Note on the different numbering of the 150 Psalms

There is a confusing difference in the numbering of the Psalms, which is caused by the fact that Hieronymus in his numbering of the Psalms for the Vulgata (Latin Bible) took over the numbering of the Greek translation of the Bible (Septuaginta). Every Psalm in Latin follows this numbering (V).

Protestants and protestant composers returned to the numbering of the Hebrew Bible (H). Almost all modern bible-editions use the Hebrew numbering.

A résumé of the differences:

1. Psalms 1-8 (V) = Psalms 1-8 (H)
2. Psalm 9 (V) = Psalms 9,10 (H)
3. Psalms 10-112 (V) = Psalms 11-113 (H)
4. Psalm 113 (V) = Psalms 114,115 (H)
5. Psalms 114,115 (V) = Psalm 116 (H)
6. Psalms 116-145 (V) = Psalms 117-146 (H)
7. Psalms 146,147 (V) = Psalm 147 (H)
8. Psalms 148-150 (V) = Psalms 148-150 (H)

Example: The famous penitential psalm Miserere mei, Domine is psalm 50 in the Vulgata, but will be found sub Psalm 51 in any modern bible. The other famous penitential psalm De profundis is psalm 129 in the Vulgata and psalm 130 for protestants. A psalm very dear to protestants like psalm 116 (f.i. very famous because almost all German composers were invited in the around 1618 to make a musical score of this psalm (Schütz, Schein, Praetorius) has its counterpart in the Latin psalms 114 and 115.