Greek: stringed instruments, or songs accompanied by the instruments.
Hebrew: tehillim.
The Psalms are located between the book of Job and Proverbs in the Bible, and there are 150 Psalms, although the Greek and Hebrew bibles have slightly different numbering systems- the Greek bible unites some of the Psalms that are separate in the Hebrew, and both the Hebrew and Greek separate Psalm 42 and Psalm 43, although most believe that they are one Psalm.
The book of Psalms present readers with an interpretive challenge, in that the words are spoken to God, not necessarily by Him. They are also NOT doctrine, genealogy, or narratives. They are poetry. The function of the Psalms are two-fold:
1. To help us express ourselves to God.
2. To help us consider God's ways.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him -Psalm 8:3
In ancient Israel, Psalms were the connection between the worshiper and God, and later Psalms played a part in the Christian's worship of God as well (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). There are approximately 7 different 'categories' of Psalms:
-Laments: Psalm 13
-Thanksgiving: Psalm 65, Psalm 18
-Hymns of Praise: Psalm 8
-Salvation History: Psalm 78
-Celebration and Affirmation: Psalm 47
-Wisdom: Psalm 1
-Trust: Psalm 11