PRUNING-HOOK (prpn'Ing-h66k). See VINE. PSALMS, BOOK OF (samz, bciok ov), (Heb.
teth "praises").
This collection of sacred poetry received its name (Gr. *aXi.Lol, Psalms). in consequence of the lyrical character of the pieces of which it con sists, as intended to be sung to stringed and other instruments of music. In the editorial note (Ps. lxxii :2o) we find the preceding compositions (Ps. 1.-lxxii.) styled Prayers of David, because many of them are strictly prayers, and all are pervaded by the spirit and tone of supplication. The Psalms reveal all types of religious experience. They deal with historical events, personal and biographical incidents, give reflections, consider problems, and arise often out of particular inci dents.
1. Cities. All the Psalms, except thirty-four, bear superscriptions. According to some there arc only twenty-five exceptions, as they reckon a title in all the Psalms which commence with it. To each of these exceptions the Talmud (Baby!. Cod. Avoda Sarah, fol. 24, col. 2) gives the name Orphan Psalm.
(1) Authority. The authority of the titles is a matter of doubt. By most of the ancient critics they were considered genuine, and of equal au thority with the Psalms themselves, while most of the moderns reject them wholly or in part. They were wholly rejected at the close of the fourth century by Theodore of Mopsuestia, one of the ablest and most judicious of ancient interpreters (Rosenm011er, list. Interpretationis Librorum Sacrorum, P. iii., p. 256). On the other hand it deserves to be noticed that they are received by Tholuck and Hcngstenberg in their works on the Psalms. Of the antiquity of the inscriptions there can be no question, for they are found in the Sept. They are supposed to be even much older than this version, since they were no longer in telligible to the translator, who often makes no sense of them. Yet variations in the MSS. show the titles to be later than the Psalms, and there fore liable to alteration. Several of the titles are shown to be wrong by comparison with the contents of the Psalms, yet they have at least the value of showing early opinion.
(2) Design. The design of these inscriptions is to specify either the author, or the chief singer (never the latter by name, except in Ps. xxxix.), or the historical subject or occasion, or the use, or the style of poetry, or the instrument and style of music. Some titles simply designate the author, as in Ps. xxv., while others specify several of the above particulars, as in Ps. li. The longest and fullest title of all is prefixed to Ps. lx., where we have the author, the chief musician (not by name), the historical occasion (comp. 2 Sam. viii.), the use or design, the style of poetry, and the instrument or style of music. It is confessedly very difficult, if not impossible, to explain all the terms employed in the inscriptions; and hence critics have differed exceedingly in their conjec tures. The difficulty, arising no doubt from ig norance of the Temple music, was felt, it would seem, as early as the age of the Sept.; and it was felt so much by the translators of our Authorized Version, that they generally retained the Hebrew words, even though Luther had set the example of translating them to the best of his ability. Similar is the practice of the Revisers of 1881-5. It is worth observing that the difficulty appears to have determined Coverdale, 1535, to omit nearly all except names of authors; thus, in Ps. lx, which is Ps. lix in his version, he gives only—a Psalme of David. The Prayer Book version omits all titles from the text and substitutes the Latin of the opening words.
2. Untranslated Terms. Of the terms left untranslated or obscure in our Bible, it may be well to offer some explanation in this place, tak ing them in alphabetical order for the sake of convenience. On this subject most commentators offer instruction, but the reader may especially consult Rosenmuller, Scholia in Comp. Redacta, vol. iii. 14-22, DeWette, Commentar caber die Psal men, pp. 27-37; Ewald, Poet. Bucher, i. 369:38o, 195; Driver, Intr. 373; Perowne, The Psalms, i. 84; Cheyne, The Book of Psalms, and Kirkpat rick, in Cambr. Bible, i, xvii.