Psalms
Psalm 25
KJV
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Overview
Psalm 25 is an alphabetic prayer that joins trust, instruction, confession and lament. The speaker asks the LORD to teach his paths, remember mercy rather than youthful sins, forgive great iniquity, disclose covenant friendship, and deliver from loneliness, distress and enemies. The final petition widens from the individual to Israel. The psalm does not turn guidance into infallible private revelation, prosperity into a wealth guarantee, land language into a modern territorial deed, or enemy language into permission for retaliation.
Setting and context
The superscription identifies Psalm 25 as “Of David.” Its Hebrew form is broadly alphabetic, though the acrostic pattern is not perfectly regular. No precise historical crisis is named. The poem repeatedly alternates between petition, reflection on the LORD’s character, confession and renewed appeal, culminating in verse 22 with a prayer for Israel.
Themes
Trust without shame · Learning the LORD’s ways · Truth and patient waiting · Ancient mercy and steadfast love · Forgiveness and remembered sin · Humility and instruction · Covenant love and faithfulness · Fear of the LORD · Covenant counsel · Deliverance from the net · Loneliness and distress · Integrity and uprightness · Redemption of Israel
Reflection
Psalm 25 is an alphabetic prayer that joins trust, instruction, confession and lament. The speaker asks the LORD to teach his paths, remember mercy rather than youthful sins, forgive great iniquity, disclose covenant friendship, and deliver from loneliness, distress and enemies. The final petition widens from the individual to Israel. The psalm does not turn guidance into infallible private revelation, prosperity into a wealth guarantee, land language into a modern territorial deed, or enemy language into permission for retaliation.
Reading notes
Youthful sins and transgressions are placed under mercy: the speaker asks to be remembered according to steadfast love and goodness. For the sake of God’s name the speaker asks pardon for iniquity precisely because it is great; confession and grace meet without minimizing wrong. The faithful person is pictured dwelling in goodness, with descendants inheriting the land; the imagery belongs to covenant blessing, not a universal wealth formula. The LORD’s intimate counsel or friendship is with those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. The prayer asks God to see affliction and pain and forgive all sins, holding suffering and confession together without explaining every suffering as punishment. The speaker asks God to see the many enemies and their violent hatred; the threat is named without giving the worshiper a mandate for revenge. The closing petition widens the horizon: “Redeem Israel” gathers the individual lament into concern for the covenant people’s many troubles.
Key passages
Psalm 25:1: The prayer begins by lifting the whole self to the LORD, expressing directed dependence rather than self-sufficiency. The prayer begins by lifting the whole self to the LORD, expressing directed dependence rather than self-sufficiency. Psalm 25:4: The speaker asks the LORD to make his ways known and teach his paths, presenting guidance as learned discipleship. The speaker asks the LORD to make his ways known and teach his paths, presenting guidance as learned discipleship. Psalm 25:11: For the sake of God’s name the speaker asks pardon for iniquity precisely because it is great; confession and grace meet without minimizing wrong. For the sake of God’s name the speaker asks pardon for iniquity precisely because it is great; confession and grace meet without minimizing wrong. Psalm 25:14: The LORD’s intimate counsel or friendship is with those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. The LORD’s intimate counsel or friendship is with those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. Psalm 25:22: The closing petition widens the horizon: “Redeem Israel” gathers the individual lament into concern for the covenant people’s many troubles. The closing petition widens the horizon: “Redeem Israel” gathers the individual lament into concern for the covenant people’s many troubles.
Questions readers ask
Is Psalm 25 an acrostic? Broadly yes: the Hebrew poem follows an alphabetic pattern, though it is not perfectly regular. The form helps organize a sustained prayer of trust, instruction, confession and distress. What does “teach me your paths” mean? It is a request to learn God’s faithful way of life. The psalm presents guidance through teachability and truth, not through treating every private impression as infallible. Why does verse 11 call the iniquity great? The prayer does not minimize wrongdoing; it asks pardon precisely in the face of serious guilt, grounding forgiveness in God’s name and mercy rather than in self-excuse. What is the “secret” or “counsel” of the LORD in verse 14? The language points to close covenant relationship and disclosed covenant faithfulness, not to occult knowledge or a privileged spiritual caste. Why does verse 22 mention Israel? The final petition expands the individual prayer into concern for the covenant community and its troubles.