Editing Psalms (section)

===Communal laments===
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 136.png|thumb|right|David is depicted giving a psalm to pray for deliverance in this 1860 woodcut by [[Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld]]]]
Communal laments are psalms in which the nation laments some communal disaster.{{sfn|Day|2003|p=12}} Both communal and individual laments typically but not always include the following elements:
# address to God,
# description of suffering,
# cursing of the party responsible for suffering,
# protestation of innocence or admission of guilt,
# petition for divine assistance,
# faith in God's receipt of prayer,
# anticipation of divine response, and
# a song of thanksgiving.<ref>Coogan, M. A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament: The Hebrew Bible in its Context. (Oxford University Press: Oxford 2009) p. 370</ref>{{sfn|Murphy|1993|p=627}}

In general, the individual and communal subtypes can be distinguished by the use of the singular "I" or the plural "we". However, the "I" could also be characterising an individual's personal experience that was reflective of the entire community.{{sfn|Bray|1996|p=416}}