



Psalms are usually identified by a sequence number, often preceded by the abbreviation "Ps." Numbering of the Psalms differs-mostly by one-between the Hebrew ( Masoretic) and Greek (Septuagint) manuscripts. The Septuagint also attributes several Psalms (like 112 and 135) to Ezekiel and Jeremiah. The Septuagint, the Peshitta (the Syriac Vulgate), and the Latin Vulgate each associate several Psalms (such as 111 and 145) with Haggai and Zechariah.

Others named include Asaph (12), the sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Ethan the Ezrahite (1), and Heman the Ezrahite (1). Many carry the names of individuals, the most common (73 psalms-75 if including the two Psalms attributed by the New Testament to David) being 'of David', and thirteen of these relate explicitly to incidents in the king's life. Others appear to be references to types of musical composition, such as "A psalm" and "Song", or directions regarding the occasion for using the psalm ("On the dedication of the temple", "For the memorial offering", etc.). Over a third appear to be musical directions, addressed to the "leader" or "choirmaster", including such statements as "with stringed instruments" and "according to lilies". Many psalms (116 of the 150) have individual superscriptions (titles), ranging from lengthy comments to a single word. These divisions were probably introduced by the final editors to imitate the five-fold division of the Torah: The Book of Psalms is divided into five sections, each closing with a doxology (i.e., a benediction). An 1880 Baxter process illustration of Psalm 23, from the Religious Tract Society's magazine The Sunday at Home Benedictions
