Psalms 8, 23, 121 and 137 are Judeo-Christian writings of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) which were written around 1000 BCE in the present-day Egypt and Israel. These pieces of scripture express praise to God and were written with the intention of being sung; in fact, the word psalm literally means “to pluck the strings” (“Before you read […]”). These pieces also convey a multitude of emotions ranging from euphoria to hostile anger. In “Psalm 8,” the excellence of God and all His creations is praised, especially humanity because God “made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.” (“Psalm 8”). This praise of God is a constant theme throughout the psalms. Fittingly, the Hebrew word for psalm, tehillim, means “songs of praise.” Furthermore, “Psalm 23” expresses God’s eternal protection and “goodness and mercy [that] will follow” those who believe in His greatness (“Psalm 121”). A similar subject is examined in “Psalm 121” when it is stated that “the LORD will keep thee from all evil: he will preserve thy soul” (“Psalm 121”). God is described as a divine protector in many psalms, as previously noted, but he is also questioned for imposing hardship on his people, as in "Psalm 137." The anger and sadness of the Hebrews exiled from Jerusalem are preserved in the words of this psalm: “we wept remembering Zion” (“Psalm 137”). This unique expression of specific feelings toward God is what distinguishes the psalms from other parts of the Hebrew Bible (“Before you read […]”). The individual themes of trust, God as divine protector, and lament are expounded in the Psalms. 8, 23, 121 and 137. The theme of trust is very relevant in many psalms, especially Psalm...... middle of paper ......h like the sun and the moon. These Judeo-Christian psalms embody the theme of God's immeasurable power and show that He is the most powerful force in the universe. Works Cited “Before reading: Psalms 8, 23, 121, 137.” Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 76. Print “Psalm 8.” Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 77. Print “Psalm 23.” Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 78. Print “Psalm 121.” Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 79. Print “Psalm 137.” Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2006. 80. Print.