Favorite Psalm?

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awfulthings9

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My Scriptural goal for February is to do a deep study and reflection over the pslams. For this reason, I thought it would be helpful and meaningful to ask the members of this forum to talk about their favorite psalms, explaining why they are so meaningful. An emotional connection? A particularly moving line? A relevance to some other favorite part of Scripture? Be sure, when answering, to mention if you prefer one particular translations rendering of this psalm over another. Your insights will be immeasurably beneficial to me, and I’ll keep you in my prayers as I reflect on that particular psalm. All best.
 
in general I prefer the grail psalter since that is how I first became enthralled with the psalms in English.

I am not to good with the numbers but some favorite passages are:

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help

Ps. 51 (penitential) create in me a clean heart, this entire psalm seems to prefigure the beatitudes
 
awfulthings9 said:
My Scriptural goal for February is to do a deep study and reflection over the pslams. For this reason, I thought it would be helpful and meaningful to ask the members of this forum to talk about their favorite psalms, explaining why they are so meaningful. An emotional connection? A particularly moving line? A relevance to some other favorite part of Scripture? Be sure, when answering, to mention if you prefer one particular translations rendering of this psalm over another. Your insights will be immeasurably beneficial to me, and I’ll keep you in my prayers as I reflect on that particular psalm. All best.
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I have come to understand Psalm 51, the MISERE, since I am required to recite it twice a day. I drop the last two verses (added much later) and change the word “Blood” to “Lust”
 
104, 36, 51, 130, 38, 2, 3, 131, 57, . . . O heck! All of 'em.

“The trees of the Lord are full of sap.”

“The river of God is full of water.”
 
awfulthings9;

Thank you so much for this thread. The Psalms are my absolutely favorite topic. I could talk for hours about the glory and praise they give to God.

To name a favorite Psalm is easy for me, as when I have difficulties, trials or even want quiet time to reflect, I usually go outside on a clear night, look into the sky and reflect on the glorious Creator of it all.

Psalm 8:2 O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens. 3 Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger. 4 For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded. 5 What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? 6 Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour: 7 And hast set him over the works of thy hands. 8 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields. 9 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea. 10 O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

Thanks and with love,
George

PS, I love the Douay-Rheims Version
 
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and your staff, comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
~Psalm 23
 
They are all beautiful.

St.Augustine yells that they all tell about the coming Messiah.

It took me a long time to understand that he was correct.
 
136 - Every time I hear it sung it’s hard not to cry.

1 Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion: 2 On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments. 3 For there they that led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a hymn of the songs of Sion. 4 How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten.

6 Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us. 9 Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.
 
I love all of them, especially Psalm 23. Since that one has already been listed, I have to say I am fond of Psalm 139. Read this one slowly and it can bring you to tears.

: To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1: O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me!
2: Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.
3: Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4: Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5: Thou dost beset me behind and before, and layest thy hand upon me.
6: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
7: Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8: If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there!
9: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10: even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11: If I say, “Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night,”
12: even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee.
13: For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14: I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well;
15: my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.
16: Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
17: How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18: If I would count them, they are more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee.
19: O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God, and that men of blood would depart from me,
20: men who maliciously defy thee, who lift themselves up against thee for evil!
21: Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? And do I not loathe them that rise up against thee?
22: I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
23: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
 
Psalm 63:4-9 (NAB) - For your love is better than life; my lips offer you worship!
I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.
My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor you!
When I think of you upon my bed, through the night watches I will recall
That you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NAB) - Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, Nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.
They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.
 
I like a lot of the ones here, but another favourite is Psalm 91 aka ‘On Eagle’s Wings’ (that fact hasn’t killed my love of the Psalm) - it begins

'He who dwells in the shelter of the Lord,
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord ‘my refuge, my stronghold,
my God in whom I trust!’
 
Psalm 127 and 128. We used to pray them together every Sunday as part of our family prayer time:
Psalm 127
1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
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2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
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3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
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4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
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5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
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Psalm 128
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
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2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
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3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
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4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
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5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
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6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.
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Psalm 121 KJV - Which is easily put to music:

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=121&version=9&context=chapter

Your Brother in Christ, Michael
 
Mine is:

Ps.131
[0] A Song of Ascents. Of David.
[1] O LORD, my heart is not lifted up,
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
[2] But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child quieted at its mother’s breast;
like a child that is quieted is my soul.
[3] O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and for evermore.

It is perfect for recollecting one’s heart and mind for meditation and contemplation.
 
Traditional_Ang said:
Psalm 121 KJV - Which is easily put to music:

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=121&version=9&context=chapter

Your Brother in Christ, Michael
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Aah, I DID sing this one in High School choir. As I recall we even won a competition with it 👍
 
Thanks to all who’ve replied so far.

I meant to be a little more interactive with this thread, but then both kids (3 years and 7 months) came down with the flu, so my wife and I’ve been juggling that. Exhausted. By the way, what psalm would you recommend for that?

Anyway, I have been reading through your posts and marking all that you’ve written. I’ve really enjoyed your thoughts and this topic has been a neat way to strike up conversation with several of my Christian co-workers. Just walking up to someone and asking, “What’s your favorite psalm” gets some interesting, but heartfelt reactions.

Keep 'em coming.
 
Here’s another favorite:

Psalm 19 (NAB) - The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder’s craft.
One day to the next conveys that message; one night to the next imparts that knowledge.
There is no word or sound; no voice is heard;
Yet their report goes forth through all the earth, their message, to the ends of the world. God has pitched there a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom from his chamber, and like an athlete joyfully runs its course.
From one end of the heavens it comes forth; its course runs through to the other; nothing escapes its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The statutes of the LORD are true, all of them just;
More desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold, Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the comb.
By them your servant is instructed; obeying them brings much reward.
Who can detect heedless failings? Cleanse me from my unknown faults.
But from willful sins keep your servant; let them never control me. Then shall I be blameless, innocent of grave sin.
Let the words of my mouth meet with your favor, keep the thoughts of my heart before you, LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
 
My favourite is the 23rd Psalm from the KJV.

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
 
The NIV translation of Psalm 100:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

I don’t know many of them, but of what I do know, I like this one very much! Especially the line, “come before him with joyful songs.”!!
 
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