Appendix 1: The Psalter

(a) Numbering of the Psalms

Between the Septuagint numbering of the Psalms and that given in the Hebrew there is usually a small difference, the Hebrew figure being normally one greater than the Greek. The Vulgate uses the Greek numbering; the Authorised Version and the Book of Common Prayer follow the Hebrew.

Greek

Hebrew

1–8

1–8

9

9 and 10

10–112

Add one to the number of each Psalm

113

114 and 115

114

116:1–9

115

116:10–19

116–145

Add one to the number of each Psalm

146

147:1–11

147

147:12–20

148–150

148–150

(b) The division of the Psalter into kathismata

Kathisma

Stasis

Psalms

I

(i)

1, 2, 3

(ii)

4, 5, 6

(iii)

7, 8

II

(i)

9, 10

(ii)

11, 12, 13

(iii)

14, 15, 16

III

(i)

17

(ii)

18, 19, 20

(iii)

21, 22, 23

IV

(i)

24, 25, 26

(ii)

27, 28, 29

(iii)

30, 31

V

(i)

32, 33

(ii)

34, 35

(iii)

36

VI

(i)

37, 38, 39

(ii)

40, 41, 42

(iii)

43, 44, 45

VII

(i)

46, 47, 48

(ii)

49, 50

(iii)

51, 52, 53, 54

VIII

(i)

55, 56, 57

(ii)

58, 59, 60

(iii)

61, 62, 63

IX

(i)

64, 65, 66

(ii)

67

(iii)

68, 69

X

(i)

70, 71

(ii)

72, 73

(iii)

74, 75, 76

XI

(i)

77

(ii)

78, 79, 80

(iii)

81, 82, 83, 84

XII

(i)

85, 86, 87

(ii)

88

(iii)

89, 90

XIII

(i)

91, 92, 93

(ii)

94, 95, 96

(iii)

97, 98, 99, 100

XIV

(i)

101, 102

(ii)

103

(iii)

104

XV

(i)

105

(ii)

106

(iii)

107, 108

XVI

(i)

109, 110, 111

(ii)

112, 113, 114

(iii)

115, 116, 117

XVII

(i)

118:1–72

(ii)

118:73–131

(iii)

118:132–176

XVIII

(i)

119, 120, 121, 122, 123

(ii)

124, 125, 126, 127, 128

(iii)

129, 130, 131, 132, 133

XIX

(i)

134, 135, 136

(ii)

137, 138, 139

(iii)

140, 141, 142

XX

(i)

143, 144

(ii)

145, 146, 147

(iii)

148, 149, 150

(c) The recitation of the Psalter

The Psalter is read in its entirety once a week, and during Lent twice a week; each week is reckoned as beginning with Vespers on Saturday evening. The kathismata are distributed as follows:

(1) From 22 September to 19 December, and from 15 January to the eve of the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (the Sunday falling fifteen days before the beginning of Lent):

Mattins

Vespers

Sunday

2, 3, 17 or Polyeleos

—

Monday

4, 5, 6

18

Tuesday

7, 8, 9

18

Wednesday

10, 11, 12

18

Thursday

13, 14, 15

18

Friday

19, 20

18

Saturday

16, 17

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(2) During Lent, in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th weeks:

Mattins

First Hour

Third Hour

Sixth Hour

Ninth Hour

Vespers

Sun

2, 3, 17 or Polyeleos

—

—

—

—

—

Mon

4, 5, 6

—

7

8

9

18

Tue

10, 11, 12

13

14

15

16

18

Wed

19, 20, 1

2

3

4

5

18

Thu

6, 7, 8

9

10

11

12

18

Fri

13, 14, 15

—

19

20

—

18

Sat

16, 17

—

—

—

—

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(3) The 5th week of Lent:

Mattins

First Hour

Third Hour

Sixth Hour

Ninth Hour

Vespers

Sun

2, 3, 17 or Polyeleos

—

—

—

—

—

Mon

4, 5, 6

—

7

8

9

10

Tue

11, 12, 13

14

15

16

18

19

Wed

20, 1, 2

3

4

5

6

7

Thu

8

—

9

10

11

12

Fri

13, 14, 15

—

19

20

—

18

Sat

16, 17

—

—

—

—

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(4) Holy Week:

Mattins

First Hour

Third Hour

Sixth Hour

Ninth Hour

Vespers

Palm Sun

2, 3, Polyeleos

—

—

—

—

—

Mon

4, 5, 6

—

7

8

—

18

Tue

9, 10, 11

—

12

13

—

18

Wed

14, 15, 16

—

19

20

—

18

Sat

17

—

—

—

—

—

(5) From the Sunday of St. Thomas (the first after Easter) to 21 September; from 20 December to 14 January; and during the two weeks immediately preceding Lent:

Mattins

Vespers

Sunday

2, 3, 17 or Polyeleos

—

Monday

4, 5

6

Tuesday

7, 8

9

Wednesday

10, 11

12

Thursday

13, 14

15

Friday

19, 20

18

Saturday

16, 17

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