Treasury of Christian KnowledgeComparison of Enumeration of the Psalms in the Book of Divine Worship and in the VulgateThe numbering assigned to the 150 Psalms in the Book of Divine Worship is based on the standard Hebrew text (the Masoretic Text); it is a system being increasingly used by Roman Catholics, at least for English translations of the Psalter. It is the enumeration used by Anglicans, Protestants, and Jews. The ancient Jewish translation of the Psalms into Greek (the Septuagint) placed the Psalms in the same order but made different divisions between Psalms, resulting in 150 Psalms but with a numbering that is off by one through most of the Psalter; Orthodox Christians continue to use that numbering system. The Latin Vulgate follows the Greek enumeration as well and, traditionally, Roman Catholic Bibles used that system. The numbers are the same for Psalms 1-8. Psalms 9 and 10 in our Book of Divine Worship are Psalm 9 in the Vulgate, and the Vulgate continues, one number off from our numbering, through Psalm 113 (112 Vulgate). Psalms 114 and 115 in our Book of Divine Worship correspond to Psalm 113 in the Vulgate. Psalm 116 in our enumeration corresponds to Psalms 114 and 115 in the Vulgate. The Vulgate then continues, one number behind our numbering until Psalm 147 in the Book of Divine Worship, which is split into Psalm 146 and 147 in the Vulgate. Psalms 148 through 150 are numbered the same in both systems. |