Divisions of Psalms

The Book of Psalms is not divided into chapters; rather, each psalm is known by its position—for example, the second psalm (Acts 13:33). The headings that are found above many of the psalms appear in the Septuagint and other manuscripts, and are of a very ancient date. In the Hebrew, the psalms are divided into five books, each with a distinct character: Psalms 1-41 form the first book, 42-72 the second, 73-89 the third, 90-106 the fourth, and 107-150 the fifth. The closing of each book is distinctly marked, as may be observed by reading the last few verses of each. Their order is moral, never chronological.