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A Prayer for Guidance and Protection[a]

25 To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;
    in you, my God, I trust.
Save me from the shame of defeat;
    don't let my enemies gloat over me!
Defeat does not come to those who trust in you,
    but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

Teach me your ways, O Lord;
    make them known to me.
Teach me to live according to your truth,
    for you are my God, who saves me.
    I always trust in you.

Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love
    which you have shown from long ago.
Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.
In your constant love and goodness,
    remember me, Lord!

Because the Lord is righteous and good,
    he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
He leads the humble in the right way
    and teaches them his will.
10 With faithfulness and love he leads
    all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

11 Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins,
    for they are many.
12 Those who have reverence for the Lord
    will learn from him the path they should follow.
13 They will always be prosperous,
    and their children will possess the land.
14 The Lord is the friend of those who obey him
    and he affirms his covenant with them.

15 I look to the Lord for help at all times,
    and he rescues me from danger.
16 Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me,
    because I am lonely and weak.
17 Relieve me of my worries
    and save me from all my troubles.
18 Consider my distress and suffering
    and forgive all my sins.

19 See how many enemies I have;
    see how much they hate me.
20 Protect me and save me;
    keep me from defeat.
    I come to you for safety.
21 May my goodness and honesty preserve me,
    because I trust in you.

22 From all their troubles, O God,
    save your people Israel!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.

Psalm 25[a]

Of David.

In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.(A)

I trust in you;(B)
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,(C)
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous(D) without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.(E)
Guide me in your truth(F) and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,(G)
    and my hope is in you(H) all day long.
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,(I)
    for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth(J)
    and my rebellious ways;(K)
according to your love(L) remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.(M)

Good and upright(N) is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs(O) sinners in his ways.
He guides(P) the humble in what is right
    and teaches them(Q) his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful(R)
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.(S)
11 For the sake of your name,(T) Lord,
    forgive(U) my iniquity,(V) though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?(W)
    He will instruct them in the ways(X) they should choose.[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,(Y)
    and their descendants will inherit the land.(Z)
14 The Lord confides(AA) in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known(AB) to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,(AC)
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.(AD)

16 Turn to me(AE) and be gracious to me,(AF)
    for I am lonely(AG) and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles(AH) of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.(AI)
18 Look on my affliction(AJ) and my distress(AK)
    and take away all my sins.(AL)
19 See how numerous are my enemies(AM)
    and how fiercely they hate me!(AN)

20 Guard my life(AO) and rescue me;(AP)
    do not let me be put to shame,(AQ)
    for I take refuge(AR) in you.
21 May integrity(AS) and uprightness(AT) protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.(AU)

22 Deliver Israel,(AV) O God,
    from all their troubles!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 25:12 Or ways he chooses
  3. Psalm 25:21 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have Lord.