Psalm 133, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity,” is one of the shortest psalms and one of the most loved. In three verses it compares harmony among God’s people to the fragrant oil poured on the head of the high priest Aaron and to the dew of Mount Hermon, “for there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 132. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 133 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.
Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment:
As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore.
Psalm 133 or Psalm 132?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 132 is Psalm 133 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in unum. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Unity is a blessing: living together in peace is “good” and “pleasant,” a gift from God.
- The anointing oil: the oil poured on Aaron at his consecration flows down to the hem of his robe; unity flows from the head to the whole body. Christians think of Christ the Anointed One and of the Holy Spirit.
- The dew of Hermon: refreshing dew from the great mountain to the north falls on Sion; God’s blessing refreshes his people.
- Eternal life: “there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore.”
How the Church uses Psalm 133
- In prayers for Christian unity, especially in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18–25).
- In religious communities, where it is a favorite psalm of community life.
- At weddings and family gatherings, as a prayer for harmony. See the Catholic wedding guide.
A prayer with Psalm 133
Written for this page:
Lord, how good and pleasant it is when your children live in unity.
Pour out your Spirit like fragrant oil on our families, our parishes and your whole Church.
Heal our divisions, and let your blessing fall on us like dew,
with life for evermore. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Where is “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity”?
Psalm 133:1 (132:1 in the Douay-Rheims: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity”).
What does the oil on Aaron’s beard mean?
It recalls the anointing of the high priest: blessing flows down from the head to the whole body, as unity flows through a community.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 132 (133), Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.