The psalms--the prayers of the chosen people, the prayers of the people of God--have a spontaneity and timeless pertinence which is unique. They are an integral part of Christian liturgies; yet they pose difficulties for many who sense that they have sprung from a cultural milieu which is totally alien to our own. This problem can only be solved by a careful study of their origins, their literary structures, their content, and their intent. A vast literature has grown up around the psalter. But modern biblical discoveries, research, and scholarship have opened the way to a greater...