Psalm 138

Scroll of the Psalms

Le début du psaume 138, Hymne d'action de grâce, folio 84 des Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, musée Condé, ms.65. La miniature représente un religieux aspergeant d'eau bénite un dignitaire venant d'entrer dans son église.

Psalm 138 is the 138th psalm from the Book of Psalms, which is the first book of the Ketuvim ("Writings") in the Hebrew Bible, and is also a book of the Christian Old Testament.^[1] This particular psalm describes that those who are close to God live in reality, and those who believe in human power live in a world of fantasy.^[2] It is attributed to King David.

Uses

Catholic

Historically, this psalm was recited or sung at the office of Vespers on Wednesday, according to the Rule of St. Benedict.^[3][4] In the Liturgy of Hours, Psalm 138 is recited at Vespers of Tuesday of the fourth semaine.^[5] Moreover, in the liturgy of the Mass, it is played on the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time of the year,^[6] the 5th and the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time of the year.

References

1. Commentaires of the psalms, d’Hilaire de Poitiers, IVe siècle, Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2008
2. The Artscroll Tehillim page 298
3. Règle de saint Benoît, traduction de Prosper Guéranger, p. 47, réimpression 2007
4. Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, p. 516, 1938/2003.
5. Le cycle principal des prières liturgiques se déroule sur quatre semaines.
6. Le cycle des lectures des messes du dimanche se déroule sur trois ans.