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  ║

╠═════════╦═════════╣

║ Hebrew  ║ Greek   ║

╠═════════╬═════════╣

║ 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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