About the display

This small display focuses on the Hebrew anthology known as the Book of Psalms was perhaps assembled in the 5th century BCE. Ever since, these lyrical poems have been used in public worship and private prayer by Jews and Christians.

They express the range of human feeling towards God, from confession and supplication to praise and thanksgiving. The creator of the universe is king, judge, shepherd, and defender. The Psalmist longs to see God’s vengeance fall on the wicked, while at the same time weeping over their own shortcomings.

The meaning of the Psalms is not always transparent, and they have been studied in books which surround the biblical text with commentary. The search for exact understanding across the variety of translations has inspired feats of learning and intricate page design in manuscript and print.

This display coincides with a special Day of Psalms, curated by writer and artist Edmund de Waal, taking place at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in Oxford on 28 November 2026.