It is important to remember that genre is flexible. Some psalms reflect characteristics of several categories. The reader will also often come across certain technical terms which describe the type of psalm in view: (1) “psalm” (Heb., mizmor); a song accompanied by the plucking of the strings of an instrument (57 psalms are so labeled); (2) “song” (Heb., shir; 12 psalms are labeled with this term); (3) “a contemplative poem” (Heb., maskil; 13 psalms are described this way); (4) “a poem containing