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Davidic[a]

A Prayer for Help and Forgiveness

25 I will lift up my soul to you, Lord.
I trust in you, my God,
    do not let me be ashamed;
        do not let my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, no one who waits on you will be ashamed,
    but those who offend for no reason will be put to shame.

Cause me to understand your ways, Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me;
    for you are the God who delivers me.
        All day long I have waited for you.

Remember, Lord, your tender mercies and your gracious love;
    indeed, they are eternal!
Do not remember my youthful sins and transgressions;
    but remember me in light of your gracious love,
        in light of your goodness, Lord.

The Lord is good and just;
    therefore he will teach sinners concerning the way.
He will guide the humble[b] to justice;
    he will teach the humble[c] his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord lead to gracious love and truth
    for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.[d]

11 For the sake of your name,[e] Lord,
    forgive my sin, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    God[f] will teach him the path he should choose.

13 He[g] will experience good things;
    his descendants will inherit the earth.
14 The intimate counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him
    so they may know his covenant.
15 My eyes look to the Lord continuously,
    because he’s the one who releases my feet from the trap.[h]

16 Turn toward me and have mercy on me,
    for I am lonely and oppressed.
17 The troubles of my heart have increased;
    bring me out of my distress!
18 Look upon my distress and affliction;
    forgive all my sins.

19 Look how many enemies I have gained!
    They hate me with a vicious hatred.
20 Preserve my life and deliver me;
    do not let me be ashamed,
        because I take refuge in you.
21 Integrity and justice will preserve me,
    because I wait on you.

22 Redeem Israel, God, from all its troubles.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 This acrostic psalm begins each verse with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  2. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  3. Psalm 25:9 Or afflicted
  4. Psalm 25:10 Or testimonies
  5. Psalm 25:11 I.e. reputation
  6. Psalm 25:12 Lit. He
  7. Psalm 25:13 Lit. His soul
  8. Psalm 25:15 Lit. net

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.