Psalm 151...

[Bballer32]

Hello everyone once again

I’m just wondering whether or not someone knows any information on Psalm 151. I understand that it is considered apocrypha to Catholics and Protestants and considered canonical by the Orthodox Church.

My questions are, why do Orthodox accept it, why do Catholics reject it? Does it contradict beliefs or what??

Just curious

God Bless

 

[patrick457]

Hello everyone once again

I’m just wondering whether or not someone knows any information on Psalm 151. I understand that it is considered apocrypha to Catholics and Protestants and considered canonical by the Orthodox Church.

My questions are, why do Orthodox accept it, why do Catholics reject it? Does it contradict beliefs or what??

Just curious

God Bless

For the benefit of everyone, here is Psalm 151 as per the Septuagint.

(1) This Psalm is autographical. Regarding Dauid and outside the number.

I was small among my brothers
and the youngest in the house of my father;
I would shepherd the sheep of my father.
(2) My hands made an instrument;
my fingers tuned a harp.
(3) And who will report it to my lord?
The Lord himself, it is he who listens.
(4) It was he who sent his messenger
and took me from the sheep of my father,
and anointed me with the oil of his anointing.
(5) My brothers were handsome and tall,
and the Lord did not take delight in them.
(6) I went out to meet the allophyle,
and he cursed me by his idols.
(7) But I, having drawn the dagger from him,
I beheaded him
and removed reproach from Israel’s sons.

• Psalm 151 (Septuagint, NETS)

Note that the Greek text says that this particular psalm is “outside the number” of the 150 canonical psalms. (For the record, a few more other psalms are found in the Syriac version - labelled Psalms 152-155.)

 

[504Katrin]

For the benefit of everyone, here is Psalm 151 as per the Septuagint.

(1) This Psalm is autographical. Regarding Dauid and outside the number.

I was small among my brothers
and the youngest in the house of my father;
I would shepherd the sheep of my father.
(2) My hands made an instrument;
my fingers tuned a harp.
(3) And who will report it to my lord?
The Lord himself, it is he who listens.
(4) It was he who sent his messenger
and took me from the sheep of my father,
and anointed me with the oil of his anointing.
(5) My brothers were handsome and tall,
and the Lord did not take delight in them.
(6) I went out to meet the allophyle,
and he cursed me by his idols.
(7) But I, having drawn the dagger from him,
I beheaded him
and removed reproach from Israel’s sons.

• Psalm 151 (Septuagint, NETS)

Note that the Greek text says that this particular psalm is “outside the number” of the 150 canonical psalms. (For the record, a few more other psalms are found in the Syriac version - labelled Psalms 152-155.)

so beautiful. It feels as if a flower blossomed in my heart each time I read one of his psalms.

 

[patrick457]

The thing about the Psalms is, before their number was definitively fixed at 150 (or rather, even though their number was more or less fixed at 150), there were quite a number of different hymns floating around alongside them, some of them attributed to David. A few of them (Psalms 151-155) at least made it into some versions of Scripture, even if they were not totally regarded as being on the same level as the other psalms (cf. the Septuagint’s comment about Psalm 151 being “outside the number”).

The 1st century AD Psalms Scroll (11Q5) found in Qumran, aside from including thirty-nine of the 150 canonical psalms (which are arranged slightly differently than they are today), includes some original material like the Hebrew texts of Psalm 151 (here divided into two psalms), 154, 155, Sirach 51, and a few other previously-unknown hymns. This is how Psalm 151a and 151b goes in there:

Psalm 151A
Hallelujah. Of David, son of Jesse.
1 I was smaller than my brothers, and younger than the sons of my father.
He made me shepherd of his flock, and a ruler over his kids.
2 My hands have made a pipe and my fingers a lyre.
I have rendered glory to the Lord; I have said so in my soul.
3 The mountains do not testify to him, and the hills do not tell (of him).
The trees praise my words and the flocks my deeds.
4 For who can tell and speak of and recount the works of the Lord?
God has seen all, he has heard all, and he listens to all.
5 He sent his prophet to anoint me, Samuel to magnify me.
My brothers went out to meet him, beautiful of figure, beautiful of appearance.
6 They were tall of stature with beautiful hair, yet the Lord did not choose them,
7 He sent and took me from behind the flock, and anointed me with holy oil,
as a prince of his people, and a ruler among the sons of his Covenant.

Psalm 151B

The first display of David’s power after God’s prophet had anointed him.
1 Then I saw the Philistine taunting [from the enemy lines] …

 

[cheezey]

The thing about the Psalms is, before their number was definitively fixed at 150 (or rather, even though their number was more or less fixed at 150), there were quite a number of different hymns floating around alongside them, some of them attributed to David. A few of them (Psalms 151-155) at least made it into some versions of Scripture, even if they were not totally regarded as being on the same level as the other psalms (cf. the Septuagint’s comment about Psalm 151 being “outside the number”).

The 1st century AD Psalms Scroll (11Q5) found in Qumran, aside from including thirty-nine of the 150 canonical psalms (which are arranged slightly differently than they are today), includes some original material like the Hebrew texts of Psalm 151 (here divided into two psalms), 154, 155, Sirach 51, and a few other previously-unknown hymns. This is how Psalm 151a and 151b goes in there:

Psalm 151A
Hallelujah. Of David, son of Jesse.
1 I was smaller than my brothers, and younger than the sons of my father.
He made me shepherd of his flock, and a ruler over his kids.
2 My hands have made a pipe and my fingers a lyre.
I have rendered glory to the Lord; I have said so in my soul.
3 The mountains do not testify to him, and the hills do not tell (of him).
The trees praise my words and the flocks my deeds.
4 For who can tell and speak of and recount the works of the Lord?
God has seen all, he has heard all, and he listens to all.
5 He sent his prophet to anoint me, Samuel to magnify me.
My brothers went out to meet him, beautiful of figure, beautiful of appearance.
6 They were tall of stature with beautiful hair, yet the Lord did not choose them,
7 He sent and took me from behind the flock, and anointed me with holy oil,
as a prince of his people, and a ruler among the sons of his Covenant.

Psalm 151B

The first display of David’s power after God’s prophet had anointed him.
1 Then I saw the Philistine taunting [from the enemy lines] …

Thank you for this post!! I like this type of ‘additional’ learning.

 

[Bballer32]

The thing about the Psalms is, before their number was definitively fixed at 150 (or rather, even though their number was more or less fixed at 150), there were quite a number of different hymns floating around alongside them, some of them attributed to David. A few of them (Psalms 151-155) at least made it into some versions of Scripture, even if they were not totally regarded as being on the same level as the other psalms (cf. the Septuagint’s comment about Psalm 151 being “outside the number”).

The 1st century AD Psalms Scroll (11Q5) found in Qumran, aside from including thirty-nine of the 150 canonical psalms (which are arranged slightly differently than they are today), includes some original material like the Hebrew texts of Psalm 151 (here divided into two psalms), 154, 155, Sirach 51, and a few other previously-unknown hymns. This is how Psalm 151a and 151b goes in there:

Psalm 151A
Hallelujah. Of David, son of Jesse.
1 I was smaller than my brothers, and younger than the sons of my father.
He made me shepherd of his flock, and a ruler over his kids.
2 My hands have made a pipe and my fingers a lyre.
I have rendered glory to the Lord; I have said so in my soul.
3 The mountains do not testify to him, and the hills do not tell (of him).
The trees praise my words and the flocks my deeds.
4 For who can tell and speak of and recount the works of the Lord?
God has seen all, he has heard all, and he listens to all.
5 He sent his prophet to anoint me, Samuel to magnify me.
My brothers went out to meet him, beautiful of figure, beautiful of appearance.
6 They were tall of stature with beautiful hair, yet the Lord did not choose them,
7 He sent and took me from behind the flock, and anointed me with holy oil,
as a prince of his people, and a ruler among the sons of his Covenant.

Psalm 151B

The first display of David’s power after God’s prophet had anointed him.
1 Then I saw the Philistine taunting [from the enemy lines] …

Thank you for this insight!

But do you happen to know why we as Catholics consider it apocrypha?