Book excerpt: One of the most important contributions to our understanding of the psalms, "The Psalms in Israel's Worship" by Sigmund Mowinckel has largely provided the framework and suppositions of modern Psalms study. Fully revised from the original Norwegian edition and now featuring a substantial new foreword by James Crenshaw, this classic work (two volumes in one) argues that the psalms originated in actual temple worship and were used regularly to add drama to Israelbs adoration of Yahweh. Throughout this fascinating work, Mowinckel carefully explores the relationship of the various psalm types to the congregationbs devotional life, including hymns of praise from Israel's national festivals, psalms of lamentation and penitence, and personal or private psalms of thanksgiving. Other topics include the psalms' relationship to prophecy and wisdom, their composition and collection, their style and performance, and the technical terminology involved in Psalms study. Praise for "The Psalms in Israel's Worship" bWe must be very grateful to Mowinckel and all who have helped him to make available this standard work in psalms research to a larger audience.b -- "Journal of Biblical Literature" bA mere review must fail to do justice to this bookbs awesome learning and insight.b -- "Catholic Biblical Quarterly" bBeyond any doubt whatever, this book represents thorough scholarship and has to be taken into consideration by any teacher of the Old Testament.b -- "Princeton Seminary Bulletin"