Lament

These express sorrow, grief, and petitions for help in times of trouble. They often begin with a cry to God for deliverance from distress or enemies. Psalms of lament may express deep sorrow for the travails of a nation and, as a group, ask for God’s blessing or intervention.‍

Individual Lament Psalms: 6, 13, 22, 25, 26, 28, 31, 38, 39, 42, 43, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 69, 70, 71, 77, 86, 88, 102, 109, 120, 130, 140, 141, 142, 143.

‍Communal Lament Psalms: 12, 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 94, 123, 126, 137

Wisdom Psalms

These psalms emphasise godly living, the pursuit of wisdom, and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. They often contain moral teachings. Examples include Psalms 1, 37, and 119

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Read: 1, 14, 15, 19, 34, 37, 49, 53, 73, 91, 112, and 119.

Thanksgiving Psalms

These psalms express gratitude for God's deliverance and blessings. They reflect on God's past actions and praise Him for His faithfulness. Examples include Psalms 30, 34, and 107.

Glorify the Lord; let us exalt his name together. Let us make known among the nations what he has done and why we should show our appreciation.

Community: 65*, 67*, 75, 107, 124, 136*

Individual: 18, 21, 30, 32*, 34, 40:1-11, 66:13-20, 92, 108*, 116, 118, 138

Salvation History: 8*, 105-106, 135, 136

Psalms of Trust: 11, 16, 23, 27*, 62, 63, 91, 121, 125, 131

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Royal/Messianic Psalms

The Royal Psalms are a group of psalms in the Bible that focus on the king of Israel, highlighting his role as God’s anointed ruler. The term "royal" refers to kingship—these psalms either describe the king’s reign, responsibilities, victories, or relationship with God, or they anticipate the coming of an ideal, messianic king. These focus on the king of Israel, either in a present or prophetic sense, and often celebrate God's rule through the king or the promised messianic king.

Examples include Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, and 132.

Hymnal Psalms and Spiritual Songs

A hymn is a religious song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a prominent figure or personification.

Hymn and Doxology: 8*, 19:1-6, 33, 66:1-12, 67*, 95, 100, 103, 104, 111, 113, 114, 117, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

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Historical/Liturgical Psalms (for Public Worship)

These recount the history of God's people, reflecting on His faithfulness and the lessons learnt from past experiences. Psalms for public worship and poetic value. Examples include Psalms 78, 105, and 106.

Covenant Songs: 50, 78, 81, 89*, 132

Royal Psalms: 2, 18, 20, 21, 29, 45, 47, 72, 93, 95*, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 110, 144

Psalms of Zion: 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122

Temple Liturgies: 15, 24, 68*, 82, 95*, 115, 134

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Songs of Ascent (Psalms of Ascents) / Community Psalms

These were sung by the people of Israel as they made their way to Jerusalem for religious festivals. They express hope, faith, and joy in the journey to worship. Examples include

Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, and 134.

Praise Psalms

These psalms that focus on expressing adoration, gratitude, and reverence for God. They celebrate God’s character, mighty acts, and faithfulness. These psalms are often joyful, poetic, and filled with expressions of worship. They often begin with calls to praise God and recount His mighty deeds. Examples include Psalms 8, 33, and 150.

Glorification: 8, 188, 20, 34, 40, 63, 66, 103, 108 and 138

Imprecatory Psalms

These psalms call for God's judgement or wrath against the wicked or the enemies of God's people. They can be difficult to read, as they express anger and a desire for justice. Examples include Psalms 35, 69, and 137. These psalms don’t encourage personal revenge; instead, they entrust judgement through the lens of God's ultimate justice.

Read: 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 35, 52, 54, 55, 58, 59, 69 , 70 , 71, 79 , 83 , 94 , 109, 129, 137 .

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Penitential Psalms

These psalms express sorrow and repentance for sin, asking for God's forgiveness and mercy. They often include a deep sense of personal confession and humility. Examples include Psalms 51, 32, and 38. These are a special subset of lament psalms focused specifically on confession of sin and seeking forgiveness. Traditionally, there are seven

‍The Seven Penitential Psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.