A Manual of the Book of Psalms

Martin Luther's Manual of the Book of Psalms opens the Psalter as a living treasury of faith, exposing the hollowness of outward religion and the weary labor behind true spiritual witness. Luther presents the Psalms as the most beautiful and useful book of Scripture: a "little Bible" that gathers prophecy, doctrine, consolation, supplication, thanksgiving, and the whole range of Christian experience in joy, sorrow, temptation, danger, and deliverance. More than records of holy deeds, they preserve the actual prayers, sighs, fears, and consolations of David and all believers, making them a mirror of the soul and a sure guide for the afflicted church. From Psalm 1's contrast between the rooted righteous and the fleeting wicked to Psalm 2's prophecy of Christ's kingship, the commentary moves through the believer's struggle, David's betrayal and rescue, and the church's need for steadfast trust. It culminates in Psalm 69's vivid foreshadowing of Christ's suffering, the passing of the old ceremonial law, and Psalm 72's radiant vision of the ideal king—fulfilled in Christ—whose righteous reign brings peace, justice, and blessing to the ends of the earth. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.