often have they fought...
- Psalm 129 — Out of the depths have I cried unto...
- Psalm 130 — O Lord, my heart hath not been lifted up...
- Psalm 131 — Remember, O Lord, David...
- Psalm 132 — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together
- Psalm 133 — Behold now, bless ye the Lord...
The 19th Kathisma (Psalms 134–142)
- Psalm 134 — Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise, ye servants...
- Psalm 135 — Praise ye the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever
- Psalm 136 — By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept
- Psalm 137 — I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart...
- Psalm 138 — O Lord, Thou hast tried me and known me
- Psalm 139 — Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man...
- Psalm 140 — O Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me
- Psalm 141 — With my voice unto the Lord...
- Psalm 142 — O Lord, hear my prayer
The 20th Kathisma (Psalms 143–150)
- Psalm 143 — Blessed is the Lord my God,...
- Psalm 144 — I will extol Thee, O God, my King
- Psalm 145 — I will praise Thee, O God, O King
- Psalm 146 — Praise ye the Lord, for it is good...
- Psalm 147 — Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise...
- Psalm 148 — Praise ye the Lord from the heavens,...
- Psalm 149 — O sing unto the Lord a new song; His praise...
- Psalm 150 — Praise ye the Lord in His saints
The Appendix of the Psalter
- Psalm 151 — I was small among my brethren and...
Prayers recommended alongside the Psalter
- The Our Father — the most powerful prayer
- Morning prayers and evening prayers
- The Prayer of the Heart — "Lord Jesus Christ..."
- A powerful prayer for urgent needs
- The Paraklesis of the Mother of God
- A prayer for health
