Reference: Psalms
Easton
The psalms are the production of various authors. "Only a portion of the Book of Psalms claims David as its author. Other inspired poets in successive generations added now one now another contribution to the sacred collection, and thus in the wisdom of Providence it more completely reflects every phase of human emotion and circumstances than it otherwise could." But it is specially to David and his contemporaries that we owe this precious book. In the "titles" of the psalms, the genuineness of which there is no sufficient reason to doubt, 73 are ascribed to David. Peter and John (Ac 4:25) ascribe to him also the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. About two-thirds of the whole collection have been ascribed to David.
Psalms 39, 62, and 77 are addressed to Jeduthun, to be sung after his manner or in his choir. Psalms 50 and 73-83 are addressed to Asaph, as the master of his choir, to be sung in the worship of God. The "sons of Korah," who formed a leading part of the Kohathite singers (2Ch 20:19), were intrusted with the arranging and singing of PS 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
In Lu 24:44 the word "psalms" means the Hagiographa, i.e., the holy writings, one of the sections into which the Jews divided the Old Testament. (See Bible.)
None of the psalms can be proved to have been of a later date than the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, hence the whole collection extends over a period of about 1,000 years. There are in the New Testament 116 direct quotations from the Psalter.
The Psalter is divided, after the analogy of the Pentateuch, into five books, each closing with a doxology or benediction:
(1.) The first book comprises the first 41 psalms, all of which are ascribed to David except 1, 2, 10, and 33, which, though anonymous, may also be ascribed to him.
(2.) Book second consists of the next 31 psalms (42-72), 18 of which are ascribed to David and 1 to Solomon (the 72nd). The rest are anonymous.
(3.) The third book contains 17 psalms (73-89), of which the 86th is ascribed to David, the 88th to Heman the Ezrahite, and the 89th to Ethan the Ezrahite.
(4.) The fourth book also contains 17 psalms (90-106), of which the 90th is ascribed to Moses, and the 101st and 103rd to David.
(5.) The fifth book contains the remaining psalms, 44 in number. Of these, 15 are ascribed to David, and the 127th to Solomon.
PS 136 is generally called "the great hallel." But the Talmud includes also PS 120-135. PS 113-118, inclusive, constitute the "hallel" recited at the three great feasts, at the new moon, and on the eight days of the feast of dedication.
It is presumed that these several collections were made at times of high religious life: the first, probably, near the close of David's life; the second in the days of Solomon; the third by the singers of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 20:19); the fourth by the men of Hezekiah (29, 30, 31); and the fifth in the days of Ezra.
The Mosaic ritual makes no provision for the service of song in the worship of God. David first taught the Church to sing the praises of the Lord. He first introduced into the ritual of the tabernacle music and song.
Divers names are given to the psalms. (1.) Some bear the Hebrew designation shir (Gr. ode, a song). Thirteen have this title. It means the flow of speech, as it were, in a straight line or in a regular strain. This title includes secular as well as sacred song.
(2.) Fifty-eight psalms bear the designation (Heb) mitsmor (Gr. psalmos, a psalm), a lyric ode, or a song set to music; a sacred song accompanied with a musical instrument.
(3.) PS 145, and many others, have the designation (Heb) tehillah (Gr. hymnos, a hymn), meaning a song of praise; a song the prominent thought of which is the praise of God.
(4.) Six psalms (16, 56-60) have the title (Heb) michtam (q.v.).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohath and of the sons of the Korah, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohath and of the sons of the Korah, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms, concerning me.
who (in the Holy Spirit) by the mouth of thy servant David (our father) hast said, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
Fausets
(See DAVID; POETRY.) The Hebrew designation tehillim, "praises" or hymns," occurring only in the title of Psalm 145 and about 30 times in the body of the Psalms, applies only to some not to all the psalms. The glorification of God is the design of them all, even the penitentiary and precatory psalms; but tehilliym applies strictly to praise songs alone, tephillowt to the prayer songs; Psalm 17; Psalm 72 end, closing the second book of Psalms, Psalm 86; 90; 102 title. No one Hebrew title comprehends all.
The Greek Septuagint has given the title "Psalms" (from psalloo "to play an instrument") applied to the whole collection. The Hebrew mizmor designates 65 psalms; in the Syriac version it comprises the whole (from zaamar "to decorate"), psalms of artificial, adorned structure (Hengstenberg). "A rhythmical composition" (Lowth). "Psalms," the designation most applicable to the whole book, means songs accompanied by an instrument, especially the harp (1Ch 16:4-9; 2Ch 5:12-13). Shir, "a joyful thanksgiving song," is prefixed only to some. The various kinds are specified in Eph 5:19; "psalms (accompanied by an instrument), hymns (indirect praise of God), ... spiritual songs (joyous lyric pieces; contrast Am 8:10)."
TITLES. Their genuineness is confirmed by their antiquity (which is proved by their being unintelligible to the Septuagint translators of the Hebrew into Greek), and by their presence in the greatest number of manuscripts, and in fragments of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. Their obscurity and occasional want of connection with the psalm's contents (as title Psalm 34) are incompatible with their origination from forgers. The orientals, moreover, usually prefix titles to poems (Hab 3:1; Isa 38:9); so David (2Sa 23:1). The enigmatical titles, found only in the psalms of David and of David's singers, accord with Eastern taste. They are too "poetical, spirited, and profound for any later collector" (Hengstenberg). So David's "bow song" (2Sa 1:18), his enigmatical designation for "the song on him expert with the bow" (2Sa 1:22).
The historical hints in some titles give a clue to the dates. If the titles were added by later hands, how is it that they are wanting in those psalms where conjecture could most easily have had place, namely, the non-Davidic psalms of the fourth and fifth books, whereas they appear in the most regular and complete form in David's psalms, next in those of his singers? Now these are just the ones where conjecture is given no room for exercise; for the titles do not apparently illustrate these psalms, but are a memorial of the events which most deeply impressed David's own mind. In the last two books the historical occasions do not occur in the titles, because cycles of psalms mainly compose these books, and among such cycles psalms of an individual reference hardly have place.
DIVISIONS. Davidic basis of the whole. The Psalms form one "book"; so the Lord refers to them (Lu 20:42), so His apostles (Ac 1:20). The fathers, Ambrose (on Psalm 40) and Jerome to Cyprian (2:695), describe the Psalms as five books in one volume. Based on and corresponding to the historical Pentateuch, they form a poetical "Pentateuch" (Epiphanius, de Mens., c. 5), extending from Moses to the times of Malachi "the Hebrew history set to music an oratorio in five parts, with Messiah for its subject" (Wordsworth). The Psalms, like the Pentateuch, being used in divine worship, are the people's answer to God's address to them in the law, i.e. the expression of their pious feelings called forth by the word of God. The close of each of the five books is marked by a doxology. The "blessed be the Lord God of Israel" is taken up by Zacharias, as fulfilled in Christ (Le 1:17; Ps 106:48). Book I includes Psalm 1-41; Book II, Psalm 42-72; Book III, Psalm 73-89; Book IV, Psalm 90-106; Book V, Psalm 107-150.
Book I is according to the titles Davidic; accordingly there is no trace of any author hut David. The objection from the "temple" (Ps 5:7) being mentioned is groundless, for in 1Sa 1:9; 3:3, it is similarly used for the tabernacle long before Solomon's temple was built. The argument for a post-Babylonian date from the phrase "bring back the captivity" (Ps 14:7) is invalid; it is a Hebraism for reversing one's misfortunes (Job 42:10). Nor does the acrosticism in Psalm 25 prove a late date, for acrosticism appears in psalms acknowledged to be David's (Psalm 9). In Books II and III David's singers have borrowed from David (excepting "a song of the beloved" Psalm 45, and Psalm 46, "upon Alamoth") everything peculiar in his superscriptions; see Psalm 42; 43; 44; 84; 86. "Selah" is restricted to David and his singers; but "hallelujah" is never found in his or their psalms.
So also "to the chief musician," (committing the psalm to the music conductor to prepare for musical performance in the public service: 1Ch 15:21 Hebrew and margin, compare 1Ch 15:22,) is limited to David's and their psalms. The writer of 2 Samuel 22 evidently turned into prose David's poetical superscription (Psalm 18); so the writer of 1Sa 19:11; 21:13-14; 23:19, had before him the titles of Psalm 34; 54; 59. Hezekiah's "writing" (miktab) alludes probably to David's miktam (a "secret," or "song of deep import"), Psalm 56; 57 titles, for it was he who restored David's psalms to their liturgical use in the temple (2Ch 29:30). This imitation of David's title, and still more the correspondence of his prayer to David's psalms (Ps 102:24; 27:13; 49:1; 6:5; 30:9), is a presumption for the authenticity of David's and his singers' psalms and their titles.
Habakkuk similarly leans upon David's superscriptions, as also upon his psalms. Hab 3:1, "Shiggaion," compare title Ps 7:1, "Son of David"; Hab 3:19, "to the chief musician on my stringed instruments" is derived from the titles Psalm 4; 6. So the "Selah" (Ps 6:9-10) which occurs only in the psalms of David and his singers. The absence of the authors' names from most of the psalms in the fourth and fifth books implies that none of them have an individual and personal character, as the Davidic psalms have. In all such the psalmist represents the community. The later groups of psalms rest on the Davidic, and echo the poetry of David. Even in the psalms of David's singers, the authors, except Asaph (Psalm 1; 74) who was immediately associated with David, do not give their individual names.
PRINCIPLE OF SELECTION. Not all Israel's lyric poetry but only.
(1) such as is directly religious is included in the psalter, therefore not David's dirge over Saul and Jonathan (2Sa 1:17-27). Also
(2) only the psalms applicable to the whole church and therefore suited to the public services of the sanctuary. The individual psalmist represents the religious community whose mouthpiece he is. 2Sa 23:1; David sings in his typical and representative character; no other psalmist in the book has personal references. Hence Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 38) and Jonah's thanksgiving are excluded as too personal.
(3) Only such as were composed trader the Holy Spirit's inspiration. The very musicians who founded the sacred music were inspired (1Ch 25:1, "prophesy with harps"), much more the psalmists themselves. Asaph, the writer of some psalms, was a "seer" (2Ch 29:30).
David spoke "in the Spirit." Christ testifies (Mt 22:41-46), He classes" the Psalms," the chief book of the chetubim or hagiographa, with "the law and the prophets" (Lu 24:44). The Messianic prophetic element in David leans on Nathan's prophecy (2 Samuel 7). Subsequent prophets develop David's Messianic predictions. The Psalms draw out of the typical ceremonial of the law its tuner spirit, adapting it to the various requirements of the individual and the congregation. By their help the Israelite could enter into the living spirit of the law, and realizing his need of the promised Saviour look for Him of whom the Psalms testify. They are a treasury from which we can draw the inner experiences of Old Testament saints and express our corresponding feelings, under like circumstances, in their divinely sanctioned language of praise and prayer.
CLASSIFICATION.
(1) Psalms of joy and gratitude, shir, lethodah "for confession" or as
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he shall cleave it by its wings but shall not divide it in two; and the priest shall incense it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering on fire of a very acceptable aroma unto the LORD.
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
and before the lamp of God was put out, Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was;
Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be dead.
And he changed his behaviour before them and feigned himself a fool in their hands and scrabbled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then Achish said unto his slaves, Behold, ye see the man is mad; why then have ye brought him to me?
Then those of Ziph came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the woods in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right hand side of the wilderness?
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was bitter, each one for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son. (He also bade them teach the sons of Judah the use of the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of righteousness.)
(He also bade them teach the sons of Judah the use of the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of righteousness.) The glory of Israel is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen! read more. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. Without the blood of the slain, without the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.
Without the blood of the slain, without the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty. Saul and Jonathan were loved and desired in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. read more. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the valiant fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
And David received fame when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt eighteen thousand men.
Now these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse, said, and the man who was raised up high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet cantor of Israel, said,
Now these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse, said, and the man who was raised up high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet cantor of Israel, said,
And Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obededom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. And Chenaniah, prince of the Levites in prophecy, for he presided in prophecy, because he had understanding.
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD and to record and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: Asaph, the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps, but Asaph resounded with cymbals; read more. and Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. Then, on that day, David began to thank the LORD by the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, speak of all his wondrous works.
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated unto the ministry the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals; and the number of men that were suitable for the work of their respective ministry was,
And David said to Solomon, his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it; fear not, nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not leave thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work of the service of the house of the LORD.
Furthermore, David, the king, said unto all the congregation, Only Solomon, my son, has God chosen; he is young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohath and of the sons of the Korah, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah ; for there they blessed the LORD; therefore, they called the name of that place, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. Then they returned, those of Judah and those of Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat at their head, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. read more. And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. And the fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the land when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
Moreover, Hezekiah, the king, and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph, the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshipped.
Moreover, Hezekiah, the king, and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph, the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshipped.
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the house, Necho, king of Egypt, came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I do not come against thee this day, but against the house that makes war with me, for God commanded me to make haste. Forbear from meddling with God, who is with me, that he not destroy thee. read more. Nevertheless, Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and did not hearken unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight him in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his slaves, Take me away, for I am sore wounded. His slaves, therefore, took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah; and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day and made them an ordinance in Israel, which are written in the lamentations.
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. read more. And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem and condemned the land in one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz, his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a diligent scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
And Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites that caused the people to be attentive, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
let thistles grow up unto me instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law he meditates day and night.
Why do the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing?
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in Sheol who shall give thee thanks?
The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD has received my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed; they shall be sorely troubled: they shall turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
O LORD my God, in thee I have put my trust: save me from all those that persecute me, and deliver me
Oh that the saving health of Israel were come out of Zion! When the LORD turns back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
For who is God except the LORD? or who is a refuge except our God?
I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout of joy, the LORD with the sound of the shofar.
God is gone up with a shout of joy, the LORD with the sound of the shofar.
God reigns over the Gentiles; God sits upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the peoples have joined the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God; he is greatly exalted.
The princes of the peoples have joined the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God; he is greatly exalted.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, the only one who does wondrous things
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them at once; they have burned up all the meeting places of the people of God in the earth.
O God, the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance; they have defiled the temple of thy holiness; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
Pour out thy wrath upon the Gentiles that do not know thee and upon the kingdoms that do not call upon thy name.
Thou hast also blunted the edge of his sword and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
The days of his youth hast thou shortened; thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.
I said, O my God, do not cut me off in the midst of my days; thy years are from generation to generation.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Halelu-JAH.
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the man of violence.
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness:
For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will gather you together. Behold, my slave shall be prospered; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
Behold, my slave shall be prospered; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many rejected thee, in such manner was his likeness and his beauty, disfigured from the sons of men:
As many rejected thee, in such manner was his likeness and his beauty, disfigured from the sons of men: But he shall sprinkle many Gentiles; the kings shall shut their mouths over him: for that which had not been told them they shall see; and that which they had not heard they shall understand.
But he shall sprinkle many Gentiles; the kings shall shut their mouths over him: for that which had not been told them they shall see; and that which they had not heard they shall understand.
Who shall believe our report? and upon whom shall the arm of the LORD be manifested? With all this he shall grow up before him as a tender sprout and as a root out of a dry ground. There is no outward appearance in him, nor beauty. We shall see him, yet nothing attractive about him that we should desire him. read more. He is despised and rejected among men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with weakness; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our sicknesses and suffered our pain: and we considered him stricken, smitten of God, and cast down. But he was wounded for our rebellions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes healing was provided for us. All we like sheep have become lost; we have turned each one to his own way; and the LORD transposed in him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he did not open his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall count his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the rebellion of my people he was smitten. And he made his grave with the wicked, and his death with the rich; even though he had never done evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth. With all this the LORD chose to bruise him; subjecting him to grief. When he shall have offered his soul for atonement, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the will of the LORD shall be prospered in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. And by his knowledge shall my righteous slave justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil unto the strong because he has poured out his soul unto death, and he was numbered with the rebellious, having born the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Pour out thy fury upon the Gentiles that do not know thee and upon the nations that do not call on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob and devoured him and consumed him and have destroyed his habitation.
and burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burned with fire:
Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.
and I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; and I will cause sackcloth to be brought up upon all loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son and the end thereof as a bitter day.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, because of all the ignorance.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, because of all the ignorance.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and upon my high places he will cause me to walk victorious in my instruments of music.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. read more. He said unto them, How then does David in Spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son? And no one was able to answer him a word, neither dared anyone from that day forth ask him any more questions.
And David himself says in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken;
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded this unto them in all the scriptures concerning himself.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms, concerning me. Then he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures read more. and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day;
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell therein, and let another take his office.
For David speaks concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved, therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover even my flesh shall rest in hope read more. because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
speaking among yourselves with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and praising the Lord in your hearts,
Of which saving health the prophets, (who prophesied of the grace that was to come in you) have enquired and searched diligently; searching when and in what point of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, which announced beforehand the afflictions that were to come upon the Christ, and the glory that should follow them. read more. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us they did administer the things, which are now announced unto you by those that have preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into.
Hastings
PSALMS
1. Title and place in Canon.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
And the priest shall take a handful of the present, in memory of her, and incense it upon the altar and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, my horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I have rejoiced in thy saving health. There is none holy as the LORD, for there is none beside thee; neither is there any strong One like our God. read more. Do not multiply thyself speaking great and lofty things; let arrogant words cease from your mouth, for the LORD is the all-knowing God, and the magnificent works are his. The bows of the mighty men have been broken, and the weak are girded with strength. Those that were full have hired themselves out for bread, and those that were hungry ceased so that the barren has given birth to seven, and she that has many children is waxed feeble. The LORD kills, and he gives life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he has set the world upon them. He keeps the feet of his saints, and the wicked perish in darkness, for no man shall prevail by their own strength. LORD, thine adversaries shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven he shall thunder upon them. The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, raised their voices with cymbals of brass; and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth. read more. And Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obededom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
And the Levites, of the sons of the Kohath and of the sons of the Korah, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
The sons of Bebai, six hundred and twenty-three.
For upon the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.
The LORD is known by the judgment which he has executed; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion (meditate on this for ever). Selah.
The LORD is known by the judgment which he has executed; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion (meditate on this for ever). Selah.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands. One day provides a word for the next day, and one night declares wisdom unto the next night. read more. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the rights of the LORD are true, they are all just. More to be desired are they than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy slave warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy slave also from pride and arrogance; let them not have dominion over me; then I shall be perfect, and I shall be innocent of the great rebellion. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. read more. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in the place of his holiness? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not taken my name in vain, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his saving health. This is the generation of those that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of the hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. read more. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the LORD and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; in the secret of his tent shall he hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me and answer me. My heart has spoken unto me from thee, Seek my face. Thy face, O LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy slave away in anger: thou hast been my help; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my saving health. For my father and my mother have left me, and the LORD has taken me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a right path because of my enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of my enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, for the LORD.
The rebellion of the wicked saith to my heart that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes until his iniquity is found to be hateful. read more. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he has left off to be wise and to do good. He devises iniquity upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. Thy mercy, O LORD, reaches unto the heavens, and thy truth reaches unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; thy judgments are a great deep; O LORD, thou dost preserve man and beast. How excellent is thy mercy, O God! therefore the sons of Adam cover themselves in the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light shall we see light. Extend thy mercy unto those that know thee and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. There are the workers of iniquity fallen; they are cast down and shall not be able to rise.
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my life to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. read more. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. When I am poor and needy; the Lord will remember me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted against me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him for the wellbeing of his presence.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the saving health of my countenance and my God.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait for God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the saving health of my countenance and my God.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
My heart is ready, O God, my heart is willing; I will sing and give praise.
My heart is ready, O God, my heart is willing; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp; I myself will arise early.
Awake, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp; I myself will arise early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing unto thee among the nations.
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand and hear me.
That thy beloved may be delivered, save with thy right hand and hear me. God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem and mete out the valley of Succoth.
God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my lawgiver;
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom I will cast out my shoe; Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
Moab is my washpot; over Edom I will cast out my shoe; Philistia, triumph thou because of me. Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom?
Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom? Surely thou, O God, who had cast us off; and thou, O God, who did not go out with our armies.
Surely thou, O God, who had cast us off; and thou, O God, who did not go out with our armies. Give us help from trouble, for vain is the salvation of man.
Give us help from trouble, for vain is the salvation of man. Through God we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Through God we shall do valiantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, the only one who does wondrous things And blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
Thou hast made his clarity to cease and cast his throne down to the ground. The days of his youth hast thou shortened; thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. read more. How long, O LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is; why hast thou made all men subject to vanity? What man is he that lives and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of Sheol? Selah. Lord, where are thy former mercies, which thou didst sware unto David in thy truth? Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy slaves; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of many peoples, because thine enemies have dishonoured, O LORD; they have dishonoured the footsteps of thine anointed. Blessed be the LORD for ever. Amen and Amen.
upon an instrument of ten strings and upon the psaltery, upon the harp with a pleasant sound.
Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, the set time, is come.
because the LORD shall have built up Zion, and he shall be seen in his glory.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, that we might lift up thy holy name, that we might glory in thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Halelu-JAH.
and gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
When the LORD shall turn again the captivity of Zion, we shall be like those that dream.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
The LORD, he who builds up Jerusalem; shall gather together the outcasts of Israel.
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness:
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness: I said in the cutting off of my days; I shall go to the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the residue of my years. read more. I said, I shall not see JAH, even JAH, in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. My dwelling place has been moved and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent; he has cut off my life like a weaver: he has cut me off with sickness: between the day and the night thou shalt consume me. I reckoned that I had until morning. As a lion, he broke all my bones: from the morning even unto the night thou shalt make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I complain; I mourned as a dove; I raised my eyes upward, O LORD, I am suffering violence; comfort me. What shall I say? He has both spoken unto me, and he himself has done it; I shall walk softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, even unto all those that shall live, in these fifteen years I shall proclaim the life of my spirit in them and how thou caused me to sleep, and afterwards hast given me life. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; but it has pleased thee to deliver my life from the pit of corruption, for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave shall not confess thee, nor shall death praise thee; nor shall those that go down into the pit wait for thy truth. He who lives, he who lives, even he shall confess thee, as I do this day; the father to the sons shall make known thy truth. The LORD is ready to save me: therefore we will sing our psalms in the house of the LORD all the days of our life.
Thus has the LORD said, As when one has found new wine in a cluster and says, Do not destroy it; for a blessing is in it; so will I do for my slaves' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, because of all the ignorance.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and upon my high places he will cause me to walk victorious in my instruments of music.
Then Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saving Health, read more. for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for, behold, from now on all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done great things unto me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those that fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has received his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people And has raised up a horn of saving health for us in the house of his servant David, read more. as he spoke by the mouth of the saints who from the beginning were his prophets; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us; to fulfill mercy unto our fathers and remembering his holy covenant of the oath which he made to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that without fear delivered out of the hand of our enemies, we might serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called prophet of the Most High, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, giving knowledge of saving health unto his people for the remission of their sins through the bowels of mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us to give light to those that dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.
And David himself says in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the psalms, concerning me.
And they celebrated the dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell therein, and let another take his office.
Morish
This word occurs in the O.T. only in connection with the Psalms of David and those in the Book of Psalms. David is called "the sweet psalmist of Israel." 2Sa 23:1. There can be no doubt that in connection with the 'singers,' and the praising God with instruments, the Psalms were used. We read "sing psalms unto him," "Make a joyful noise unto him with psalms," etc. In N.T. days, for a time at least, the Psalms of David may have been sung by believers, but there were also hymns and spiritual songs, and it is to be remarked that in the singing at the institution of the Lord's supper a hymn (?????) is spoken of, not a psalm (??????). See PASSOVER. The latter Greek word (besides the occurrences which refer to the Book of Psalms) is found in 1Co 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16.
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Now these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse, said, and the man who was raised up high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet cantor of Israel, said,
How is it then, brothers? when ye come together, each one of you has a psalm, has doctrine, has tongues, has revelation, has interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification.
speaking among yourselves with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and praising the Lord in your hearts,
Let the word of the Christ dwell in you in abundance in all wisdom, teaching you and exhorting you one to another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with grace singing in your hearts unto the Lord.
Watsons
PSALMS. The book of Psalms is a collection of hymns, or sacred songs, in praise of God, and consists of poems of various kinds. They are the productions of different persons, but are generally called the Psalms of David, because a great part of them was composed by him, and David himself is distinguished by the name of the Psalmist. We cannot now ascertain all the Psalms written by David, but their number probably exceeds seventy; and much less are we able to discover the authors of the other Psalms, or the occasions upon which they were composed. A few of them were written after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The titles prefixed to them are of very questionable authority; and in many cases they are not intended to denote the writer but refer only to the person who was appointed to set them to music. David first introduced the practice of singing sacred hymns in the public service of God; and it was restored by Ezra. The authority of the Psalms is established not only by their rank among the sacred writings, and by the unvaried testimony of ages, but likewise by many intrinsic proofs of inspiration. Not only do they breathe through every part a divine spirit of eloquence, but they contain numberless illustrious prophecies that were remarkably accomplished, and are frequently appealed to by the evangelical writers. The sacred character of the whole book is established by the testimony of our Saviour and his Apostles, who, in various parts of the New Testament, appropriate the predictions of the Psalms as obviously apposite to the circumstances of their lives, and as intentionally composed to describe them. The veneration for the Psalms has in all ages of the church been considerable. The fathers assure us, that in the earlier times the whole book of Psalms was generally learned by heart; and that the ministers of every gradation were expected to be able to repeat them from memory. These invaluable Scriptures are daily repeated without weariness, though their beauties are often overlooked in familiar and habitual perusal. As hymns immediately addressed to the Deity, they reduce righteousness to practice; and while we acquire the sentiments, we perform the offices of piety; while we supplicate for blessings, we celebrate the memorial of former mercies; and while in the exercise of devotion, faith is enlivened by the display of prophecy. Josephus asserts, and most of the ancient writers maintain, that the Psalms were composed in metre. They have undoubtedly a peculiar conformation of sentences, and a measured distribution of parts. Many of them are elegiac, and most of David's are of the lyric kind. There is no sufficient reason however to believe, as some writers have imagined, that they were written in rhyme, or in any of the Grecian measures. Some of them are acrostic; and though the regulations of the Hebrew measure are now lost, there can be no doubt, from their harmonious modulation, that they were written with some kind of metrical order; and they must have been composed in accommodation to the measure to which they were set. (See Poetry of the Hebrews.) The Hebrew copies and the Septuagint version of this book contain the same number of Psalms; only the Septuagint translators have, for some reason which does not appear, thrown the ninth and tenth into one, as also the one hundred and fourteenth and one hundred and fifteenth, and have divided the one hundred and sixteenth and one hundred and forty-seventh each into two.
It is very justly observed by Dr. Allix, that, "although the sense of near fifty Psalms be fixed and settled by divine authors, yet Christ and his Apostles did not undertake to quote all the Psalms they could, but only to give a key to their hearers, by which they might apply to the same subjects the Psalms of the same composure and expression." With regard to the Jews, Bishop Chandler very pertinently remarks, that "they must have understood David, their prince, to have been a figure of Messiah. They would not otherwise have made his Psalms part of their daily worship; nor would David have delivered them to the church to be so employed, were it not to instruct and support them in the knowledge and belief of this fundamental article. Were the Messiah not concerned in the Psalms, it would have been absurd to celebrate twice a day, in their public devotions, the events of one man's life, who was deceased so long ago, as to have no relation now to the Jews and the circumstances of their affairs; or to transcribe whole passages from them into their prayers for the coming of the Messiah." Upon the same principle it is easily seen that the objections, which may seem to lie against the use of Jewish services in Christian congregations, may cease at once. Thus it may be said, Are we concerned with the affairs of David and of Israel? Have we any thing to do with the ark and the temple? They are no more. Are we to go up to Jerusalem, and to worship on Sion? They are desolated, and trodden under foot by the Turks. Are we to sacrifice young bullocks according to the law? The law is abolished, never to be observed again. Do we pray for victory over Moab, Edom, and Philistia; or for deliverance from Babylon? There are no such nations, no such places in the world. What then do we mean, when, taking such expressions into our mouths, we utter them in our own persons, as parts of our devotions, before God? Assuredly we must mean a spiritual Jerusalem and Sion; a spiritual ark and temple; a spiritual law; spiritual sacrifices; and spiritual victories over spiritual enemies; all described under the old names, which are still retained, though "old things are passed away, and all things are become new," 2Co 5:17. By substituting Messiah for David, the Gospel for the law, the church Christian for that of Israel, and the enemies of the one for those of the other, the Psalms are made our own. Nay, they are with more fulness and propriety applied now to the substance, than they were of old to the "shadow of good things then to come," Heb 10:1. For let it not pass unobserved, that when, upon the first publication of the Gospel, the Apostles had occasion to utter their transports of joy, on their being counted worthy to suffer for the name of their Lord and Master, which was then opposed by Jew and Gentile, they brake forth into an application of the second Psalm to the transactions then before their eyes, Ac 4:25. The Psalms, thus applied, have advantages which no fresh compositions, however finely executed, can possibly have; since, beside their incomparable fitness to express our sentiments, they are at the same time memorials of, and appeals to, former mercies and deliverances; they are acknowledgments of prophecies accomplished; they point out the connection between the old and new dispensations, thereby teaching us to admire and adore the wisdom of God displayed in both, and furnishing while we read or sing them, an inexhaustible variety of the noblest matter that can engage the contemplations of man.
Very few of the Psalms, comparatively, appear to be simply prophetical, and to belong only to Messiah, without the intervention of any other person. Most of them, it is apprehended, have a double sense, which stands upon this ground and foundation, that the ancient patriarchs, prophets, priests, and kings, were typical characters, in their several offices, and in the more remarkable passages of their lives, their extraordinary depressions and miraculous exaltations foreshowing him who was to arise as the head of the holy family, the great prophet, the true priest, the everlasting king. The Israelitish polity, and the law of Moses, were purposely framed after the example and shadow of things spiritual and heavenly; and the events which happened to the ancient people of God were designed to shadow out parallel occurrences, which should afterward take place in the accomplishment of man's redemption, and the rise and progress of the Christian church, (See Prophecy.) For this reason, the Psalms composed for the use of Israel, and by them accordingly used at the time, do admit of an application to us, who are now "the Israel of God," Ga 6:16, and to our Redeemer
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who (in the Holy Spirit) by the mouth of thy servant David (our father) hast said, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new.
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never make perfect those who come by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually.