Chapter 1 PSALMS The book of Psalms has always had an important place in the spiritual life of both Jews and Christians. The fourth-century Christian leader, Athanasius, summed up one important reason for this when he said that while most of Scripture speaks to us, the Psalms speak for us. Down the centuries the people of God have found in the Psalms the language of praise and complaint, trust and doubt, petition and thanks, which has nourished their relationship with God. Perhaps because individuals