The psalms - Artur Weiser

We have left until last what bids fair to become one of the two or three Old Testament books of the year (von Rad's Genesis is probably another). Weiser's commentary on The Psalms sums up a generation of sympathetic work upon the Psalter. In the Preface we have a consideration of the work associated with Gunkel and Mowinckel. Each Psalm is given in a new translation with short notes underneath, and then followed by a full theological exposition. It is the expositions that will be most helpful to the parish priest and the minister of religion. Weiser is able to date many of the Psalms a good deal earlier than has been fashionable of late. but his significant contribution is in his interpretation of the theological ideas of the writers. Those who use the Psalms regularly will be particularly grateful for this valuable commentary' (View Review). 'The commentary is characterized throughout by a deep and warm sense of the abiding spiritual inheritance which the hymns of Israel's worship have provided both for Jew and Christian throughout the ages' (Times Literary Supplement).