Psalms — Chapter 25

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1Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

2O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

6Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

9The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

10All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

12What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

14The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

15Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.

18Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

19Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.

20O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

22Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

1Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.

2O my God, in thee have I trusted, Let me not be put to shame; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.

4Show me thy ways, O Jehovah; Teach me thy paths.

5Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day.

6Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.

7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness` sake, O Jehovah.

8Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.

9The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.

10All the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For thy name`s sake, O Jehovah, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.

12What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.

13His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.

14The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant.

15Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; For he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.

18Consider mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins.

19Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.

20Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.

21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee.

22Redeem Israel, O God, Out all of his troubles. Psalm 26 [A Psalm] of David.

1By David. O Lord, I come before you in prayer.

2My God, I trust in you. Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me.

3Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.

4Make me understand your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths.

5Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long.

6Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord, for you have always acted in this manner.

7Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts. Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord.

8The Lord is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.

9May he show the humble what is right. May he teach the humble his way.

10The Lord always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of his covenant.

11For the sake of your reputation, O Lord, forgive my sin, because it is great.

12The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live.

13They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.

14The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.

15I continually look to the Lord for help, for he will free my feet from the enemy’s net.

16Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed.

17Deliver me from my distress; rescue me from my suffering.

18See my pain and suffering. Forgive all my sins.

19Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

20Protect me and deliver me! Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in you.

21May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on you.

22O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!

1To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.

2My God, I have trusted in you. Don’t let me be shamed. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.

3Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.

4Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.

5Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.

6Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times.

7Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.

8Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.

9He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.

10All the paths of Yahweh are loving kindness and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11For your name’s sake, Yahweh, pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

12What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.

13His soul shall dwell at ease. His offspring shall inherit the land.

14The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.

15My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.

18Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.

19Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.

20Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.

21Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

22Redeem Israel, God, out of all his troubles.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

An acrostic lament and prayer — David asks God to teach him His paths, remember mercy not youthful sins, and guard his soul; 'the secret of the LORD is with them that fear him.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Individual Lament / Acrostic Prayer Attributed Author: David — "A Psalm of David" Key Themes: Guidance, forgiveness of sins (youth and present), waiting on God, divine instruction, the "secret" of the LORD, covenant faithfulness, loneliness and affliction
Historical Context: An acrostic psalm (each verse begins with a successive Hebrew letter, though imperfect). David combines three strands: requests for guidance (vv.4-5, 8-9, 12), confession of sin (vv.7, 11, 18), and appeals for protection from enemies (vv.2-3, 19-20). The unusual combination suggests a period when David felt both guilty and endangered — perhaps after sin brought consequences that enemies exploited. V.14 — "The secret of the LORD" — introduces the concept of divine intimacy available to those who fear God: He shares His counsel with the reverent.
Structure:
  • Trust and Petition (vv.1-7)
  • God's Character as Teacher (vv.8-10)
  • Confession and Plea (vv.11-15)
  • Distress and Deliverance (vv.16-22)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Reflection

  • 1. You can ask God to forget specific things (v.7). "Remember NOT the sins of my youth" — God can choose not to hold past sins against you. His memory is selective by grace. Your past does not define your future when God forgets.
  • 2. God teaches sinners, not just saints (v.8). "He instructs SINNERS in the way" — you do not need to be perfect to receive guidance. God teaches those who are still failing. Come as you are — He meets sinners with instruction.
  • 3. The "secret" of the LORD belongs to the reverent (v.14). Not the brilliant, not the religious, not the powerful — but those who FEAR Him. Intimacy with God is not earned by performance but received through reverence. He shares His counsel with those who stand in awe.
  • 4. Great sin requires great forgiveness (v.11). David does not minimize: "my iniquity is GREAT." And the basis for pardon is not the sin's smallness but God's name. The greater the sin, the greater the glory when God forgives it. Do not hide the magnitude — confess it fully.
  • 5. Loneliness is brought to God (v.16). "I am lonely and afflicted" — David does not hide isolation. He brings it to God as a prayer. Loneliness is not a sign of spiritual failure — it is a human experience God invites you to bring before Him.