Types of Psalms: The 7 Main Categories, with Examples
Quick answer
Scholars usually group the psalms into a handful of types: hymns of praise, laments (individual and communal), thanksgiving psalms, royal psalms, wisdom psalms, penitential psalms and imprecatory psalms, plus special collections like the Songs of Ascents. Laments are the most common type. Reading by type in The Book of Psalms Journal Bible helps you pray each psalm the way it was meant.
How are the psalms categorized?
Psalm headings name some types ("a song," "a prayer," "a maskil"), but the categories most used today come from form criticism, an approach developed by Hermann Gunkel in the early 1900s that groups psalms by their structure and purpose. Scholars differ on the exact list, and many psalms mix types, but the categories below are widely used.
The main types of psalms
| Type | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hymn of praise | Praises God for who he is and what he has made | 8, 29, 100, 145-150 |
| Individual lament | One person cries out in distress, then turns to trust | 3, 13, 22, 42 |
| Communal lament | The nation grieves disaster or defeat | 44, 74, 79, 137 |
| Thanksgiving | Thanks God for a specific rescue | 30, 34, 116, 136 |
| Royal | Centers on the king; read by Christians as messianic | 2, 45, 72, 110 |
| Wisdom | Teaches how to live well | 1, 37, 49, 119 |
| Penitential | Confesses sin and seeks mercy | 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 |
| Imprecatory | Asks God to judge enemies | 35, 69, 109 |
Some lists add enthronement psalms that proclaim "The LORD reigneth" (93, 96-99) and psalms of trust or confidence (23, 27, 91).
Why are there so many laments?
Roughly a third of the psalms are laments, more than any other type. A lament typically moves from complaint to request to trust, showing that honest grief belongs in prayer.
"How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?" (Psalm 13:1, KJV)
Psalm 13 ends six verses later with "I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me" (13:6, KJV). That turn is the shape of almost every lament.
Our pick
The Book of Psalms Journal Bible
The complete text of Psalms with dotted-grid margins, room to label each psalm's type and trace its movement.
Shop nowSpecial collections within Psalms
- Songs of Ascents (120-134): short psalms traditionally sung by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem.
- Egyptian Hallel (113-118): sung at Passover; Matthew 26:30 records Jesus and the disciples singing a hymn after the Last Supper.
- Great Hallel (136): every verse repeats "for his mercy endureth for ever."
- Final Hallel (146-150): five psalms that each begin and end with "Praise ye the LORD."
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The Wisdom Pairing: Psalms & Proverbs
Psalms and Proverbs together, so you can read the wisdom psalms beside the Bible's book of wisdom sayings.
Shop nowKeep reading: What is the Book of Psalms about? · Psalms of praise · Who wrote the Psalms?.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of psalms are there?
There is no fixed number. Most scholars list five to eight main types, typically praise, lament, thanksgiving, royal, wisdom, penitential and imprecatory.
What are the seven penitential psalms?
Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143, a grouping used in Christian tradition since at least the sixth century.
What is an imprecatory psalm?
A psalm that asks God to bring judgment on enemies, such as Psalm 109. They leave vengeance in God's hands rather than taking it personally.
What is the most common type of psalm?
The lament, which makes up roughly a third of the Psalter.
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