Psalms Reading Plan: 150 Psalms in 30 Days
The Psalms are unlike anything else in the Bible. They're not commandments or narratives or letters. They're songs—raw, honest expressions of every human emotion aimed at God.
Joy. Despair. Anger. Gratitude. Fear. Hope. It's all here.
If you want to read through all 150 Psalms, this guide gives you a simple 30-day plan and shows you what to look for along the way.
What Are the Psalms?
The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 poems and songs used in ancient Israelite worship. Think of it as the hymnal of the Hebrew Bible.
These aren't polished theological statements. They're prayers—sometimes messy, often beautiful, always honest. The psalmists don't hide their doubts or anger from God. They bring everything to him.
That's what makes the Psalms so relatable thousands of years later. Whatever you're feeling, there's probably a psalm for it.
Who Wrote the Psalms?
Multiple authors contributed to this collection:
- David — About 73 psalms attributed to Israel's famous king
- Asaph — A worship leader, wrote 12 psalms
- Sons of Korah — A Levite family, wrote 11 psalms
- Solomon — 2 psalms attributed to David's son
- Moses — Psalm 90
- Anonymous — Many psalms have no named author
The collection was compiled over centuries, from roughly 1400 BC (Moses) to after the Babylonian exile (around 500 BC).
Your 30-Day Psalms Reading Plan
Reading 5 psalms a day gets you through the entire book in one month. Here's the breakdown:
| Day | Psalms | Notable Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-5 | The "two ways" of Psalm 1 |
| 2 | 6-10 | David's cries for help |
| 3 | 11-15 | "The fool says in his heart..." |
| 4 | 16-20 | Messianic prophecies begin |
| 5 | 21-25 | Psalm 23—the Lord is my shepherd |
| 6 | 26-30 | "Weeping may stay for the night..." |
| 7 | 31-35 | "Taste and see that the Lord is good" |
| 8 | 36-40 | "Delight yourself in the Lord" |
| 9 | 41-45 | "As the deer pants for water..." |
| 10 | 46-50 | "Be still and know that I am God" |
| 11 | 51-55 | David's confession after Bathsheba |
| 12 | 56-60 | Prayers from desperate situations |
| 13 | 61-65 | "My soul finds rest in God alone" |
| 14 | 66-70 | Thanksgiving and praise |
| 15 | 71-75 | Prayers for justice |
| 16 | 76-80 | Remembering God's past faithfulness |
| 17 | 81-85 | "How lovely is your dwelling place" |
| 18 | 86-90 | "Teach us to number our days" |
| 19 | 91-95 | Protection and worship |
| 20 | 96-100 | "Make a joyful noise!" |
| 21 | 101-105 | Praise for God's deeds |
| 22 | 106-110 | Israel's history and Messiah |
| 23 | 111-115 | "Not to us, but to your name be glory" |
| 24 | 116-118 | "The stone the builders rejected..." |
| 25 | 119 (1-88) | The longest chapter in the Bible |
| 26 | 119 (89-176) | Finish the masterpiece on God's word |
| 27 | 120-127 | Songs of Ascent begin |
| 28 | 128-135 | More pilgrimage songs |
| 29 | 136-142 | "By the rivers of Babylon..." |
| 30 | 143-150 | Grand finale of praise |
Note: Day 25-26 splits Psalm 119 (176 verses!) across two days. The rest of the schedule adjusts accordingly.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms aren't random—they follow recognizable patterns:
Praise Psalms
Celebrating who God is and what he's done. Often start with "Praise the Lord!" (Psalms 145-150 are pure praise.)
Lament Psalms
Honest cries of pain, confusion, or complaint. These often shift from despair to trust by the end. (Psalm 13, 22, 88)
Thanksgiving Psalms
Specific gratitude for answered prayer or deliverance. (Psalm 30, 116, 138)
Wisdom Psalms
Reflections on life, choices, and what it means to live well. (Psalm 1, 37, 73)
Royal/Messianic Psalms
Focused on the king—ultimately pointing to Christ. (Psalm 2, 45, 110)
Songs of Ascent
Pilgrimage songs sung while traveling up to Jerusalem. (Psalms 120-134)
Key Themes in the Psalms
Honest Prayer
The psalmists don't filter their prayers. They tell God exactly how they feel—even when those feelings aren't "spiritual." This gives us permission to do the same.
God's Faithfulness
Again and again, the Psalms remember what God has done. Past faithfulness fuels present trust.
The Two Ways
Psalm 1 sets up a theme that runs throughout: there's a way that leads to life and a way that leads to destruction. Which path are you on?
Waiting and Trust
Many psalms are written from the waiting room—between crying out and receiving an answer. They teach us how to hold on when God seems silent.
Worship as Response
The Psalms end with a crescendo of praise (145-150). The proper response to knowing God is worship.
How to Read the Psalms
Read them slowly. These are poems, not instruction manuals. Let the words sit with you.
Read them aloud. They were meant to be sung. Even speaking them changes how you experience them.
Read them personally. Use "I" and "me." Let the psalmist's words become your prayer.
Read them honestly. If a psalm expresses something you're feeling, stay there. If it expresses something you're not feeling, let it stretch you.
Read them as pointing to Christ. Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other book. He saw himself in them. Look for him.
Famous Psalms You'll Encounter
- Psalm 1 — The two paths
- Psalm 23 — The Lord is my shepherd
- Psalm 51 — David's confession
- Psalm 91 — God's protection
- Psalm 100 — Joyful worship
- Psalm 119 — The longest chapter, celebrating God's word
- Psalm 139 — God knows you completely
- Psalm 150 — Everything that has breath, praise the Lord
The Psalms in Your Year-Long Journey
In our 365-day reading plan, we weave Psalms throughout the entire year rather than reading them all at once. This gives you a daily dose of poetry alongside narrative and teaching.
But if you want to do a focused month in the Psalms, this 30-day plan works perfectly as a supplement or a starting point.
Why the Psalms Still Matter
The Psalms have been the prayerbook of God's people for 3,000 years. Jesus prayed them. The early church sang them. Christians throughout history have found their voice in them.
They matter because life is hard, and the Psalms don't pretend otherwise. They matter because God is good, and the Psalms celebrate that truth. They matter because prayer is often difficult, and the Psalms give us words when we have none.
Whatever season you're in—joy, grief, doubt, gratitude—the Psalms meet you there.
Start Your Psalms Journey
You don't need a worship band or a seminary degree. You just need a few minutes and an open heart.
Pick up Psalm 1 today. Read it slowly. Let it shape how you see the rest.
Read the Whole Bible This Year
The Psalms are woven throughout our 365-day reading plan, giving you daily poetry alongside the rest of Scripture.
- Psalms distributed across the year
- 15-20 minutes per day
- Track your progress