The Psalms

The Hebrew name of The Psalms is Tehilim which translates into English as “praises.” 

These songs were apparently sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments and the musical instructions such as "selah" probably indicated sucj information as tempo or the tune to be used.

The English language name of the book, Psalms, comes from the Greek name Ψαλμοί (psalmoi), a translation of "mizmor," one of the types of psalms.  “Mizmor” is a Hebrew word meaning a sacred song set to music.  Psalmoi is derived from the infinitive “psallein,” “to play the harp.”

The other types of psalms also bear designations. “Shir” means the flow of speech in a straight line.  “Michtam” means “gold,” something you would keep close to yourself.  “Tehillah” means “a praise.”  “Shigayon” means “a mistake,”  songs of regret for sin.

(I tried repeatedly to place the Hebrew text into this post but the word processor insists on reversing the letter order no matter what I do.  Hebrew is read right to left instead of left to right.  The Greek text does not present this problem.)