Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems

I am re-visiting this topic again from a different angle.

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The Short Version

Basically there are 2 numbering systems, 

• Hebrew Numbering System (HNS)

• Greek Numbering System (GNS)

I normally write it as Psalm HNS (Psalm GNS) or Psalm 24 (Psalm 25)

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The Long Version

(continued from the Short Version)

We would think that Hebrew may be more correct than Greek because Hebrew is the Language of the Jews,

but that is not necessarily true because one of the earliest language of the Bible is Aramaic, which is ancestor to both Hebrew & Arabic.

Also, along history, a lot of the Hebrew text were lost.

The GNS was the earliest translation (3rd Century) from all the languages used at that time.

Another reason why the GNS may be more correct is Psalm 9 is one Psalm in GNS, while it is in two psalms in HNS as Psalm 9 & Psalm 10... and Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms#Numbering) explains it as, "The variance between Massorah (HNS) and Septuagint (GNS) texts in this numeration is likely enough due to a gradual neglect of the original poetic form of the Psalms; such neglect was occasioned by liturgical uses and carelessness of copyists. It is admitted by all that Pss. 9 and 10 were originally a single acrostic poem; they have been wrongly separated by Massorah (HNS), rightly united by the Septuagint (GNS) and Vulgate."

The Roman Catholic Church has used the Greek Translation probably due to it being more accurate and has translated it to Latin (Vulgate).

GNS

Officially, the Catholic Church in Rome is using the GNS.

Other places I know using the GNS are UK & Singapore.

HNS

USA (America) is using the HNS and I suspect it is because of the predominantly Protestant influence.

The internet is using the HNS, which explains why it's getting to be popular.

In Singapore, you may see a lot of Psalms with the HNS because of the American influence.

This site, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://www.usccb.org/) is an example.

I am trying to be flexible by understanding both numbering systems, but it is not easy.

I am leaning towards the the GNS because I am based in Singapore.

How would you know if it's HNS or GNS?

Not easy. I take my ref from a few sources and compare.

For GNS ~ I use the Official Sunday Missal for Singapore use & an old book of Psalms by Fintan O'Carroll.

For HNS ~ I use http://www.usccb.org/

Ok... that's it from me... my brain can hardly take more anyway.

For more... at these links on my blog are the explanations of why the different numbering systems as and when I research on it again.

Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems

http://enterarena.blogspot.sg/search/label/Psalms%20~%20Different%20Numbering%20Systems

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╔═══════════════════╗

║  Psalm Numbering  ║

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║ Hebrew  ║ Greek   ║

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║ 1-8     ║ 1-8     ║

║ 9-10    ║ 9       ║

║ 11-113  ║ 10-112  ║

║ 114-115 ║ 113     ║

║ 116     ║ 114-115 ║

║ 117-146 ║ 116-145 ║

║ 147     ║ 146-147 ║

║ 148-150 ║ 148-150 ║

╚═════════╩═════════╝

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Psalms in Sunday Missal uses Greek Numbering System

Once again, I am thinking of this Psalm Numbering System.

The Sunday Missal in Singapore has been using the Greek Numbering System for Psalms for as long as I can remember (from about 1983 to current date 2013 Jan). 

And to this date (2013 Jan) this still holds true except when it is an American Song Book (e.g. Breaking Bread Hymnal) which follows the Hebrew Numbering System for Psalms.

Since I am very much involved in the Responsorial Psalms, I am leaning towards the Greek Numbering System, shown on the right of the Table below. For details you can read an old blog entry I wrote HERE.

*Note that in Singapore Sunday Missals,
the Greek Numbering System is used.

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Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems ~ Wikipedia

This Table is probably all you'll need and it gives a very good summary...

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Greek / Hebrew Version
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Hebrew / Greek Version

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*Note that in Singapore Sunday Missals,
the Greek Numbering System is used.
(for a little more on this, click HERE)
... but if you want details... read on....

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Psalms ~ Different Numbering Systems ~ Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms (An Excerpt)

Composition and numbering

The Book of Psalms consists of 150 psalms, each of which constitutes a religious song, though one or two are atypically long and may constitute a set of related chants. When the Bible was divided into chapters, each Psalm was assigned its own chapter. Psalms are sometimes referenced as chapters, despite chapter assignments postdating the initial composition of the "canonical" Psalms by at least 1,500 years. Though most of the psalms are believed to have been intended for singing (some even include instrumentation and the names of tunes to sing to), none includes any form of pitch-related musical notation, so it is impossible to determine the tunes to which the psalms were to be sung. (The Hebrews were not known to have or use any sort of musical notation.)

Numbering

The organization and numbering of the Psalms differs slightly between the (Masoretic) Hebrew and the (Septuagint) Greek manuscripts:

{See this Image}


• Psalms 9 and 10 in the Hebrew are combined into psalm 9 in the Greek
• Psalms 114 and 115 in the Hebrew are combined into Psalm 113 in the Greek
• Psalm 116 in the Hebrew is divided into Psalms 114 and 115 in the Greek
• Psalm 147 in the Hebrew is divided into Psalms 146 and 147 in the Greek

Christian traditions vary:

• Catholic official liturgical texts follow the Greek numbering, but modern Catholic translations often use the Hebrew numbering, sometimes adding, in parenthesis, the Greek numbering as well.

• Eastern Orthodox translations are based on the Greek numbering;

• in the Syriac Orthodox Church Peshitta tradition there are 155 Psalms.

• Protestant translations are based on the Hebrew numbering;

For the remainder of this article, the Hebrew Psalm numbers will be used unless otherwise noted. Read On...

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Psi 'Ψ' & Cactus

The Greek Symbol ‘Ψ’ looks like a cactus in the desert standing alone, does not need much, able to survive for long periods without water due to a wide range of anatomical and physiological features which conserve water. Cactus flowers are large, and many cactus species are night blooming. They’re able to withstand the harsh desert sun & its scorching rays of intense heat. Definitely --- a survivor.

Alt+936=Ψ
Alt+968=ψ
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• ‘Psi’ is the 23RD letter of the Greek Alphabet of 24 letters. Alpha is the 1ST and Omega is the 24TH or Last.
• ‘Psi’ is pronounced as ‘sigh’.
• ‘Psi’ has a numeric value of 700.
• ‘Psi’ is found in Greek Words used in English like ‘psychology’ with the ‘i’ dropped.
• ‘Psi’ in Greek Letters is represented by the symbol ‘Ψ’ in uppercase & ‘ψ’ in lowercase & looks very much like a Cactus.
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‘Psi’ Info from Wikipedia: → Psi (uppercase Ψ, lowercase ψ) is the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet and has a numeric value of 700. Greek word "ψάρι" [psári (=fish)]. However, in some languages (including English) this combination is not possible at the beginning of a syllable. In Latin, Greek words beginning with psi are transcribed by ps-, but seem to have been pronounced simply as s-, with a quiescent p. This pronunciation has affected that of Greek loanwords beginning with the letter in several languages. In English, for example, psychology is pronounced with a silent p, and the name of the letter is often pronounced [sai] ("sigh"), although this is not always the case. As a Greek letter: • In physical chemistry, Ψ represents water potential, the potential energy of a water solution relative to pure water; • Ψ stands for psychology and psychologist, often used in the logo of various psychological associations.
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‘Cactus’ Info from Wikipedia: → Cacti are distinctive and unusual plants, which are adapted to extremely arid and hot environments, showing a wide range of anatomical and physiological features which conserve water. Their stems have expanded into green succulent structures containing the chlorophyll necessary for life and growth, while the leaves have become the spines for which cacti are so well known. Cacti come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The tallest is Pachycereus pringlei, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m, and the smallest is Blossfeldia liliputiana, only about 1 cm diameter at maturity. Cactus flowers are large, and like the spines and branches arise from areoles. Many cactus species are night blooming, as they are pollinated by nocturnal insects or small animals, principally moths and bats. Cacti range in size from small and globular to tall and columnar.
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Here’s the Greek Symbol once again → 'Ψ'. Looks like a Cactus plant doesn’t it? Greek already so hard to understand --- what not this Greek Symbol?
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Here's A Happy Cactus Family.

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