Side by side
Psalm 25
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: I Lift Up My SoulVerses 1 to 3
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in You, my God, I trust" (25:1-2).
"Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame" (25:3).
1Of David. To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.
Section 2: Show Me Your WaysVerses 4 to 10
"Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths" (25:4).
"Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You" (25:5).
David asks God to remember two things and forget one.
Remember your compassion and love. "Remember not the sins of my youth" (25:7).
"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way" (25:8).
4Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. 5Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You. 6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age. 7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD. 8Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. 9He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. 10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
Section 3: Forgive My IniquityVerses 11 to 15
"For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great" (25:11).
God teaches those who honor him. He shares his friendship with them.
"My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh" (25:15).
The mesh is a net, a trap for catching animals.
11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great. 12Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him. 13His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. 14The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them. 15My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.
Section 4: I Am LonelyVerses 16 to 22
"Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted" (25:16).
His troubles keep growing. He has enemies.
"Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You" (25:20).
David ends by praying for all of God's people.
16Turn to me and be gracious, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17The troubles of my heart increase; free me from my distress. 18Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins. 19Consider my enemies, for they are many, and they hate me with vicious hatred. 20Guard my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. 21May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You. 22Redeem Israel, O God, from all its distress.
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