Though the word “psalmody” literally refers to the singing of psalms, it has been used for every kind of psalm performance, including recitation in a speaking voice and silent mental repetition. Thus, when reading ancient and medieval texts, it may be hard to tell which kind of performance an ancient writer had primarily in mind. Latin and Greek words for say, sing, recite, and even meditate can all refer to either speaking, chanting monotonously, singing musically, or rehearsing silently in one’s mind. In early monasticism, though, psalmody was not the same thing as prayer. In some early sources, reciting a psalm is a lot like reading the Bible: the scriptural words moved the monk to respond by praying, often in his own words.