Psalm 25
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul"
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
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What does it say?
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The whole passage, in shortThe main points of the whole passage, in a few sentences.
David lifts his soul to God and trusts him. He prays, "Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths," and asks God to remember his love and forget the sins of his youth. Because God is good, he shows sinners the way. Lonely and in trouble, David asks God to turn to him, forgive him, and guard his life.
Where it is in the Bible: Psalm 25
Before You Read
Who wrote it. David (25:1).
What it is. A prayer for guidance and forgiveness. David is lonely and in trouble, and he remembers his own sins. He asks God to teach him the way and to remember him with love.
How it's built. In Hebrew, each verse begins with the next letter of the alphabet, A to Z. It's an ABC of trust.
When the church sings it. On the First Sunday of Advent, at the start of the church year.
Map of the Psalm
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I Lift Up My Soul | 25:1-3 | I trust you, God |
| 2. Show Me Your Ways | 25:4-10 | Teach me, and remember me in love |
| 3. Forgive My Iniquity | 25:11-15 | God guides the humble |
| 4. I Am Lonely | 25:16-22 | Turn to me and be gracious |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4I Lift Up My Soul
"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).
Section 2 of 4Show Me Your Ways
"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).
Section 3 of 4Forgive My Iniquity
"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.
Section 4 of 4I Am Lonely
"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.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "I lift up my soul" (25:1) | I bring my whole self to God. |
| "Teach me Your paths" (25:4) | Show me how to live. |
| "Remember not the sins of my youth" (25:7) | Please forget my past wrongs. |
| "He shows sinners the way" (25:8) | God guides people who've gone wrong. |
| "Forgive my iniquity, for it is great" (25:11) | My sin is big, but your name is bigger. |
| "I am lonely and afflicted" (25:16) | Honest words about how I feel. |
Back Then
Acrostic psalms like this one may have helped people memorize them.
"For the sake of Your name" means "because of who you are." David's hope rests on God's character, not his own record.
Literal Reader Alert
Does God forget sins? God doesn't lose his memory. But he chooses not to hold our sins against us (Jeremiah 31:34).
Why read this at Advent? Advent is a season of waiting. David says three times that he waits for the LORD (25:3, 25:5, 25:21).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| David | Lonely | He says so (25:16) |
| David | Guilty | He remembers the sins of his youth (25:7) |
| David | Trusting | He lifts his soul to God (25:1) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What's your prayer today? Tap one.
I don't know which way to go
"Show me Your ways, O LORD."
I regret my past
"Remember not the sins of my youth."
I'm lonely
"Turn to me and be gracious."
I'm waiting
None who wait for God will be put to shame.
You Might Have Heard
"God only guides good people."
What's true: God guides those who humbly follow him.
What the passage is mainly about: "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way" (25:8). God guides because he is good, not because we are.
Where Jesus is: He said, "I am the way" (John 14:6), and he came to seek and save the lost.
Good News
God remembers you, not your sins.
"Remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD" (25:7).
He teaches sinners the way and turns to the lonely.
David lifted his soul to God and asked to be taught and forgiven. God is good, so he shows sinners the way and remembers us with love.
Big Idea
"To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul." David asked God to teach him the way, forgive his sins, and turn to him in his loneliness. Because God is good, he shows sinners the way.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther said that Christians should pray like David: not trusting in their own goodness, but in God's name and his mercy alone.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It sings Psalm 25 on the First Sunday of Advent in Year C, the First Sunday in Lent in Year B, and on Sundays in the fall.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- First Sunday of Advent Year CPsalm, Psalm 25:1-10
- First Sunday in Lent Year BPsalm, Psalm 25:1-10
- Lectionary 15 Year CPsalm, Psalm 25:1-10
- Lectionary 26 Year APsalm, Psalm 25:1-9
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Psalm 25, explained in plain words. David asks God to teach him the way, forgive his past, and turn to him in his loneliness. About 6 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/psalm-25/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church