Psalm 25 (World English Bible)
1 To you, Yahweh, I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I have trusted in you.
Don’t let me be shamed.
Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, no one who waits for you will be shamed.
They will be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Yahweh.
Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me,
For you are the God of my salvation.
I wait for you all day long.
6 Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness,
for they are from old times.
7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.
Remember me according to your loving kindness,
for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
8 Good and upright is Yahweh,
therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice.
He will teach the humble his way.
10 All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth
to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name’s sake, Yahweh,
pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 What man is he who fears Yahweh?
He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease.
His offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him.
He will show them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever on Yahweh,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me,
for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged.
Oh bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my travail.
Forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many.
They hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me.
Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, God,
out of all his troubles.
Background and Details of Psalm 25
Authorship and Context:
Psalm 25 is attributed to King David and is a heartfelt prayer for guidance, mercy, and deliverance. It is categorized as an acrostic psalm, meaning each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though it is imperfectly structured). This literary form was often used for memorization and meditation.
Themes:
- Trust in God: David expresses deep reliance on God and seeks His guidance (v. 1-5).
- God’s Mercy and Forgiveness: He asks for forgiveness for his past sins (v. 6-7, 11).
- The Fear of the Lord: The psalm highlights that those who fear the Lord receive divine instruction (v. 12-14).
- Deliverance from Enemies: David prays for protection from his enemies (v. 19-20).
- Covenant Relationship: The psalm emphasizes the faithfulness of God to those who keep His covenant (v. 10, 14).
Structure:
The psalm can be divided into three major sections:
- A Call for Guidance and Trust in God (v. 1-7)
- God’s Faithfulness to the Humble and Righteous (v. 8-14)
- A Personal Plea for Deliverance and Forgiveness (v. 15-22)
A Prayer from Psalm 25
Heavenly Father,
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. I place my trust in You—let me never be put to shame. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and unfailing love, and forgive the sins of my past. Lead me in the path of righteousness and guard my heart against fear and doubt. In Your mercy, deliver me from distress and keep me in integrity and uprightness as I wait upon You. Redeem me, O God, and be my refuge.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Five Questions to Test Your Understanding
- What does David ask God to teach him in Psalm 25?
- How does the psalm describe the relationship between humility and God’s guidance?
- What does David say about the sins of his youth?
- How does Psalm 25 describe the blessings of those who fear the Lord?
- In what way does David express his reliance on God for deliverance from his enemies?
Is Psalm 25 Referenced in the New Testament?
Psalm 25 is not directly quoted in the New Testament, but its themes are echoed throughout:
- Trusting in God (Psalm 25:1-2) → Found in Romans 10:11 (“Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”)
- Divine Guidance (Psalm 25:4-5) → Echoed in John 16:13 (“The Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth.”)
- Forgiveness of Sins (Psalm 25:7, 11) → Paralleled in 1 John 1:9 (“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.”)
- God’s Covenant with Those Who Fear Him (Psalm 25:14) → Reflected in Luke 1:50 (“His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.”)
Psalm 25’s core message of trust, repentance, and divine guidance resonates throughout Scripture, making it a powerful passage for personal devotion.