Nine kinds of song

A psalm is never only a psalm. It is a cheer, or a cry, or a lesson, or a thank-you. Here is every kind, what it is for, and which of the hundred and fifty belong to it.

All 150 Psalms

All 150 psalms: the complete songbook of God's people.

  1. Praise

    35 psalms

    Joyful songs that celebrate how great God is. These psalms burst with adoration and awe.

  2. Lament / Prayer

    50 psalms

    Honest prayers to God during hard or sad times. You can tell God exactly how you feel.

  3. Trust

    15 psalms

    Psalms about finding safety, peace, and shelter in God, like a rock in a storm.

  4. Wisdom

    17 psalms

    Psalms that teach us how to live wisely, love God's Word, and walk in the right path.

  5. Thanksgiving

    12 psalms

    Songs of gratitude for all that God has done: His rescues, His goodness, His love.

  6. Nature

    4 psalms

    Psalms that praise God through His creation: the sky, stars, seas, and mountains.

  7. History

    5 psalms

    Psalms that retell the great stories of God's people, from Egypt to the Promised Land.

  8. Royal / Messianic

    10 psalms

    Psalms about the king of Israel, pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate King.

  9. Songs of Ascent

    15 psalms

    Psalms 120–134, sung by pilgrims as they walked up to Jerusalem for the great festivals.

    These fifteen are a set because of where they sit in the book, so most of them are also one of the kinds above — Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascent and a psalm of trust.

Looking for one by number instead? All 150 Psalms, in order.